Nobleman: The Return

Nobleman: The Return

By R. Richard ©

Published by R. Richard at Smashwords

Copyright 2015 R. Richard

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Nobleman: The Return

By R. Richard © 2015

Chapter 1: The Return of A Nobleman

It's tour day at the palace and, as usual, the lines of people stretch a long way back from the gate.

A big man, dressed in antique garb, walks up and glances at the lines of people waiting to sign up for a chance at a palace tour. Instead of taking his place at the back of the line, he instead strides arrogantly to the front where the clerks are accepting the applications. A security officer rushes forward to the screen that separates the public from the approaches to the palace.

The big man snaps at the security officer, in command voice, I am Jav t’Regor, Duke of Narissa. You may announce me to His Majesty.

The security guard briefly sizes up the big man and presses the trouble button on his com. Then he unwisely confronts the big man. He says, Look buddy, costume or no, you get back in line or we'll throw you out!

The big man is obviously not used to being addressed in such a fashion. Rage flares in his face and, after a quick glance at the security man, the big man leaps to grasp the top of the eight-foot high screen between himself and the security officer. With no apparent strain, he vaults over the barrier, lands on the ground, and then grabs the security officer by the throat.

The big man snarls, Knave, I am Jav t’Regor, Duke of Narissa! You may announce me to His Majesty NOW! As he speaks, he shakes the security man as a terrier might shake a rat. The big man also seems to use about as much effort as a terrier would use to shake a rat.

Security reinforcements quickly arrive on the scene. The big man calmly unsheathes a long, very slightly curved sword. He holds the unfortunate security man as a shield. With a sneer of contempt, the big man’s eyes rake the security forces who have paused a short distance away. He calmly challenges, Come and die at the hand of your better!

There are screams from the crowd and violence is immanent. The security men edge forward and continue to tell the big man to drop the guard and to surrender. However, they're obviously not too anxious to come within reach of the big man’s sword.

The big man continues to hold the guard, perhaps as a shield. He clearly prepares to deal with the approaching security forces.

A loud, but cultured female voice cuts through the scene. She asks, What is it we have here?

A lady, in a very elaborate gown, strides forward with the sort of confidence one gains as a part of a family that has been ruling a kingdom for more than a thousand years. She does prudently halt just behind the line of security officers.

The big man in ancient garb turns his gaze to the lady. He slightly inclines his head. He says, with politeness that seems out of place considering the circumstances, Ah, My Lady! And, whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?

The lady eyes the big man without any show of emotion. She then says, in a calm and polite voice, I am the Princess Carilya. And, who might you be, my good man?

Again, the big man inclines his head. He says formally, My Lady, I am Jav t’Regor, Duke of Narissa. I am, as always, at the service of the daughter of my Liege Lord. I seek the audience of His Majesty on a matter of grave importance to the throne. These base born knaves sought to intervene in Noble affairs. I humbly beg your pardon if their unwarranted interference disturbed My Lady.

The lady, clearly taken somewhat aback, takes a breath and then says, in the fashion of a school girl reciting a history lesson, Jav t’Regor, the Duke of Narissa and sometimes called Jav the Tiger, died some five centuries ago at the battle of Ofone Chapel, defending His Majesty Olav The Second.

Now it's the turn of the big man to be shocked. He lectures, "Then, as now, I defend my Liege Lord. However, I did not die, but was rendered unconscious by the foul magic of Penforon, the mage. When I awoke from the foul treachery, I found myself in a prison. I was then forced to stand trial by combat. My foes were strong and savage fighters, but none stands before Jav t’Regor with only a sword. None! The last word is emphasized as a sort of challenge. The big man glances about and, seeing no response to his challenge, he then continues to lecture calmly, But surely it cannot be five centuries. I fought many times, but not five centuries worth. Then again, it may be more of Penforon’s magic." The big man looks as thoughtful as can a man who is holding up a 200-pound guard with one hand.

