by Lance Wilson
“There is no need, Attonnan has already gathered the hunters and left almost an hour ago scouting for anything about your father” she says and lays her hand on her daughters head.
“Do you know when we should expect him to come back?” Mellyruna says looking now into the blackness of the forest.
Almost as if on queue they hear the sound of horses galloping to the castle, Vulge and many of the other guards ready themselves and push the queen and her family deep into the folds so that they are well protected.
“Hold fire.” A hunters voice shouts and the guards relax the bowstrings and swords are sheathed.
In lead is Attonnan on his black horse. Like the last time he dismounts not so much stopping the horse but slowing him down a bit. Seeing his family he takes a deep breath, he has to tell them, he can tell by the looks on their faces they know about there father and that he was out looking.
“Attonnan” his mother says, her voice only a whisper.
“Father is with one of the clans, it seems the Unagi clan stands alone against Mecmed. Father walked into an ambush, there were no traces of blood so there is no real idea of what happened” Attonnan looks over the faces. He can see the fear on the younger siblings and the worry on his older brother. He wishes he could have avoided this but they had to know, what else could he have done.
“What do we do?” Maeraer says looking around at everyone else.
“Tonight we feast, tomorrow Mellyruna will be announced as king, he shall step down when and if his father comes back” Vulge says calmly and looks hard at Mellyruna who is now pale as a ghost.
“You were told that you would be king, why so shocked” Attonnan says smiling at him trying to lighten the mood.
“It’s only temporary, tell father comes back” Mellyruna says calmly but they can see the thought running through both Vulge and Attonnan, who says father is coming home.
“Come let’s feast” Vulge says and puts his arm around Mellyruna
They all make there way to the feast hall, which has kept the food and the room warm for them all. There are cheers and yells of celebration as they all walk in. but it is at the door when Rin slowly puts her arm around Attonnan and pulls him to the side there is much to talk about she’s not sure why but she knows he will be the one to talk to, to get her answers. Mellyruna watches as his mother takes his brother aside and smiles, he is sure that this is about the attack and that she is going to ask him questions that only he can answer, he was at the attack sight and he saw things that she might need to know. Taking a deep breath he walks back into the feast. All the nobles seem to completely ignore the idea of his father being kidnapped. It’s like he never mattered to him. As long as there is someone in the throne they just go on living there lives, oblivious to the idea that the whole of the Unagi clan and everyone it protects is in serious danger. Like all good kings though he just smiles and does his political duties. Lets them know that he is in charge and that he will see to there protection.
It takes only a few minutes for Rin to come back with Attonnan, quickly he gestures to Attonnan to take the seat of power, his own right hand. Attonnan at first seems shocked but takes the seat anyone. As the feast continues Mellyruna notices that he isn’t really paying any attention to what others are talking about, or what else is going on around him. Oh sure he is acting the part, laughing at jokes, nodding when he needs to or just smiling, but all the while he is thinking about his father missing, and how he is now king. What will he do, and how will he go about it. The only time he seems to be paying any attention is when he is either talking to his siblings or his mother. Attonnan really doesn’t speak during any of the festivities and keeps moving the food around on his plate with his fork. Mellyruna is a bit surprised to find that none of the other nobles seem to notice any of this going on. The distant look on his and his sibling’s faces, the concern in his mothers face. They just go on acting like nothing is going on, like they are not at war, and like there father never meant anything. That is when it strikes him; this is how Ronin is run. The nobles are not free thinkers, no; they are content as long as there is someone on the thrown telling them what to do and how to think. He only shakes his head at this though and lets out a depressed sigh. What a pathetic life it must be, to only be a yes man. It is near the end of the evening that he sees his brother Attonnan leave the table, shortly followed by Ishtar. A smile drifts over his face, he is sure that his brother is going to make his move for her tonight. He can’t say he’s not a bit sorry, like Attonnan he has been courting her since they were children as well, but Attonnan has always had the better luck with her. Instead of feeling jealous of them he takes this opportunity to make some of his first commands as king, but he wants them to be the right ones. Slowly he gets up, but unlike Attonnan his leaving the table doesn’t go unnoticed. When he raises the conversation in the room drops and all eyes are upon him. At first fear takes over him, how should he handle this?
