Beyond the Hell Cliffs

by Case C. Capehart

  It had been days since he had gone to sleep of his own volition. He was certain his wife was seeking out companionship behind his back and he did not care enough to investigate. His children all ignored him, except for Helfria, who worried more over him than her impending betrothal.

  As if responding to his thoughts, Helfria was there beside him. “Have you slept at all, Father?”

  “No,” he said softly, keeping his gaze on the city.

  “You may be taking this too hard. We will still be nobility, given the same respect and accords. We will even continue to live in the castle and you will preside over all of the ceremonies…”

  “And have absolutely no power,” Helfrick added. “The Council makes promises to ease me into accepting this… this mutiny. What will your brother have, Helfria? What will he inherit from me but a broken legacy and a meaningless title?”

  “Have you even talked to Kranston?” Helfria asked. “He does not want a title; he wants a father! He wants to know why you rarely even speak to him! I too, would like to know that.”

  “I have other things on my mind, Daughter.”

  Helfria touched his shoulder and turned his face to meet hers. “Something happened to you, Father. Nearly ten years ago, just before Uncle Tiberius returned with news of victory, you changed. Kranston was merely a toddler when you began to shun him. Your lack of affection goes deeper than this vote the Council has brought against you.”

  “You’re too intelligent to be one of mine, dear,” Helfrick said with a smile. “You will make a wonderful Senator.”

  “I… I have not accepted the position, yet, Father,” Helfria replied, blushing. “Besides, it is probably just an homage to a great King to allow me to sit in the Senate.”

  She changed her tone. “Father, do not distract me. Tell me what happened to you. You’re too young to have this white hair and these deep creases the alcohol and long nights have caused you. You have not hefted your warhammer in ages and you used to practice with it every week when I was a teenager.”

  “There is no war to be fought anymore, Helfria!” Helfrick exclaimed, spinning around on her. “How do you not understand this? The Saban Kings are no longer needed and soon, the entire Saban race will not be needed. What use is there in practicing with my hammer? I should be practicing with a fucking plow and scythe!”

  “The Sabans are too numerous to be pushed aside, Father. You are overreacting and avoiding my question! What happened before this vote, before the victory over Greimere? Who was the Twileen woman in red that came to you wearing a veil of mourning? Why was Mother so upset with you when she learned of the visit? You two fought for hours afterward and then pretended it never happened the next day!”

  Helfrick stopped and breathed deeply. He should have known that Helfria, the daughter that passed her entrance exams into the Amethyst College at eleven years and who was heralded by half the city as “the Genius Princess” would be too intuitive to miss what had happened all those years ago. Now that he was aware that she had seen Nuallan, he wondered why she had kept it to herself for so long.

  “You need to leave this alone, Helfria.”

  “I’ve waited a long time for you, Father… waited for you to finally come to me with this once I was old enough to handle it. I am halfway through my twenties, being courted by displeasing nobles and am in line to accept a position as Senator of the Republic, should the vote pass. I am able to handle this information.”

  “It is not a matter of age or maturity, Helfria!” Helfrick roared. “It does not concern you! That is all! Now leave me to get ready. I have a vote to attend this morning… it might as well be an execution.”

  Helfria frowned at her father, but obeyed his wishes and turned away. Helfrick waited until she had left the room before looking back out over the city.

  The majesty of Thromdale, the kingdom that my ancestors created for me… it will all be lost to us. How will I stand before my kin in the afterlife now? How will I be seen by my father and grandfather? How will I be remembered by the people after I am gone? Not as Helfrick the slayer of Nogrin or veteran of three invasions or even as the king who defeated the Greimere Empire for good. No, to those who matter, I will be known as Helfrick, the idiot who destroyed the Saban rule and let Rellizbix slip into idle democracy.

  He threw cold water onto his face, washed himself in the basin and put on fresh clothes and perfumes to mask the stench of booze that permeated his skin. Then he descended the tower of his home and made his way to the assembly hall.