The Princess nods to one of the security guards who uses a stun dart gun on the man who claims to be the Duke of Narissa. It takes three darts, but the big man finally goes down.

The guards secure the big man. By then, the Captain of the Guard has arrived. He says, My Lady, I'll have this insane man taken to the hospital, under guard.

The Princess appears to think for a few seconds. She then says thoughtfully, No, have him taken to the holding room next to the chapel. Keep him bound, but under no condition are you to mistreat him. Who knows, as unlikely as it might seem, he just might be Jav t’Regor, the Duke of Narissa.

The Princess then turns and walks slowly back to her office. A swirl of thoughts races though her mind. In all probability, the man who called himself Jav t’Regor is an impostor and probably insane. However, the man does have the size, and strength attributed to the most famous Noble of Varisso’s past. He also showed the kind of attitude that a Noble of his period would have had. What if the man actually is Jav t’Regor, Duke of Narissa? Also, where might he have come from? And, for that matter, how did he get here today?

The Princess tries to put the matter in perspective. A man of some five centuries ago would, of course, be entirely ignorant of the modern, technological world. He would probably regard the scientific advances achieved over the centuries as magic. Something as simple as a television might make him run screaming in fear of the unknown. How would he deal with airplane flight? If the man actually is Jav t’Regor, Duke of Narissa, the students of history and psychology will have a field day!

The Princess abandons that line of thought and focuses on a more important aspect of Jav t’Regor, Duke of Narissa. If he's indeed the Duke of Narissa, the man is, by birth, entitled to a seat in the upper chamber of the Parliament. The upper chamber of the Parliament is currently almost powerless. The members don't do much in the way of useful lawmaking, but content themselves with social issues. However, Jav t’Regor, Duke of Narissa, was not only a famous warrior, he was also known as a powerful force for expansion of the foreign trade of Varisso, back in his time. Such a man might want to again involve himself in the daily economic affairs of the Kingdom. Such involvement is his right under the law. However, the current government is a delicate political construct of many contentious interests. The introduction of a powerful Noble of five centuries ago could rip apart many of the current political constructs. Worse yet, if the stories of the trade successes of Jav t’Regor, Duke of Narissa, are true, he might not destroy the political structure of the government, but rather reform it to his own advantage. Jav t’Regor, Duke of Narissa, could be a very great danger to the current government of the Kingdom of Varisso.

The Princess then reviews the political situation. The current government of Varisso is in danger. The King, Leif The Fifth, is an almost total incompetent. The actual government of the Kingdom is run by political opportunists. Currently, foreign interests menace the Kingdom on several levels.

The Princess tries to weigh the effects of the sudden appearance of Jav t’Regor, Duke of Narissa. If the man is real, he could be a useful rallying point to try to restore some of the faded prestige of the Kingdom of Varisso. He was the most famous warrior of his time and could lend prestige to the rather frayed military structure that now defends the Kingdom. Of course, a warrior of five centuries ago will be completely useless in the modern military world. Still, as a symbol of the might of Varisso, he might be very useful.

The Princess reviews the current position of the Royal family in Varisso. They are a fading remnant of past glory. However, properly used, some of the past glory might be used to restore at least some of the former power of the Royal family. If the man who calls himself Jav t’Regor, Duke of Narissa, is what he claims to be, he might be a very useful tool indeed, in the right hands!

The Princess thinks for a long time, trying to find the balance point between the danger posed by the man who claims to be Jav t’Regor, Duke of Narissa and the advantages that might be gained from proper use of such a man. After a long time and a lot of thought, she summons Narez, the Court Historian.

Narez arrives at the Princess' summons.

The Princess Carilya carefully explains to Narez, Today, a man appeared at the front gate of the palace, dressed in ancient garb. The man claims to be Jav t'Regor, the Duke of Narissa, as unlikely as that might be. I need you to find out if the man is indeed, Jav t'Regor. Can you do that?

