55 Crimson Tower (2/2)
Will had already considered the two important points long before they were voiced. As his smile had remained during even the worst part of the conversation, Roland could only guess at the thoughts forming in the young man's mind.
”How about instead of telling you, I show you.” he said as he allowed his gold and crimson aura to shroud him as he took to the sky. Roland looked up and noticed he was flying straight to where they had set up the cages in the center of the city.
The sun had just finished setting as Will made his way to the center of Holtz. He found the massive pile of cages in the open space within the middle of the gated community.
As people looked up at the flying prince, he must have looked like a glowing star in the dying light of the sun.
Stopping in midair floating atop the large pile of what looked like hundreds of cages, Will focused his aura to amplify his voice. ”I was just confronted with two questions that may seem impossible to you as you are now,” his voice boomed as a large crowd formed within the square. They would finally see why they had been paid to move their previous jail cells. ”What will you do now that slavery has been outlawed?” Will let the question hang for a few moments. ”Now that you are no longer servants of the kingdom, what will you do?” Many of the men beneath him allowed the words to sink in. Most of them were intelligent enough to know that they were a huge source of income for the kingdom. ”What if I were to tell you that I had a way to transport goods in any weather without using the Kings Road in a fraction of the time it would normally take?” many of the freed slaves have questioning glances towards their Prince. ”What if I were to tell you I could give you such an ability?”
The crowd began shouting questions up to Will. Before he could answer one, two more presented themselves. ”STOP!” He shouted with his amplified voice. ”Please, if you have a question raise your hand in the air. I'll ensure everyone hears.”
The crowd became silent instantly. None of them had ever heard of the concept of raising their hands to be heard. A few of the massive crowd got the idea and put their hands in the air.
Will counted around twenty hands at first. With a flip of his finger, Will focused his aura upon the twenty heads. He had never tried using his aura on others in a non destructive purpose, but his mind want back to the very beginning of his training. When he was within Maya's cottage, he was able to split his flame and levitate each individual ball above his head. It wouldn't be much of a stretch to believe the aura was powered by ones imagination.
Gasps could be heard around the crowd below as the men and women raised from the ground and joined him in the air. A slight crimson hue could be seen around each one.
Will noticed that each person was almost the same age as himself, which seemed to be a normal age for slaves. He remembered Maya's explanation for slavery that he had heard almost a year ago. If a family within Ebonhart couldn't afford the taxes, the knights would collect the most able of the family to sell into slavery.
As Will looked at the twenty teenagers, he thought solemnly to himself for only a moment before he addressed the group. ”How many of you still have family in Ebonhart?” he looked around the group as he saw many eyes cast down.
”Sir, if we are here,” a man responded softly. ”It means we no longer have a family.”
Will nodded solemnly to the group. It wasn't easy having a family taken from you, especially if they had to watch it happen. ”How would you like to join my family?” he asked as if it were a simple question.
The man had an expression Will knew all too well. He was uncertain as to what Will had meant. Will could almost see the repercussions forming in his mind even seconds after the question was asked.
”Your old family has been taken from you out of the negligence of my father, for that,” Will placed his hand over his heart and bowed to the small group of ex slaves. ”I am so sorry.” he raised his head once more and looked into the eyes of every one of the group. ”Let me right the wrongs of my family by giving you all a place among my family.”
”Let me extend this offer to every one of you.” Will said as he lifted his hands as if he were lifting something heavy. Below him, the cages began to rise from their unruly pile. With some effort, Will stacked them in a perfect tower which seemed to reach the heavens. ”With your acceptance of me,” he yelled out to the men and women below. ”I will give you a badge of pride to wear wherever you go. A way for you to protect yourself, a way for you to make a living for yourselves.” as they looked upon the cages, not one of them had a different expression. Each wore a look of astonishment at what they were witnessing. ”Join my Royal Flame Crusade and never be chained again!” upon his last word, the tower lit aflame. Crimson and gold reached for the heavens as the crowd reached out.
Will could see the crimson flame spreading among the many thousand as if it were a force that could not be contained.
Will looked at the group with a smile. ”So, what were your questions?”
None could find words any longer, he saw tears forming among them and understood that not one of them had ever been given such kindness before. ”Welcome my friends, to the new Ebonhart.”
As Will allowed a moment of silence among the masses, he heard a familiar voice within his mind. Good job Will, we will need all the support we can get.
Will regarded the late king with a smile, yet he could tell something had happened to the resident within his mind. Is there a reason as to why we will need them? Had something happened?
Flashes of images entered Will's mind, images he knew couldn't be his own memories. He saw a dome of pure gold energy being swallowed by darkness. The surrounding area should have been lit by such energy, but Will could only see a group within the gold. Among the few, Will could see an old man with a crimson gown which he knew should have looked royal, yet instead had a grimy look to it. His hands were outstretched as if he were holding some immense weight above him. Will's eyes went wide when he noticed a man to his left, a man which he instantly recognized. He had seen the brown duster many times before, yet it had always remained in the closet. The same dog tags which were around Will's neck at that moment lay around the man's neck. Dad? He couldn't register what he was seeing. The image was showing him two different lives of his intertwined.
'A lot has happened since you left, Will.' Cainus said within his mind. It is time for you to join the fight once more.