Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Monday, June 6, 2016
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Friday, June 3, 2016
The King's Challenge #317
TKC 317
By the time Enris and Iniri have introduced everyone with
them, as well as given brief explanation of Lorn’s diabolical plan – while my
brother sits in a corner cradling burnt hands, his face without expression –
enough time elapses for Moravin to return, no doubt thinking I must now be
awake.
I hear his voice in the outer room and lift my hand to quieten
my children. “Fenn,” I whisper.
Enris instantly faces the door and it pleases me no end that
Commander Gennerin immediately takes position at his side.
A roar sounds. Moravin has discovered the unconscious
soldier outside.
I grip the man my daughter introduced as Damin Mur, my
fingers insistent on his arm. “Do you know yourself?”
The fair man was about to move to Enris’s other side, but he
pauses to offer me an enigmatic look. “They called me Coltern.”
“Indeed. Will you stand at my son’s side, General Coltern?”
More than one head whips to around to look at the fair man,
including Iniri’s, especially Gennerin’s. Enris does not move; clearly he has
already uncovered the man’s true identity. Lorn, I note, narrows his attention,
although no emotion crosses his face. While I wish to throttle my brother,
Moravin is priority.
“As I stood at your side, Majesty,” Coltern murmurs,
offering the smallest smile.
I release him, and my most trusted general of many campaigns
steps into place beside my son. He and Enris glance at other, with Enris raising
eyebrows at him and Coltern shrugging. This time his smile is large and
somewhat predatory. It fills me with relief.
Fenn Moravin bursts in then, weapons drawn.
“Kill shot?” Coltern asks.
“He lives for now,” Enris mutters, and the three men attack.
In short order, Moravin is hogtied and gagged. Blood flows from
a wound in his shoulder and a gash upon his forehead, but he is in no danger of
dying. He managed to pull his weapon once before Gennerin kicked it out of his
grip, and he aimed the shot directly at me.
If I harboured any doubts, they were now laid to rest.
Traitor.
The King's Challenge #316
TKC 316
The door to my ‘chamber’ opens once more. I expect either
Moravin or the soldier to enter and prepare myself to offer disdain. How dare
they enter my space uninvited? I will do this to take attention away from the
fact that I am standing when they expect me to be bedridden and possibly
asleep.
Why do I feel the need to defend my actions?
The question sears into me, as does the answer. My life is
in danger. There are plans in motion to take my throne. Moravin is a traitor. Is
Lorn one too? I think he may be.
Neither Moravin nor the soldier enters, however.
I straighten when I see Lorn. Our gazes meet. Before I am
able to call him out to answer my suspicions, I notice he is not alone and it
is not Moravin darkening the doorway behind him.
“Iniri?”
My beloved daughter enters, regal and beautiful as ever, her
face awash with tears and the sweetest smile greets me after so long an
absence. Not even the severe uniform she wears is able to detract from her
presence.
“Father,” she whispers and strides forward, dark hair
swinging. Her incredible eyes are beacons that serve to light the long dark I have
endured without her in my life.
I lose strength in my legs then, but she is already with me
and she embraces me, holding me up, pulling me close. I am blessed indeed. My arms
enfold her and I am renewed.
“Father.”
I hear my son’s voice, and it is glorious music. How I have
missed him. How I have wished to see him again. I am not a king in these moments
of reunion; I am a father and I am not ashamed that I am crying and laughing
simultaneously.
“Enris,” I say and make space to take him into my arms as
well.
We form a triangle of love and never have I been as happy.
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
The King's Challenge #315
TKC 315
Fenn returns with an urn of coffee, as well as a host of
tablets. The former is welcome, the latter not.
“Moravin, I have no need of medication,” I mutter.
“Majesty, Lord Lorn insists.” He sets the dish on the small
bedside table, taps it significantly and moves away.
Pressure builds inside me. Not anger so much as the
expectation of change. Something is on approach that will alter the dynamics,
and that is the pressure I feel. It may be best to keep Moravin unaware and, to
that end, I ‘swallow’ the tablets with water and lean back on a sigh. Fenn
gives a look and I swear there is satisfaction in his gaze. As he turns aside
to decant coffee into a mug, I sneeze. He does not react, but the tabs are now
in my hand rather than in my stomach. Quickly I shove them under my butt.
The coffee is heavenly and I realise I taste it more. My medication
has clearly removed even the small pleasures.
“Rest,” Moravin says. “I will return with your meal.” He
exits and I hear him have words with the guard outside.
Usually I sleep after medication. I become drowsy and before
I know it, hours have passed. Are they drugging me deliberately or is it merely
a result of the medication needed to keep me alive? I know longer know the
answer and therefore it is time to discover the truth.
No one will now enter my sleeping space – a small chamber in
the secret regions of this transport – and therefore I sit up. Yes, I am weak,
but I am awake. Carefully I slide to the edge and lower my feet to the floor. Generally
a soldier needs to prop me up at this point, for leg strength has already
failed me.
Placing my weight upon aching feet, I stand. By the stars, I
stand – unaided!
Then, as I am about to step forward, I sense again the
change on approach. I sense the orb. I sense Enris and Iniri.
My children! My children are close.
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