Chapter 2: Royal Decrees
Mistpeak Valley
As the sun continued its gradual rise over the Alban lands, two opposing forces also roused from their night's slumber in the mountainous valley of the Mistpeak region. The valley's largest feature, a pristine lake, divided the two opposing sides like a battlefield. Each side of the lake had its own camp.
On the north side of the lake, wooden vans, makeshift horse stables, and dwindling campfires marked the temporary settlement of the Mistpeak Dwellers. The Mistpeak Dwellers had lived in the mountainous valley for generations, growing sustaining but not profitable crops of potatoes, carrots, and anything else that would thrive in the stubborn soil. They had prospered for generations on the strength of their trading abilities and their wit, which had enabled the Mistpeak Dwellers to nurture trade routes throughout Albion.
On the south side of the lake, makeshift canvas tents adorned the verdant shores with several Albion flags flying over the tents. This was the camp of the Swift Brigade of the Albion Army. As dawn's rays stretched over the camp, soldiers roused from their sleep and shuffled off to the lake to gather their bathing water. Several soldiers stoked new fires to life to prepare breakfasts for the entire brigade. The soldiers throughout the camp allowed themselves a languid start to the new day; the brigade was not there on a violent or urgent mission.
Four men mounted on horses and dressed in full regalia departed from the camp as the sun cleared the tops of the mountains and flooded the valley with its light. The man in front wore the red coat and gold shoulder tassels of a major in the army; his elegant and delicately- laundered coat complimented his proud, well-groomed mustache. This was Major Jack Swift, leader of the brigade. Riding behind him, a blond man with well-groomed blond hair and a captain's red coat with silver buttons; this was Captain Ben Finn, the youngest man of his rank in the entire army. The last two men behind them wore standard issue red coats and tall caps. Both were privates, one named Stephen and the other named Edward.
The four men rode around the banks of the lake on a packed dirt road through the towering pines that characterized the lake to the Mistpeak Dwellers' camp. Just before the road passed through the camp, the Dwellers had erected a makeshift wall of bound together logs driven into the semif-frozen earth. Two men, armed with pikes, stood on either side of the road and dressed in the thick fur coats that Dwellers wore to protect themselves from the valley's high altitude temperature variances. The men from the Swift brigade did not dismount from their horses.
"Good morning, gentlemen. We are here to speak to Sabine," Major Swift announced to the guards. "If you would be so kind as to permit us to see him, we will speak with Sabine and be on our way."
"We're under orders from Sabine to not allow anyone, especially your lot, into the camp," said the guard standing in front of Major Swift. "And we're not leaving."
"From your post or in general?" Captain Finn inquired.
The two guards glared at the blond man. Major Swift did not glance as his subordinate. You "Gentlemen, you know that we are operating under the king's orders. He graciously permitted you to have until today to leave this area. If you could fetch Sabine here, then maybe we could work out terms to another arrangement. There is no need to be uncivil here."
The guard to whom Major Swift had been speaking nodded at his counterpart, and the second guard walked into the camp. The first guard turned back to Major Swift with a stare harder than diamonds. "We're a proud people, sir. We're not going anywhere, no matter what the king says."
"I mean no disrespect to you, good sir, but we both know that the king's orders supercede any other wishes."
"Sabine is a strong willed man. Let's see the king march up here and put his 'orders' into place," the guard responded. He crossed his arms over his chest in an expression that clearly indicated the conversation was at an end.
Major Swift turned toward Captain Finn and the two privates. "Have either of your gentlemen brought a light with you? I'm feeling the dire need for a cigar."
The two privates fumbled around in the pockets of their uniforms only to yield empty hands. "My apologies, sir, but we don't seem to have a light," said the taller of the two privates, Stephen.
Captain Finn rolled his eyes in exasperation and pulled out a match, which he light on the rough fabric of his vest. He held out the match to the Major's cigar. "Gentlemen, the first thing you ought to learn if you want to be promoted quickly, is that you will need to always carry a light with you."
"It's a foul habit, Ben, and I'm trying to shake myself of it. Adopt a more healthy lifestyle, live longer, and all of that," Major Swift interjected.
"Yes but if you live longer, you're likely to encounter more wars and trivial disputes like this one," Ben responded wittily.
