Medley of Treason

by Elskidor Xell

  If one wondered why Nova deserved higher respect than any of the other twelve kingdoms, he would no longer question upon seeing Magwhen, city of hope. More civilians lived within this one city than any other city in all Divox, with roughly one-hundred thousand civilians. Kald's Rest was the second-largest city in Divox, also belonging to Nova with roughly fifty-thousand civilians. Garroth of Gargurthian, in its prime, still never exceeded fifteen thousand people. Magwhen was a glory to behold and the main attraction of Nova. Soon, if the High King and High Queen got what they wanted, it would be the stronghold of all southern mortals, and the capital of their unified country.

  Upon a massive hill in the back of the valley sat the magnificent circular castle of Magwhen. Near the castle's location, several small rivers or streams flowed from the mountain that emptied into the city, acting as the water supply. The circular foundation of the keep connected with the side of the hills behind it while the castle walls were colossal. They towered high and protected the foundations of the castle. Several tall towers rose above the castle walls, slicing into the heavens and surrounding the bulk of the sturdy fortress where royalty and their most skilled consultants, warriors, and family lived. This was where Laelliandir lived before his father’s death. Part of that castle and two of its towers were one of the homes of the Javalla family before the High King and Queen forced them to move to Garroth. Laella, Orion and the rest of the children usually remained in their estate within Magwhen, but Neighraellium and Laelliandir often resided in the castle of the Overlords. Neighraellium, acting now as the head chief adviser and the supreme White Lion to the Overlords was the only Javalla left within the great halls of Novanian supremacy.

  Pausing a moment at the top of the hill, Laelliandir uncloaked his hood and placed his silver circlet upon his head. About the center of the circlet, a blue diamond, representing the house of Javalla, gleamed under the sunlight. He and his white steed charged down the hill leading to the castle. When they reached the great gate below, he announced his arrival with pride. "Laelliandir of House Javalla, White Lion of Nova, here to seek the counsel of the High King Pathorus Maelor and High Queen Ishanna Maelor of Magwhen of Nova." The young man wasted no time chatting with the golden armored guards but made both his presence and his intentions known upon his arrival. He found that his spies were accurate with their reports. When he had ridden home in the past, the guards would have opened the gates upon first sight of him. This time it was not so.

  Upon his entreaty, two guards abandoned their post and went to request a meeting, while the other guards remained silent, and didn't dare speak to him. Laelliandir didn't recognize the guards, but their relaxed demeanor made it obvious they expected him to wait in silence. He obliged them and waited with patience for over two hours when the two guards that had left returned for him.

  "The High King and High Queen shall see you now," one said as the group unlocked the barred gate and opened it for him to pass.

  "Thank you." Laelliandir expressed gratitude and even bowed his head to the servants of the city, but they said not a word. The same guards who had gone seeking permission escorted Laelliandir through the city. Along the way, he noticed the city seemed unchanged with people shopping at the marketplace, walking their dogs, or engaging in everyday activities. Some even waved and smiled at him, but every single city guard he passed had the same blank expression painted across his face. None offered a word, smile or welcome as he was accustomed. The wariness of the guards might be attributed to King Casen's crusade, but Laelliandir's scouts reported a new order in Nova. The soldiers and guards were watching everything and everyone. Even the wee elderly lady crossing the street was the focus of their scrutiny. It was most unwelcoming.

  After an hour of traipsing through the city, they came upon the high hill of Nova where the castle sat. The soldiers led him up the grand stone staircase leading to the castle gates where four more guards awaited him. After lowering the bridge, they too marched him through the courtyard and into the castle through many grand halls filled with statues, paintings, and drapes. Through the main entrance, they went, cutting through the ballroom. On the other side, the room had soaring ceilings with beautiful engravings.

  Walking through a few more wide halls, the six guards led him all the way to the lower throne room of the lords. The recent trials had taken place in this room. Laelliandir pushed away his grief as he noted the dark, musky feel of the room and the empty seat that had belonged to his father before his death. The only patch of color in the gloom was a rectangular crimson rug that began at the door and ended at the staircase leading up to the thrones.

