The Fate of the First Hero of Light
I'm at a round table. Opposite of me sits Queen Zeldany. To my left is the Dark Elf Vivi and to my right are two severely injured idiots. The Knight and The Fire Mage.
It has been three days since I promised my Grandmother the Royal Castle in exchange for the Queens life.
It had been a move of desperation but as I think clearer. If the Queen had been deposed, it could lead to a civil war between the Three Houses. She had united them under her husband's rule. But with the King gone. Some especially in the Houses believed she did not have any right to rule anymore. It is most likely, they had organized the assassination's attempt at the coronation. "Your Majesty. You don't have any children that have been hidden?" "No. Geir I do not." "HOW DARE YO...""BE QUIET HUME IF NOT FOR YOU! THIS SITUATION WOULD NOT EXIST!""BUT STILL..."Thank you sir..."
I don't even listen for his name and the same with the Fire Mage.
Only the Dark Elf Vivi is here to help me. Hume politics do not concern her. I was so desperate after my Grandmother and everyone else had left. I was sitting on the pavement trying to understand the hopelessness of the situation, I had found myself in. I could only feel someone looking from afar. Even though I know she is pitying me. I feel that she is my rock. Uncle Thandall comes in sometimes on our planning's. I feel he is the same. As a teacher or parent coming to evaluate a students progress. My Grandmother will win in the end. She will either get the Royal Castle or get to butcher the Queen. She cannot lose. "One thing I know for sure the Royal Houses wanted you killed Your Majesty." "PREPOSTU..." "QUIET IDIOT!YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO EVEN BE HERE!" My heart beat faster knowing that someone else is on the receiving end of the Dark Elf's wrath."
"Why would you say that Geir?"asks the Queen."When I asked my parents if that had plotted to depose Your Majesty. I could see in their eyes. They had known of or had been part of a plot." "How can you be sure? You're still a boy. Being able to determine a persons intent with a glance. Would takes years of training to accomplice." says the Fire Mage. "You are correct about that. But that my Grandmother also reacted proves it." "How can you be so sure?." asks the Queen. "I've heard that she had tortured so many people. That even the most hardened warrior. She could break in minutes and tortured them for days. There is no one alive who would be able to determine innocence or guilt more accurately." I see the Queen start shaking "Your Majesty as sure as I am the next chief of the Tulok. I will lead us to victory in this battle!"
"Geir I thank you. In my soul I believe you!" "Why don't we interrogate your parents?" asks the Fire Mage "My mother is of the royal house but even with all the schemes in the world. She would never be able to reach the top. I think they would only have improved their stations slightly. I do not believe they would be privy to all the information." "Are you not just trying to protect your parents?" "Please sir... he has already proven him trustworthy. He is fighting to save my life..." says the Queen. "From his own Grandmother. Even the insult sir... had made was not something to get as upset as he had." says the Fire Idiot "And you would not hesitate to cast a spell on a child? You two can act all you want. The only ones that matter here is myself , the Queen and the Dark Elf. You fulfill the same role as someone taking dictations in a court. "THAT INSUL...""Please Geir they are also worried for my safety and have graciously offered their help. Please accept them on my behalf?"ask the Queen. "Very well. Fire Mage do you have any pearls of wisdom regarding you casting a spell on a boy or was it for a fire show? ""...even though she it is still your family. Don't you think it is extremely unreasonable for her to go so far?" "YES IT SEEM EXTRE..." "QUIET HUME!"
"You are correct but my Grandmother is a force of nature." "What do you mean Geir?" asks Qeen Zeldany "From young she was renowned for her fighting prowess and exceptional cruelty. She originally had been only been able to use ice magic very poorly. But through years of combat and much training did she perfect it completely. But her outlook on life. Unlocked a belief that she could believe so intensely that she devoted all her energies completely into it.""Geir what was it?" the Queen asks "Only the strong survive." "But that is not unique?" says the Fire Mage "Exactly but she believed it so completely and found ways to apply it practically."
