Michael Belmont and the Heir of Van Helsing (The Adventures of Michael Belmont) by Ethan Russell Erway Read Free Book Online

When the page returned, he gave the duke a feedbag, who promptly strung it around the king’s neck and helped him fasten it.   The king was well pleased.
    When the queen found her husband in the garden eating his lunch from the feedbag she was livid.   She knew at once that this had to be the work of Duke Ironside.
    “He has made you out to be an ass, first in deed and now in dress,” she told him furiously.   The king was convinced of the man’s loyalty however, and tried to calm his wife.
    She realized that he wasn’t going to listen, and so, devised a plan to take revenge on the duke and the other members of court who had mocked her husband.
    “Perhaps you are right, my dear,” she told him sweetly.   “But why not allow the members of your court to enjoy this luxury as well?   Hold a banquet tonight and provide feedbags for everyone.   You can give Duke Ironside the place of honor and explain to everyone that they have him to thank for their new dining arrangements.”
    The king’s eyes lit up as he envisioned the glorious feast; his entire court would soon be enjoying dinner from their feedbags.
    “Now don’t let anyone tell you they are unworthy of this honor.   Your people are humble and good, and we both know how much they deserve this.”
    And so, later that night at the banquet, everyone in court was given their own feedbag, and the king insisted they be worn from that point on.   The duke was immediately held in contempt by his fellow courtiers, who blamed him for the ridiculous situation, and rightly so.
    Enraged, the duke fled the country to carry all the king’s secrets to the ears of the their greatest enemy, a warmongering emperor who was eagerly awaiting a chance to invade the king’s land.   However, the duke was unaware that the queen had sent spies to track his movements and apprehend him if he proved disloyal.   They captured the traitor and returned him in chains, but not before he had betrayed the king’s secrets.
    Now the queen had a real problem.   The emperor’s troops outnumbered her husband’s three to one, and they would be arriving soon.   She quickly came up with a plan to drive off the invaders.
    “My dear husband,” she told the king.   “You have always been so kind and just to your loyal subjects, yet there is one group whom you have failed to honor for all their hard work and loyalty.”
    The king was greatly concerned.   “Your words wound us, my queen.   Please tell me who these subjects are, that I might throw them a banquet here in court to honor them.”
    “Oh good husband and oh the delight of my eyes,” she said to him, for he loved to be flattered, “I find your goodness touching my heart once again.   I speak of the horses- so hard working and loyal.   I find only justice in your desire to reward them.”
    For a moment he looked as though he may not buy it, but then his broad, dumb smile told her that all was well.
    The queen then promptly sent out two horses, upon which she had appointed two riders.   The first rider was Duke Ironside.   Now the queen had begged the duke for forgiveness that her men had brought him back in chains, and had him dressed in fine new clothes and gave him a large sack of gold for his trouble.   He rode off whistling with many happy thoughts of how he might spend his new-found fortune, and laughing for the belief that the queen was just as stupid as her husband.
    The second horse bore a man who had won the queen’s favor as the most talented mummer in the kingdom.   He had the wonderful talent of throwing his voice and tickling his horse to make it appear that the beast was speaking.   The queen gave him words and sent him out to greet the emperor.
    Now as the emperor approached the castle with his army, he first met the duke on the road.   “You there,” he said.   “You disappeared from my court rather quickly without a word after betraying your own king, and now I find you here riding off from his