Deck of Cards by ID Johnson Page A

time I am not willing to risk my forces for your idiotic mistake.
    Regards,
    King Leopold II
     
    Philip crumpled the paper in his hand.  “Dammit!” he spat. The amused look on Henry’s face made him even more enraged and it was all he could do to keep from slapping him the way he had just slapped that insidious slut in his bedchamber.  “One thousand men?  That’s it?  That’s all he’s sending?”
    Henry shook his head. “One thousand of our finest cavalry officers, to cover your flight.” His accent was thick and ingratiating, which made Philip loathe him even more.
    “This is outrageous!” he yelled, jumping to his feet, knocking over the side table next to the throne and clambering down the stairs.  Henry did not flinch as he approached him.  The guards at the door shifted a bit, unsure of exactly what they should do if Philip were to attack the guest. “I’m sorry this information is not more, uh, suitable to you,” Henry began, as if he were searching for the correct words in a foreign language, “But this is the best that we can do for you at this time.  You may accept our offer or not.  The choice is completely up to you.”
    Philip looked at the courier in disbelief. He was screwed. There was no two ways about it. If he stayed in Blackthorn, Caleb would be here in a day, two at most.  If he left, he would lose his castle, his kingdom, everything.  He suddenly realized his head was pounding. Placing one hand over his eyes and rubbing both of his temples, he snapped his fingers with his other hand, indicating to the servant boy across the room that he needed a drink.  The young man hurried over, handing him a goblet of wine and Philip gulped it down at once without taking a breath.
    He believed he had regained his poise, at least momentarily.  He turned to face Henry, who still stood in the same place, one hand on his hip, the other holding his helmet against his side. “You want me to flee, to run from an invading army, to abandon my castle and my throne, just so that Leopold can say I told you so!” By the time he had completed the sentence he was in Henry’s face, screaming. His blood was boiling and his face was crimson. He turned and threw the goblet across the room, only missing the servant boy by a thin margin who jumped out of the way as it clattered to the ground.
    Henry was still armed and felt no reason to fear the outraged king.  He had presented his proposition and had little else to say.  As Philip spun back around to face him, Henry began pulling on his gloves and preparing to leave.  “You have heard our offer.  You may accept it or not. It is of little concern to me.  I bid you farewell.”  He turned to leave, giving Philip little choice but to either accept or dismiss Leopold’s proposal.
    He was almost to the door when Henry heard Philip say, “Wait.”  He stopped abruptly and turned back to face the defeated king.
    Philip stood with his hands on his hips, his eyes staring at the metal tips on his boots.  “When?  When will they arrive?” he asked.
    “They can be here by tomorrow night, Sunday morning at the latest,” Henry replied.
    “Fine.  Send them.”
                                          ***
    Katey was already up by the time Henry arrived at the castle. In fact, she had been in the library, standing just on the other side of the door, when he was escorted in.  She had heard the reverberation from Philip’s outraged dismissal of the two guards and had nearly jumped out of her skin.  She witnessed a beautiful redheaded women come down the hall, holding a hand to her cheek, and recognized her, though she could not quite place where she had seen her before.  And she had watched as Henry sauntered back down the hallway only a few moments later. 
    Edward also made his way down the hallway. Katey could hear him coming and, by the sound of his ga it, it seemed he went into the Throne Room as well.  She wasn’t