* * * * *
Seth and Sara left the small town walking west once again, and as they walked, Seth helped Sara don her new cloak, that Seth felt would be adequate to hide her face and hands during sunlight hours. As they left the town they followed the road, where an hour later they were rejoined by Borrik and his men. The remainder of the night and the next morning they continued to walk without incident, all of them talking and jesting freely as Seth’s thoughts kept returning to the quickly approaching reunion with his foster brother. Seth hoped beyond hope that Garret did not blame him for the death of the king and so many others that were lost in the final blast. He knew there would only be one way to ever find out for sure.
* * * * *
Garret awoke in the morning feeling more refreshed than he could ever recall, and much to his surprise Linaya sat upon the edge of his bed watching him sleep, waiting for the moment he would wake.
"I was just about to wake you," Linaya said.
"Am I running late again?" Garret asked, his constant tardiness becoming his biggest fault.
"Nope, and that is exactly why I came," she replied. "I wanted you to be prepared well before the ceremony."
"That is very thoughtful of you, Linaya, thank you," Garret replied.
"Since you dress for me..." Linaya began smiling, "I took the liberty of picking out something for you to wear today that I think you will look absolutely astonishing in."
"Is that so?" Garret asked. "Well, let’s see it then."
Linaya walked across the room and picked up some clothes she had placed out upon one of the large stuffed sofas. Holding the outfit up to admire it herself, she then returned, bringing the garments with her. Garret looked over the outfit and saw no immediate issues in wearing it. Though the clothes had belonged to the previous king, they had been near equal in size and so Garret believed they should fit him well enough. Garret rose from his bed throwing back the covers and was surprised as Linaya turned her back to let him dress. The outfit was simple enough to not look entirely too formal, yet elegant enough for the occasion, Garret supposed. It was no more than some trousers with a shirt and vest, with moderate embroidery, and a thick belt to wrap around his waist. Garret dressed quickly then walked with Linaya to inspect himself in the mirror where the night before Linaya had kissed him upon the chest. Garret looked himself over and deemed the outfit suitable, though a bit snug in the chest and arms, which is why he assumed that Linaya had chosen it. It did show off the better traits of his body, however, and he supposed that was the garment’s purpose.
Walking together, Garret and Linaya strode through the castle greeting the many guests who had come for his crowning ceremony, and stopped occasionally to share a few words with members of Garret’s council. Many complimented Garret on his appearance, and Garret accepted the compliments graciously. Though Garret did notice several men, both those he knew and some he did not, eyeing the beauty at his side, he ignored the stares as did Linaya for the sake of the day's purpose.
Leaving his side Linaya went to stand amongst the crowd gathered for the ceremony, carefully selecting her place amongst women and children, but in the open where Garret could see her plainly. Garret looked around the room that just days ago had been the war room. Now the vast table had been removed and in its place were rows upon rows of chairs. Where once old and faded tapestries from another era had clung to the walls, now hung banners and tapestries in the latest fashions, each brightly colored, designed to commemorate the occasion. Garret took his place at the head of the room where Sulvis now stood decked in full ceremonial regalia, ready to begin the ceremony.
The crowning went flawlessly as Garret had prayed it would, and he did not find it overly boring as he found most ceremonies. It turned out, Garret realized, that involvement was the key. To watch a ceremony was largely boring, but to be included in it was not near as bad. So the morning passed, first with Garret reciting his vows to the kingdom, followed by each and every one of his council members swearing their loyalty to him as their king. Next came the fabled Knights of Valdadore to also swear their loyalty to a man they considered an equal as well as their brother. Garret shook each of their wrists as they rose before they turned to depart, which wasn’t a usual part of the ceremony but it was his ceremony so he figured he could change things a little. Finally, after about three hours, Sulvis asked Garret to kneel, and doing as he was told, Garret put his knee to the floor. As Garret knelt, so too did every man, woman, and child who had come to witness the occasion. Sulvis placed the silver crown upon Garret’s head, and winked to the young man who would now be his sworn leader, before speaking his final words of the ceremony.
"Arise Garret Valdadore, born a son unto the kingdom of Valdadore, to now lead us into a bright future as its father," Sulvis recited, and as Garret rose, Sulvis took a knee to join the rest of the crowd within the room and show subservience to the new king.
Trumpets blared from the castle wall, signaling the crowning of the new king, and were echoed from the outer castle wall and then again from the city wall where trumpeters repeated the announcement. As the trumpeters completed their call, all those who had come to see Garret crowned rose and cheered, though it was only Linaya’s voice Garret heard. He could not help himself but to smile at the small woman, absolutely enamored by her.
Near an hour passed as Garret again mingled with his guests, Linaya at his side, when the trumpeters’ call from the outer wall of the city was heard again, to then be repeated by those upon the outer castle wall, and then again by those upon the castle itself. Garret, confused, looked around for an explanation, believing the ceremony had completed and unsure if he was expected to do something else. Several other members of his council looked around the room to one another, and almost at once each of them spoke the same question.
"Royalty?" they each asked no one in particular.
