Chapter Twenty Two
A King in Chains

The mood in the throne room was tense as one by one the Gerudo elite whom Rael had become familiar entered. There were no formal announcements this evening, and consequently all entered silently, heads bowed. Tonight, the city would be in deep sadness as mothers mourned the death of their daughters, sons mourned for their fathers, brothers for their fallen sisters. Too many lives had been lost that day; Rael's hands still smelt of blood.

The palace guards who lined the carpet between the doors and the throne were most silent of all. Some of these had been in the battle too, and surely all present had lost a friend or relative in the fighting.

Rael wanted to be alone, so he could begin to comprehend his actions, but there were matters of state to attend to.

Jaendral Rashan was standing in the middle of the room with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the high windows overhead. He had shed his black armour, and was wearing just a simple black tunic. Jevilla Falsha, whom Rael learned had been held back from leading the army by Lana, was sitting on the steps of the dais, staring furiously into nothing. Her breathing was heavy and deliberate. Lana was seated on the Amethyst Throne, her arms and back straight, gazing at the far doors deep in thought. Elane stood awkwardly at Rael's side, making it clear that this was the last place she wanted to be.

The sound of marching boots echoed into the room from along the corridor, heavy and purposeful. Everyone turned to look at the doors, save for Lana who had been looking nowhere else since sitting. A strongly armed unit of Jaendral's soldiers entered in a box formation, each holding the end of a chain. As they drew closer, Rael was able to see the prisoner they were leading. When they came close to the throne, all the soldiers bowed their heads. As soon as Lana nodded at them, they dropped their chains and took places at the side of the room, except for two who remained, holding the chains of the prisoner.

As the guards departed they revealed a man bound by chains and locks, stooped over with the burden. The man raised his head and set his eyes on Lana, glaring at her with a deep loathing. Though he was bound by chains, Rael's first thought upon seeing his face was that he had never seen such an outwardly beautiful Gerudo. He was just over six feet tall, the same height as Rael, with a golden complexion. Unlike Jaendral, who was handsome yet rough in appearance, and scared by battle, this man's face was in all ways perfect, from his high cheekbones to his sparkling blue eyes. Most surprising of all, and adding much to his striking appearance was his head of yellow-gold hair, the like of which Rael had never seen on any Gerudo, male or female. He knew for a fact this man was almost forty years of age, but he looked far younger, and yet somehow even more mature.

"Ramades Madeena," said Lana, with a voice of steel, "Kneel before your Queen. You are on sacred ground."

Ramades smiled weakly, and looked around the room. Slowly, his eyes met Jaendral's, Jevilla's, Elane's and finally his own. Rael looked into Ramades' eyes for what seemed like minutes, though in truth it was only seconds.

When Ramades returned his eyes to Lana he smiled viciously. "I have ordered my men and women to lay down their swords so that they might have peace. They do not deserve to die for my sake. Yet I shall not kneel before you Lana Dragmire, not so long as live. I am The King Ramades Madeena, and you are a usurper and false queen."

Lana laughed, "You have lost, Ramades. You stand before me as a traitorous criminal, with the sentence of death upon you."

"You talk like a true lady," snapped Ramades, "but your words are hollow and meaningless. You are aged and tired, old woman. This country needs a strong leadership, not a withered elderly hag."

"How dare you," said Lana with a snake-like hiss to her tone, assuming her full queenly posture. Ramades' comments were far from the truth, and did nothing to outwardly damage the egotism of the beautiful queen.

"Enough," said Jaendral, stepping into the space between them both. "It is time for Her Majesty to honour her pledge. Shaylin is united, and I shall now take my place as king, as was agreed." Ramades was surprised, having no knowledge of the treaty between Lana and Jaendral. Lana remained still in her throne. "I am sure His Highness Prince Rael will support our covenant." He looked to Rael with open arms and bowed his head.

Rael looked back at Jaendral, standing proud on the field of victory. To Rael's right sat Lana, and to his left was Ramades in chains. "I respect your agreement," said Rael cautiously. Jaendral's grin widened as Lana's expression became utter mortification. "I respect it," he continued, "but I will not enforce it. At least not yet." In a sudden reversal, Jaendral's face turned to thunder, whilst Lana – who at once looked back in control – beamed at Rael.

Jaendral took a step towards him, but stopped abruptly as Rael raised a hand to ward him off. "Your Highness," said Jaendral, kneeling down before him, "I urge you to reconsider. I am the king by law and I have earned my right to rule this nation. This city would be in ruins without me!"

Rael shook his head. "This city was not saved by you alone, