King's Inheritance

by D L Colon

  His eyes turn a turbulent blue with white, smoke-like swirls filling the corners as his power continues to swirl around him, forcing the guardians to back further away. Keeping tight control of his powers, he calls to the ones lost in the battle: Hear me. It is your King who calls you. I call to the ones who have fallen protecting this Kingdom. Do you want revenge? Do you want to push the enemy away from your loved ones? If your answer is yes then go and reclaim your body to extract your revenge, but remember you will leave it behind when this war is over and I shall grant you the rest you deserve. Now, my warriors, rise and push the enemy back.

  The moment the words leave his mouth everyone feels a chill run down their spine. They stop fighting and look toward the hill where Noryad is standing with both of his swords in his hands and his eyes completely blue.

  Suddenly the ground starts to shake and all the dead that have been buried start to slowly rise from their graves. The ones that recently died and are still on the ground are slowly rising up to answer their King’s call. The newly created undead slowly start hitting with their swords against their shields, making a noise and moving forward to form a straight line between the living and the dead.

  Smiling to himself, Noryad moves into position, lays a hand on each guardian and disappears from the hill. A half of a second later they appear in front of the undead and Noryad looks back to the new battalion that has risen up. When he looks toward the enemy he sees fear and uncertainty in their eyes, some of them do not like the idea of fighting the undead and they are afraid because they have never fought anything like this before.

  Slowly more undead move forward to protect the living and Noryad is leading them. He reaches out and contacts Vlad: Bring your battalion up beside mine. I am putting up a barrier as soon as the last undead comes through and I want you and your warriors in front of it.

  Vlad, not needing to be told twice, rallies his troops and brings them beside Noryad. The moment he comes through the last undead comes through and a blueish barrier comes up, leaving the living safely behind it.

  Once the barrier is securely in place Noryad contacts Xandar: I will take care of this, you take everyone to the castle and give them time to rest. No one must touch the barrier for their own safety. I will be back before you know it, and he severs the connection before Xandar can answer him. He takes a second to look back through the barrier and sees that they are slowly retreating, worry is evident in Coral’s eyes. Not liking that he put that worry in her eyes, but knowing there is no other way, he mentally says to her: Te Amo, Coral, Mi Diosa. I will come back to you. He breaks the connection before she has a chance to say anything and turns around to face Morgana and Albert, who are standing in front of their troops.

  They have amused looks on their faces, apparently thinking this is just a lame joke, but then Noryad raises his hands and uses the barrier to slowly form a circle around them all, making it impossible for them to escape.

  Albert realizes Noryad’s intentions and tries to escape before the barrier closes around them, but Noryad uses his powers and forces him to remain where he is. Morgana was trying to escape, but when she sees Noryad paralyze Albert she stops and looks at him, “What are we facing now? His powers are extraordinary. He is a monster. Every move he makes is calculated and with absolutely no remorse. It’s fascinating.”

  “Remember who owns your ass, bitch, or you will be suffering the same fate as me.”

  Morgana ignores his comment and thinks to herself: how would he be in bed, a monster, too? I wish I could get him under my spell to taste that.

  Noryad looks at Morgana and knows she is fantasizing about him. He smiles and uses a small amount of magic to give her a taste of what she is fantasizing about then he turns to face Albert, who is trying to look brave in front of everyone, but he is as scared as his troops.

  Noryad looks away from Albert and faces the undead, “Leave no one alive except for the two leaders. Take care of the rest, you are more than ready to fight.” Using Excalibur, he points to the enemy and yells, “ATTACK!” and the undead start attacking.

  Noryad joins them in the slaughter. Most of the enemy is too scared to fight back and those who are fighting back are failing miserably against an enemy who doesn’t feel pain. Noryad’s armor is drenched with blood, and so is his face, but that doesn’t stop him from killing them. When he realizes the enemy has been killed he stops and looks at Albert, who is surrounded by undead.