  The Gathering of Minds, usually a chaotic mess of scattered ideas and conflicting arguments, had been squarely focused on one topic for the past three years. The Faeir were the first to bring it up, Chief Councilor Herod being the brave soul that put the motion up for consideration: moving the rule of Rellizbix from a monarchy to a republic.

  All of the Faeir in the Gathering of Minds were for this idea, as were several Sabans. Ubrith was harshly against it, as were Tiberius and those most loyal to the king, while the others were completely unprepared to give their opinion on it. Helfrick had expected it, however. He had known from the moment Tiberius returned in victory that his years on the throne were numbered.

  By the next Gathering of Minds, it was no longer just a topic of discussion. The Faeir Council completely backed the movement and more Saban nobles had voiced their approval of it. The consequences were becoming more apparent, as well. Helfrick’s advisors were warning of a possible civil war, should he continue to ignore the Council and supporting Guilds. There had already been demonstrations in the streets and a few of the Guilds had gone on strike until the matter was set for a vote.

  In the end, Helfrick acquiesced and tabled a vote for the following year. Now he stood before the nobles, Councilors, Guild leaders and Tribal Chiefs to hold the vote that would most likely dissolve the powers of the king and resign him to a mere figurehead. Helfria was there, having attended every Gathering since her graduation from the Amethyst College.

  “All stand!” Helfria shouted as he entered the hall. “King Helfrick Caelum of Rellizbix presiding! Let the Gathering of the Minds begin! All hail the descendant of Throm Caelum!”

  “Hail!” the members of the Gathering repeated before sitting down.

  Helfrick nodded at his daughter and she took up the seat next to him at the head of the table. The others looked at him, expectantly.

  He did not bother with formalities. “Before this Gathering is a vote to remove me as King of Rellizbix and replace my rule with that of a handful of Senators to be elected by the Citizens of Rellizbix. All those in favor…”

  “Your majesty, a moment please?” Herod asked, raising his hand.

  “What is it?”

  “A vote of this importance cannot just be thrown out there like this,” the Chief Councilor said, looking around at the others in attendance for acknowledgement. “As any other vote, we should first hear reasons for and against the vote, should we not?”

  “You’ve all had three years to make up your minds,” Helfrick grumbled.

  “Humor us,” Herod said, flatly.

  “Fine, you go first, Chief Councilor.”

  “Thank you,” Herod said with a bow of his head. He turned back to the others. “Members of this Gathering, before us is the vote to change this kingdom from a monarchy to a democracy. We are not removing the King of Rellizbix at all; we are simply redefining his responsibilities.

  “For centuries now, we have followed the majestic Kings into battle against the monsters from beyond the cliffs and for all of that time those illustrious kings have kept us all safe. King Helfrick has done what no other king in history could accomplish, however; he has destroyed the enemy through and through! He has delivered us from the threat of invasion by the barbarous hordes of Greimere and given us an everlasting peace. It is a peace we should reward him for; to show our gratitude for the gift he has given us. Let us reward him with the same peace. Helfrick has saved us from the Greimere… let us now save him
from the burden of protecting us.”

  “Save me from the burden of rule?” Helfrick laughed. “How generous of you, Chief Councilor. Put in those words, I am inclined to vote for it as well! Let’s remove some of that sugar, shall we, before we all puke from it.”

  Helfrick stood. “I have upheld this kingdom from the moment I was born. I am the descendant of Throm Caelum, the man who built this kingdom with nothing but grit and determination. The role of King is not a burden to me; it is a duty!”

  “You say you are not burdened by this duty?” Otho asked. “Why then have you spent the last few years withdrawing from society? Why do you send your daughter to attend nearly all of your meetings and appearances? Why do you now, so early in the morning, stink of boonivarn juice?”

  “Would you not drink yourself to sleep as well, if your own guild were throwing you out on your arse?” Ubrith asked the man. “How is it that I know a Saban’s pride more than you? You cannot reward a Saban as proud and honorable as Helfrick Caelum by stripping him of his power and rank. To act as if this is anything other than a demotion is idiotic.”