“If you’ll excuse me my lords, I wish to speak with the queen mother, in private” he says and glances over at Rin. Then walks calmly out the opposite door that Attonnan left from.
He walks for a while tells he comes to the training room, it was where he always felt the most comfortable. Swordsmanship always came naturally to him. This leadership and being a king doesn’t, it will take time to get used to, how to act, how to talk, how to give people what they expect of you.
“Nervous Mellyruna” Rin says and lays her hand on his shoulder.
Without thinking Mellyruna only pulls her close to him and wraps his arms around her and begins to sob into her shoulder. Holding him gently as he cries into her shoulder she hums an old elvish lullaby to him. Sometimes she forgets just how young he really is. Only 14, only a child really, caught between the worlds of being a man, and being a child. She holds him for about five or ten minutes before he finally stops and gently steps away.
“I don’t know what came over me, thanks mom.” He says smiling awkwardly up at her.
“You know I am always here for you, for all my children” she says and gently runs her fingers through his hair.
“I need to know a few things. If I’m to be king that is” he says and looks down blushing. He can’t believe how much that sounded like an order. To his own mother, he should never speak to her like that.
“You are king Mellyruna, and I am here to guide you any way I can. Do not feel ashamed to ask” she says and gently takes her hand and tilts his head back up so he is looking at her again.
As she gazes into his eyes she sees what she always has, he is a natural leader. He may not fit the crown yet, but he has always had a charisma about him that wins people over. He has always looked to the people for his answers as well, much the same way his father did. She is sure that it being thrust upon him like this has thrown him off his game but she knows he will fall into his groove and he will lead the Unagi clan to greatness, with his brother Attonnan at his side, she isn’t sure there is anything they can’t accomplish.
“You talked to Attonnan about the attack and what he saw. Is it true, does the Unagi stand alone” he asks calmly but she can see the fear and worry in his eyes.
“I’m afraid so” she says and turns to walk away
“Mom, what, what should I do” he asks knowing that if this is the truth then he should expect an attack at any time.
“That is not for me to say my lord. Mellyruna, you are the king, I don’t mean by title or by birth, but by nature, inside you is a king and a good king. Listen to that voice” she says and walks out of the room leaving him with his thought.
As she closes the door behind her she leans against the door taking a few deep breaths. If he only knew just how hard that was for her. To look him into his pleading eyes and tell him that he is on his own. It is quite possibly the hardest thing she had done in some time. To tell one of her children that she will not help him. But
she had to, if she were to help him now when his own opinion mattered most, then he would come to her all the time and his rule would be overshadowed by constantly asking her, she would rule not him. She has to trust his instincts and know that he will do the right thing. No, there is no question in her mind, he will do the right thing, he always would, he is ready for this, he has been trained by Feff and Vulge to be a leader and she has no doubt that all that time he has been forming his own ideas of what a leader is and how he or she should act. Mellyruna only stands in the middle of the room terror spread over his body his hands trembling. Without warning he drops to his knees and lowers his head into his open hands, how could she do this, how could she thrust this responsibility to him. She says he is a king but how could she know, how can she be so confidant when he isn’t. He stays that way for a few minutes before he finally finds himself shouting inside his head ‘get up you coward, is this the strength of your metal, is this all you are capable of. You are king now, your people need you, they are in danger’ following the orders he shouts at himself he gets up and takes many deep breaths. He must think of the people, the Unagi clan stands alone, it has failed, there is no longer any question of that. Now the question is, how does he keep it from falling? The idea strikes him like lightning and before he knows it he is at the door looking around. He is in luck; a young page is walking down the hall. Walking the route a guard would, why aren’t the guards walking their routes he thinks to himself. No matter, he will deal with that later.