  Vlad stops beside Noryad and says, “They never stood a chance. You had already stricken fear into them and their will to fight wasn’t strong enough. They came here hoping for an easy fight, but what they got was a complete massacre.”

  Noryad is barely listening as he watches one of the undead force Albert to his knees and lifts his sword to issue the killing blow. “Stop!” Noryad yells and the undead stops and steps back. Morgana, who has been watching the fight this entire time, still transfixed by the spell Noryad put her under, watches intently as Noryad approaches and says, “You thought we wouldn’t be ready for you? This proves otherwise.” Albert spits on Noryad’s armor and Noryad continues, “This will serve as a lesson to all the Gods who thought that Coral’s Kingdom and her right as a Goddess would fall. This will prove to them that there is someone who is strong enough to oppose them.”

  Noryad uses Nightfall and Excalibur to form a X against Albert`s neck and with one quick motion he severs his head from his body. His body falls motionless to the ground and Morgana snaps out of the spell. When she sees Albert`s headless body on the ground she looks at Noryad in fear.

  “You have two choices,” Noryad says as he approaches her. “One, you can fight me and die again, or two, I can set you free, but you shall be sent to rest, which is something you have been unable to do.”

  Morgana looks at Noryad with a sad expression and says, “I never thought I would be given a choice. I choose to rest.”

  “Then it shall be done,” he says to her before contacting the souls of the dead with his mind: Souls of the dead who haven’t been granted rest, the time has come to lay your burden bare. I shall grant you your rest, unless you choose to remain and fight with me once again.

  Slowly all the undead start to disintegrate as their soul leaves their body. When Morgana is the last remaining she says, “Thank you, Noryad King. I can finally find peace,” and her body slowly disappears. The two guardians, Vlad and his warriors are the only ones who remain because they have promised Noryad they will fight the next one.

  Back at the Castle

  Merlin is looking at the battlefield and sees that Morgana has disappeared and he says,

  “Goodbye once again, my love, I shall meet you in the next life.”

  Chapter 79

  Noryad is still at the battlefield with the two guardians, Vlad and his troops, making sure there are no survivors. Once they confirm that there isn’t anyone left alive Vlad and his troops disappear: We will be ready, just give us a call the moment you need us. When they are gone Noryad looks to the guardians and says, “Touch my shoulder,” and they do as he said. Once contact is made they all disappear with a flash of black light.

  They appear at the entrance to the catacombs and the guardians move to take their place protecting the catacombs. Noryad nods to them then turns and walks toward the castle. Once inside he slowly makes his way to the Throne Room. As he approaches the Throne Room he contacts Nohar: Nohar, summon everyone to the Throne Room.

  Nohar answers instantly: Yes, Milord.

  As he walks he uses his power to clean his armor, and when he arrives at the Throne Room, there is no one there yet. He sits on his throne and is deep in thought about the battle when everyone starts coming in. The first to see him is Coral and she starts running toward him.

  Coral’s presence pulls Noryad from his thoughts and he gets up from the Throne just in time to catch Coral as she leaps into his arms. He lifts her from the floor and spins her around as he says, “I am back, Mi Diosa. Te amo, Mi Reina.

  Coral
beams a smile at him as tears run down her face, “Welcome back, My King. I love you, too.”

  Noryad sets her on the floor, kisses her forehead and goes to his throne, Coral follows to hers. He looks at everyone in the room and stands in front of the throne and says, “I know we have just succeeded in winning a war, but I must ask you to prepare for another in two months’ time. We have time to rest and make sure we have everything ready to protect our loved ones and this time I’m bringing my Guild mates from the Lost City here to aid us, but tonight we will celebrate the win of this war.”

  Everyone in the room cheers. When Noryad raises his hand the room goes quiet. “I wish I could join you all, but the tasks I underwent and this war has pushed me to my limits. I need to rest and so does your Queen. Let all in the Kingdom know that Noryad King is back and that you won this war.”