  The High King and High Queen sat on their thrones with Neighraellium also seated next to King Pathorus Maelor, who wore a long white robe and a red cape. A golden crown with many jewels was on his head covering little of his long gray hair. Queen Ishanna Maelor, dressed in green, wore her thinning black and gray hair twisted into a bun, surrounded by a black circlet. Both royals displayed their current frame of mind on their faces, he with his sour displeasure and she with her angry haughtiness.

  Laelliandir's attention was drawn to his uncle, who gave him a twisted smile upon his entry. While Neighraellium dressed in his characteristic black robes that matched his long black hair and dark eyes, his eyes still had the notable red veins that pulsated. If King Casen has poisoned him, it appeared his eyes would not recover. Try as he might, Laelliandir did not recognize this man as the uncle he had always known.

  And last, standing next to his uncle was the man only known as Lonewolf. His hair was almost shoulder-length now, and he'd also grown out chin hair, but otherwise remained clean-shaven. He dressed in black nobles' clothing that hung on him but otherwise had improved his appearance. The last time Laelliandir had seen the man, he'd been beaten and bruised and looked like a dirty sewer rat, where now he could pass for royalty. Then there were the guards. Six guards escorted him while a slew of guardians watched from both sides of the Overlords. All sported heavy armor in exquisite black and gold colors with generous spikes protruding from their shoulder blades, and horns from their helmets pointing outward.

  Laelliandir stepped into the middle of the room and bowed upon one knee. "Lord Uncle," Laelliandir began pushing a faux smile to greet his relative before addressing the Overlords. "High King Pathorus and Queen Ishanna Maelor, Protectors of Nova, Bringers of Justice and Timeless Nobility, it is good to see you all, and I'm grateful you'll have my counsel," Neighraellium smirked in Lonewolf's direction but refrained from laughing.

  "No more with silly rubrics. That is over now." stated Ishanna Maelor.

  "I am sorry, Ishanna." Laelliandir said.

  "We are the High King and High Queen only. No more calling us by our birth names either. You can call your uncle whatever you wish, but our names to you are High King and High Queen from here on out, Laelliandir," the King commanded in his deep voice. Laelliandir nodded and came to his feet, confused already.

  "I have always addressed you--" Laelliandir began but was cut off.

  "Not anymore. Did you come to discuss the value of titles, son of Orion?" Ishanna Maelor asked. "You could have written to me over such trivial concerns. What does it matter to you? It is our names, and you dwell in Garroth of Gargurthian now and not here in the keep of Magwhen. You shan't address us even by our birth names. It comes across as arrogant when an under-lord addresses his Overlord by first name." Laelliandir dared not argue. He had no clue what had come over either of them. At any rate, this was off to a terrible start.

  "What is it you need? I speculate your mother told you what we plan and the new order in Divox? You come giving your blessing then. We must remind you we asked you to stay at your station in case we need to call upon you," Pathorus Maelor said.

  "No. I don't give you my blessing, your Majesties, but my counsel." The High King looked at him peculiarly as the High Queen rose to her feet in anger.

  "Your counsel? Whatever do we need with your counsel, White Lion?" she squeaked l
ike an angry bat.

  "I'm the son of Orion, and I am one of the last two White Lions of Javalla of Nova, your highness. You, yourself granted me the medal of insight when I was fifteen-years old. I have been a part of this counsel since then. Why do you treat me with such disrespect? Do you not deem me important to your cause any longer?" Laelliandir spoke his mind despite the guards' obvious suspicion of him.

  "You need to know your place. You are the son of our fallen star, the true White Lion of Nova, and it was because of him we allowed you to be on the counsel when so young. I do not wish to belittle you, so you learn your place and address your elders as they deserve,” the High Queen huffed her impatience and anger.

  "Belittle me? You insult my mother in front of her people, strike her in public, and humiliate her." Laelliandir raised his voice as the High Queen stepped forward and pointed her withered finger at him, wiggling her long sharp nails.