"Geir what do you mean?" asks the Queen. "Believing something is different than living it. She applied it to the way she moved , she talked , she fought and how she thought. Like as if you were peeling a fruit. Cutting out imperfections, she removed everything that hindered her way of life. A measure for a measure. That is why promises must always be kept. But still a castle is worth more than a Queen. So that would be the best outcome for her." "BUT STILL.." "There is no other way. We will have to find a way to give her the Royal Castle." "Then I'll face her in battle!" the Fire Mage says. I start laughing so hard and even Vivi is chuckling. "Rather not do that." I say. "Sir... unfortunately she is not a foe you can face alone. If our entire army would face her. I believe before she falls. If she would even fall. She would have killed half of our men." "I see..."
"The best thing I can hope for. Is that we find the conspirators of the assassination attempt , and implicate or intimidate them in some way. So that the Royal Castle can be relinquished.""Geir how do you think we will do that?" asks the Queen "Poison" everyone "WHAT!?".
Days later a room with nobles sitting around cups of tea on a table. I'm wearing my newly made Warchief parka. I don't have a headdress yet. Queen Zeldany is crying. The Knight and the Fire Mage are standing on the opposite sides of the room. The Dark Elf is wearing her Mages Robe and the Head of the Mages Guild is also present. I start speaking "The evidence is clear each one of the Three Houses tried to kill the Queen. "Where is your proof!" the Head Mage brings forth a paper she puts it onto each cup. They all have cracked handles. The paper starts shining. It list the composition of the cup.
The ingredients are listed and each one lists the same poison. "And what does that prove?" "Each one of the houses received separate invitations to a tea party for the Queen, to ask the Houses to relinquish the Royal Castle to save her life. She asked that only the Head of the House and three others visit. Because there was no staff. You would have been requested to prepare the tea at each one of the luncheons. We requested that the Queen apologize and always use a broken cup and clearly present it to you. At every event the cup was secretly switched with another one that she then drank.
The tea was analyzed and in every case you had added poison to her tea. Worst of all. The poison in all the cups, was the same poison! How incompetent can you be?!""Who are you to talk to us little child!" "I am the Tulok Warchief. I could request my Grandmother to discipline you for disrespecting me ?" "..." "The evidence has already been distributed to the authorities and articles have been prepared for the press. The police are outside you can leave. Knight open the door. Bring in the police...""WAIT!LETS NEGOTIATE" "Why? You let your last chance slip away. The people adore the Queen and they approve of her reign. The Three Houses will most likely collapse, after the scandal has been revealed. You're only chance is to capitulate. Fabricate a fable to save face. Give the Royal Castle to my Grandmother or face the consequences." The Dark Elf is smiling broadly and I see the Queen has stopped crying and is composing herself.
Days later... I am wearing my Warchief traditional dress parka and my Grandmother is in her bloodstained parka. Uncle Thandall has his hands on my shoulders. Queen Zeldany receives the Three Gold Triangles that represent the keys to the Royal Castle. My Grandmother walks past a very shaken and nervous Queen Zeldany. I ask the Queen she unlocks the seal on my arm.
I look at my Grandmother we walk together. She extends her hand towards the Royal Castle "I am proud of you Geir. You could do, what no other Tulok Warchief could have ever hoped to achieve!" Instantly the entire castle is encased in ice. The castle grounds ,the plants ,the animals and every structure is inside a massive mountain of clear blue ice. My Grandmother asks me "Are you ready Geir?" I nod. The runes on my arm start glowing.
I feel a flame deep inside of me start to grow. My hand is totally covered in flames first red , blue , purple then finally black. I pull back my shoulder and punch the ice mountain. There is a small crack.
My Grandmother is crying. It's the first time I have ever seen it. I know those are tears of joy. I do not know how I should feel about that.
Everyone is laughing all the guards and the people gathered around. As I'm walking, I pass the Knight and Fire Mage they smile condescendingly only the Queen bows deeply "Thank you Hero. For saving my life." I bow back and start walking. Uncle Thandall "Me boy. You're a man now let me get you some fire wine!" The Dark Elf "YES! MAKE HASTE LET'S GO!" "She is leaning on my head with those firm blue breasts. I don't know why. But I know I will see her later tonight again.
The Fire Mage and Knight go to look at the crack it starts to grow. The ice is making loud popping noise. The cracks start to spread faster they split of into many directions. They spread upwards they reach the top of the ice mountain. Almost as if you could see a crystal vase break very slowly. Everything collapses and shatters! Nothing is left. Just snow. Just a barren plot of land.
Finish.