Though the crowning had been planned for over a week, no dispatches had been sent out to invite the leaders of any of the surrounding nations. Garret felt the invitations unnecessary as he was not sure how they would be received, seeing that none of the neighboring nations had come to their aid in the battle when called upon a few weeks prior. That being the case, no one in the room could even fathom a guess as to whom it would be entering the city that was from a royal family. So with nothing better to do, the various guests made their own assumptions and guesses but each of them began to grow bored as near an hour passed before the trumpeting came once again from the outer castle wall, announcing that the visiting royalty had finally made it to the castle structure. Another quarter of an hour passed and the trumpeters atop the palace itself let loose a short fanfare announcing the arrival of the royal visitors, and Garret, Linaya and all the other guests watched and waited patiently as the guards at the main entrance to the castle opened the doors to reveal a sight none of them had expected.
As the doors were pulled back on their hinges, two giant, armored wolf men sprang through the door before straightening their backs and standing at their full height. Then each of them stepping to either side of the doorway revealed the most welcome, yet unexpected, sight Garret could have ever hoped to behold on such an important day of his life. For behind the two great werewolves stood Seth and his young bride, each clad from head to toe in the same menacing black armor that they had vanished in, near three weeks previous. Taking their cue both Seth and Sara strode into the castle, each carrying their helm under an arm, to congratulate Garret on one of the most important days of his life.
* * * * *
As Seth and Sara watched the castle city of Valdadore grow before them, a great trumpeting of horns echoed across the land of which the meaning was lost to the both of them. Though both were anxious about their return, neither knowing what kind of reception to expect, they wondered aloud what the sound foretold, and not even Borrik, who had lived his entire life within the city, could answer their question. So the young human couple continued down the road followed by four columns of Seth’s newl
y named werewolves some fifty deep and behind those came the wounded upon litters. In this manner they strode the remaining few miles to the city. Upon reaching the eastern gate, Seth ordered the common troops to all remain outside the city walls. He entered with only Borrik and three of his captains, all of them heavily armored, just in case. As the soldiers at the gate saw his approach, they began to shout up the wall as a message was relayed again and again up the massive walls, and again the trumpets blared, their meaning completely lost to understanding, but even more confusing was the fact that the guards at the gate each kneeled as Seth passed. Not knowing what else to do he simply saluted them by banging his fist to his chest as was customary. Seth let Borrik and one of his captains lead the way through the city, as his two remaining captains took positions of rear guard.
"What do you think that was all about?" Sara asked.
"Only the gods may know," Seth replied, a common phrase that simply meant, I don't know.
"Do you think that maybe they were announcing the arrival of a hero?" Sara asked.
"I'll take that over an announcement of here comes the guy that killed the king," Seth said with a wry smile.
An hour later they arrived at the castle gate, where again the guards went into a frenzy and again trumpets blared, which Seth hoped quietly would not become a daily occurrence. Not fifteen minutes later they arrived at the outer wall of the castle, and again there was a commotion that led to trumpets and men kneeling, and finally Seth could wonder no more.
"Off your knees, soldier," Seth commanded the closest soldier, and without hesitation the guard in full dress armor sprang to his feet. "Would you mind telling me what all the damned horns are about?" Seth asked, one of his eyebrows rising.
"You mean you haven't heard, your majesty?" the guard asked, obviously shocked.
"As it turns out I have just returned from a land I have never even heard of, where I fought with people that could sleep in my shoes an enemy that at another time I might consider eating," Seth snarled at the man, sounding more like one of his troops than a human himself. "So if you don't mind, and it isn't too much trouble, please just tell me why people keep blowing those annoying trumpets every time I walk by!" Seth demanded.
"My apologies, your majesty, I assumed you had heard..." the man began.
"Wait a minute," Seth stopped the guard mid-sentence. "That is the second time you have called me ‘your majesty’. The first time I assumed a slip of the tongue, the second makes me question your sanity." Seth wondered if he should simply speak to someone else.
"It's just that...well you see..." the guard began to stammer.
"For all of the gods' sakes, please man, just spit it out." Seth was becoming more and more annoyed.
"Your brother is the king which makes you the crown prince, your majesty," the guard blurted all at once as Seth’s jaw fell slack in disbelief.
"When did this happen?" Sara asked, sounding terribly excited.
"Two hours ago he was crowned, though he has held the position now for more than ten days I would say," the guard replied, obviously less nervous speaking with Sara.
"Did the entire council die at the battle with the black horde?" Seth asked, not understanding how his brother had become next in line to rule the kingdom.
"No your majesty, the majority survived," the guard said.
"Good," Seth said, obviously relieved. "So can we go in, or are we to wait for him to answer his door?" Seth asked the guard who in his nervousness had forgotten to pull the gate open.
"My apologies, your majesty...Oh, and congratulations on surviving," the guard added.
Seth and Sara took the lead through the many narrowing courtyards that in a time of defense worked as a pinch point for attackers, and finally reaching the castle proper, Seth turned to Borrik with a simple request.
