The Blind King

by Lana Axe

  Tyrol refused, maintaining his defiant stance. Glancing at each other, the dwarves grabbed hold of him once more, forcing him to his knees. With a nod from Arden, they backed away, allowing Tyrol to his feet once more.

  “Welcome, King Tyrol,” Efren said, sitting upon his throne. “Your arrival has come at a great price.”

  Tyrol said nothing. Though he had many words to say, none of them would help his situation. This meeting was a formality that would be over quickly. Once he was back in Na’zora, he could forget any promise he made here. His historians would write what he commanded, and it would not include the demands of a blind man pretending to be a king.

  “Your surrender brings an end to this war,” Efren stated. “I look forward to a future of peace.”

  “I would expect better treatment, but these friends of yours from the mountains have no respect for kings.” Tyrol’s voice was full of contempt. If he had any idea Ra’jhou had such an ally, he never would have attempted the siege. The fire weapons wielded by the dwarves were more powerful than any magefire. Given a chance to prepare, Tyrol felt certain he would have found a way to combat them.

  “These friends of mine would respect you more had you earned it,” Efren replied. “Your friends upon the sea, on the other hand, found you quite worthy of respect. It took much effort to convince them otherwise.”

  “It was you who convinced the Enlightened Elves to withdraw their aid,” Tyrol said, realizing what had happened.

  Master Uhnar had provided Efren with the names of several members of the Grand Council on the Sunswept Isles. Efren had written each of them numerous times until he finally convinced them to withdraw. The money paid them by King Tyrol was a vast sum, but it could not compare with dwarf-crafted silver, which Efren promised in hopes that he would eventually win dwarven support. The offer had proved too difficult to resist for the Enlightened Elves, who prized this metal above all others. With a steady supply from Ra’jhou’s mine, they would use the precious silver to craft items of unimaginable power. With the elves out of the equation, Na’zora was left without a potion supplier. Had the war continued, Na’zora’s mages would have proved useless within a matter of days.

  “Indeed, it was I who convinced them to cease their shipments to you, and now I have some demands of my own,” Efren replied. “You are holding my wife and my nephew. I want them returned immediately. My army is marching south to reclaim our conquered cities. They will continue into Na’zora until they reach your palace. That is, unless my wife is returned before then.”

  “I heard a rumor that a queen was in my dungeons,” he said. “I did not believe it. I will see that your wife is released at once and escorted to the border. She has not been harmed, as far as I know.”

  “I will hold you to that,” Efren said. “If she is harmed in any way, you will see retaliation on a level you could never imagine.” His face reflected the sincerity behind his threat. “I also expect your kingdom to make amends. You have destroyed many of my cities in your path, and you will help to rebuild them.”

  Not wanting to admit that his kingdom was low on funds, King Tyrol simply agreed. “I will,” he stated flatly. Tyrol was convinced he could easily back out of such an agreement once he returned to his own kingdom.

  “You have also mistreated my sister,” Efren replied.

  “She was suspected of treason,” he said, defending himself.

  “I’m sure she has a few things to say on the subject,” Efren stated.

  The doors opened, allowing the princess inside. She had been listening to the conversation and was angry that Tyrol still believed her a traitor. “It isn’t true!” she cried, rushing to King Tyrol’s side. “I did nothing against the Kingdom of Na’zora.” Turning to face her brother, a lump rose to her throat. “My crimes are against Ra’jhou. I wish only to be reunited with my son.”

  Tyrol thought for a moment. “My grandson is heir to the throne now that my son is gone. Rayne cannot leave, but I will grant you permission to return and live with him. You shall be treated as a princess and a widow.”

  “Is that acceptable to you, Aubriana?” Efren asked.

  “It is,” she replied, tears filling her eyes.

  “I expect her to be treated well,” Efren said. “Any rumor of her mistreatment will be met with military action.”

  King Tyrol nodded. “You have my word.”