Major Swift took a deep drag on his cigar. From behind him, a dwarf-like elderly man garbed a number of garish silk clothes approached them with the assistance of a walking stick topped with a jar of incense. He was diminished even further by the shadow of a giant man whose rippling muscles were hardly obscured by the thick furs covering the giant's shoulders and chest. The two men walked to the entrance of the Dweller's camp but no further. "So, I hear you wanted to see me regarding Logan's deceit, you pompous lackey?"
Major Swift turned around and removed his cigar. "Hello again, Sabine. Is there any chance that we might end this conflict on reasonable terms?"
Sabine stomped his walking stick on the semi-frozen ground, causing a necklace of golden coins around his neck to jiggle in his frustration. "The only reasonable terms are that your soldiers depart from this valley and leave us be. This valley has been ours for many a generation, back to the Age of Heroes. The king has no right to remove us."
"Logan wants you to surrender this land for some reason. It's in your best interest to surrender to the king's wishes in a peaceful manner. Perhaps we could reach some amicable terms for the departure date of your people," Major Swift suggested.
"And why should this be made easy for Logan? Why should Logan be allowed to take something that was never his? He never learned to work the land of this valley. Logan has been a spoiled pup since the day he was born. My father, his father, and his father before him, we all lived on this land for generations. My people lived here for generations before a king of Albion ever existed. You will not take what is rightfully ours."
"So you would defy the orders of the king?" asked Edward, the shorter of the two privates.
Major Swift and Captain Finn cut glances back at the insolent private. "It isn't your place to talk during discussions such as this, Private Edward," Captain Finn warned.
"But these people are defying the orders of the king, the High Commander of the army. His orders supercede any other orders that we may have, but we are allowing them to defy our king?" Edward challenged. His tanned complexioned skin turned as red as a beet. "I will not permit such insolence!"
He turned and sprinted back to his horse, mounting it faster than Captain Finn or Major Swift could catch him. The rebellious private snapped the reins on the horse's bridle and rode into the Dweller camp, startling both the armed guards and Sabine's towering giant. The giant barely picked up and moved the Dwellers' leader before Private Edward rode into the camp. "Private Edward! Get back here or be arrested as an insurrectionist!" Major Swift bellowed.
Private Edward continued to ride into the camp and reached into his horse's saddlebags. While on horseback, he pulled out one bomb after the other, lit them, and flung them on the rooftops of various Dweller camp buildings. The bombs detonated upon impact and spread their hungry flames quickly. An alarm went off within the camp as the terrified Dwellers rushed to defend themselves from the rapidly spreading fires, which only intensified as more and more firebombs were thrown.
"Is this what your army resorts to, you pompous coward?" Sabine yelled at Major Swift.
"I had no idea that he was a radical! He is going against direct orders to keep this matter as calm as possible! These are not my orders," Major Swift yelled back.
Captain Finn's stunned expression at Edward's initial insolence turned into horror as the defiant private launched his fifth fire bomb onto the roof of a store. The Dwellers-men, women, and children-were caught off-guard by the attack. As the fires leapt from roofs to walls, they evacuated their homes and screamed in terror. Terrified mothers and fathers scooped up their children and tried to carry them to safety or leave the camp. Private Edward, in obvious anticipation of their fears, rode to the stables and broke the pens, while setting fire to their hay. The frightened animals fled, trampling over anyone who stood in their path to freedom.
Enraged, Captain Finn pulled out his Swift Irregular, aimed it, and fired it twice at the horse-mounted private. The first shot penetrated the private's left side; the second penetrated the private's back. He fell off the horse. Finn sprinted into the camp and ran to the private's side, followed up by Major Swift.
"What were you doing, Private Edward? How dare you violate direct orders from your superior officers!" Major Swift demanded.
The private clutched his profusely bleeding left side and gasped for air. He struggled to grin, even as blood gushed from his mouth from the wound in his back. "I didn't violate your orders, Major Swift. I followed the orders of King Logan. And it only...gets...better." The soldier lapsed into unconsciousness.
Gunshots rang out from the front entrance of the camp. Captain Finn and Major Swift turned toward the sounds, and Captain Finn's mouth dropped open. Mounted on horseback and running in on foot, a squadron of heavily armed mercenaries rushed through the barely guarded front entrance of the Dweller's camp. Captain Finn watched in horror as they gunned down Private Stephen and began gunning down the frightened, unarmed Dwellers running toward the entrance of their camp.
