Knoll kom Azgeda had been a junior to Zola and an ambassador with no post for years now. He was aware that his knowledge of things Nia would not like spread was why he would never be allowed out of the capitol. He'd long since accepted his place and future. A future involving working as a gopher to Zola and maybe taking the man's position some day when the political games of the powerful led to the weak man's death. That future was no longer an option. In fact, his future was very much in risk of not happening at all at the moment.
Everything could be at an end because standing on the dais before the throne, blood still running down her short sword stood Klark kom Azgeda, former heir and apparently the new Kwin. His throat tightened in fright. He knew how this went. A new ruler could never trust the officials of their predecessor and there would soon be a bloodbath among those who had served Nia. If he escaped this with his life, it would be a miracle. He'd seen his first die on a day like this, only it had been Nia sitting in the throne, her brother's head at her feet.
Klark raised her arm with the red blood still running down it and spoke into the still shocked silent room. "If any object to my rule, step forward now."
Knoll felt fear quake him to the bone because he knew, he knew that people were going to die. Scanning the room, he took in the now glaringly obvious holes where the chief advisers to Nia should have stood. He swallowed thickly, he had no doubt they were dead and their bodies would be mounted on the walls by the time the sun set. He felt his knuckles turning white as he prayed no one did anything stupid and his own body didn't end up strung up as well. Klark was not famous for her mercy. She was famous because she was ruthless, for all that her warriors blue indicated a care for the common folk they were some of the most ruthless warriors in the clan. After all, mercy was the privilege of the strong, those feared enough that it couldn't be mistaken for weakness. So he prayed to the spirits that no one stepped forward to challenge the new kwin.
Quint evidently had not realized the ramifications of the missing ambassadors or the fact the city was currently filled with Klark's army while being protected and manned by a division of Klark's army that had been left behind. He stalked forward, a sneer pulling across his face. "You're not even a born member of our clan and you think you have the right to rule?"
Klark didn't move just watching the approaching man with cold eyes that caused Knoll to feel shivers go up his spine before she simply flicked her hand. The result was instantaneous. Two of her warriors moved lightning fast disarming Quint and forcing him to his knees. Every single warrior with the blue sewn into their coats moved, instantly drawing their weapons. Quint's men moved to defend their general.
Knoll stayed where he was, as did the majority of the lower level advisers and bureaucrats in the room as Quint's men were cut down ruthlessly. Blood running across the floors. He didn't watch as the highly trained warriors who had been at nearly constant war slaughtered their unprepared opponents. Instead, he watched the impassive face of Klark. Her eyes were sharp as she stood there watching the proceedings, clearly on the lookout for a new threat. As the dying came to a stop, he allowed himself to glance at the crumpled bodies. A few of Klark's men were lightly wounded, but numbers, preparedness, and recent experience had turned the fight vastly in their favor. His eyes snapped back to Klark as she shifted, clasping her hands behind her back after sheathing her still bloody sword. She stared down at the struggling form of Quint.
"You would challenge your rightful queen then?" She asked. Her voice was flat and carried to the darkest corners of the room.
Quint was practically snarling. "You are no kwin! When the others hear what you've done they will raze you and your traitorous followers to the ground!"
Klark raised a single brow. "The others? You kneel before me alone." She turned facing the rest of the throne room. "Does anyone else wish to join general Quint?"
No one moved and Knoll felt himself holding his breath. Quint spoke loud and haughtily. "My army will march on you to take your blood for my death. The cowards here may not oppose you but you think my fellow generals will bow before a fraud like you?!"
Klark's mouth pulled up showing her teeth as she smiled and Knoll was struck with how terrifying a smile could be. Nia had rarely smiled but he had a feeling that this ruler's smile would become something to be feared. She spoke with amusement lacing her tone though somehow her voice remained cold as ice. "General Seth sits even now prepared to defend my claim, his loyalty already pledged to my rule. Do you truly believe Fredrick would march against me?"
Knoll knew in that moment it was over. If Seth and Fredrick backed Klark, and the chief advisers were dead, it was over. He felt his hands shaking slightly, he had no doubt the others in the room were suffering the same.
Quint seemed to freeze as the knowledge of the situation dawned. "You can't do this."
"It's already done." She looked past Quint at the two warriors holding him on his knees. "Kill the traitor."
Quint attempted to struggle but it did no good. He was yanked back, the male warrior twisting him so that he alone held the general down while the female warrior stepped around him, drawing a dagger. Knoll swallowed in disgust and acknowledgment as the woman sliced the kneeling man's gut open. It was a purposeful cut, Quint's guts falling out of his body and onto the floor. The man let out a sharp cry, whether it was from pain or horror Knoll didn't know. With the entrails glistening as they hung out of the body the warrior moved swiftly cutting the tendons in Quint's arms and legs. As soon as it was done the male warrior released the now useless limbs and grabbed Quint's jaw forcing it open.
