Chapter 4

Edward oversaw to delicate job of threading the poles through the ancient carrying rings and was directing the chosen soldiers in their efforts to lift the box. It had been probably centuries since the chest had been placed on the alter and the grime and build up had almost sealed it to the alter. After some careful yet back breaking manoeuvring, the box released from the stone with a low pop. Edward halted his men from moving as he inspected the box for any damage. But what he found instead was unexpected. The space now vacated on the alter was shining and glistening in the artificial torchlight.

Gold. The alter was in fact gold. Edward touched the sparkling surface and was bombarded with images from long ago.

Screams of women and children.

Pounding feet on the stone ground.

The roaring waves.

He released his hand quickly, having not understood what the vision depicted.

Bang, bang, bang.

He locked eyes on the box once more and barked his orders for its safe removal from the cave. He and his men scrambled up the side of the cliff, using trees and boulders to aid in the lifting of the chest. The tide was beginning to swallow up the cave once more but Edward didn't even look back as he remained focused on his treasure being hauled to the top. A wagon was cleared of its belongings and the box was carefully placed and securely strapped down. Edward refused his brothers help as he mounted his horse and walked behind the travelling wagon, instead of at the front of the envoy.

Thus began their journey home.

No one fully understanding the events of the day as their feared leader stared intently on his mystery chest. They continued on their way, using the markers they'd placed from their journey south to direct their journey back north. The days stretched and became quite monotonous. Wake, eat, travel, make camp, eat, sleep. For over three weeks this continued and for that same amount of time Edward didn't mutter a single word to anyone. Even his mystery blonde from the bath was denied time and time again, to the point that her persistence drove Edward to run her through with his blade. He threw her out of the front of his tent and went to bed. Her body was gone by the morning and the envoy set off once again.

When it hit the two month mark, most of his advisors had had enough. They demanded an audience, which he had been denying for weeks. They barrelled in to his tent and gazed upon their leader sitting crossed legged on the floor just staring at the box. He was trying to memorise every nook and cranny in its ornate design. He was trying to unravel a story he suspected lay in its carvings but he had yet put together any complete narrative. There had also not been any more banging coming from inside. He didn't know whether that was a good or bad thing. But his musings had been interrupted by his uninvited intruders. He stood slowly and looked over the group of his men. They had all at some point believed in him. But he could see the doubt and questioning in each of their faces. He reminded silent and waited for one of them to speak up.

The small group grew uncomfortable with the intense silence. One gulped his fear down and took a brave step forward. Edward eyes cut straight to him.

"What is the meaning of this, Michael?" Edward growled lowly.

Michael went to speak but his dry throat and nerves forced him to swallow once again. He eventually stuttered out a response. "We – we need to speak to you, my lord." He was proud he was able to speak in a full sentence, though his trembling knees and shaky hands gave him away.

Edward eyed Michael intently, taking in the mans shaking limbs and pale complexion. Returning to looking directly at the nervous mans eyes, he replied, "About what exactly?"

Some of the other advisors looked at each other hopefully, thinking they had gotten through to their leader without any aggression or violence.

"Well, we were wondering about your intentions with the mysterious box. What are our plans once we arrive back in our kingdom? And why did we not see fit to unearth and excavate the large golden alter within the cave?" Michael spoke more firmly. His shoulders receded away from his ears and his back straightened. He thought he had tamed the beast. But he didn't see Edwards hands behind his back, grasping the small blade tucked into his trousers. He didn't see the moment Edward's arm flew out from behind his back. And he didn't see the exact moment the blade struck the centre of his chest. He only saw the hilt of the blade was protruding from his body and the moment where he was staring at the tents canopy, in which his heart pumped its last portion of blood. The group of advisors scuttled away from the fallen man, trying to escape not only the wrath of their lethal leader but the growing puddle of Michael's spilling blood. Edward stood unmoved. He didn't look down at the aftermath of his handiwork. He stood casually looking back over his questioning advisors.

"Any other questions?" He asked the group avoiding his eye contact. They all aggressively shook their heads in the negative. "Good." He murmured going back to his position in front of the box. As he sat back down he saw in his peripherals the group making hast out the way they came. Edward looked over to a guard at the side of his tent and nodded ever so slightly. The guard nodded back and made his way out behind the scared cluster of men. As Edward got back to gazing at the box, he heard the cries and pleas of the men he once called advisors.

You're either with him or against him.