"Captain Finn, I order a retreat!" Major Swift yelled at the blond over the screams and gunfire.
"Major Swift, what about these people? It's our duty to protect them!"
"This is a tactical decision: We are two men with limited ammunition. By the time reinforcements arrive, we shall be part of a heap of bodies. Let us evacuate from this place as quickly as we can and live to fight another day!"
Bowerstone Castle
Robin and Elise happily ran into the castle through the kitchen's rear entrance. The proper entrance for the royal brothers would have been the entrance through the royal library, but for once, Robin did not care about proper protocol. Jasper would have had a minor stroke. Sparks would have flown from Logan's hands. Walter would have frowned in disapproval. But Robin and Elise were happy, in love, and recklessly young.
The kitchen staff had congregated and were in deep discussion when Robin and Elise entered from the garden. Upon spotting Robin, the chef and other staff members turned with shocked expressions on their faces. They were clearly startled by Robin's presence. "Y-Your Highness, our apologies," the chef stammered, "we meant n-no harm by…"
Robin released Elise's hand and approached the kitchen staff with lowered, open hands. "What's going on here?"
"Y-Your Highness, we heard about the woman executed today in Industrial. W-We h-heard that the King ordered the execution b-because she stopped working." The chef swallowed but one of the wait staff nudged him in encouragement. "We wondered if this is a new policy for the king."
"I understand your concerns. This is news that greatly worries me as well. I am taking it upon myself to discuss with my brother the event that took place in Industrial and put your minds at ease. Please reassured that your fears will be addressed and resolved."
"Your Highness." Robin turned to find Sir Walter Beck standing at the door of the kitchen. Standing at six feet in height with grizzled gray hair and beard, Sir Walter cut a respectable figure where he stood due in part to his demeanor and in part to his experience as a soldier. Sir Walter had fought alongside King Sparrow for decades and was now a respected member of King Logan's council. Despite his age, he still presented a powerful form in his red and gold silk outfit.
"Sir Walter, is it time for my training lesson already?" Robin asked.
The old man chuckled. "Until your brother supplies more swords to replace the ones you've broken over the last week, then we would have to practice with wooden ones. The King has requested to speak with you, Prince Robin." Walter cut his eyes to Elise and added, "The King also wishes to speak with you, Lady Elise."
Elise stopped her conversation with one of the chef's assistants. "Very well, Sir Walter; I shall meet him in the throne room after I sample one of these delectable desserts being prepared."
"I'm afraid, Lady Elise, that he wishes to speak with you now."
Sir Walter turned on his heels and departed from the kitchen. Robin, feeling trepidation at the harsh tone of his mentor's words, took Elise's hand in his and followed Sir Walter into the castle. The long corridor from the kitchen to the dining hall felt longer than ever before. As they passed through the main hall of the castle's first floor, Robin heard a calamitous noise outside the castle. He raced to the nearest window and gaped at what he saw. Outside the castle's main doors, a squadron of Logan's Elite Guards formed a barricade against a mob of yelling villagers. Someone from the mob hurled a piece of rotten fruit and it splattered against the thick window pane. "Sir Walter, what is going on?"
Sir Walter joined Elise and Robin at the window. "Those villagers are protesting the shortages of food in the more impoverished sections of the city. Logan's tax policy has forced vendors to increase prices on all food sold within city limits. The merchants in the more wealthy sections of the city can afford it for the time being, but who knows for how long?"
As they watched, the Elite Guard took a firing squad stance. Robin heard a count off then the guard opened fire upon the crowd. Robin watched a dozen villagers collapse to the ground, horrified. "They can't...We've got to do something!" he yelped.
The crowd began to disperse but the Elite Guards reloaded. "I'm afraid there's nothing you can do within these walls, Your Highness. King Logan has ordered that you remain within the Castle."
Elise gasped as a woman fell to the ground and was walked upon by several of her protestors. "This is horrible!"
Robin whirled on Sir Walter. "Take me to my brother at once!"
