2 The King (1/2)
King Tegra fell onto his knees before his only son's body. He was gone to the old cities when the attack happened. He galloped his horse back when the message reached him.
The whole Great Middle is in mourning. My father was a well-loved man. But it's my grandfather who looks broken. I look at him. He is a giant man with golden skin of the Dewarii. Thick hair and moustache similar to father. I wonder what he is thinking. Maybe he hates himself. He is the father, the most powerful king. He is old. He should have died first and leave the kingdom to the son. Maybe he still doesn't believe his son is dead.
I cannot.
The people have not been told of the real reason. Images of that time keeps flas.h.i.+ng in my mind. The monster with black claws. Father falling down with blood spraying out in the air from his chest.
They are not supposed to be in this part of the world.
King Tegra rises, inspecting the crowded mourning hall. He declares that he will take revenge for the prince's death. And his words fill the soldiers with a new energy.
News keep me updated at the castle. The monster works for a clan chief who has called it through magic. The very knowledge is magic is taboo. They kept fleeing grandfather's military. The monster cut his soldiers now and then. When it reaches grandfather, he faces him without fright. Roaring at the black clawed beast with rage and charges to rip him apart. But it runs away.
The event boasts the military's moral. He reaches the chief and slaughters him. The monster disappears.
And king Tegra is too weak to rule.
He is bed-ridden, barely awake for half a day. He does not talk. The old man has used up all his life and strength on this war.
”Are you okay?” Rod asks. He, Bavin and Versia have come to visit me.
I stare at Bavin. ”Prince?” He asks.
”I always have some purpose for whatever I do. That day too, I was bringing you to my castle because I wanted something.”
”I will accept any punishment you give me for attempt harm and befouling.” Versia looks at her brother worriedly.
”No, no.” I smile solemnly. ”I said I like you, remember?”
I stare at my hands and consider before beginning my story. ”My mother was the most beautiful woman of the Great Middle. Father used to be mad in love with her. She possessed his mind and heart. After a year I was born, she died from collapsed lungs. I was the only memory of my mother.”
They remain silent.
”You must have noticed how different I look from my father and grandfather. Both look like bears and I look like a doll.” I snort. ”Father could not help but remember his dead wife whenever he saw me. It broke him. Could not bear to look at me unless sorrow engulfed him. Not that he lacked love for me. He could not raise me to the strong discipline and character like grandfather raised him. He let me do whatever I want.
”Despite his short-coming he is the most amazing man I know. He never cheated. He never betrayed. He never did anyone injustice. He worked for what he loved, the city. And materialized his dreams.”
I return my gaze to Bavin. ”I want your loyalty. A pledge on behalf of Steel Brotherhood to fight under me.”
”I am yours.”
”Come with me.” I leave my room.
They follow me unsurely to the king's council room. Davon was with the rest of the members. Discussing the future prospect. My guess is they want him to take the rule.
”My grandfather is too weak to rule. It is time the kings.h.i.+p pa.s.ses to me. I will take the responsibility over Great Middle from now on.”
The council hesitates. Looking at me. Then to the three friends I brought.
Gavon is first to raise his hand to his chest and say, ”I pledge my loyalty to you, my king.”
It is nearly two years since I held the torch of the great line of Tegra and Rafel. But the war has only begun since then. King Tegra became too weak to do anything and returned to G.o.d in a month. After that, I made a stern rule that forbid the magic summoning monsters. Everyone knows the horrors the world saw because of the Traitor. But the prairies people are savages spreading the practise like wildfire.
Sweat trickles down my face under the helmet. I watch the proceeding of the battle from a mount.
I have sent the Silver Brotherhood alone to fight one of the biggest clans who have openly defied the rule. I believe in their ability but I feel restless.
The clansmen have gathered outside their wall. Most groups around are small enough to move around instead settle down and build walls.
Bavin's men, smaller and younger in comparison stand the opposite.
With spears and swords raised in air, the big line of clansmen charge in. In no time the band are surrounded. I have been curious ever since I met my friend. How he managed to bring a young distraught group into power? The answer is he himself.