  Everyone in the room cheers again before they slowly start leaving the Throne Room. Once they are gone Noryad and Coral start walking to their room. They are moving slowly because his body is suffering from the use of too much magic. Coral puts his arm around her shoulders to help him walk and he smiles at her and says, “Thanks, my love.”

  Coral smiles, “You like to show off even when you are in this condition.”

  Noryad beams a bright and charming smile and says, “A King must look good for his people. If he doesn’t he is giving them more to worry about. If he doesn’t look good the image of the King is destroyed.”

  Coral thinks about this for a second as they arrive at their room. Upon opening the door Noryad says, “Let me take off the armor,” and he slowly takes off the Armor of Kings. While he is taking it off he tells her what he hasn’t told everyone else, he tells her everything that happened in the Kingdom of Death.

  She listens without saying a word and after he is finished she says, “I love you, my God, and because I love you I have taken down the wall I put up around my mind and I am more than ready for you to know everything that I am.”

  Noryad takes off his gloves, puts his hands on her cheeks, smiles sadly and says, “I love you, too, My Goddess, but are you sure about this?”

  Coral, with certainty in her eyes, nods and the barrier comes down. Noryad is immediately assaulted with images of her from the moment she was born until now. In those memories he sees her helping a black man with curly hair and yellow eyes and a white woman with blonde hair and gray eyes arrive at the Lost City with a baby. He see her as a whole. As he is viewing her memories he uses his power and shares his memories with her, all of them.

  Once they stop they see each other in a new light with more love than before beaming in their eyes. Noryad kisses her deeply and leads her to the bed. They slowly undress each other and make slow love until they fall asleep in each other`s arms.

  Chapter 80

  The next day

  Noryad wakes up to see Coral sleeping, curled up to his chest. He smiles and caresses her silver hair, recalling all he had to do to get to where he is right now. He had hoped he could take the sword sooner, but he didn’t know it existed and he wasn’t ready for it yet. He knows that everything has happened when it was supposed to happen and he wouldn’t get it any other way. He gets off the bed and takes a deep cleansing shower. As he washes his body he feels the mark of the dragon on his arm and he feels the Phoenix shift on his back as he hears it in his mind: Noryad King, you have proven to be worthy of using my power. I know for a fact that you wouldn’t use it to do wrong.

  Noryad answers back: I know it’s a pleasure you decided to grant me the right to use your power. Thank you.

  The Phoenix quickly responds: This is the first time someone has thanked me for letting him use me. You are welcome, Noryad King.

  He feels the Phoenix leave his mind and finishes taking his shower. As he gets out Coral is getting off the bed. He quickly approaches her and kisses her, “Good morning. Why don’t you go and get your shower, love? I’m going to get ready for what approaches next.” Coral goes to the shower and when she comes out a little while later he is just finishing putting on the Armor of Kings.

  Coral smiles as she looks at him and licks her lips, “Oh my. What a magnificent King we have here. I might have to get ready to cut some hands of women who think they can take you away.”

  He laughs and walks toward her, gathers her in his arms and kisses her deeply. When he breaks the kiss he smiles and says, “My heart, body and soul belongs to only one, and that one is you, Mi Diosa.”

  Coral shivers at his words and responds, “I love it when you call me that.”

  He caresses her cheek lovingly and says, “And you shall hear it always, Mi Diosa”

  She shivers again and stands on her tiptoes to capture his mouth in a passionate kiss, one he answers with enthusiasm. He softly breaks the kiss, but presses his rock hard length against her softness and says, “If you continue this I will have to make love to you again.”

  Coral smiles seductively, “And what if that’s what I want?”

  Noryad groans and snaps his fingers, making both of their clothes disappear, “Then we aren’t getting anywhere today, or for the next few days. I was hoping to leave that until after the war, but since we are going to rest for a while we might as well enjoy it, Mi Diosa.” When he stops talking, he gives Coral a possessive kiss then lifts her and carries her to the bed.

