by James Somers
Seven days after the defeat of Belial and the other Serpent Kings, Ezekiah sat upon the seat of power, King Riven’s throne, in the royal palace in Haven. Those citizens who had been evacuated, mostly women and children, had been fetched from the mountain outposts. Many had lost husbands and fathers during the terrible battle in the city. A time of mourning was already in progress, complimented unfortunately by the cleanup of the dead.
Prince Marco had also been recalled, though Ezekiah had commanded that he be placed under house arrest until today. General Thurl had been only too willing to comply, seeing to the matter personally with his troops. Marco had surrendered himself without a fight, typically his way, but he had been quite vocal about the affront presented by Ezekiah’s sudden rule in Haven. He had asked to present his case, asking for justice. Ezekiah had obliged him by consenting to this hearing.
Thurl had offered to represent King Riven’s part in the hearing since the matter of his assassination had never been completely dealt with. Ezekiah accepted his petition as well. Incidentally, he had also requested of General Thurl that he remain in his current position, assuming full command of Haven’s military, as well as taking a post as one of his advisors.
Thurl had quickly recognized Ezekiah’s right to rule by his commission from Elithias. He had even quoted the prophecy regarding the establishment of Elithias’s reign through regency prior to his personal coming to bring judgment and everlasting righteousness.
“Considering Riven’s faith, I know he would have approved,” Thurl had said.
Donavan, Andrea and Tobias had returned to Haven somewhat bruised and battered, but were none the worse for wear. Donavan had received a chancellorship and would continue to preach the good news of salvation through faith in Elithias to those in Haven and the lands beyond who had never heard these things before.
Andrea had been chosen to work somewhat in concert with Thurl’s military efforts. She would head a new High Guard under Ezekiah’s regency. Her vast knowledge of the gifts and experience serving in the former High Guard made her the only wise candidate for the position. I would help her, of course, but my life was about to change in ways I could not yet fathom.
A wedding, presided by Donavan, would take place within the month. My thoughts were muddled at best. I had watched others from afar. Soon, I would invest myself completely in my relationship with Ezekiah, and he would do the same. My dreams were about to come true.
I stood with Andrea, Tobias and Donavan within the throne room, waiting for the proceedings to begin. The large rectangular room was completely full. Many wanted to see for themselves how this new king would behave himself. How would he stand up to the legacy left by their beloved King Riven? Would they be serving a wise man or a fool?
Thurl and Marco approached the throne where Ezekiah sat robed in a garment of white. His beard was neatly trimmed, as well as his hair. I couldn’t help noticing how handsome he looked. He now looked the part of a king.
“Thurl,” Ezekiah said, “you may present the particulars of the case.”
“Thank you, my lord,” Thurl replied. “Marco now stands accused of the murder of his own father, King Riven. He conspired with the bodyguard who had been assigned to protect the king while he lay sick in his bed chamber. The guard, upon Marco’s order, poisoned King Riven. Due to the heinousness of his crime, I would ask that Marco be put to death.”
When Thurl was finished, Ezekiah paused a moment, considering Marco, allowing the charges to sink into the minds of the attendees. Marco was noticeably nervous, as well as anxious to defend himself.
“You may speak for yourself,” Ezekiah said finally.
Marco erupted. “These allegations are completely false! Where are his witnesses?”
Thurl spoke up. “He had the only witness, King Riven’s physician, killed.”
“Where is the bodyguard?” Marco asked. He didn’t wait for Thurl to respond. “Oh, that’s right, you killed him.”
“He had just poisoned the king,” Thurl interrupted.
“Exactly my point,” Marco rebutted. “I had the doctor executed for his part in the crime by my authority as King Riven’s heir. As a matter of fact, I fail to recognize your jurisdiction over a matter that came about during my reign as king in my father’s stead.”
“Enough,” Ezekiah said. That was all that was necessary to have silence. Marco looked as though he would have said more, but he was wise enough not to push.
“In the absence of witnesses, it would be difficult to determine your guilt,” Ezekiah said. “However, a careful assassin also knows how to plan ahead in order to rid himself of potentially damning testimony. It is my judgment that you be stripped of your title and your rights as Riven’s heir. However, because of the faith of your father, you will not be executed. You may remain in Haven if you wish, as long as you make no attempts at subversion.”
Marco breathed a sigh of relief, but I could see the indignation on his face. He would only abide by Ezekiah’s ruling as it suited him. He had no opportunity, at present, to take power. But I knew he would grab at any opportunity that might present itself in the future.
He bowed low, feigning his obeisance. “Thank you, my lord, for your wise decision in this matter.”
Ezekiah stood. “Thank you for your attendance,” he said to the assembly. “You are at liberty.”
The crowd began to disperse. Marco and his few followers marched straight out the door, avoiding conversation with anyone. I walked over to Ezekiah, meeting Thurl there as well.
“My lord,” he began, “I’m afraid I don’t understand your verdict. Why allow him to remain within the city?”
Ezekiah grinned as he took my hand in his. “There’s an old proverb, Thurl. Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.”
“So that we may watch him,” Thurl realized.
