Strange, he thought as he walked towards the light that had not really gotten that much brighter. There should be signs of anything relating to a farm if there was one here but it was still just grass and bushes. But why did the light seem to move, he thought. Perhaps there was a wagon and that would be even better because he could get away faster. He just needed to slit the throat of the driver, and he was safe from the guard. He found that extra strength and started jogging but was still hesitant to call out. After getting closer, the light was almost visible and the relief was soon at hand.
All of a sudden, the light gave out and disappeared. Theran ran a little faster and also called out to stop, and all of the sudden he saw the road ended and a giant cliff with ocean appeared in front of him. As he glared out of the ocean, he thought about what happened to the wagon. Did it fall of the cliff or what was the light otherwise? He didn’t know what to do or what happened when he heard a sound behind him and he froze instantaneously. He turned his head first in slow-motion followed by his body. Nothing was there, and he stared into the mist. He looked around but could not find anything. Was there nothing there, was his mind playing tricks on him?
As he was facing to the side, his eyes got drawn back towards the middle because there was something moving there. Could it be the guard or an animal, he wondered. With the sword drawn, he was ready even if the body then ached more than ever. All of a sudden, the light came back on and was swinging side to side. The light looked like it was alive, and he felt, for the first time, really afraid. The wind blew with a hard gust and was making the mist disappear. With the wind making the mist disappear, a figure was then visible holding the light. The prince started to breathe uncontrollably, and he fell on his knees and shook. He held his hand towards his heart that was feeling like it was beating out of his chest.
The figure that was appearing in front of him was the guard. Jay was standing there and was watching what was happening to the prince. He didn’t say anything and was instead just holding the light. The prince raised his head and screamed for penance and forgiveness. Promises of riches and women seemed to have no effect on Jay. Theran yelled out what did he want and let him live. Jay looked at the prince who was looking back and with a slight movement, let his sword fall next to his side and put the lamp down as well.
The prince realised there was no hope to end this in anything other than death for one of them. The guard must have tricked him towards the cliff so he couldn’t run anymore. He laughed a little and got up on one knee and said, with his bent head that if he lived, he would release terror over anyone Jay held dear. Jay, still standing silently, was just watching the prince raise himself. Then when on both his feet, the prince was feeling the adrenaline hit its peak. He did not feel the pain anymore, and his vision, that was getting darker, then eased up, and warmth in his body sank in.
With a deep breath, he raised his sword while eyes closed and as he opened them he said then die guard. He ran towards Jay but he was still not moving at all. With every closing step, the prince made, the slower time seemed to go. Theran was close and was taking up his sword to aim at Jay and with the hardest swing he could muster. He swung but missed. Jay, with a quick move, countered and moved to the side and looked away from the prince.
Theran was finding his breath getting deeper and as he fell to his knees he held his arm around his stomach that was having an incredible pain. Blood started to come out, and he dropped his sword on the ground and looked up in the sky. He felt his breath was fast but getting slower. He then was surrounded with blood, and Jay came around and looked him in the eyes. He asked if Theran had any last words to give in this time. The prince, who was losing conscience and his vision that was mixed with blood and adrenaline as well as his heart beating very slow, could only get out one sentence. He said his father would have them all killed when he found out what happened.
With a quick move by Jay towards the heart, the prince’s eyes lost all their life and his head fell down to his chest. With a final long breath, the prince was then dead. Jay took his sword, dried it off on a cloth and put it back. He grabbed the lamp and started to walk towards the road again. With the prince dead, he could only wonder as he disappeared back into the fog, what the King Arobe might do to get revenge on the people who killed his son.
Take Over
Kemi was wondering, in the castle, what happened and was keeping out of sight of her father. She believed he would be angry if he found out that she sent Jay to take out Theran. She couldn’t sleep and knew the life in the kingdom would never be the same as before. The kingdom learnt of the fight at the town of Fengo and the search after the prince. Kemi wondered if he got away and if Jay walked in to the Darcolia land to find him. She soon learnt the truth when, after two days, her father called her to his chamber. When she entered the room, she saw several advisors whispered as she walked in and she tried to keep her head high.
When she stood before her father, he asked her if she sent out a soldier to kill the prince. She asked why he thought she would have done such a thing. He banged his fist hard on the chair hand rest, and she turned her head to the side to look out the window. He told her to look at him and asked her how she could go against him. She said she didn’t believe diplomacy would work anymore, and he had an outdated belief on how the kingdom needs to respond to conflict. The king again slammed his fist on the chair. He told her she had no idea what she had done and started to cough really strong as he had done many times lately. She could see her father was not what he used to be and became frailer for every day.
A servant came up with a cup of water. The king drank the water and tried to stop coughing but it kept persisting. When he stopped, he told her she might have helped to start a war. She told him the war had been coming for years and said she did what he could not. He interrupted her and told her the prince was dead because of what she did. She was silent at first but then stood confidently looking at her father saying, ‘Good.’ The king started to cough again and told the guards to take her to her chamber until he gave permission to leave. He ordered them to guard the door until they had figured out what to do with the situation. She entered her room and sat at her marble table that had a great space for writing. She asked for a paper and a pen that she received not long after.
