Chapter 3
"The Puppet, the Puppeteer, and the Madman."
"One who is guided by darkness. One who guides himself. Both destined for tragedy and greatness." –Doma
"Sir, we are surrounded by three very powerful countries. I suggest we make an alliance with at least one of them." A bishop said to Dryst.
"An alliance? Ha! Ha! Ha! We do not need an alliance! We shall crush everybody!" Dryst said in his normal, happy-go-lucky voice.
"But Sir…" The bishop began to say.
"Talk no more about a foolish alliance. Now go ready the troops. And have someone bring me some food." Dryst ordered.
"Yes Sir." The bishop said in a "we're doomed" tone of voice.
The bishop walked out of the chamber and saw one of Dryst's bodyguards, a female lancer, standing by the door when she should not have been.
"He is mad." The lancer said.
"Yes, but his is king so I cannot disagree with him." The bishop said.
The lancer and the bishop began walking down the hall.
"So what information do you have today?" the bishop asked.
"Scouts have reported seeing the warlock, Cai, leave New Almekia. An alliance no doubt. In addition, it seems as though Esgares has moved most of it troops offensively toward New Almekia. It seems as though that's there main objective, but they left their best knight at our border."
"The death knight?"
"Unfortunately, yes. Luckily though that was the only knight they left there."
"What about creatures?"
"They didn't get exact numbers but we will be dealing with many vampires. Maybe even a vampire lord or two."
"Vampires that can raise the fallen ones… It seems we should get prepared sooner than expected. Anything else?"
"Hellhounds also make up a big group. They are stationed around the outside of the castle."
"You have been most helpful. I shall tell the troops immediately."
The bishop then ran off to where the knights were. The lancer started walking toward the castle doors. She was going to go outside but when she went to open the doors, they flew open, throwing her back.
"I'm so sorry Madame! Oh Lady Iria it's you!" A knight said, running to her side and helping her up, "Are scouts just saw something!"
"Well what is it?" Iria asked.
"It's the rogue knight everyone is talking about! He's heading this way!"
"Well what are you talking to me for? Go tell Lord Dryst immediately." Iria said, not trying to sound panicked even though she was.
The messenger ran down the hallway into Dryst's chamber.
The people of Esgares were having troubles of their own at the time too, although they did not know it then.
"Lord Zemeckis, a town to the west of here is refusing to pay taxes." A squire told Zemeckis, "What should we do about it?"
"Give me some time and let me think about it. Now get out." Zemeckis said.
The squire ran out of the room, not wanting to be killed.
"What should I do?" Zemeckis asked himself.
"Burn it down…" A whisper said.
"Isn't that a little too harsh?"
"Burn the town. Show them that refusal is not an option." The voice said again.
Then a figure steeped out of the shadows. A man wearing all black stood there. He wore a skull mask on his head.
"Yes sir, your guidance is greatly appreciated."
The squire was called for and told what to do. That night, over the horizon, all that was seen was fire and smoke. All that was heard were screams. And for the people of that town, all that was felt was pain. The pain of the flames dancing around them, the pain of watching their family members being burned alive. A few did manage to escape and the next morning they were in the king's audience chamber.
"L...Lord Zemeckis. We are gravely sorry about not paying taxes but our… our town leader told us not to pay. It is his fault not ours, so please…spare us." One of the townspeople begged.
"Kill them all." A voice said from behind Zemeckis, only loud enough for him to hear.
"So you listen to him instead of me!" Zemeckis yelled to the people, "Who has more power, me or your town leader?"
"You Sir." The all said in unison.
Zemeckis just waved his hand and a circle appeared under the people. The tried to get up and run, but it was too late. Thousands of lightning bolts hit each one of them, shocking them to death.
"It seems we have a survivor," Zemeckis said, looking at a little boy who was standing outside of the circle when the lightning came down.
The boy turned around and began to run. He reached the door and opened it. Then he fell to the ground. An arrow was inside his head. Zemeckis put down his crossbow, sat down, and looked at the shadow behind him.
"Cador, summon someone to take away these bodies."