Sir Walter led Robin and Elise up the grand central staircase of the castle to the throne room. Logan sat upon his throne in his purple and gold, intricately embroidered king's suit; he was flanked by another squadron of his Elite Guards. He sneered as Sir Walter, Robin, and Elise entered the throne room. "My dear brother, my father's loyal servant…and the spy."
"Logan, what are you talking about?" Robin asked.
The king stood from his throne, still sneering, and approached the trio. "I received intelligence some weeks ago that there was a spy sent into my court. Naturally, I set about locating this infiltration and protecting the state secrets of the kingdom. After a number of people had been interrogated, the trail led to and ended with one Lady Elise of Brightwood."
Robin glanced at Elise. She shook her head. "Your Majesty, I do not know who your sources have been, but my father and I have forever been loyal citizens of the kingdom. My father's ship-building company has been at your service since…"
Logan chuckled coldly. "If your father had not owned the largest ship-building company in my kingdom, then you would not have a place at my court. And if you had no place at my court, then you would have no opportunity to seduce my brother, the heir to the throne, and attempt to sway him to side with the rebellion brewing in my kingdom."
"R-Rebellion?" Robin repeated. "Logan, Elise is not a rebel. She is a good, loyal, faithful citizen of Albion, and…"
"And you have already proposed marriage to her, haven't you, dear brother?" Robin slowly nodded and Logan laughed even more coldly. "You are the center of her devious machinations. Elise planned to marry you and either turn you against me, or have your son and murder you. Either way, she would undo all the strength I have brought to the kingdom."
"Your Majesty…" Elise began.
"Your Majesty…" Sir Walter added.
"Logan, this cannot be true. It has to be a malicious rumor," Robin concluded.
The doors to the throne room opened, and several Elite Guards stormed in, pushing forward five wounded villagers in front of them. "Your Majesty, this scum has admitted to leading the mob that gathered in front of the Castle," one of the guards said. "We believe that they have information on the Rebellion. Shall we interrogate them?"
"No," Logan said flippantly, "just kill them."
"NO!" Robin yelled. As the Elite Guard pulled out his pistol to execute the nearest villager, Robin snatched a sword from the scabbard of the nearest Elite Guard and flung it at the armed soldier. Robin's weapon penetrated the soldier's shooting hand. Panting heavily, Robin turned to his brother and glared. "I will not stand by, Logan, and let you execute these innocent people. They have families! They have jobs! They are loyal citizens of this kingdom!"
"Do you think that you can decide who lives and who dies?" Logan sneered. Elise clung tightly to Robin's hand. Sir Walter's gaze darted from Robin to Elise to the villagers Robin had saved. "Do you think that you can make difficult life and death decisions, and live with the consequences of your choices, brother?" Robin glared in silence.
"Very well, brother, make your decision. On one side, you have five people; they likely have children, families, and friends." Logan gestured to the villagers. "On the other, you have the woman you love, whose family you know, the woman you've chosen to marry. They are all traitors in my view. But I will show clemency today.
"Either the woman you love, or these five villagers, will be executed today for treason. There will be no trial, no appeal. I will execute on the spot. The other will spend their lives in prison. Which one shall it be?"
Robin's eyes widened. His heart pounded in his ears. He glanced at the cowering villagers. One of the women, a blonde with leathery skin, swooned and collapsed on the floor. Robin stared into Elise's big blue eyes. He stared back at the villagers.
"Please, Your Highness, I have two children," one of the men pleaded.
"Choose me, Robin. Let me go," Elise pleaded.
"Your Highness, my family needs me. I have five siblings. I work to feed them," pleaded another of the village women.
"Robin, you have to choose me."
"If you don't choose, brother, I will kill all of them."
"Please, Robin."
Robin sadly turned to Elise and nodded in her direction. "Robin, I love you. Don't ever…"
Elise's words were cut off at a fireball slammed into her and set her aflame. "NOOOOOOOOO!" Robin released her hand as Elise's hair, skin, and clothes burned up. The throne room filled with the stench of her burning corpse as it thrashed around in death throes. Elise continued to scream in agony until she stopped moving. Walter retetched. Robin vomited. As Elise's body cooled, he reached out and gingerly touched her ashes. "How-how could you, Logan?"
"The way that you feel now, brother. Do not ever forget it." Logan cut his eyes to Sir Walter. "Take my brother to his room and leave him there until the dawn."
