The Changing

by Jeremy Laszlo

  "Honored members of the royal council, It would be my absolute honor to present to you for the position of king..." Garret began, but was interrupted by the man he was about to place up for a vote.

  Sulvis coughed loudly into his fist, both interrupting Garret and getting the knight’s attention. Garret watched as the old man, shaking his head, began to speak.

  "The announcement has already been made in your absence so please just give us your vote Lord Garret," Sulvis informed him.

  "Indeed, my apologies again," Garret said somewhat embarrassed. "In that case I vote ‘aye’ to the elevation to the position of king," Garret concluded casting his vote.

  The room exploded into applause, each and every member of the council joining in, except of course Vladmere whose seat was obviously empty. They all turned to face Garret with smiles upon their faces.

  "Well done, your majesty, well done!" Sulvis shouted over the tumultuous clapping and now cheers as well.

  "Wait?" Garret said confused. "What’s going on?"

  Realization began to dawn on him. Garret had been tricked, a ploy of the wise Sulvis no doubt, but tricked none the less. Garret had walked into an already completed vote that had been carried out in his absence, and trusting in General Sulvis, he had unwittingly cast the final vote to elect himself the successor to the king. As the applause began to die down and Garret began to feel the vast weight of the kingdom upon his shoulders, he sought to object.

  "Wait, I cannot be king, I have no experience," Garret pleaded.

  "That is why you have a council, your majesty," General Sulvis replied, then as an afterthought he continued. "Don't think you will step down either leaving the position to another man. We have each already declined the position, so you see, you have no choice in the matter." Sulvis finished with a devious smile and a wink.

  "But I know nothing of kingdoms, I was raised at an inn for crying out loud," Garret protested again, hoping to gain traction.

  "Do you know what your predecessor did before he became king?" This time it was Karishtala who spoke, and continued before awaiting a reply. "The King Valdadore before you was the son of a pig farmer. Knowing that, do you think any less of him?" Karishtala asked.

  "Of course not," Garret replied, stepping directly into the trap she had created for him.

  "So you see, your majesty, no matter how humble the beginnings, it is the individual character that makes a king," Karishtala concluded.

  "Couldn't have said it better myself," Sulvis agreed. "So what say you, your majesty? What should be our next order of business?"

  Garret thought a moment, his head spinning, still unable to comprehend all that had befallen him in a matter of moments.

  "The mages’ tower needs to be repaired and we need to relocate all who live there until the work is completed," Garret said, though his tone made it sound more of a question than a statement.

  "Indeed your majesty, the council will see that it is taken care of. Is there anything else?" Sulvis asked again.

  "Send out a party to track Vladmere and his cronies, though do not have them engage. I want to know what he is up to but from a distance." Garret said mulling over what he thought the kingdom required within his mind.

  With that order, the new leader of the Knights of Valdadore, Jordin, and two of the army's captains began speaking in hushed tones before one of them abruptly stood and rushed out the door.

  "Well, that is being taken care of. Is there anything else of immediate concern that you should wish us to see to, your majesty?" Sulvis asked yet again.

  This time Garret was ready for the question and had thought of a response for the grizzled old war veteran.

  "Indeed there is, General Sulvis, and I should like for you to oversee this task personally," Garret declared, his eyes fierce with determination. "See to it that no man or woman among this council ever, and I mean by fear of punishment of death, ever...calls me ‘your majesty’ again. At least behind closed doors, it’s simply too much." Garret watched the concern clear from all the members of the council as they began to laugh and smile at his jest.

  The council meeting concluded, each member came to congratulate their new king before filing out of the room to get a well-deserved night's rest before a busy day ahead. After all, with a new king there had to be a celebration filled with more ceremony. Garret watched as the final council members vacated the giant stone chamber, though he stopped Sulvis once again and pulled him aside for a few private words.

  "You have done me an honor beyond my value," Garret said solemnly. "I wish to show my gratitude for your high estimation of me."

  "Me?" Sulvis asked. "It was unanimous, the entire council backed you," Sulvis explained. "I fear you underestimate yourself, Garret. Follow your heart and your gut and you will do just fine."

  The new king and his grizzled old general spent a couple hours talking, much to Garret’s relief. Garret learned that most things in the day to day running of the castle would be seen to by the council without any need for Garret to intercede. Only things of import were brought to the king's attention, and even then it was usually only for a decision to be made which the council would then ensure was upheld. Sulvis explained that the main duty of the king was to make decisions. Though he could always rely upon the council for their wisdom, ultimately it was up to the king. In return, it was the king’s duty to bear the burden when those decisions led to failure, and savor the victories when they met success.

  "I have another order to give, though I don't know who to give it to," Garret stated honestly.

  "Go ahead Garret, I'll see to it that it reaches the appropriate ears," Sulvis replied.

  "Postpone the crowning ceremony a few weeks to let the people mourn the passing of King Valdadore. If you wish, or think it wise, the town criers can be sent out to spread the word of my election. However let the people know that I will not be crowned until my predecessor has had an appropriate mourning period, befitting his honorable leadership of this kingdom," Garret said.

  "Spoken like a true king already," Sulvis replied.

  Garret already knew the kind of king he wanted to be. He wanted the people to love him, and not for his vanity, but because they prospered under his rule. If Garret could make that dream a reality, he knew his time as king would be a success. For now however, Garret felt the need to tell his only friend within the castle his news. Excusing Sulvis and wishing him a restful night, Garret followed him out the door, though he did not leave the castle. Instead he crept silently down the empty stone corridors and up the stairs to Linaya’s chamber, hoping beyond hope that the woman in all of her beauty was still awake.

  * * * * *

  Seth battled back as many as the insect creatures as he was able time and time again but his every effort seemed wasted. Each wave of the creatures he vanquished to ash or blasted with magical fire was replaced within seconds by another incessantly. It appeared to Seth that there was no end to the vastness of the insect army. Reaching out again as he had done dozens of times with tendrils of his power, preparing to obliterate tens of thousands of the large insects, Seth felt something familiar, and for the first time in half an hour he was filled once again with hope. Borrik and his troops had arrived and were now racing boldly through the mass of biting and pinching monsters to meet their master. Seth decided to greet the return of his troops by clearing a path for them, and while one instant the wolf men raced across the barren land atop the cracking shells of their foes, the next instant the insects had vanished and plumes of ash rose with each footfall of the wolf men. Burning carcasses still littered the ground everywhere, having been torched by magical fire, and though the hundreds of thousands of small flames lent light to the darkness so too did they add smoke to the air which lay in a thick, foul smelling blanket upon the battlefield.

  Seth watched as Borrik and his wolf troops came into sight while Sara danced between them nimbly swinging her blade this way and that, striking down the insects from both the air and the ground. Tho
ugh Borrik continued to his master, the troops he led spread out bashing, smashing, squashing, clawing and stomping their foes into oblivion. Borrik came to stand beside his master, realizing Seth not only needed to communicate, but also concentrate on his power.

  "Tell your men to watch out for our allies," Seth stated before unleashing another torrent of flaming death upon the enemy. After finishing his blast Seth motioned a dozen or so yards away at the nearest battle group of the miniature men to him.

  "Done," Borrik replied, eyeing the small wooden structure with canine curiosity, his head tilting to one side slightly.

  "I have missed you, Borrik. What news do you bring?" Seth asked, preparing his next assault.

  "The battle was won, though many were lost," Borrik stated as Seth turned yet another wave of insects to ash.

  "And my brother?" Seth asked, fearing the answer.

  "He lives, though the king was lost," Borrik replied.

  "I believed as much," Seth stated, pausing to release another wave of fire causing the small shelled creatures in his path to pop, some of them leaving the ground with force as their bodies exploded before catching fire.

  "How am I favored now that I have killed the king?" Seth asked out of curiosity as Borrik began to stomp around him, smashing an enemy with each step.

  "This I don't know, m’lord," Borrik began to explain. "All of your loyal troops left directly following the battle. We split up in all directions to seek you out."

  Seeking with his innate ability Seth counted his troops before responding to Borrik.

  "Is this all the men we have remaining?" Seth asked.

  "No m’lord, there are more. As I said we split up, though I sent runners to collect the others when I knew we would find you," Borrik reported, straight to the point.

  "Did you see an end to our enemy as you crossed this dead stretch of land?" Seth asked, hoping for some insight.

  "No m’lord, their numbers seem to be endless," Borrik answered. "Worse than that, these are only the small ones, perhaps their infantry?" Borrik both stated and questioned.

  "Explain," Seth ordered, again leveling thousands of the creatures with a thought and drawing their life into himself.

  "As we crossed the barren plain some of the troops, and I myself, saw larger forces about halfway across!" Borrik yelled over the raging inferno Seth now unleashed from his hands.

  "How many?" Seth asked, concluding the blast.

  "Just one that we saw but I would assume there are many," Borrik replied.

  "Assume nothing Borrik. Now hold them off for a moment," Seth replied turning his attention from their enemies to the woman he loved.

  "Sara!" Seth shouted, and watched as she lithely danced among the enemy, springing into the air to unreachable heights to strike down airborne foes, only to land lightly again, spinning and twirling like a dancer of death. Seth found it sexy the way she killed and that both amused and worried him.

  "Find the chief. We are changing tactics," Seth shouted before returning his focus to the enemy. What Seth saw next was both disturbing but also probably one of the funniest stories he would ever recount.

  Redirecting his concentration back to the task of slaying oversized insects in multitudes, Seth witnessed Borrik killing the creatures in a manner that simply did not suit the giant wolf man well, though he was forced to admit it was quite effective. Like an enormous puppy rolling in so much grass, the immense wolf man would spring forward, using all four of his powerful limbs to propel him. Then rolling into a ball of claws and fur, Borrik used his momentum to carve out a path through the insects, crushing them beneath his weight a hundred or more at a time. What was worse, as his troops witnessed the tactic whether with their eyes or telepathically, they too joined in on the sport making a gruesome circus show of the roll and tumble tactic. Seth actually found himself smiling and shaking his head at the deadliest man he would ever know besides himself.

  For many moments Seth balanced his time between blasting the enemy, watching the wolves in their sickening game, and waiting for Sara’s return. If he was correct, and he thought he was, either the battle would be over soon or the enemy troops would become increasingly aggressive and angry. Either way Seth figured it was a gamble, but he felt secure that his decision was the right one.

  Near a half an hour passed as Seth battled on, continually siphoning power only to again release it in a torrent of fire to devastate the enemy by thousands upon thousands, time and time again, but to little effect. Eventually Sara returned and quickly behind her one of the miniature armored units commanded by the chief of the tiny unnamed race appeared. Borrik and his men kept up their gruesome game while Seth made an attempt to speak to the chief.

  "Chief, my men have brought me good news," Seth shouted over the buzzing and hissing of the insects.

  "You men big hairy owwwwwwwwwwww," the chief replied attempting to howl like a wolf.

  "Yes big wolf," Seth yelled.

  “Where wolf?” the chief asked, to which Seth pointed towards Borrik. “Ahh…werewolf!” the chief exclaimed, believing he had understood.

  Seth simply shook his head. Communicating with the chief was akin to speaking to dirt. Even so, Seth liked the name and decided it was befitting the race of wolf men he had created. It was then Seth realized how he could get his point across to the little man.

  "Big wolf find Zoomba chief," Seth said attempting to speak in a way the chief would understand.

  "Zoomba chief?" The miniature leader asked with a quizzical look on his face. "Take me Zoomba chief, I kill, big fight done!" the chief shouted.