  “Then our two kingdoms shall know peace,” Efren declared. “I have no desire to continue this war.” After a pause, he added, “You shall stay as my guest until my wife returns.”

  Once again, Tyrol was escorted by dwarves. This time they walked next to him rather than dragging him. Their firm grips still held tight to his arms, in case the king decided to take a different route than the one they had planned. Leading him to the lowest level of the castle, they showed him to a room with no windows and only a straw bed for furniture.

  “This is your room,” one of the dwarves grunted. “Enjoy your stay.”

  Slamming the door behind them, the dwarves left the king in silence. He was fuming with anger, his teeth clenched tightly. What right did they have to keep him prisoner? He had agreed to all of Ra’jhou’s terms.

  Lieutenant Jak appeared outside the door. With a knock, he said, “Majesty what are your orders?”

  “See that their wretched queen is returned here at once!” he shouted through the door. “And get me out of here!”

  Chapter 43

  Aubriana made ready to depart immediately. Though she loved the land of Ra’jhou dearly, she would gladly live in Na’zora next to her son, the heir to the kingdom’s throne. With his mother to watch over him, he would learn to become a proper king. She would make sure King Tyrol did not have any influence over him. No longer would she be the weak, eager-to-please princess she had been before. From now on, she would be strong, like Ryshel. She would speak out and take a stand when necessary, and she would not let others determine what was best for her own son. If she had to fight for him, she would. Ra’jhou had proved itself a powerful kingdom, and she hoped she and her son would be welcome to return here should life in Na’zora prove too difficult.

  Shala prepared the princess’s luggage and saw that it was loaded into a carriage. A second carriage waited in the courtyard to carry the two ladies to the palace. As she made her way down the stairs, Aubriana realized there was one more thing she needed to do before departing.

  It was still early, and Efren had not yet arrived at his throne room. Hurrying down the corridor, she hoped to catch him before he was surrounded by nobles and servants. What she needed to say was a private matter between brother and sister.

  Arriving outside his bedchamber, she hesitated a moment before knocking. To her surprise, Efren himself opened the door. He was dressed rather plainly, considering his day would be spent at court discussing the rebuilding of his kingdom.

  “Good morning, dear brother,” she said. “I’m set to leave for Na’zora, and I wanted to say goodbye.”

  Efren reached out for her hand and squeezed it. “I wish you well, my sister,” he said. “Give Rayne my love.”

  Nervously, she asked, “Can you ever forgive me? My mistake has cost you much, and I deeply regret my actions. I cannot express—”

  “Think of it no more,” he said, interrupting her. “The matter is done.”

  Aubriana nodded, wiping the tears from her eyes. “I love you, Efren,” she said. “You are the finest king this land has ever known. I hope you will allow me to visit on occasion.”

  Efren held his sister tightly to his chest. “I love you too,” he replied. “You are always welcome here, and I look forward to our next meeting. Now go. Your son is waiting.”

  * * * * *

  Footsteps hurried toward Ryshel’s cell as she sat in the darkness. Rising to her feet, she saw the face of the young guard as he approached. Rattling his keys, he unlocked the door and opened it wide.

  “What’s going on?” she asked, her voice cracking. She feared this
might be the day of her execution.

  “I am to escort you to the palace.” Hesitating a moment, he added, “My lady.”

  “Am I to be put on trial?” she wondered aloud.

  “No, Your Majesty,” he responded. “You are to be treated as an honored guest.”

  Ryshel could hardly believe her ears. What had occurred to warrant such a drastic change? “Please,” she said. “Tell me what has happened.”

  Leading her away from the prison, the guard said, “A messenger arrived this morning with word from the king. You are to be released and taken back to Ra’jhou immediately.”

  “But how did the king know I was here?”

  The guard paused in his walking and turned to face the queen. “Our army was defeated, and Ra’jhou’s king, your husband, has threatened to invade Na’zora if you are not released unharmed.” He stared at her a moment, still shocked to discover she was truly a queen as she had insisted.