“You page, fetch me Vulge and Byrdi, please make it quick” he says and watches as the young page nods and then dashes off to the feasting hall.
Mellyruna only waits in the training room mulling over the idea that has just struck him. It’s not a usual plan, but he is sure that it will work. He knows it will, it has to. In no time he hears the door open and he smiles to see that it is his younger brother and Vulge, Vulge is carrying a bottle of elvish wine and three glasses.
“You missed a good part of the feast, but I’m sure you have other things on your mind” Vulge says and sets the glasses down.
“There is no time for celebration. You both were there when Attonnan spoke to mom about the clans falling against us” he says and watches as they both nod and then lower their head.
“You have a plan” to his surprise it is Byrdi who speaks. But the surprise doesn’t last long. He should have thought for this. His brother has been following Vulge around ever since he could walk, he has learned more about strategy and warfare in his young years then even some of the greatest strategists have in there entire lives. That is why he called him as well, he is sure that when he takes his rite of passage he will take Vulge’s place as captain of the guard, and royal strategist, and Vulge will give it up happily and willingly.
“I do. We cannot stand against Mecmed with this kind of strength against us.” Mellyruna says and turns his back, lets see who gets the right idea and how jumps to the wrong one
“Your not planning on falling in with him are you” Vulge says calmly, something doesn’t seem right about the idea
“No, running” it is Byrdi that smiles, he knows his brother well enough that he knows he would never sell the clan out if there was another way.
“Your slipping Vulge, your right Byrdi, I want to run, far to the east to the grasslands. We can rebuild there, not as a noble clan, but as a town. Keep low and out of sight as long as we can. Wait this out, Mecmed can’t live forever. Or maybe well get lucky and find a chink in his armor before then. The nobles will have to give up titles, we will all have a lot to do and a lot to adjust to, but we could do it. Live the life of common folk” Mellyruna says and turns back around to see their response.
“The nobles will fight you on this” Vulge says calmly but he already knows the response
“I don’t care, I will keep them alive, the Unagi will be alive and one day we can come back and reclaim what is ours” he says his eyes burning with desire and purpose
“When do you want this done” Byrdi says smiling, this is why his brother is king, he will always think of them first, he would die for them, and for that, he will die for his brother, for his king
“Tomorrow if it can be done… . tell me it can be done that soon” Mellyruna says knowing that there is no time to spare.
“It will be difficult, if we start when the sun rises, we can get everyone packed and ready to move by early mourning, and on ships by early afternoon” Vulge says thinking this out.
“It will take money,” Byrdi says pointing out the obvious
“That is why Ronin has a treasury, that money came from the people, it will go to saving their lives, take all of it if that is what it takes. Money will mean nothing if we are dead” he says and lays his hand on his younger brothers shoulder
“Father would be proud” Byrdi says straightening himself like a soldier now.
“We should get back to the feast, I wish to make the announcement right away” Mellyruna says and beams at the door.
His first trail has come and he met it with the courage of his ancestors and found the answer. Yes they will be poor, yes they will loose everything that makes them a noble clan, but as long as the clan is together and working to keep each other alive, then they will be alive. And if they never find a way to defeat Mecmed, maybe they’re children will, or their grandchildren. Yes they are running, but they are not running from something, they are running too something, too a tomorrow of peace. All three walk back to the feast hall where just outside the door they can hear the sound of laughter and song, that won’t last much longer. As he opens the doors everyone stops and all eyes are upon them again. Rin smiles to see him enter, it is not like he left. He no longer holds the confusion and lost look of a child on his face. No this time his face shows of confidence and power, it is the face of the ruler he will be. He has found himself. Mellyruna walks to the head of the table as Vulge and Byrdi walk to there own seats, but none of them sit.
“People of Ronin, I have made a decision tonight. If you do not know, we are at war” he says and listens to the gasp of people around him.
Did father keep it that much of a secret to them. He wonders if that was wise, maybe if they had known they might be more prepared.