“Exactly. In fact, I’ll trust you to find just the person to do that for us.”
Thurl smiled. “I think I can come up with someone.”
He bowed and retreated in order to attend to his duties. Many buildings had been damaged in the recent battle. There was much to be done in order to get Haven back to the peaceful city it had been. What’s more, there was a wilderness beyond that needed to be explored. Elithias would use Haven as a beginning of his plans for this new land.
Ezekiah smiled at me, lifting my hand to his lips, kissing the backs of my fingers. “Come, my dear, we’ve a wedding to prepare for.”
I hugged his neck then returned his kiss.
EPILOGUE
I ran as hard as I could, but their pursuit was relentless. A green meadow opened up before me. I descended, running down the hill as their battle cries reached me. Purple and yellow flowers blurred by me as I called upon the gifts to give me an advantage.
I was down through the meadow and cresting the other side by the time they appeared behind me. They had found me. Isaac and Zora ran after me. I noted how good their balance and speed was for ten-year-olds.
“We’re going to get you, Mother!” they cried, swinging wooden swords their father had fashioned for them.
Ezekiah crested the hill, following after them. He carried his own wooden sword matching the two he had given them. They had insisted their father carry the same kind if he was going to be a part of the game.
He huffed and puffed over the rise after them, doing his best to keep up. I noted the sun glinting off of his silver ring. I lifted my hand, admiring the marriage band he had given me to match the ring Elithias had given him. I smiled with the sun on my face, enjoying the wind blowing through my hair. Life was good.
The Serpent Kings Saga Part III: Shadow Walker
SHALINDRA
Shalindra sat with tears pouring down her face. Her father held her small hands in his large, rough ones through the bars of his prison cell. The other prisoners watched their tender moments with disdain.
“Be brave, my girl,” he said. “Take care of your mother.”
“It’s not fair,�
�� she cried.
“We’ll have none of that,” he said. “You must be strong. Remember the place that I told you about. Go there when he calls and not before.”
“Father, I can’t,” she began.
“No. Promise me, Shalindra.”
Her lip pooched, but she stopped her tears. “I promise, Father.”
He smiled. “That’s my girl.”
The guards appeared. “It’s your time, Shevis,” one of them said.
Shevis stood, letting go of his daughter’s hands. He waited while the guard opened the lock and swung the cell door wide. Shalindra rushed to wrap her arms around his waist. Her tears flowed again, staining his shirt. One of the guards pulled her away. She didn’t fight him. Her father wanted her to be brave, so she would do her best.
Her father winked at her as the guards took up positions at his right and left, leading him out of the prison, his feet dragging the manacle chain across the floor between them. She would have followed, but the jailer who had allowed her these last moments with her father appeared at the door where she had come by.
“This way, miss,” he said.
Shalindra did as she was told, going out through the front of the prison. She came out to the unfolding scene as her father was led to the gallows. A thick noose hung, waiting to receive him. Shalindra made her way through the crowd, arriving near the front after a few minutes elbowing her way through bodies.
Her father was already being positioned. The guards placed the noose over his head around his neck, cinching the knot. His eyes never left Shalindra’s face. Words were said; meaningless words about how Ezekiah’s judgment was fair and her father’s sentence just. She did not hear them. In her mind, Ezekiah should be the one upon the wooden platform waiting to lose his life.
Her father had explained the events that led to the death of their neighbor. The man had been poaching game from the forested land that belonged to her family. Her father had found the man with the deer, dragging it away. An argument had ensued and her father had been forced to kill the man in self-defense. Ezekiah had not seen it that way, and her father and his family were now made to suffer the injustice of this so-called regent.
Shalindra twisted a wad of her skirt in her hands. Her knuckles were white from squeezing. The executioner stood ready at the lever that would end it all. She watched the man that had loved her, taught her all that she knew worth knowing and who had begged her to be brave. He winked at her. The switch was thrown. She followed his instantaneous descent and the agony on his face at the last moment.
She never turned her face from the scene playing out before her. Shalindra wanted to remember every grim moment of her father’s death. These were the memories that would haunt the remainder of her days in this world. These were the images that would fuel her thirst for revenge.
TEN YEARS LATER
Ezekiah stood very still upon the dais as he watched the newly graduated soldiers of the High Guard parading past. This was a grand day for them. They had each worked very hard, training over the course of the last five years for the rigors of this duty. Now, they marched proudly by their king in order to receive the accolades due their appointment.
The High Guard had been far more active than Ezekiah had ever imagined they would be during his reign as regent. He had originally supposed they would enjoy a time of peace and tranquility in this new land across the sea, but Haven had been only the first outpost of humanity here that needed the reign of Elithias to come upon it. Many other cities and villages, small towns and nomadic tribes had been found beyond the coastal capital that had never heard of the dragons, their reign, or the power of Elithias.
So, their work had begun in earnest to provide the people with the revelation of these truths. Unfortunately, and sometimes to Ezekiah’s dismay, they were not at all willing to receive them. Nevertheless, these were not circumstances to which he was unaccustomed. He had, after all, served Elithias as a prophet during the reign of the Serpent Kings; a time when hardly anyone was interested in the truth. Still, he had hoped to find things different in this new land following the destruction of the dragons.