  "I can shame your mother all I want because she is strong enough to take it. She is a brave Javalla, and she does what is best for her people. I lecture her because she can handle it. Men, for all your bravery, cower and cry like babes if I insult you in the way you deserve for making a scene in front of your elders. I learned long ago not to treat men as I would women after watching your father cry at my feet. There is nothing worse than watching a brave lion brought to tears. When I insult your mother, it is for her own good and be grateful, she shields you from my wrath!"

  "Ishanna." The High King interrupted before Laelliandir could respond. "Laelliandir! My Queen! Stop it! I want to hear what you have to say, Laelliandir. You are right. We've cut you out of the counsel because of your location. We fear the enemy may intercept our messengers. We've had our reasons to leave you out, but if you think you have something of worth to add, then we shall hear it now." High Queen Ishanna backed up and took a seat on her throne, still glaring at Laelliandir.

  "What enemy? We defeated Casen. What are we afraid of? What is going on here? We don't have enemies, but we will if we march south and rob the last four free kingdoms blind and claim their lands our own. It's most unwise." Laelliandir did not soften his tone. "There has to be a better plan."

  "We have no enemies, you say. That fat baboon, Rupert Casen just made a fool of us all. He killed my brother, poisoned me, and left the land in ruin. Gwiddles and..." Catching himself barely, while remembering what he rehearsed with Lonewolf. Neighraellium cleared his throat before continuing. "We have a country of minotaur waiting for you to screw up and kill your new stepfather! The Tragmont elves have always hated us! Here we are fighting each other like spoiled wretched fools. The Northern Realm have eyes on us now. They invade us because the man who killed their King aligned himself with King Casen. Then the East! Elf diplomats they send pretending to pay their respects for our turmoil. They spy for our weaknesses and ally with the minotaur. None are thrilled with our recent situation!" Neighraellium finished his tirade then slunk into his chair and moved his head outward like a turtle coming from his shell. His unnatural red eyes, like beacons of fire, gripped Laelliandir's attention.

  "Says who, uncle? You? You, who said the twelve kingdoms will be as one and Tragmont will burn, right after my father died? Did you turn into some prophet after they poisoned you or are you mad?"

  "Why you wretched boy! Keep your tongue." Neighraellium demanded.

  "Who are you? You are not my loving uncle. You are diseased!"

  "Silence! Both of you!" ordered the High King, coming to his feet. Neighraellium smiled at Laelliandir and flicked his tongue at him as he slumped back into his chair.

  "Listen, I might be out of line here, but you have it all wrong, Laelliandir," Lonewolf said. To Laelliandir's astonishment, the High Queen and High King allowed him to speak in the counsel as if he was born into nobility or had sat in on their assemblies for years. An outsider, not even six months a native, stood with the rich and powerful of Nova as if he'd always been there. Laelliandir looked back and forth between Lonewolf who took a step forward and the High King and High Queen wondering how they could allow this man to interrupt the proceedings. The High King nodded at Lonewolf, who bowed to the lords before continuing. "Laelliandir. I'm sorry for your loss. Orion Javalla seemed like a great man. I understand how hard it must be. I've watched Neighraellium mourn day and night, and the first weeks were unbearable for him."

  "Are you serious?" Laelliandir looked to his uncle who shrugged.

  "Aye, I am. I understand death and mourning. You hate him for suggesting his widowed sister marry such a beast. I would be angry too, but it doesn't change the fact it was the right decision. You lost your home. You lost your counsel. You lost your father, and you feel shame, so you blame your uncle. He lost his brother too, but you lost almost everything when your father died. You're angry and want to get revenge. It will do no good. Even if the Overlords believe their right-hand man, their supreme White Lion, would say these things, then what does it prove? Nova is in a bind, and the safest and smartest, most efficient way of climbing back on our feet is by allying the nation as one. Together we stand, or we fall one at a time. Your mother's marriage to the beast will not hold back the tides forever. We must prepare. Your uncle knows this." Lonewolf did not know why he wanted to convince Laelliandir. He was an excellent judge of character and already knew Laelliandir's heart was pure, and his mind was likely incorruptible.

  "Why are you even talking? Wolf?" Unruffled, Laelliandir addressed the man before looking at his Overlords. "This man rode with Casen. Has his explanation for his part in that fiasco been proven? What are you again, Wolf man? What was your excuse for working with Casen up to the time we ended the crusade?"