  “We are giving innumerable concessions on this vote, Ubrith!” Gaius, a noble from the East and lord over several mines, now spoke. He was newer to the Gathering of Minds and was one of the few Saban nobles with the backing of the Council. “No one here wishes to degrade the king; every one of us has nothing but respect for him. Without a war on the horizon, however, he seems to be…”

  Gaius paused, giving the king an apologetic look. “You seem to have lost your purpose, your majesty. I don’t fault you for it; none of us do, but Otho is right. Your daughter is more involved in the governing of this land than you are and you have lost yourself in despair, despite your amazing triumphs. Let us all remember you as the great king who rescued us from the Greimere and not as the king who locked himself away in his castle and deserted us.”

  “You go too far, Gaius!” General Regulus shouted, rising out of his chair as if he were about to strike the man.

  “Sit down, Regulus,” Helfrick commanded. “This is the Gathering of Minds, not the Orgy of Ass-kissers. Gaius is allowed to speak his mind.”

  “It is disrespectful drivel, my lord!”

  “It is the truth,” Helfrick replied. He took a long breath before speaking again. “I don’t think we need to hear anymore, do we Herod? A Saban’s life is in his hands alone; that is what my father taught me and what his father taught him. I have failed this city and all of the people in my depression. My daughter has proven to be a more effective leader than I, but as long as this kingdom remains a monarchy, she will never be allowed to prove her merit.”

  “I think we all agree and demand her presence on the Senate, my lord,” Gaius replied, nodding towards Helfria. “And once young Kranston comes of age…”

  “Enough,” Helfrick said, cutting him off. “I call for your votes. All those in favor of creating a Republic of Rellizbix, say ‘Aye.’”

  Ubrith, General Regulus and Bricius of the Twileen Jeweler’s Guild were the only members who remained silent. The motion was passed by all others in the room, including Helfria.

  Helfrick immediately got up and turned to leave the room, ignoring pleas from his supporters to remain. He was no longer the ruler of Rellizbix and did not have the heart to continue a presence among the Gathering. All he wished for now was a fresh gourd of Stoglia and a carriage to take him to Forster’s Keep, where he belonged.

  As soon as the door shut behind Helfrick, someone shouted for him from down the hallway. He turned to see Tiberius rushing towards him.

  “You’re back in Thromdale, old friend?” Helfrick asked, confused at the sight of his general. “Were you late to the Gathering? It doesn’t matter. A vote has been cast.”

  “Then we need to revote,” Tiberius said, confidently approaching and placing his hand on the king’s shoulder. “I have news that is going to change everything!”

  “What could you tell me that would change a thing, Tiberius?”

  “I have just returned from inspections of the southern Regiments. While I was there, we received word of trouble in the lower villages. I dispatched with the Spring Guard to investigate.”

  “You’re fifty-nine this year, aren’t you?” Helfrick asked. “And still you rush to any adventure you catch wind of?”

  “My lord, I observed three villages in the Wilderness that had been assaulted and destroyed.” Tiberius leaned close to his king, his mouth widening into an excited grin. “That’s not all we found.”

  Helfrick was disturbed by the man’s expression. He had not seen the taciturn general so amused since they were teens.

  “We have evidence, witnesses… even a body!”

  “What are you talking about, Tiberius?” Helfrick asked. “Who attacked these villages?”

  “The Greimere.”

  Helfrick snorted. In his wretched state, it was not too far-fetched that his mind was slipping from him and he worried that the slightest word, the slightest movement might yank back the words Tiberius just said and what they meant for him.

  “Did you hear me, Helfrick?” Tiberius was actually being chummy with his king, addressing him informally. “Your kingdom needs you again.”

  “Tiberius, you dog,” Helfrick breathed out, catching the man’s excitement. “Did you…? What kind of trick have you pulled?”