“Do not concern yourself for I have found the answer, we shall leave Ronin and start again in the east, far to the east past the mountains. We shall live as common folk, we shall no longer be a clan of power, but only a group of elves building their new tomorrow” he says and looks around the table
At first there is only silence, but then talk and whispers then like he was told a few nobles stand anger on there face.
“Many of us have worked hard for where we are, what gives you the right to take what we have earned” the noble says but is taken back when Mellyruna slams his fists onto the table leans forward and lowers his head.
“Do you think Mecmed gives a damn who gained what and how long it took, Ronin will burn, there is no way around that, he has the power and force to do it. The other elven clans have allied themselves with him. I don’t know about you, but I do not wish to be here when it burns. If we go to the east we can start a new life. Stay away from the war, and maybe we can come back when we are stronger, or maybe our children or there children, all that matters is that we live so there is a tomorrow” he says and looks around, the nobles that were standing now sit stunned and afraid of the power that has seem to come over the new prince. Before he can say another word the sound of blades clattering and men screaming fill the halls outside the feasting hall. Quickly the guards are up and there blades drawn, like a flash the doors of the feasting hall burst open and the feast hall files with men in white and gold armor, some with light blue sashes, all caring round shields covered in bonze and long wide single edge blades. All the men have their heads covered with hoods.
“Protect the king” Vulge shouts out as men run and scream from
the enemy, Vulge and a few of his more skilled and trusted guard surround Mellyruna as men begin to get cut down left and right.
Mellyruna at first is shocked and cannot move, but then his instincts take over and without warning he grabs a long double edge blade from one of the guards side and charges his enemy. His blade soon clashes with that of the nearest enemy as he hears the nobles and servants alike get cut down. No one was armed but the guards and now, now they are all falling to the blades of this unseen army.
The enemy comes down with a strike but Mellyruna is faster and spins to one side, then with the same motion slams his blade deep into his enemies back. Another comes at him and he blocks a side slash holding his blade upside down. He slides his blade quickly away and comes down in a slash at the man from the opposite side, cutting the man nearly in two… another come at him, the room fills with more soldiers of both sides. Blood and screams fill the room. The smell of death begins to hang thick in the air. He blocks the blade of the one that comes at him, then with a slash that comes from his heels he takes the mans right leg making his scream out, but there is no time to think, another comes, he sidesteps and cuts deep into that ones side.
“Maeraer, Byrdi, Attonnan, mom” Mellyruna calls out for his family as he wades against his foes
Vulge snarls as he digs into soldier after soldier with his axe, cutting them down like they are firewood. Byrdi has snatches a spear from somewhere and though he has not cut any of them down he is keeping them at bay. Like a knife in the pit of there stomachs they all hear a scream, it is Mellyruna who first sees what has happened and watches as the soldiers step back away from him and the guard. One of the soldiers has captured Rin and now has a knife to her throat. Looking around he sees the damage done to his clan in only seconds, almost all the nobles and servant lay at his feet cut down by enemy blades, the enemy has lost as well, but only a sliver compared to the Unagi. Soon a man enters the room and looks around at what has been done. Mellyruna snarls like a wild beast as the man enters, Vulge only grips his axe tighter, and Byrdi who now has Maeraer at his back grips his spear a bit more loosely. The elf is a tall elf with skinny build, he looked skinny, almost on the edge of death, and his skin was pale, so pale it almost glowed in the torchlight. His eyes were sunken into his sockets and have a milky look to them. He is wearing long loose fitting cloth, almost what he would see as bed sheets. One wrapped gently around his waist and then over his right shoulder the primary cloth is a light gray almost white that shows over the chest and part to the waist, the other cloth over that, draped over the right shoulder all the way to the elbow is a light blue color with gold trim that falls past the waist all the way to the knees. Around his waist was a belt of brown leather and gold chain, his hair is long and slick, a dark brown color, his mustache is long as well and on his chin is a thin but long goatee.