  "We've all heard the account of Lonewolf before," Neighraellium stated.

  "Not entirely known to me. I've gotten fragments and seeing how he's connected with two young ladies in my city, and he will likely visit by the end of the year, I would feel much more comfortable knowing the whole story. I would like to know how this shady character finds himself where decisions on the fate of our country are made. Does this not seem unfair, your Grace?"

  "I don't care," the High King responded. "I trust him."

  "This will take all day, Laelliandir. Will you ever just live and let live and trust your elders without questioning every detail?" Ishanna retorted before throwing her hands up. "Go on with it, Lord Wolf." And so he did.

  He told Laelliandir how he had ended up in Frenmere Pass and how he'd grown close to Luminear, Bella, and their adopted grandmother. Many parts of his tale deviated from the truth as he said he too was a prisoner of Icaz. He told the story of how Alezenda died for his son, then Prince Edward Dawnhand's mistake, although he did not mention his part never admitting that he was there at all. In Lonewolf's version of events, Icaz forced Lonewolf to lead him to Rupert Casen. Icaz planned to bring Casen the head of Alezenda in exchange for the use of his army. Lonewolf claimed he believed Icaz would free him and the girls after this encounter with Casen. Instead, things when rancid quickly in Garroth, and Icaz was killed. Casen declared getting Alezenda's head signaled the time was right for the crusade to take the south. It was a sign that his rule was divine. Because of his role in delivering Icaz and Alezenda's head, Casen chose Lonewolf to be his right-hand man. Lonewolf claimed he guaranteed Luminear and Bella's safety with the work he did for Casen. He took credit for hatching the plan to involve the minotaur hoping they would not pick sides, but instead inform Nova of the crusade's whereabouts which they did. According to Lonewolf, his plan to get the minotaur involved played out precisely as he wished it, bringing Casen's campaign to an end after Albatros informed Nova and the White Lions where King Casen was located. It sounded a little too perfect for Laelliandir to accept.

  "And you? Casen just chose you? A nobody from nowhere?"

  "No, my lord. I may not seem like much, but I am cunning." Lonewolf smirked at the younger man. "He threatened to kill me until I convinced him I could help him. I had brought him Alezenda's head and helped him kill th
is tyrant, Icaz. Who knows how big a threat he would have been?"

  "So, you have a way with words. You come along and manipulate people. Right? Is that what you are doing here with my High King and Queen, with your sharp tongue and my warped-minded uncle?"

  "How dare you address our Overlords like this? You compare their lordship to King Casen, the mad man?" Lonewolf sparred with words seeing the danger Laelliandir presented. As always, Lonewolf's goal was to save his own skin.

  "You watch your mouth, son of Orion. Javalla or not, you do not have the privilege of insulting your Overlords," the High King said. Laelliandir wanted to argue, but his hands were tied. He knew the account King Edward and General Kadwalador had given him differed from Lonewolf's sympathetic tale, but he could not implicate himself by sharing what he knew.

  "Listen. Say Lonewolf is exactly who he says he is and my dispute with my uncle is my own troubled mind in mourning. Say all of this is true. Even so, how do we benefit from stripping our brother and sister nations of power and forcing their hand to serve one power against their will? They will not trust us. They will be bitter and resentful. There will be rebellions, strikes, and riots. We have history books on previous empires that have risen and collapsed. We were once a single kingdom before we divided, becoming independent lands. I don't find it wise to return to what has failed countless times before. It is not wise to force your will upon our people. There must be another way. We are home to twelve neighboring nations, not one superpower."

  "We have one country in Divox. No more are we separate. We learn from history, and we avoid their mistakes and do what they failed to do. There is nothing wrong with one supreme power. With powerful enemies around our borders, we must take caution," the High King countered. What have we done these last few hundred years? Squabble and fight at every turn until we beat one another senseless and play nice awhile until one of us gets bored again. I say it's high time we change.” Laelliandir could see the benefit to such a rule, but the foundation upon which it was to be built felt rotten to the core.