  “There is no trick, my lord. I have only just learned of this myself and I came straight to you with the information. None outside of the Spring Guard and my detachment know of this as of yet.”

  “Wait, what are you saying? You had no hand in this? If you did not strike up a deal with…?”

  Tiberius cut him off, looking around cautiously. “My lord, the Greimere are attacking our settlements in the south… completely unprovoked. These are signs of an actual invasion.”

  “They’re coming at us for real,” Helfrick replied, turning back towards the doors to the Assembly Hall. “This threat will never be vanquished… and we need to make sure of that.”

  Helfrick burst back through the doors of the Assembly Hall, Tiberius on his heels.

  “Members of this Gathering, I have news of a national emergency.”

  “My lord, we thought you had dismissed yourself and we have moved on without you…” Herod began to say.

  “Shut up and listen, Sage!” Helfrick commanded, ignoring the formalities of addressing him by title. “General Tiberius is back from the Wilderness, where he has seen first-hand the devastation wrought by a new Invasion! The Greimere have rallied and are at our throats once more!”

  “Impossible!” Otho yelled. “We were told that the Empire was annihilated by the man standing next to you. General Tiberius, you swore to us that the Greimere were defeated! What news is this, then?”

  “We sieged their Citadel, brought its walls down around them and executed their Empress before their eyes,” Tiberius answered. “The Empire was destroyed and its people were sent off into the wastelands. I simply underestimated their resilience.”

  “You killed their leader in front of them and destroyed their home,” Gaius repeated. “General, you are talking about the Greimere. As vile as they are, this is a nation that has endured centuries of defeat at our hands and always comes back, every generation, as if they knew nothing other than slaughter and death… and you underestimated their resilience?”

  “You act as if you admire these butchers, Gaius,” Tiberius replied. “Being too stupid to know defeat does not make them determined; it makes them thoughtless beasts.”

  “The threat of Invasion is upon us, gentlemen and lady,” Helfrick announced, looking over at his daughter. “Now is not the time for a change of command. I will lead the kingdom through this time of peril, as is my charge, and then step down once the menace is over.”

  “Not good enough,” Herod hissed. “We cannot be sure that this threat is as great as other invasions. It has not even been ten years since Tiberius brought back word of the Empire’s defeat. Is
there any evidence to show that this is anything more than a band of vengeful idiots roving about the Wilderness?”

  “Why risk it?” General Regulus asked. “Even if it is just a small raid, it could signify something worse. Helfrick is right. Now is not the time to change the leadership of this kingdom. The people will already be frightened that such an attack can happen so swiftly after the apparent defeat of the Empire. They do not need a new Senate at a time like this. They need their hero King to lead them against the forces of darkness!”

  “Yes, I agree” Otho said. “We all heard the king; he will step down once the threat is over. For now, we must trust him, as we have always done… and make sure that this time, the Greimere demons are wiped from the land!”

  “Genocide!” one of the other members yelled and others nodded in agreement.

  Helfrick nodded dutifully, but flashed smiling eyes at Chief Councilor Herod. Not today, Sage, he thought.

  Chapter 52

  For the second time in his life, Tiberius stood before the walls of the Citadel. His army had a much easier time reaching it than they had before. They were more confident, hauling their Witzer cannon across the desert and daring anything to attack them. Nothing did. Even the creatures in the night that had plagued them before were noticeably absent.

  Tiberius had begun to doubt himself as they travelled onward through the Greimere. There were no signs of settlement, no pockets of creepy black creatures hauling their packs around and fleeing before the shiny army pressing onward. The land was devoid of any life. Even the outposts that he had plowed under days away from the Citadel ten years ago were still in ruin, stripped clean of any resources and left like a carcass of rocks and debris.

  After two weeks, he arrived at the Citadel and was relieved to find it occupied with Rathgar. Alerted guards ran across the tops of the reconstructed walls and the sound of battle horns went up from inside. Then the massive doors of the northern gate, now reinforced with heavy iron to ward against the Witzer cannon, began to close.