by P D Atkerson
"And how was I going to gain your trust, by trying to kill you?" Aroron asked, raising an eyebrow. "Please! Even you must see how crazy that sounds. I didn’t do it, and I think you know it. You just want someone to blame for your guards' incompetence."
“My guards' incompetence? If it wasn’t for my guard…” the king took in a gulp of breath and continued, “if it wasn’t for them, I’d be dead. It was you that was incompetent.”
"What proof do you have against me?" Aroron asked, glaring at the king. “I mean hard proof, not just a feeling or whatever you seem to have telling you it was me.”
"Windgale?" The king said, turning towards him. “What proof did you find?”
"We have none, sire." Commander Windgale said, shifting his feet and glancing towards the ground. "Only the fact that whomever it was that tried to kill the prince, fights much like Aroron and was about the same age as him as well. Other than that, nothing sire."
"Is that it?" Aroron asked, gritting his teeth. "Even King Munay wouldn't hold a trial without proof of some sort. Real or faked, I thought you were better than him, after all, you say you serve the Creator, and King Munay does not!"
"Do not drag the Creator into this!" King Dillaran snapped, slamming his foot down. “You will not drag Him into this. This is between you and me.”
"If He is your Creator, shouldn't He already be involved in this?" Aroron asked. King Dillaran opened his mouth, then it snapped shut again. “I’m beginning to wonder if all nobles are two faced liars!”
A gasp rippled through the small group.
King Dillaran took in a deep breath. "You are a Karlien, which means you're not in a position to talk about the Creator, whom you do not know. Your country’s been a heathen kingdom for over a decade now."
"You're right." Aroron said, putting up his hands. "I don't know Him. But how do you think it will look to the people, if I am guilty?" He asked. "After all, you were the one who invited me into the palace. You forced me into your army. If I’m guilty, then so are you. I’m not one of you, yet you threatened me with treason, if I didn’t come here. We all know ‘treason’ means a death sentence."
"You should watch your mouth!" one of the other nobles said, stepping forwards. "Because King Dillaran was kind enough to take you in, you think you can just drag his name in the mud?"
“And who are you?” Aroron asked, looking him over. He was a short little man, with a rough face and even though the rest of the nobles wore more comfortable clothing, this man still wore chain-mail.
“I am King Recony of Drinadad.” He said, holding his head up high.
“Ah!” Aroron scoffed. “So, you crawled out of your mountain stronghold long enough to grace us with your presence. How kind of you.”
“How dare you!” Recony gasped, his face became a deep red.
"No! How dare you, Recony!" Aroron growled, turning to face the man. “I almost wish it was your son that the assassin was after.” Another gasp went up and the guards took a step towards Aroron. "But I'm not too worried, after all, I'm sure King Munay will came for Baylet some other time. After all, he wants your crown, just like he wants Shenock’s."
"You dare to blame this on your king?" Prince Telarian asked, glancing towards his father.
"He is not my king!" Aroron hissed. "He just rules the kingdom from which I come. He has no control over me. And why shouldn't I blame this on him? He is the one who's behind it, after all!"
"You are speaking treason against King Munay!" King Recony said, his eyes widening. "How can you say such things about him? If you’re not guilty of attempted assassination, then you are guilty of treason. Not against Shenock, but Karlay!"
"You and your half-brother are more alike than I thought." Aroron said, shooting a half glance towards him. "He would have thought it was treason too, but it's only really treason against him and not Karlay. I love my country. But I do not love our tyrant king. If you think he is not a tyrant, then maybe you share more than just a mother."
"You seem to know more about my family than is good for you." King Recony whispered, clearing his throat. "How do you know such things about my family? Answer me, now!"
Aroron wasn’t given a chance to answer him, before the king cut in.
"Munay is your brother?" King Dillaran asked, turning around towards Recony. "Why did you never tell me this?"