  "Yes kill Zoomba chief fight done!" Seth replied happy to have successfully communicated with the tiny man.

  Sticking his fingers in his mouth the little chief let out a piercing whistle in three long blasts, and immediately all of his armored units began to surge towards him, killing any of the insects that stood in their path. Seth returned for a moment to the battle slaying easily another fifty to sixty thousand of the insects, giving the chief a moment to pass the word to his men. Seth questioned whether he was right to include the tiny men in this plan. He felt he could not leave them behind to fight alone, but neither could he expect them to play a role in destroying the insect's queen. By this time everyone was in on the plan, and within moments all of Seth’s allies had gathered around him, allowing him to note that the miniature men had sustained some casualties. Two entire units of the small warriors were missing.

  Forming two columns, Borrik and his troops created the outer walls of the procession. Between them was a ragtag center column consisting of Seth at the head followed by the many armored units of the miniature men who were in turn trailed by Sara and the feline sisters. In this manner Seth could blaze a trail through the never ending mass of insects, and moving to fill the void, Seth’s wolf men would hold the creatures at bay from either side and the three women would hold them at the rear. The miniature men were protected on all sides by their newfound allies, a concept completely foreign to them.

  It took Seth and his congregation of miscellaneous troops more than half an hour to blaze their way over a mile to the center of the barren lands, but upon their arrival to where Borrik and the men believed they had seen the larger beast, it remained hidden from sight. No matter how elusive it was however, Seth reached out with his mind and within moments had located the creature a few hundred yards to their left and holding fast. Directing the men and women, Seth began blasting anew leading them towards their foe. It was when the beast came into sight that Seth began to question his plan.

  The beast stood upon six gargantuan legs, each of them segmented with several joints. The shape of its body and head were much like the smaller insects, only of completely different proportions. The head of the beast was huge, at least as big as Borrik, and upon its maw snapped dozens of razor sharp mandibles which it was now using to scoop up members of its own kind, feeding upon them ravenously. The second segment of its body was nearly a perfect sphere, about half t
he size of the immense teardrop-shaped head. Behind that segment was the abdomen of the great beast that was so swollen and elongated it trailed after the creature upon the ground where it deposited a steady stream of feces and urine accompanied by large, soft-shelled eggs from which the infernal horde of insects were constantly emerging. Like her smaller minions the queen had great snapping claws at the end of each arm covered in serrations and spikes making them extremely effective in battle. But unlike her minions, the progenitor of the endless horde of insects had an arm for every leg, making her, like the miniature men's armored units, unapproachable from any angle. Even at this distance the beast's two compound eyes sparkled in the night, each of them having more than a million facets, able to distinguish its entire surroundings without so much as swiveling its head, but Seth had no need to get close to the beast.

  Reaching out with his power Seth located the creature and was stunned to find that it had acquired a blessing from the gods. Though unsettling, it was not a situation he had not dealt with before, and as such he grasped at the connection the queen shared with her chosen god and began tearing at it piece by piece, fraying and severing wherever his mind could grasp it. But no sooner had he gotten started than he felt himself lose contact with the queen's aura. Unsure what had happened, Seth reached out again but could not feel it. Seth could see the queen plainly enough. He could even see her bloated, god-infused aura, but he could not touch it no matter how hard he tried.

  Dismayed by the failure Seth changed tactics. Laying waste to the insects standing between himself and the queen, he created a trail of ash which allowed him and his men to close the distance before it was again filled in by the unending tide of Zoombas. Using the power he collected Seth unleashed a portion of it in a great fireball that lanced through the air smashing the great queen square in the face. Though that too had no effect, and Seth was beginning to wonder at the blessed insect's abilities. Seth made another attempt, this time summoning forth wicked lightning from his fingertips. Ten bolts of electrical energy again crashed against the queen with no obvious results, dancing off in all directions to slaughter dozens of the smaller insects before dispersing into the soil below.