Knoll wanted to turn away but it would not matter, he knew what came next. Cringing, he heard the gurgling scream as Quint's tongue was cut out of his head with a hot knife that closed off the wounds as it cut. Finally, they simply dropped his still living corpse on the ground. Knoll knew it would take a while for the man to bleed out from the cuts that had avoided arteries, he may not even bleed out at all, stuck dying slowly from some other cause. It was a warning that said more about the loyalty and devotion of Klark's men than anything. Klark hadn't told her men how to kill the general. She had allowed her warriors to do what they believed the general deserved and they had given him the death of the worst sort of traitors. It was frightening, they were clearly not in a forgiving mood. He looked away from the gruesome sight as the warriors stepped back away from the twitching man. His gaze rested on Klark, who was watching the room carefully.
"Will you bow to me?" She demanded, and it was a demand not a request.
Knoll walked forward, he knew prompt action was his only hope of surviving the bloodbath that he was sure was only just beginning. He dropped onto his knees bowing his head in submission. He stayed there as the others slowly did the same, he could feel the tension in the air. He knew the others were too terrified to bring the new queen's attention to them. He however, knew it might be his only chance and prayed his being the first to speak would save him. "Long live the Kwin."
The others followed his example as he kept his eyes glued to the stones with blood splatter lying across them, blood soaking his knees as he stayed kneeling. He nearly choked on his own tongue as he saw the booted feet of the queen in front of him. Her voice echoed as she spoke. "Xander, see to it that the people of the city are gathered in the central square. Leo, prepare Nia's head to be delivered to Heda."
He could hear the men doing as instructed and waited with baited breath for what would happen next. Whether he would live or die.
"I am not Nia." Her voice came. "Serve me well and you will be rewarded. Betray me and you will die. Rise."
Knoll stood carefully, keeping his head tilted downwards as he stared at Klark, who was only a few paces in front of him.
"We are all of Azgeda, protect our clan and you have nothing to fear from me." She seemed satisfied by whatever it was she saw in them because she turned and walked to the throne before sitting down upon it. Looking down at them from her seat, she spoke again. "Swear your loyalty or leave taking the brand of the banished."
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The streets of the capitol were still loud with celebration as the people drank to the health of their new queen. Knoll stood by one of the windows looking out over the city and wondered how long this could last. For now, the victorious army was there freely breaking bread and wine with the people. So the people celebrated the rise of a new queen while they spat on the bodies hanging grotesquely from the walls, a testament to the fall of their former ruler. He understood their celebration, Nia had ruled through fear and war. They were all so buoyed up on her death and by the hope that Klark offered something better that they hadn't even thought of the consequences. In his experience, and from what he knew of history, the death of the old ruler and the transition to a new one only brought chaos and death.
"Knoll, the queen requests your presence in her quarters." A male warrior said, standing formally behind him.
Knoll took a deep breath before turning. "Very well." He walked through the halls noticing the massively increased security, which was wise. Assassination attempts would most likely be common in the next few days. Arriving at the guarded door, he raised his hand and knocked. A muffled, "Come in," came through and he opened the door and entered cautiously.
He looked around the room as he shuffled in, trying to prepare himself for danger. The room was in disarray. Several warriors were working on tearing down various war trophies Nia had left on the walls. The bed had clearly been stripped and war bedding thrown on top. The pale sweating form of Captain Bellamy, his face wrapped in several bandages, was lying on the newly made bed. Klark was leaning over a table that had stacks of paper on top of it. Gunter and Leo standing around the table as well. Klark turned to look at him. "Knoll."
"My Queen." He bowed deeply.
She poured a glass of water. "Tell me Knoll what are your thoughts on the coalition?"
He frowned slightly at the unexpected question but spoke slowly, trying to toe the line. After all, he was unsure of Klark's position on the coalition and contradicting her could be dangerous. "It has increased trade and lowered demands on our borders, but it has also lowered our standing amongst the clans." He didn't think there was anything inflammatory in that.
Klark sighed and turned to Gunter. "Go, see to it that the personnel are moved as we've discussed."
The man dipped his head slightly before leaving. Knoll watched him enviously before returning his attention to the queen. She was watching him with consideration. "I give you my word you will not be punished for what you say. I want to know your mind."
He carefully reached up, pulling his hood off from over his head and watched the young queen before nodding in acknowledgement. "We have harmed ourselves by not taking advantage of the trade it opens to us as well as the opportunity to end hostilities." He clasped his hands in front of him protectively. "It has come to the point where we must either comply to the dictates of the coalition fully or separate ourselves as an independent clan."
Klark crossed her arms, looking at him thoughtfully. "Tell me, how would you suggest our clan strengthen our alliance with the coalition and how would you suggest we leave the coalition?"