The band's formation is carefully planned. They stand in a rough circle with s.h.i.+elds out. If any of the clansmen break in, the hound-like men will crush them without sweat.
Bavin takes the opportunity to charge through the entire army for the chief. Our spies report they are the ones who host the summoning. Before the monster actually come, they need to be killed. This chief turns out a strong opponent. He blocks Bavin's strike for the head.
Panicked, the clansmen surround Bavin this time. Attacks come from multiple directions. He needs to be fast and efficient or he's dead.
He holds on well until some Silver Brotherhood members come to give protection.
The fight goes on between the chief and the captain. Neither backing out. The chief strikes without pause. Now to the head. Now to the right arm. His men cheer.
Bavin sees his members fall. Although he had worked really hard to train his band so they don't get killed easily. He gets upset when his men die. He once told me the Silver Brotherhood saw him as their hope from the prairies violence.
Then a monster appears. Bavin and his men back in shock. It is like a gigantic bull looking down on them with thirst for blood. The chief laughs in victory.
He does not see me coming.
I shove the blade's tip through the chest. The clansmen look with horror before getting ambushed my escorted soldier and the Silver Brotherhood.
The monster has disappears. He was confused what he was doing here.
Gavon, second-in-command of the city, handles the procedure after this. He insists on mercy and let the ones who did not take part in battle unharmed. But occasionally, war economy demands taking resources.
Bavin moves his horse to see his dead members. His eyes grim and pained. He prays for their peaceful rest and set people to bury them.
Some youngsters walk upto him. ”Please, let us join you,” they plead. Two of them are girls. ”We will fight for you. Or work like servant. If you leave us, someone will enslave us or we will die of hunger. Please.”
”Go away!” a soldier threatens them with sword.
Bavin stops him. Then judges them.
”You can come with the Silver Brotherhood if you want. However, expect a strict discipline. I do not stand lousy members.”
”Thank you.” The words are genuine.
”Is this alright?” Gavon asks beside me.
”Let him. He is a better judge of these things than us,” I say. The members of the Steel Brotherhood look at him as he is a sword brought down from heaven. I don't think the dead ones regretted dying for him.
Bavin spots me approaching with a smirk. He glares. I may have hurt his pride and made him feel like a failure.
”Liked my surprise?” I ask cheerily.
”One would think you will give up on your recklessness after becoming a king.” He sighs. ”Thanks for saving me. How did you know?”
”The monster coming? I didn't, actually. I just acted based on the late king's story. That monster disappeared too after he struck down the host,” I answer casually.
To be honest, I am still rattled by what I saw today. I really had not expected it. This is concerning.
”Tell me, Gavon. Why are the chiefs refusing to come for the dinner again?” I ask on the way back.
”For a gathering of feasts between their chiefs, it is a hard custom that they all gather at a hilltop. They don't trust a closed s.p.a.ce. I also think they are sceptical of you. Given our actions past months. We must be like bloodthirsty tyrants to them.”
”But I'm doing this to prevent the monster coming.”
The new recruits listen to our conversation along with the Silver Brotherhood. They gawk at the girls who have offered to become fighters.
”It's true!” one of the girls says in rough prairie tongue. ”They thought you hated chief Hordon for his wealth and power. Thought you send army to kill him for jealousy. Boy, I didn't imagine I'd see that thing appear.”
Now they eye her speaking boldly.
”This shows they are near fruition of their attempts,” Bavin says. ”We need to confront them of their actions instead of attacking parts here and there.”
Bavin, for all his admirable traits, is a simple man.
”We cannot go to them. It's too risky. Who knows when they will bring out an army in tens of thousands to attack us,” Gavon says.
”I will be there to protect the king,” Bavin says.
”Haa, enough!” I say. ”Fine, we are building an artificial hill in the city. Gavon, send them an invitation with the update.”
The listeners look at me dumbfounded.
”Artificial… hill?” Bavin echoes as the combination of the two words did not fit right with him.
”Yes.”