"Most people here have only heard stories of you, Borrik. Would you care to help us make a memorable entrance?" Seth asked.
"As you wish, your majesty," Borrik replied, having already noted his master's new title.
* * * * *
Garret strode out of the crowd to greet his brother, Linaya walking at his side. As the brother's first grasped wrists like comrades, then shared an embrace of welcome, Linaya introduced herself to Sara, who did the same in return. Seth’s men stood like unmoving statues to either side of the door where several people approached them to admire the beasts. Seth on the other hand joined his brother where they walked side by side through the crowd as Sara and Linaya fell into step behind their respective twin, who at the moment walked and talked as if they were the only two in the room.
"What has happened to you Seth? Where have you been? Are you OK? How is Sara? When did you return?” Garret asked, along with a million other questions and never allowing Seth so much as a word, but when he finally did pause for breath, Seth took that as his turn to speak.
"All in due time Garret, but for the time being all is well, though I must admit there were times I thought I might never see you or our home land again," Seth confessed as all the guests in the room silently listened to the twins’ conversation. "Our home land? Where on Thurr did you go?" Garret asked astonished.
At that place and time the question went unanswered for no sooner had Garret got the words out than Borrik and his captain sprang from their positions to each side of the door, each of them grasping by the shoulder a man who had sprinted into the room unannounced.
"Release me, I must speak to the king!" the young man shouted, and everyone in the room turned to see the commotion.
Without a command from their master, neither of Seth’s troops would release the young man, and Garret seemed satisfied enough to leave things as they were.
"State your name, young man, and your purpose here," Sulvis demanded, making his way through the crowd.
"I am Darion Vakiln, messenger from west gate, in service to the king." The boy said pulling a small medallion from his shirt for verification.
"Release him," Sulvis commanded, though neither of Seth’s troops complied until Seth himself waved a hand in gesture.
Garret strode back through the crowd, Seth at his side, to stand before the young man.
"What is your message, Darion Vakiln?" Garret asked.
"But your majesty, I was ordered to relate my message to the king's ears only," the boy responded, his voice pleading.
"How many secrets should a king keep from his people, do you think master Darion?" Garret replied rhetorically. "We are among friends and allies here. State your message," Garret ordered.
"Yes, your majesty," the boy answered before continuing. "King Sigrant has gathered his armies and prepares to march towards Valdadore."
As if all were of a single mind, everyone in the room to witness the boys’ words inhaled sharply, not expecting such dire news.
"How long until they march, boy?" Garret demanded.
"They were preparing when I left my post. They could march any day now," the messenger admitted.
"Sulvis!" Garret shouted, becoming more than a bit nervous.
"Yes, your majesty?" The old general replied.
"How long before they reach the city if they marched today?" Garret questioned.
"With cavalry in five days, ground troops seven, and siege engines twenty one," Sulvis replied.
"Darion, this is important," Garret stated. "With how many men do they march?"
"We could not gather accurate numbers, your majesty. He keeps his forces on the move, and repositions them during the night," the boy replied.
"An estimation then, give me an estimation!" Garret again demanded.
"Twenty thousand your majesty, maybe twenty-five," Darion replied. “Among them are great armored beasts that breath fire and belch smoke.”
Garret nodded to the boy and turned back to the crowd in the room, thinking a moment silently about the information the boy had given him. Then he began to speak.
"Someone see to the boy. See him well fed and rested before he departs," Gar
ret said and then turned again to speak to the boy himself.
"Ride back to the west gate, with all haste, and get me every ounce of information you can. If you see any danger before you reach your post, turn back and come straight to me. Do you understand?" Garret asked.
"Yes, your majesty," Darion replied.
With that a group of soldiers ushered the boy from the room to see to his needs before sending him upon his way.
"Sulvis, I need our numbers," Garret said without bothering to turn and face the man.
"Just over four thousand at last count your majesty," Sulvis replied in an even tone.
"Six to one," Garret stated aloud. "Better odds then last time, but we need to know more about these great armored beasts that breathe fire."
He turned to address his most important asset as the king of Valdadore.
"Seth, it seems we are going to need your help."
Read the next book in the Blood and Brotherhood Saga Now
The Contention (Book Four of the Blood and Brotherhood Saga)
Or read the compelling collection of Jeremy Laszlo’s award winning poetry.
Clad in Shadow
About the Author
First and foremost I am a father and a husband. Beyond that I belong to the fraternal Brotherhood of the United States Marine Corps. I have earned a living as an industrial electrician, welder, mechanic, carpenter, CNC machinist, and dozens of other jobs that gave me a wide scope of blue collar life. I have lived in more places than most people, though I grew up primarily in Michigan. I graduated high school in Mason Michigan, and went to college in Lansing Michigan. After joining the USMC I spent time living in Pensacola and Jacksonville Florida, and then moved on to spend four more years in North Carolina. After serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring freedom, and the militaries humanitarian effort in Liberia I received an honorable discharge and returned to live in Jackson Michigan near my family who still reside there. I now live in southern Louisiana with my wife and children, though I try and visit family in Michigan yearly.
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