The Fallen Kings

by P D Atkerson

  "It is my throne and always has been, you foolish old woman!" Enrick said, slamming his fist down against it. "Restrain her!" he ordered. "And if she touches Munay again, cut off her hand." Willow's face went white and she shrank back from her husband, allowing two of the guards to grab hold of her. "Behave yourself and I'll treat you better than you've treated me. I may even lock you up in one of the towers, and not in the dungeon, like you deserve after threatening me before Salmay was born. If it was not for her, you would both be dead."

  "What are you talking about?" King Munay asked. "Willow has been nothing but caring and kind to you, and this is the way you repay her? She even defended you, after your…" He eyed Enrick. “Death.”

  Enrick laughed. "Do you really expect me to believe you didn't know she was threatening me as heir? Please! It was probably your idea to do so.” He scoffed, sneering at his father. “Even if you didn't know, that doesn't clear you of the other crimes against me. After all, you married my mother only so you could have a thin claim on this throne! Then you killed her, and had me executed for treason."

  "I have as much of a claim on this throne, as you do, son." Munay said, holding his head up high. “She was my wife, longer than she was your mother.”

  "No, you don't!” Enrick snapped. “You will not speak of my mother. Don't throw 'son' in, just to help yourself, it’s pitiful and it won't work! After mother's death, I should have been made king." he said. "But instead, you made a fool of me by making me think I was going to be crowned prince. Instead, you made Willow Queen, when she deserved no title at all. Well, I will no longer play the part of a fool. Dasety didn't stop looking through the old laws after he tried to make me crowned prince."

  "So?" Munay asked, frowning.

  "So," Enrick repeated, standing. He paced in front of the throne, back and forth above his father. "He found out your little secret you hid from us.”

  “And that is?”

  “That the crown really belonged to my mother, and not to you.” Enrick said. “She was the one with royal blood and not you. When she died, it should have gone to me! You couldn’t have the Drinadad throne, so you stole mine."

  King Munay pressed his lips together, then cleared his throat. "You're too young to rule, Enrick," he said, not even trying to deny what he'd done! "That’s why I never told you. You have no idea what it's like to rule. All you seem to be able to see, is the 'glory' that comes with the crown. You're still just a boy! Ruling over a kingdom is not a job for a child.”

  "You thought I was old enough to fight in war and to die for this kingdom! I am not a child!" Enrick shouted, throwing himself back down on the throne. “I’m not a little boy you can control.”

  "If you’re not a child, then you shouldn't yell at me like one," Munay whispered. Enrick wanted to strangle him! Right there, in front of everyone. He fought to restrain himself. "You are not mature enough to rule, and deep down, you know I am right. Who put these mad thoughts into your head?"

  "No one put a thought into my head. Everything I’ve done was by my own choice. And whether or not I rule, wasn’t your call to make!" Enrick yelled, slamming his fist down onto the edge of the throne. "I should have been told. I should have chosen if I wanted to rule yet or not. I should have known you were just acting as a steward, and not as a true king." At these words Munay flinched and Enrick smiled. “You were never really a king anyway, just a goon on a throne. Wishing he could be a true king.”

  Munay quickly recovered himself and turned back to his son. "As your father, it is my call if you should rule or not," he whispered, looking up at Enrick. "I care what happens to you, son. Even if you do not believe me. I didn’t want to execute you."

  Enrick laughed. As if that makes a difference now? He had ordered his death, that had been the last straw. Maybe at one point he may have thought his father loved him, but not after everything he’d done to him. The Fire of Carnifex had been inflamed to kill him, but it had failed. There was no denying that.

  "You've never cared about anyone other than yourself.” Prince Enrick whispered. “And I no longer consider you my father." he said, looking around the room at the guards watching him. He held his chin up high. "From this day forth, my father is dead to me and all the kingdom!" he said, dropping his gaze back to Munay. "You are nothing but a traitor to my throne. One way or another, you will die as one. I just have to decide how long I shall wait to end your torment!"