  Ryshel was led inside the palace to an expansive chamber. Four ladies had been assigned to tend to her needs, and they greeted her as she stepped inside the room. A warm bath was prepared for her, and she gladly removed her clothing and sank into the tub.

  “You might as well burn that dress,” she said to one servant. “You’ll never wash away the smell of that prison.” She rubbed her skin vigorously, hoping the same was not true for herself. “Bring more rosewater,” she commanded them. Never before had she been a demanding person, but today was different. Her kingdom now had the upper hand, though she did not know how.

  As she relaxed in the warm water, a smile spread over her face. How had Efren managed to defeat the Na’zorans? He was a clever man, but what he had accomplished was nearly impossible. It’s too bad he didn’t send a personal message for me, she thought. She looked forward to hearing the rest of the story.

  After soaking for more than an hour, Ryshel finally rose from her bath. She was given a fine golden gown that had belonged to the previous queen of Na’zora. With her servants trailing behind her, she made her way through the palace to visit with Rayne.

  “Auntie Rysh!” he cried upon seeing her. He ran to greet her, wrapping his arms around her waist.

  “How are you, sweet child?” she asked, looking at his shining face. A twinge of pain entered her heart as she thought of her own children. Hopefully, they had been spared knowledge of her imprisonment. The last thing she wanted was for them to worry about her. She longed to reunite with them.

  “I’m taking the prince to Ra’jhou to his mother,” she declared to her servants.

  “My lady, the king has forbidden it!” one of them replied. “His mother is on her way here.”

  Ryshel was displeased by the news. It was best for Rayne to reside in Ra’jhou. “Are you certain of this?”

  “Yes, my lady,” the woman responded. “The princess has already departed and will be here any day now.”

  Ryshel wasn’t sure why Aubriana would choose to reside in Na’zora, but there was nothing else she could do. She would have to wait until Aubriana arrived before she could depart. Leaving Rayne alone in the hands of the Na’zorans was not an option. Without his mother to protect him, he would need Ryshel as his advocate. Though it pained her to stay away from her own family, there was no other choice. Her stay in Na’zora was not yet over.

  Chapter 44

  Morning arrived and found Efren alone in his bedchamber once more. Each day without Ryshel was agony, even in what should be his moment of glory. His kingdom was safe, and his people were no longer in danger. Ryshel, on the other hand, was still in Na’zora, or somewhere in between the two kingdoms. He had heard no word from her, and he had no information as to her safety. Her absence weighed heavily on his heart, and he longed for her to return to him.

  This morning he was preparing to address his people to let them know that he would not forget about them. There was an entire kingdom to be rebuilt, including several key cities. Farms had been destroyed, and trade had been halted to all major markets. All of these things would take time to repair, but as long as his people were willing to work hard, their goals would be accomplished. He looked forward to having his kingdom restored. It would shine once more, as it had in the days of peace he had enjoyed as a child.

  A large crowd gathered in the castle courtyard to listen to the king’s address. There had been plenty to celebrate since the defeat of the Na’zorans. No Ra’jhouan lives had been lost during the siege, thanks to the appearance of the dwarven army.

  Arden escorted the king to the castle walls to speak to the crowd. It was a beautiful day without any clouds above to interrupt the blue of the sky. The sun’s rays sent warmth to touch the faces of the gathered citizens. Eagerly they watched as the king took his place above them.

  Stepping out into the sunlight, Efren drew in a deep breath. The air smelled of hope, and the birds chirped happily overhead, unaware of the destruction that had occurred in their kingdom. Standing proudly upon the wall, a broad smile spread across his face. “People of Ra’jhou,” he said to the crowd.

  Immediately, the citizens began to cheer and applaud. Their king had led them to victory and saved all their lives. The people were well aware that he had arranged the alliance between Ra’jhou and the dwarves, and they had been informed about his marvelous invention. They were proud to call him their king, and they celebrated the sight of him upon the wall.