"It was our mother's wish that no one know of it, after all, by then I’d already been crowned king." He answered, his face reddening. "How did someone like you find out?" Recony asked, turning towards Aroron again. He glared at him and it was then, Aroron realized he had the same dark eyes as King Munay. Was his heart as dark too? He didn’t know him, but who knew? Maybe he was a tyrant as well.
“You want to know how I found out?” Aroron asked. “I learned it from the only other person who your mother told.”
"Maybe we should just throw him into a cell for the night." Commander Windgale said, shaking his head at Aroron. "He should spend time with other foul people like himself, so he knows what he’s like and how sickening his lies are."
Aroron dug his nails into the palm of his hand. If this is what the Commander thought of him, no wonder Gana looked at him so. How could she not, if her father was telling her these lies about him?
None of these thoughts affected the way Aroron held himself.
He wasn't going to give him the pleasure of a reaction. He didn't even so much as glance towards the commander. “I did not try to kill you, King Dillaran.” Aroron whispered. “You can think I’m lying, or you can believe me. Only you can choose.”
“Please! Like I’ll ever believe a word you say again.” Dillaran said, shaking his head at him. “You’re nothing but a crude assassin.”
Aroron was starting to see why King Munay might want to kill this man, maybe it wasn't just to take his throne and kingdom. Maybe the man just got on his nerves and he wanted to get rid of him.
"Who knows what else he might know, my lord." One of the guards tried to whisper to the king, but Aroron could hear the words clearly. He might as well have been yelling. “There's a chance he's telling the truth, after all, the assassin did mention the Zilladien king, maybe he's a Zilladien. If Aroron's not the assassin, he might be useful to us.”
"Enough!" Aroron snapped, his voice vibrating through the room, causing everyone in the room to fall silent.
He knew if he wanted, he could tear the throne room apart, or burn it to the ground.
"I'm sick of your politics!” Aroron said. “You can throw me into the dungeon or wherever the heck you want to, if you ever find proof against me. Or you can throw me in there right now and see what your people think. Either way is fine with me. Your jabbering has bored me nearly to the point of grabbing one of the guard's swords and killing myself. So, the dungeons are an improvement to this place."
Prince Telarian took a step back from Aroron. "Well...” he said, shaking his head. “You've got an angry streak, don’t you?"
Really? After a month of spending ever day with each other, that’s what he wanted to say to him? "No, I'm just crabby when I don't get my sleep." Aroron said. “As are most people, when they’re drug out of bed in the middle of the night by armed guards.”
"Well, maybe if you weren't up late at night trying to assassinate people, you wouldn't have that problem." King Recony growled. “You’d get plenty of sleep then. Don’t you think?”
“You know about assassins, don’t you Recony?” Aroron asked. “After all, Munay’s one, as are all his Loyal Warriors. Your half-brother’s surrounded by vipers and he is their king.”
His mouth agape, King Recony just stared at him.
Aroron bit his lip, then took in a deep breath, before speaking. "I think it would be wise if you didn't charge me with a crime you don't even have proof I did, which I didn't." He said, straightening up and turning back towards King Dillaran. "And if you will, please, just let me go back to my chamber and get what little sleep I can, while it's still night time."
That was crazy, but Aroron didn’t say so out loud.
"I will prove I'm not the assassin." Aroron said, bowing his head towards the king. "And I will figure out who it really was. One way or another."
King Dillaran looked him right in the eyes. "You'd better." He said, leaning back. "One wrong move and I will throw you into the dungeon, without a second thought. And your fast tongue won’t be able to save you then."
Aroron nodded his head. "Yes, sire. You won’t regret this."
“Time will tell.” King Dillaran glanced around the room at the people sitting and standing around him in silence. "This conversation will not leave this room. Is that understood?” Slowly, the nobles nodded and mumbled in response. “Good. Take him back to his chamber." King Dillaran said, motioning to two of the guards. “I do not want to see him any longer.” He said, before he started to cough.
The guards saluted, then moved forwards, grabbing Aroron by the arms.