  Munay held up his hand and kept Enrick’s gaze locked. "I am not a traitor," he whispered. "I never told you the truth because the pressure of ruling is too much for someone your age. It's almost too much for me. It's only a matter of time before it will break you and you will see that I was right not to tell you."

  "Is that a threat?" Enrick asked, crossing his arms as he made himself comfortable against the throne. “You’ve already tried to kill me and you failed! You really want to try it again?” he asked, his green eyes blazing. “Your threats are meaningless now.”

  "Only someone unfit to rule, would hear a threat when truth is spoken," Munay said. "In time everyone here will see that I should be king and not you. You just want to play king; you do not really want to pay the price of ruling."

  "Don’t worry, if that ever does happen, you won’t be around for it." Enrick growled, leaning forwards again. "The only reason you're still here and not down in the dungeon, is because I want to see your face when I'm made king and you are made nothing! Just like you deserve." He said, turning towards Dasety. "Are you ready for my crowning?"

  Dasety bowed his head. "Yes, my lord."

  Enrick took in a deep breath and sat up tall. "Let's get on with it then. I have waited long enough to be king of Karlay." He said, glancing towards his father. "Bring me the crown!" He stretched out his legs and leaned back. The longer he sat there, the more comfortable the throne felt.

  Dasety nodded and stepped towards Munay, without hesitating, he yanked the crown off his head and turned back towards Enrick. "Arise, future king!" he said, motioning Prince Enrick to his feet.

  Slowly, Enrick stood and held his head high as he took a step forward.

  Out of the shadows, one of the castle guards stepped out. He moved towards Dasety and held out a small bottle of ointment. Then a servant placed a pillow in front of Enrick, and the prince knelt upon it. They all knew what they needed to do, because they’d planned this for days.

  Dasety unscrewed the lid of the bottle, pouring the ointment over Enrick’s head.

  Enrick closed his eyes, as the liquid soaked through his fiery hair and dripped down his face. His heart thudding so loudly, he was sure Dasety could hear it. The ointment’s really the smell of power!

  "With the oils of the Karlien land, I do hereby anoint you, King Enrick, of Karlay." Dasety said, placing the crown upon Enrick's head. "Long may your reign be, and prosperous the land." He said, bowing his head. The castle guards quickly followed suit.

  Dasety lifted his head up and offered his hand to Enrick.

  Enrick ignored Dasety's hand and stood up on his own. He wasn't going to show any kind of weakness in front of these nobles and Loyal Warriors. He had to prove himself most of all to them.

  Enrick stood there and looked around him, he felt a little sick. Could that really be all he had to do? Was the crown really finally his? After all this time? It still seemed like a dream. As if, at any second, he would wake up in the afterlife, to find out Aliala’s plan to save him from his execution hadn’t worked.

  That there wasn’t a trapdoor built into the execution stand that only a few people knew about and instead of escaping through there, he’d burned to death in front of his father and hundreds of peasants.

  Shaking away these crazy thoughts, Enrick fixed his gaze on the group in front of him.

  "Lords and Ladies from all parts of the great kingdom of Karlay, I am your new king! Are you loyal to me, or to my father?" Enrick asked, scanning the half-asleep nobles in front of him. "Anyone who does not want me to be your king, is welcome to
join Munay in the dungeon, to wait for your execution. You will not be as lucky as I." He said.

  Not a single one of the nobles said a word, one by one, they bowed their head towards him and saluted him in the Karlien way.

  Munay chuckled, shaking his head as he smiled at Enrick. "They will stay loyal to me, even if they pretend to bow to you, Enrick. You're only a child, they won't respect you. Just like no one will respect Telarian as king, you saw the truth of that yourself." Munay said. "You betrayed your father and your king! Why should you be loyal to them? Like I have been these past ten years?! You are still just a snot nosed child, who doesn’t have a clue about the real world."

  "Take him to the dungeon!" Enrick ordered, motioning to the guards. "The next time I see you, Munay, it will most likely be at your trial and hanging. I hate the very sight of you. Don’t worry, you won’t die by fire. I’d hate to rub it in, that you no longer have your gift."

  "Son, don't do this!" Munay cried, as the guards grabbed hold of him and drug him toward the doors.