However, some had chosen to wage war rather than coming under Ezekiah’s authority. Elithias had not allowed it to go unchallenged. The Lord intended that his kingdom would dominate during this time preceding his coming, and Ezekiah was charged with taking the land. All these things had been accomplished long ago, and peace had settled into the lives of those in the kingdom.
But now, rebellion seemed to be stirring in the hearts of the people. More and more, they questioned Ezekiah’s authority to reign over them. More and more, they sought ways to defy his edicts in order to worship the idols made by man.
Andrea stood flanking him to his right. She had taken the reigns of the High Guard long ago after the destruction of the dragons and the establishment of his regency. The wraith dancer had implemented a strict code of conduct and rigorous training methods to ultimately produce the finest army Ezekiah had ever seen. Both men and women served, and Andrea made use of their strengths and weaknesses accordingly.
Wraith dancers, however, were no more except for Andrea and Gwen. Jillian and Varen had disappeared or been killed during the fighting with the death walkers; although no bodies had ever been found. Somehow, Ezekiah knew they were alive. Still, no new wraith dancers had been found to have the abilities that Andrea and Gwen possessed.
Andrea had surmised that possibly the connection to the dragons had been the source of such power and had now been cut off. Still, she and Gwen had lost none of their voracity. Their power remained despite the destruction of Belial and his kind.
Andrea gave him a slight nod as the cadets came to attention before him in the square. Now came the time he always dreaded at these ceremonies. He was expected to make another speech about how they would serve the kingdom proud and what-not. It wasn’t the sentiment that he minded so much as the speech making itself. He had always enjoyed preaching the Word of Elithias. That had come easily, even fervently. But this ceremony...it simply didn’t suit him.
No longer did he preach as he had in days gone by. The regency demanded so much of his time; administrative tasks that required his attention on a constant basis. Instead, Donavan had carried on his preaching. He and Andrea had been married soon after the establishment of the regency in a ceremony that he had conducted personally.
Donavan had served in that office for hundreds of years. Tobias had also entered the ministry and assisted Donavan until the time of his death five years ago. His demise had come very suddenly. He had been ambushed on the road by a band from one of the villages he had recently been preaching in.
Ezekiah had sent the High Guard quickly, and the village had been leveled and every inhabitant killed. Tobias had taken the lead in ministry following the incident, but recent months had found him growing unstable. He had begun to pronounce a great trial to come upon the kingdom and a great evil unleashed, with all of these things to herald the coming of Elithias himself. Ezekiah had tried to speak to Tobias on several occasions, but he had disappeared.
The cadets were waiting. Ezekiah felt suddenly dry in the mouth. He had done this all so many times now that he never grew nervous, but something was different this time. His hand, resting upon the podium, was trembling. He tried to bring it under control, but it would not obey. A pain began in his left arm, running through his shoulder.
Ezekiah flexed his arm grabbing the forearm with his other hand as the pain shot through his shoulder, settling in his chest. He was sweating profusely now and becoming dizzy. “Andrea?” he called.
She was at his side immediately, catching him as the world around him began to spin. She lowered him to the ground as cries of distress swept through the crowd of people in attendance; many descending upon the place where he was lying in hopes of assisting their king.
Andrea and the other High Guard forced bystanders to keep their distance. They were still responsible for his safety despite no one knowing exact
ly what had happened.
“I’m here, Ezekiah,” Andrea said. “What’s wrong?”
He heard her question, but he did not answer. In that moment, he felt very far away from the situation. He heard the voice of Elithias in his mind.
“The time has come, Ezekiah,” the voice said.
A thousand questions that might have entered his mind were kept at bay. Elithias had spoken. His time to die had come. He wondered what would happen in his absence, since clearly he was going to Elithias rather than him coming into the world at this moment.
His mind fell upon thoughts of Gwen. She would be left behind here to deal with the consequences of his death. He felt assurance from Elithias. Everything was under his control. It always had been. His plan proceeded despite these human tragedies.
Coming back to the moment with an even more distressed Andrea, Ezekiah reached down to his ring finger, removing the sword of Elithias in its ring form. “For Gwen alone,” he said.
The ring fell from his fingers as he extended it weakly to Andrea. With keen precision and speed, she caught it before it could hit the ground.
Ezekiah smiled. “Tell her that I love her...I’ll see her soon.”
The cave was damp with water trickling down the walls. Despite there being no recognizable light source, Shalindra could see the way before her. She knew she was dreaming. This was not the first time this dream had come to her. Here was where she heard his voice: within her dreams, whether waking, or as she was now lying in her bed in the home her father had built for them years ago.
She had walked from her room, leaving her invalid mother in her bed. Down the path, past the privy and through the fields of wheat to the forested land beyond. The mountain had stood in the distance. This was the place the voice had always led her.
Now, she stood once again within the damp cave, walking along the path, avoiding sharp stones. Always the dream was the same. She came to the end of the cave and stopped. The voice usually spoke to her. It did this time as well.