Aroron shook himself free from the guards’ grip and turned back towards the doorway. "I can find my own way back to my room, though I'm sure your men will be watching to make sure I get back there safely!" He yelled over his shoulder, as he shoved against the throne room’s heavy doors. "I assume you will have the door fixed by morning?" He didn't wait for an answer, he just turned the corner and walked down the hallway.
There was a ‘boom!’ as the doors slid shut behind him.
He’d come to Shey because of Gana, but he’d stayed to help these people, and this was how they thanked him? Aroron was starting to wish he’d never come to Shey at all. He’d never found Lilay or Slanslot and he was sure now, that he’d never see them again.
That was how it always seemed to end when he became close to someone. But why? What had he done to deserve a life like this? Aroron was pulled from his thoughts, when he heard the sounds of running footsteps behind him.
"Aroron, stop!" someone yelled. “I want to speak with you.”
With a sigh, Aroron turned around and found Prince Telarian running up behind him.
"What?!" Aroron snapped. "Do you want to blame me for something else? Maybe a missing loaf of bread from the kitchen?"
“Did you steal some bread?” Telarian asked, grinning. "I just wanted to tell you, that I believe you didn't try to kill my father tonight." He said, ducking his head. "I'm not saying I think we can ever be friends, or anything like that, but I do believe you." Prince Telarian said, glancing around. "I really do believe you. I can see it in your eyes that you’re trustworthy."
"Thank you," Aroron said, bowing towards him. "But I doubt that’s going to do me any good."
"I know." Telarian said, dropping his gaze. “There’s just one more thing I wanted to ask you about. What were you doing at the blacksmith’s shop?”
Aroron’s stomach dropped. “What?”
“Don’t play dumb with me.” The prince said. “I saw you there, what were you doing?”
“Nothing, I was just visiting him because I hadn’t seen him since I came here to the Palace.” Aroron said.
Telarian crossed his arm. “Okay, and I guess next, you’re going to tell me, your sword’s not glowing either. Is that right? Come on, Aroron! What are you hiding from us?”
Aroron dropped his gaze down to the sword at his side. Sure enough, his sword was glowing, just like it had in the Dubh-Woods. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason to it. “Fine, you want to know the truth? The truth is, my guardian was a Loyal Warrior, that’s how I know they’re assassins. I was at the blacksmith because I was telling a Karlien Rebel about the Loyal Warrior who tried to kill you tonight.”
“He wasn’t after me.”
“What?”
The Prince sighed. “If he’d wanted me dead, he could have had one of his men do the job.” Telarian said. “But he wasn’t there for me, he was there for you. Why would that be?”
Aroron dropped his gaze and ran the tip of his finger along the hilt of his blade. “This sword, as you can tell isn’t normal.” He swallowed. Once he said this, he couldn’t take it back. But he had a feeling the Prince would know if he lied to him again. “It’s called the Dragon Blade and King Munay wants it badly. He knows I can use it as a powerful weapon against him, because… I’m an Oddity.”
Prince Telarian just stared at him, as if he didn’t understand what he’d just said.
“Aren’t you going to say something? I just put my life in your hands by telling you this!” Aroron said, trying in vain to keep from snapping.
Finally, the prince spoke. “You’re an Oddity?” he whispered. “Why the heck did you come here? You know what happens to Odditys here, don’t you?”
“Yes, but it wasn’t any safer for me in Karlay.” Aroron said. “Munay wants me dead.”
Telarian rubbed his face. “Alright, I won’t tell anyone what you’ve just told me, but… don’t tell Gana.”
Aroron frowned. “Why not?”
“Her father’s our Oddity hunter.” He whispered. “He’s taken out hundreds of your kind, including his own child. He’s not one to make exceptions.” There was the sound of movement down the hall. “We’ve spoken enough for tonight. Goodnight.” Prince Telarian spun around and hurried away.
Mindlessly, Aroron walked the rest of the way back to his chamber. He stepped over the broken door and entered his room.
