thoughts with the Queen because of her brother, Charles, and he needed someone to lean on. Lockwell grew cryptic with his advice over the years, focusing more on his own projects and concerns. Hal kept himself out of reach and the fool, Quink, was of no use whatsoever. Still, Henry had held back from Plucker some information that he should share. After tonight, he would give Plucker his full confidence. The man had earned it.
If his sons could have combined their good traits, he would have the heir he wanted. Hal was too thoughtful and often hesitant to move first to fight for what he believed in while Edward was reckless. How could Edward really believe Henry did not know of the plots afoot? If Hal had half the ambition of his brother, then Henry would worry about surrendering his crown prematurely.
This time Henry would make the first move, remove any threats to him, and show that he was still the power in the kingdom. He nodded to Hobber, the steward, who clapped his hands. The musicians started to play and servants brought out the food.
"Sire, may I speak?" asked Sir Plucker.
"Of course, Sir John."
"I do not feel there are enough guards in the room."
"Nonsense, Sir John. Too many guards and people would get nervous and I do not want to tip my hand. I have discovered my enemies and I have plans to undo them. Soon enough I will put events in motion but not just yet. My enemies need to relax just a bit more. But not you, Sir John. I want your vigilance to continue."
"As you say, Sire."
"Excuse for a few minutes, Hal wants a word with me in private."
Henry walked across the corridor to the room where Hal waited. Plucker watched Hal close the door. Their voices were soft murmurs. Plucker returned his attention to the great hall.
Voices rose sharply through the door. Plucker started at the sound. He did not expect Hal to create such a noise. The Prince was usually too well under control and some nobles thought his passion non-existent. The voices continued and Plucker wished he were somewhere else. Minutes passed and Plucker stood stoically by the doorway to the great hall. Faces turned toward him more frequently and he kept his face impassive. He heard a shout, but could not make out the words.
The door opened, Hal exited and slammed it behind him. He passed Plucker and entered the great hall. He muttered under his breath. He sat down, drained his wine and called for more.
Most of the guests had been served dinner but had not begun to eat. It was Henry's custom to open his feasts with a toast. Many eyes looked toward Queen Mary, sitting alone at the high table. She sipped at her wine, paying attention to no one. The minstrels sang a song and capered around the room. Still the king did not come. The musicians began another song.
"Plucker!" called Howard Cane. "Where is King Henry? We can't eat without him."
Plucker waved and went to the door where Henry and Hal had met. He knocked on the door, but no sound came from the other side. Plucker did not think Henry exited the room but he had not been watching the entire time. He opened the door and nearly fell to his knees. In the middle of a growing pool of blood, lay Henry, a dagger piercing his chest.
"Diggs!" called Plucker, rushing back to the great hall. "Diggs! Quickly! King Henry's been attacked!"
Diggs and many others jumped to their feet and rushed forward. Plucker fought to keep the crowd back as Diggs, Queen Mary, Edward, Cane and Hal squeezed through the doorway. Plucker placed his guards at the entrance to the great hall and at the anteroom where the king's body lay.
Diggs bent over Henry with Hal standing alongside him. Edward stood behind the Queen, giving her support. Diggs sighed and shook his head.
"I'm sorry, your Highness," said Diggs. "He is dead."
Queen Mary fell back into Edward's arms and he helped her to sit.
"Who could have done this?" asked Plucker. "The only ones I saw enter were King Henry and Prince Hal."
"This dagger is unique,"
If his sons could have combined their good traits, he would have the heir he wanted. Hal was too thoughtful and often hesitant to move first to fight for what he believed in while Edward was reckless. How could Edward really believe Henry did not know of the plots afoot? If Hal had half the ambition of his brother, then Henry would worry about surrendering his crown prematurely.
This time Henry would make the first move, remove any threats to him, and show that he was still the power in the kingdom. He nodded to Hobber, the steward, who clapped his hands. The musicians started to play and servants brought out the food.
"Sire, may I speak?" asked Sir Plucker.
"Of course, Sir John."
"I do not feel there are enough guards in the room."
"Nonsense, Sir John. Too many guards and people would get nervous and I do not want to tip my hand. I have discovered my enemies and I have plans to undo them. Soon enough I will put events in motion but not just yet. My enemies need to relax just a bit more. But not you, Sir John. I want your vigilance to continue."
"As you say, Sire."
"Excuse for a few minutes, Hal wants a word with me in private."
Henry walked across the corridor to the room where Hal waited. Plucker watched Hal close the door. Their voices were soft murmurs. Plucker returned his attention to the great hall.
Voices rose sharply through the door. Plucker started at the sound. He did not expect Hal to create such a noise. The Prince was usually too well under control and some nobles thought his passion non-existent. The voices continued and Plucker wished he were somewhere else. Minutes passed and Plucker stood stoically by the doorway to the great hall. Faces turned toward him more frequently and he kept his face impassive. He heard a shout, but could not make out the words.
The door opened, Hal exited and slammed it behind him. He passed Plucker and entered the great hall. He muttered under his breath. He sat down, drained his wine and called for more.
Most of the guests had been served dinner but had not begun to eat. It was Henry's custom to open his feasts with a toast. Many eyes looked toward Queen Mary, sitting alone at the high table. She sipped at her wine, paying attention to no one. The minstrels sang a song and capered around the room. Still the king did not come. The musicians began another song.
"Plucker!" called Howard Cane. "Where is King Henry? We can't eat without him."
Plucker waved and went to the door where Henry and Hal had met. He knocked on the door, but no sound came from the other side. Plucker did not think Henry exited the room but he had not been watching the entire time. He opened the door and nearly fell to his knees. In the middle of a growing pool of blood, lay Henry, a dagger piercing his chest.
"Diggs!" called Plucker, rushing back to the great hall. "Diggs! Quickly! King Henry's been attacked!"
Diggs and many others jumped to their feet and rushed forward. Plucker fought to keep the crowd back as Diggs, Queen Mary, Edward, Cane and Hal squeezed through the doorway. Plucker placed his guards at the entrance to the great hall and at the anteroom where the king's body lay.
Diggs bent over Henry with Hal standing alongside him. Edward stood behind the Queen, giving her support. Diggs sighed and shook his head.
"I'm sorry, your Highness," said Diggs. "He is dead."
Queen Mary fell back into Edward's arms and he helped her to sit.
"Who could have done this?" asked Plucker. "The only ones I saw enter were King Henry and Prince Hal."
"This dagger is unique,"
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