For the rest of the day, she wrote something that would change the course of the war. Jay came back to a guard station after walking a couple of days back towards the kingdom. The station was close to the kingdom, and he took the chance to replenish his water. His horse was taken by someone when he put it in the fog which he was less than happy for since he had to walk back. When he entered the station, he was met by a soldier that asked him to follow him. Jay wondered what was wrong but had a feeling that his killing of the prince had a lot to do with it. He was correct in his suspicion when the high officer that was in charge of the station told him that the king was furious and knew it was him that killed the prince.
Jay saw suddenly from the side of his eyes saw how several soldiers were surrounding him. The high officer said he had been told earlier that day to apprehend Jay as soon as he was sighted. He said he felt the prince deserved to die and apologised for arresting Jay. Some other soldiers got closer to him and had their swords out. Jay understood he was in trouble and said to the men he would come quietly. He gave his sword to one of the men and was led out to a prison carriage.
The soldiers told him he did the right thing and not one of them looked happy to arrest him. Many tapped him on the shoulder and back when he walked past them. The king had issued the arrest, but it was clear there were many soldiers that were happy the prince was dead. He was put in the prison carriage and it drove immediately towards the kingdom. The princess had spent the rest of the day in her room and was given food by her maids.
In the evening, she called one of the advisors to her room that had been aiding her and her father. When he came in, she asked him to sit with her because she wished to speak with him. She asked if the advi
sor agreed with what her father thought or did he have other thoughts. The advisor was careful and said he only worked for the best interest of the kingdom. She said he would not need to worry, and that she only wanted an honest answer. He looked at her and said he believed she did the right thing. The princess leaned back and asked if there were others that felt the same and he said there were. She brought the paper she had written on while spending the time in her room. The advisor read and became sweaty over his head very quickly. He had worked for the kingdom ever since he was fourteen and he was hired by King Lenchi himself.
What was written on the paper was something he never heard anyone through history of the kingdom done before. He looked at her and asked if she was sure she wished to proceed with what was written on the paper. She said she had many loyal servants and there was a dark time coming for the land. The kingdom must become stronger before it was too late she said but the way her father was taking them, it would be impossible. He sat and thought but he knew what he needed to do then. He nodded to her and said he would commence with the preparations right away. Jay was seeing the castle as the darkness was coming closer.
When he arrived at the entrance, the stars were just visible and a wind had picked up. Jay was taken out of the carriage and brought to the cell that was built for soldiers that train to withstand torture. No one was treating him as a prisoner and rather showed respect for him with simple nods and whispers of praise. He was seated in the cell and waited for the decision to come. He had to wait until morning he was told and was thinking if he did the right thing. He never questioned the princess, and at the time, it felt like the right thing to do. He heard a knock at the barred window and saw the princess. She was standing with some guards that were escorting her around as she was only allowed to leave her room if she was accompanied by them.
She told Jay she was happy that he was able to kill the prince, and she asked of him to continue to be loyal to her. He asked her if he was in trouble but she told him the kingdom would go through a change soon, and she would need his support. He had always been on her side and told her he would die for the kingdom if she wished to. She smiled and for the next five minutes, told him about her plan. He stood silent and walked back to his seat after she had finished. His head was spinning and his thoughts went in and out of his mind. She told him that the kingdom was in danger and the time for the Grasoll land to show itself as a strong nation was now. His head stopped spinning and he was clear in what she intends to do. He rose up and walked back to her then said he would help her with her request. She smiled back and thanked him for his continuing loyalty.
The next day had come, and in the morning, the soldiers came back to bring him to the king. He was escorted up the stairs but the soldiers were only following him, and he saw several soldiers that were standing in attention as he walked past. There were many high officers that he used to salute who were now showing him the same respect. The door to the throne room was finally in front of him, and he felt a little nervous for what the future might hold for him and the kingdom.
The king was already sitting inside and was talking to some of the advisors. He found himself with only two of them as the others had walked to the side and were watching Jay as he walked in. The king saw him and asked him if it was true that he killed the prince. Jay said it was, and the king breathed out a long sigh. He asked if the princess gave the order. Jay was silent and said he did what was necessary for the kingdom. The king banged his fist on the chair again, and as soon as he did, he started to cough. When he had stopped, he told Jay that if he would not say so and take the blame, he would face the punishment of sitting in the dungeon for years to come.
Jay said he would do it again if he had a chance, and the king ordered the men to bring him to the dungeon. He was brought down to the prison cells in the bottom of the castle. He sat quietly for only three hours until a soldier he knew opened up the door again. The shackle that was on his hands was taken off and Kane gave him back his sword. Jay asked Kane if everyone was ready and puts his sword in his belt. Kane said the soldiers would follow the orders that had been given. They walked up and Jay was met by several of the soldiers that were standing still and all knew what was about to happen. The king was eating and was still talking to the advisors who were in the room.