He felt sweat run down his back. This was a test, for what he was unsure. He had no doubts an assassin would end him once out of her presence if he spoke wrong. However, not complying with her orders wasn't an option. "If we leave, we will need our allies to leave as well. With the mountain defeated, Heda will do anything to prevent the coalition from falling. As such, we will need to be prepared for war. Attacking first would be our safest option."
He was not young enough for this sort of thing any longer. Clearing his throat, he continued. "If we are to submit to the coalition completely we will need to make a statement to Heda and the coalition that your rule is different than Nia's. A large gift of submission, furs, vodka, medicine, meat, and weapons would need to be given in a show of good faith. The entire ambassadorial party in Polis would need to be recalled and replaced. You would have to personally travel to Polis and take the brand and re swear our loyalty to the coalition. Reducing the number of warriors along our borders would also be needed as a show of goodwill. Of course, independent trade deals and relations between us and the other clans would be needed as well."
"You speak of submission but we are a power in our own right. We do not need to submit to the coalition, we need to join it in good faith. Asserting our position as a powerful nation among their ranks. Nia failed to capitalize on our position and instead made us look weak by isolating us and making it look like we feared the power of the coalition. Instead, we must show that we will be powerhouses in this new world order. However, your suggestions are good. We will be giving gifts but not as a sign of submission but as a presentation of what we have to offer in trade. If we give gifts as an opening to successful trade that show off what we have to offer, we will appear a rich nation and valuable trading partner. The ambassadors indeed must be replaced with those who understand the current state of affairs and I will of course be taking the brand as the new leader of our nation. Whether we lower the numbers of troops at the border is a more complicated issue for another time." The queen turned to a warrior who was standing near the bed on guard. "Tell me Lincoln do you believe this would advance relations between our clans?"
Lincoln was a tall intimidating man who, Knoll realized with some shock, was clearly Trikru. He spoke evenly. "It would do much Wanheda."
Knoll's eyes widened at the title, of course he'd heard rumors of the name bestowed on their queen but still to hear it spoken with respect by a Trikru was shocking to say the least. He turned his attention back to the queen quickly afraid of missing any tiny detail.
"I've made note of you Knoll." She began shuffling through the pile of papers, seemingly ignoring how fear caused him to tremble. "I'm aware you've never held a proper ambassador post due to your unfortunate knowledge of several of Nia's state secrets. That and you have argued in favor of the coalition on several occasions. Your proposal for the further merging of our clan into the place of prominence it should hold within the coalition is sound and what I was expecting you to say."
He swallowed thickly. "Thank you your majesty?"
She made a sound of triumph and pulled on a thick packet of parchment sealed with wax. "Now that I am queen changing out all of our ambassadors is necessary. I'll be blunt I don't trust you with the position left open by Zola."
Knoll nearly shivered. Not being trusted, even if it was in conjunction with a specific position, was never a good sign. If he was fortunate, perhaps he would only be banished.
"That said you are qualified and trained. Wasting your talent would be a crime and a foolish mistake." She extended her hand with the packet in it. "Your orders. You will be the lead ambassador of the party I will be sending to Polis to replace our current representatives. I will be personally accompanying you to receive the brand on this journey. Of course, myself or Bellamy will be responsible for appointing your guards."
He carefully accepted the heavy packet, his jaw opening and closing before he managed to reply while bowing deeply. "Thank you your majesty." This was something he would never have expected, or dared hope for under Nia's reign. Yet here it was, a position of his very own. Of course, the implied threat of his guards being chosen for him wasn't lost on him. Nor the fact she'd be personally accompanying him. Even with those caveats, it was more than he would have dreamed of ever achieving under Nia, let alone under a new queen who by rights should have had him and every other bureaucrat in the city executed. He was receiving a chance to prove himself and he would not fail.
She waved off his thanks. "I expect you to have read through your orders and to have a proposal for what supplies and personnel you'll require by the end of the week. Sooner would be best but with things in flux, I will understand if it takes more time. We leave for Polis in two months." Her voice and orders were clear.
"Of course, I will have it prepared as soon as possible." He rushed to assure her and prove his capability in such a position.
"You may leave then, ambassador." She said, turning back to the table.
He felt like his heart was in his throat and his feet had wings as he turned to leave only to be halted as he reached the door by her voice.
"Oh and ambassador, I expect you to find one of my warriors in blue and make sure you are aware of our code. You will follow and uphold that code so long as you serve me." There was a slight threat to her tone.
He looked over his shoulder and nodded in understanding before leaving the room and quickly making his way down the halls. Finally coming to the open hall where other nervous bureaucrats were waiting, he let himself lean against the wall and breath. He was ambassador, the expected blood bath did not seem to be imminent, this was his chance. Ignoring his fellows looking at him curiously, he smiled widely as the fear left his frame.