  Willow's eyes watered and she turned away, but she said nothing. At least she wasn't stupid. She knew who was in charge now and she knew how to survive.

  “Don’t do this to me, Enrick.” Munay said. “I’m your father. Son, please.”

  "Don't tell me what to do! You are no longer my father; I am no longer your son." Enrick said, then he laughed. "I guess this is the second time you've lost a throne to a ‘child’. Maybe it's a sign, you never should have tried to be king! You are unworthy of the title."

  Munay's eyes flashed red, just before the doors were slammed in his face.

  Enrick took in a deep breath and turned towards Dasety. "Call all the warriors together," he ordered. "We have a realm to conquer, Shenock will be just the start." He said, straightening out his tunic. “The warriors must be told there’s been a change in power.”

  "The warriors have been in the main court yard, ever since last week, I never told Munay.” Dasety said, pointing towards the door that would lead out to a balcony overlooking the court yard. “I thought they might have something to do with your plan.”

  Enrick laughed and shook his head. “Hundreds of warriors filtered back into the castle and Munay didn’t even notice.” He said, then grew more solemn. "What if they don't follow me?" Enrick asked, turning towards the balcony, overlooking the court yard. He stood in front of the doorway, but didn't step out. “What if they don’t want me for a king?”

  "The only reason they followed your father, was the fact that he was king and he paid them well. You are king now and can pay them just as well as your fa... Munay ever did.” Dasety said. “As for the army itself, they’re Karliens and have no choice. Besides, you were the one who will fight side by side with them out there on the battle field. While your father would have sat in here and watched them die."

  Enrick nodded. "Lady Willow, you will join us on the balcony," he ordered, glancing towards her. “Unless you’ve something to say against that?”

  Willow's purple eyes flashed with anger, but she bowed her head. "No, my king," she said through her teeth. “I have nothing to say.”

  She knew as well as he did, this was just a show of power. She wasn’t queen anymore. Enrick didn't care to have her around, but gaining the people's loyalty and fear, were more important at the moment. He would humiliate her later, unless she proved herself useful to him.

  “Open the door!” Enrick ordered one of the servants. Once it was open, he stepped out onto the balcony and into the chilly night air.

  The Dark Castle court yard was packed with the Karlien army. Fifteen hundred trained warriors, all ready to be given orders. With them under his control, no one could stand in his way. Shenock was already practically putty in his hand. It wouldn't be long before the rest of the realm was as well. Enrick stood in the center of the balcony, Dasety to one side of him, Willow to the other. Two guards stood behind her, just to be safe.

  He could feel the questioning looks of the warriors below him, but no one spoke a word. They could all see the Karlien crown sitting upon his head, moonlight causing it to glitter.

  This part was harder than he’d expected. The last time he’d stepped foot in the court yard, was the day he’d thought he was going to die. Not a pleasant memory.

  He took another step closer to the edge and gripped the railing. "I am now your king!" Enrick called down to them, holding his head high. “Munay is no longer worthy of the title.”

  A murmur echoed through them.

  “Call me a prince, call me a king.” Enrick said, running his gaze along his men. “It doesn’t matter to me. I only ask for your loyalty and your respect. Both of which I will show you, unlike what we received from my father. I know, without you, there is no hope of safety and prosperity in our kingdom.”

  A cheer of agreement went up from the warriors, as they pounded their feet.

  Enrick held up his hand and they fell silent again. “My father doesn't think I'm ready to rule, but I don't think he's right. I promise you, with your help, before my reign is through, all the realm shall be ours. Something Munay was too weak to finish!" Enrick cried. "And when we have the realm, we shall rule Aleanare together. I will be your king, and you my faithful warriors! There are no longer Loyal Warriors and warriors. I'm resetting all ranks. Those of you who show yourselves to be loyal to me, shall rise in rank quickly, not those who were once loyal to my father and who don't consider me the ruler of Karlay!”

  This time the warriors yelled, both with anger and with joy. Enrick smiled to himself.