Everyone was silent and was listening to what the king was saying but gave no advice and said very little. He was busy with eating and reading a request from a farmer to dig out a small pond to store water in. He had so many other things to worry about then that he had no time for small requests. He had told some of the advisors who were sitting quietly that he needed them to prepare a shipment of gold to his allies that he might need soon. His wished to ask for a meeting with the king of Ocenia, King Tambo, that would mean nothing if it came out that Kemi ordered the prince’s death. He knew Theran was friends with Prince Grummel of Ocenia and he had to be careful then.
The princess suddenly came in and asked to speak to her father. He was still angry at her and told her to come back later. She said there was no longer any way to postpone what she would say. He told one of the guards in the room to take her out but he did not move from his position. The door opened again and in came Jay followed by some of the soldiers with Kane being one of them. The king asked angrily why the criminal was not in shackles and had been given his sword back. He ordered again for the soldiers to seize him but again, no one was moving. He looked around, confused and coughed a little again.
Kemi went up and told him the country was going to change soon, and he was the only one that did not see it. She continued as she walked up the steps to the table and said that the land needed to show it was not weak. He tried to talk but as he became more angry and distressed, his cough became more severe. She said the people would not respect the kingdom if the enemies were allowed to do whatever they wanted with almost no punishment. King Lenchi looked over at the advisors who were all then standing together. He asked them if they as well had turned against him. One of the advisors came up and told him that they all were on the side of the princess. The advisor told King Lenchi that there had been much displeasure through the land regarding how other kingdoms looked upon them.
The king’s cough began to cause his face to become white, and the princess was asking the guards to bring her father to his chamber. She told them to make sure he was taken care of. Unable to speak because of his cough, he suddenly felt helpless to resist. When he had left the throne room, Kemi sat down on the chair previously sat on by her father and her ancestors. She looked over the room and asked Jay to come up to her as her personal bodyguard and soldier. She asked some guards to bring the high priest who would initiate the transition.
The high priest was brought in and when he asked about his friend, the king, he was told the king was too sick to continue to rule and Kemi must take his place as the queen. He understood and did not question as he knew the king was very ill. He told her that he would commence the crowning within a week so the people got to know and prepared. She said the crowning must happen right away, and there was no time to wait as the kingdom had already been attacked. She said the kingdom needed to be ready and had to have a strong leader to guide the people. He agreed and blessed the crown that had been made for her to wear on the day her father dies.
In front of the high officers, advisors and other people, he put it on her making it official. She was looking around the throne room on everyone that kneeled before her and it felt exciting to then have control over the kingdom. She decided then and there to start a new reign where she would no longer follow the ancient ways of her ancestors. She intended to bring the Grasoll kingdom into the future and bring in new upgrades to the city. She knew the other kingdoms were more advanced when it came to both weapons and technology. In a war, she might have more soldiers than anyone else but it would do no good if she couldn’t supply them with the best weapons.
Her father still believed wars could be fought with just swords, but she had seen
the heavy weapons of Ocenia and read the notes by the spies visiting Darcolia. Having an outdated kingdom would surely bring interest by other kingdoms to eventually take over the land. She looked over to Jay and told him to send soldiers dressed as merchants to spy on the other kingdom to see what they had for weapons. Jay made sure he picked the best men for the task, and Kemi, who was now, a queen, sat on her throne giving a great smile.
Anger at the Castle
Arobe heard about the death of his son from a merchant that was going past Fengo that was attacked by Theran. The merchant came to the land of Darcolia twelve days after the prince’s death and ask to saw the king. He was let in the castle after he said he had news about his son. The king was in the armoury and inspecting some new canons that he would move to the cave next to the castle. He had guests that had come from Redonia and they were there to discuss the discovery of the earth stone. He had not heard anything about what had happened to his son but knew he made a lot of trouble in the Grasoll lands after receiving a letter from King Lenchi saying the king wants a meeting to discuss peace. The guest that had come had brought with them information about the said stone. One of the men was a master of knowledge named Hoseki that understood about old magic and knew Arobe well ever since he was a child.
The brother of Arobe would arrive within days, and then they would discuss the matter further. A soldier came up to Arobe and told him there was a merchant that had information about his son. Arobe assumed Theran must have gotten caught and they were holding him. Master Hoseki said they would help anyway they could to make sure he was freed. Arobe thought that King Lenchi might ask for assurances to ensure peace, but Arobe knew that if the information about the magic stone had been found, his brother would bring the war anyway to obtain it. He knew the background of the magic stones very well, and if they held the prince they had to get him out before he could be used as a bargaining tool. They all came in the throne room and the merchant was standing next to a table that showed the Grasoll land and the many entries to the land.
World of Taroo Page 24