  “People of Ra’jhou,” he repeated. Finally, the crowd quieted, allowing him to speak. “Our kingdom is safe!” The crowd cheered again, and he paused to allow them to finish before continuing his speech. “There is still much work to be done. Rebuilding will take time, and we must work together to ensure each of you has a home to go back to. We have lost much, but together, we shall rebuild and restore the beauty of Ra’jhou. I will personally travel to each district to be certain the work is going as planned.”

  The crowd erupted in applause. No king in their lifetime had bothered to visit each portion of the kingdom. The thought of having the king walk among them gave them a sense of pride, especially among the poorer citizens.

  Turning to Arden, Efren said, “Invite the leaders of the dwarf army for a conference. I would like to speak with them.”

  “Of course, Your Majesty,” Arden said, bowing.

  The leaders of the dwarf army soon assembled within the throne room. Pedr stood proudly at the front, his face beaming as the king took his seat.

  “Pedr,” Efren began, “I cannot begin to express my gratitude to your people.”

  “Think nothing of it,” the dwarf replied. “Your silver has placed me back in my own king’s good graces. Though I admit I had to offer him a higher percentage of the profits than I wanted to.”

  “Do not trouble yourself with that,” Efren responded. “No amount of silver could ever compare with the safety of my people. I am in your debt.”

  “I am the one who is indebted to you,” Pedr stated. “Without your help, I would never have been allowed to set foot in my homeland again. Now I have a mine to run and trade between our kingdoms to oversee.”

  “Then we have both found victory,” Efren replied. “There shall be free trade between our two peoples from now on. I would have your finest general train my men into a true fighting force. Ra’jhou has never had an army that would equal the strength of the dwarves. I would have us prepared for any future invasion.”

  “That’s a wise plan,” Pedr replied. “I have a few men in mind who would be honored to hold such a position. Groot and his apprentices have already begun crafting new weapons for your troops. Your men’s weapons were inferior to that of your enemy, but they will never be so again.”

  “There is also the matter of your new settlement along my northern border,” Efren said. “I invite you to settle within the borders of Ra’jhou. I know you have a camp at the outskirts, but that is not territory that I can claim. That area is occasionally visited by the Wild Elves who live among the forests. They may not take kindly to your people living there.�
��

  “I’d be honored to build a village within your borders,” Pedr replied. “The area just outside the mine will do nicely, and my people will appreciate the added protection of being within your kingdom.”

  Efren stood to shake hands with the dwarf who had arranged Ra’jhou’s military victory. He owed this man a great deal, and he would see to it that he was repaid in every way possible.

  Pedr marched proudly from the throne room, ready for his journey north. It was time to reunite with his kinsmen and begin building the new life they had come here to find. There would be more challenges along the way, but Pedr looked forward to facing them. The home he had lost in the mountains would be replaced with one in Ra’jhou. With his own hands, he would see to the building of a community—one he could take pride in. Serving an honorable king would bring him honor of his own.

  Chapter 45

  “It won’t be long now, my lady,” Shala said in an effort to calm Aubriana’s nerves. The princess had been restless since she entered the carriage, and the long ride was not helping the situation.

  Aubriana nodded. “It seems to be getting farther away the longer we travel,” she said. “It feels like we’re never going to arrive.”

  “We’re less than a day away now,” Shala informed her.

  “I hope he’s being treated well,” Aubriana said. “With the king away, there’s no way to know if his orders are being carried out.”

  “Queen Ryshel is at his side,” Shala reminded her. “Don’t worry, my lady. He is safe. I’m sure of it.”

  Again Aubriana nodded. She wanted to believe Shala, but until she had her son in her arms, she could not be certain. Ryshel was supposed to be out of prison, but there had been no word at the time of Aubriana’s departure. She hoped the queen was safe, and that she was being treated well at the hands of the Na’zorans.