Narez says, Yes, My Lady. There's a great deal of history involving Jav t'Regor, the Duke of Narissa, since he was the most famous warrior of the Kingdom of Varisso. It's possible that someone has read that history and even in depth, but the details will trip them up. The published history isn't always the true facts. If I can interview the one who calls himself the Duke of Narissa, I can tell you if the man is actually Jav t'Regor. However, My Lady is aware that the real Jav t'Regor disappeared some five centuries ago?

The Princess says, I was sure of that, until today. The man I saw and talked to has the size, strength and attitude that Jav t'Regor would have had. There is, of course, the matter of some five centuries of elapsed time. However, the entire matter makes so little sense that I need expert input before I make any sort of decision.

Narez says only, I'll do what I can and then report back to you, after I interview the man. He then departs.

Jav slowly awakens in a small room. He's attended by two large, unfriendly looking security officers. He briefly studies the face of each man through narrowly slitted eyes. The men do not seem to notice that he's awake. Jav then carefully tries the strength of the handcuffs by which he's bound. It's no use, even his giant strength can't budge the stubborn restraints.

Jav then fully opens his eyes and addresses the security officers. He asks, Knaves, by what right do you hold a Noble of Varisso? Call your Master and I will speak with him! The manner and tone of his speech makes it clear that he considers the guards as barely human and not fit for conversation with a Noble.

The guards don't answer Jav. However, Jav watches one of them speak into some mysterious device that he wears on his belt. It seems that a tiny voice comes from the device. Then the guard replaces the device on his belt and waits.

After a time a tall, thin older man appears at the door to the room. The man announces himself to Jav. The man says, I'm Narez, Historian to His Majesty Leif The Fifth, My Lord. Purely as a matter of security for the throne, I have some questions for you.

Jav eyes the man with hostility and then relaxes and shrugs. He says, In my current state, I can but answer your questions.

Narez begins to ask Jav a sequence of questions about the history of Varisso, specifically the history of the Varisso of the time of the legendary Jav t’Regor, Duke of Narissa.

The man who calls himself the Duke of Narissa answers each question.

Often Narez challenges the answers, but the big man can add detail to each of his answers. After a long while, a puzzled Narez says, Either you are the Duke, as unlikely as that might be. Else you have studied the history of the Kingdom to a level few have managed. Narez then excuses himself and disappears.

Chapter 2: The Duties of A Nobleman

After Narez disappears, Jav again orders the security guards to release him, but again to no avail.

Jav contemplates his situation. It appears that somehow he has lived what appeared to him to be a few months while some five centuries of time have passed in Varisso. Yet, however long he has been gone, he remains the 31-year-old Jav the Tiger.

In five centuries, if five centuries it truly is, much will have changed in the world. Of course, new people will have replaced the people of his time. New alliances will have been formed by the Kingdom. Also, new dangers will likely menace the kingdom. There will have been advances in knowledge. Still, much will remain the same.

There will obviously be new weapons, such as the cowardly things that laid him low earlier. Perhaps the new weapons are magic, created by the likes of Penforon. Then again, such weapons might merely be the work of clever artisans. Probably much would have been learned over the course of some five centuries. If there are new weapons, however, there will also be new defenses. If the shield can defend against the sword, so there must be a new type of shield to defend against the new weapons. Can a man of five centuries ago learn to use the new weapons?

The steel core of Jav the Tiger steps up. He thinks, I am Jav t’Regor, Duke of Narissa! I am a Noble of the Kingdom of Varisso! War and weapons are my calling. If commoners can use the new weapons, then the Duke of Narissa is also their master and at a skill beyond that of any base born knave! A little training and the natural superiority of a Noble will have me leading the forces of Narissa once again!

Jav continues to think, "The modern developments of five centuries will leave me at a disadvantage until I can learn the new ways. However much things have changed, people cannot have changed all that much over even five centuries. I