  “Aleanare will once again be whole, under my crown.” Enrick said. “Long may we rule over the rest of this realm, as the high kingdom. No longer considered a lesser kingdom because of our past." he yelled, slamming his fist down against the railing. "One and all of us shall have power over the rest of the realm! Debel is already ours and Shenock soon will be, this is only the beginning of our conquest. We will take the last of the standing five kingdoms and crush them under our foot."

  Dasety looked at him and smiled, he drew his sword out of its scabbard and held it up high above his head. "Long live the ruler!" he cried.

  "Long live the ruler!" the warriors echoed, stomping their feet against the stone ground and pounding their swords against their shields.

  Enrick smiled, lifting his gaze towards the sky. He let out a long breath. There was only one threat left to his reign. "I'm coming for you, and you will fall by my hand, Aroron Strangeheart..."

  * * *

  Chapter 23

  To Battle

  War was coming to Shenock, and they all knew it.

  It wasn’t long after King Dillaran’s death and Prince Telarian’s crowning, that the Zilladien army appeared on the horizon. Their dark mass looming on the edge of the desert, slowly edging nearer. Like a storm brewing in the distance. It won’t be long before they strike Shey, hard and fast.

  Shenock needed a plan.

  So, when the army was still at least a day’s journey away from the city, King Telarian called together the nobles and those he trusted most with the protection of Shey, which included Aroron. Much to the Shenockiens surprise and shock, as soon as they were all gathered together, Telarian offered Aroron command over eighty soldiers.

  As soon as the question was asked, all eyes turned towards Aroron. But Aroron hesitated. “I’m not sure I’m the right one to command part of your army, my lord.” He said, heat rushing to his cheeks. He knew every man in that room wanted that honor, which was only given to a few.

  “And why not?” King Telarian asked, frowning as he crossed his arms.

  "I know why. Because, he’s an Oddity." Marlon said, shoving his finger in Aroron's face. “That’s what he is!”

  "Why does that matter?!" Telarian snapped, shooting a glare at Marlon. “How does that affect anything?”

  "Because, Odditys aren't welcome in Shenock. King Dillaran would want him thrown into prison or sold to Zilla!" Marlon said, his cheeks turning red. “Not co
mmanding his soldiers.”

  "My father is dead, what does it matter what he thought?!" Telarian spat. “As far as I’m concerned, Odditys are as much Aleanariens as the rest of us. Besides, we’re fighting the Zilladiens, or have you already forgotten that?”

  The nobles were too shocked to even speak, as they stared at their king, then at Marlon.

  Marlon’s mouth snapped shut and he bowed his head. “No sire, I did not forget.” He mumbled, staring at the ground.

  Telarian turned back to Aroron. "I didn't ask you if you were an Oddity. I asked, if you would command eighty of my men. Will you or will you not?"

  “Yes, my lord.” Aroron said, dropping to one knee. “It would be my honor.” As he stood back up, he wasn’t sure if he said yes, because he wanted to help fight off the Zilladiens, or just to spite Marlon.

  Either way, he’d made his choice and now he would have to live with it, or die because of it, to be more accurate.

  “Good, then it’s all settled.” King Telarian said, smiling as he clapped his hands together. “Marlon, you will be under Aroron’s command, understood?”

  With his lips pressed tightly together, Marlon nodded. “Yes, sir.” He hissed through his teeth.

  Aroron seemed to be the only one who noticed how mad he was about all of this. But he also knew what a danger it could be. So, when the meeting ended, Aroron grabbed Marlon’s arm and pulled him aside.

  “I know you don’t like me, and I really don’t care why. I just want to make sure you’re going to follow my orders when I give them.” He said, letting go of the boy’s arm. “If you’re not going to, then you might as well stay here, instead of putting others at risk. I will not have an insubordinate soldier under my command.”

  “Don’t worry.” Marlon growled. “I won’t cause you any trouble.” He said with a sneer, as he turned away and left Aroron there alone.

  Within the week, Aroron found himself at the front line of the battle to keep the invaders from taking over Shey. Hundreds more Zilladiens arrived at the edge of the city, with every passing minute. The odds were not in Shey’s favor.