  Next few days

  For the next few days Noryad and Coral spend their time in their room, making love, and only going to eat when no one else is around. Everyone is getting worried because of their absence. When they are getting ready to leave their room so they can settle some matters that were left unfinished, and so he can go get his Guild mates, they hear a knock on their door. Coral sticks her head out to see who it is.

  As soon as the door opens she sees Xandar standing there with worry etched into his features. “Are you two okay?” He asks quickly, “You have been missing in action for quite some time.”

  Coral grins and Noryad opens the door further so he can see Xandar, “Xandar, I’m glad that you are here. I am leaving the castle under your care while I’m gone.”

  Xandar looks at him in confusion, “Where are you going? We must start preparing for the war that approaches.”

  “I know Xandar, and that is why I must go.”

  “Then let me ask you again, where are you going?”

  “To the Lost City.”

  Chapter 81

  Noryad is slightly irritated at Xandar, but he explains to him why he is going to the Lost City. When he is finished Xandar says, “Forgive me, Milord. It wasn’t my intention to doubt you.”

  “I will never run away from a fight, especially when I know all will be lost if I do. I will make sure Raphael knows very well who he let go when I was younger and I will make him live to regret it.”

  He turns from Xandar and kisses Coral, “I will be back, Mi Reina.” He kisses her again before he opens the portal and steps inside.

  As the portal closes he hears Xandar ask, “Why did he use a portal when he could have just teleported there?”

  Coral smiles and answers, “Because that’s the way he left when he came here.”

  “Ah, but he has changed since then.”

  Coral nods, “Yes he has, but they don’t know how much. This will be a surprise for all of them.”

  The entrance of The Lost City

  Noryad steps out of the portal wearing the Armor of Kings. He has Excalibur and Nightfall concealed from view, but has his staff-sword in his right hand. Noryad is making his way to the Guild, the home he left months ago, and while he is walking he is able to perceive the thoughts of everyone he passes. When he makes it to the entrance of the Guild Headquarters the guard at the door recognizes him instantly and, with a shocked expression, opens the door then goes running to Vince’s office.

  Noryad smiles as he enters the Guild and heads straight to his room. When he gets there he sees two new members trying to pick the lock on his door, smiling to himself he lifts the barrier he placed upo
n it and it open. The two members shake hands, praising their accomplishment over opening the door, but before they can enter Noryad clears his throat and says, “Congratulations, you managed to open the door to my room.”

  The color drains from their faces at his words and they take off running like the Devil herself is chasing them. Noryad chuckles and shakes his head as he enters the room. The room is exactly as he left it, even the note he left on his bed is still there. He recalls when he wrote the letter, it was meant for the closest member of the Guild and Coral.

  The note was written to both, but could only be read when the right person touched it, revealing only the words meant for them. When he’s finished checking everything he steps out of the room, slipping the note into his pocket. He seals the door again and starts walking back to the lobby. As he nears it he hears Vince’s voice, “Where did you say you saw him?”

  The guard answers, “He was coming to the Guild. Vince, I swear I wouldn’t bring you out of your office if it wasn’t important.”

  “I know you wouldn’t. I hope he is doing okay, it’s been a while since I’ve heard any news from him and Selene is already 8 months pregnant. I was hoping I would hear from him so I could share the news of the pregnancy.”

  Noryad walks up silently behind Vince and he says, “And what would happen if he already knew about all of it?”

  Vince turns around, not believing his ears, and sees Noryad standing a few feet behind him. He closes the distance and wraps Noryad into a hug, one that Noryad returns eagerly, and says, “I’m so glad to see you.” When he notices how Noryad is dressed, realization dawns on him.

  Noryad notices the look in Vince’s eyes and shakes his head, “Don’t even think about it. Now is not the time to be thinking about that. I am still the same Noryad. The time for formalities will come, but let me just enjoy the company of a good friend for a while.”