Dirt was drug all across the floor and his end table was turned on its side with a broken basin scattered across the ground. He kicked the pieces of glass away from his bed and moved towards it.
Aroron sat down on the edge of his bed and buried his face in his hands. Was Gana’s father really that bad? None of this would have happened if it wasn’t for the assassin who’d tried to kill the king.
King Munay was still messing with his life and he didn't even know it. This was all his fault.
Deep down Aroron had known it was a bad idea to come to Shey, but now it was too late for those kinds of thoughts. He wasn’t even allowed to leave the Palace now.
He wasn’t. He couldn’t leave now, not until he was sure what was happening. No one inside the palace would trust him for a long time, if ever. But still, he had to figure out why Kant had gone after him, or how he’d known he was there in the first place.
Aroron flopped back against the bed and groaned. What was he going to do if the prince said something about him being an Oddity? If King Dillaran found out, Aroron was a goner. He never should have told him, but it was too late for that now.
He was stuck in a Palace filled with people who didn’t trust him, and would want him dead or imprisoned if they knew what he was. This wasn’t any better than the Dark Castle.
Gana. She was the only good thing about this whole thing. He’d stay and prove his innocence, for her.
* * *
Chapter 20
Death of a Traitor
“I told you, he wouldn’t say!” Enrick growled. This was the third time he had to tell his father he had no idea why Kant wouldn’t come back. “What was I to do? Drag him back with us?”
“I just don’t understand it!” Munay said, turning away from Enrick and looking out over the castle grounds. He sighed, as he leaned against the window. “He’s never shown any sign of disloyalty to me before this. What’s changed?”
“Maybe he’s just hid it well, my lord?” Dasety asked, frowning. “I know you don’t want to hear this. But after all, he did have the chance to kill Aroron, twice, and he was unable.”
“Or maybe something else is going on.” Enrick said. “There was something off about him. Maybe…”
“Enough! Leave us!” King Munay ordered Enrick, spinning around to face him. “You’ve failed me again. If I don’t hear word of Dillaran’s death in the next week, I will not trus
t you to do anything for me for the rest of your life! If you can’t handle a simple task like this, what good are you to me?”
“If that’s how you feel, I will not detain you any longer.” Enrick said, his body stiff. “But I promise you, the Shenockien king is already as good as dead. When I want something, it happens.” With that he saluted his father, spun on his heels and marched towards the door, followed by Fray and two other guards.
Enrick was sick of his father treating him like this! He wasn’t a child anymore, but Munay didn’t seem to see that.
* * *
Enrick was right about King Dillaran, it was less than a week later, when he just dropped dead. He wasn't even buried, before the royal council decided someone needed to take his place. So, less than a day and a half after his father's death, Prince Telarian was crowned king of Shenock.
Telarian was only sixteen years old, but he had a kingdom to rule.
Even though he was still considered his personal body guard, after everything that had happened, Aroron couldn’t bring himself to go to the prince’s crowning. He didn't know why, but he just didn't want to go to a crowning, not when the reason for the change of kings was because the prince's father was murdered.
Everyone else thought it was just a strike of illness, but Aroron knew differently.
Once the crowning was already started, he couldn’t help but peek into the throne room and see what it was like. As quiet as he could, Aroron slipped into the throne room and stayed in the shadows.
The throne room looked so much different than the night he’d been drug into the room. Sunlight streamed in through the glass roof. Aroron pulled his gaze down and to the throne at the other end of the room.
The Queen stood in one of the corners of the room, dressed in black and her face veiled. Several women stood around, hugging and comforting her, but Aroron doubted it did anything to help with her grief. She was the only person in the whole crowd that wore black, everyone else still wore the bright Shenockien colors.
King Telarian sat all alone on the throne, staring out into space. He wasn't a small person, but he looked dwarfed by the crown and his father’s throne. No one even stood close to him, as if he was carrying some kind of plague. They probably did think so, if they still thought King Dillaran died of an illness.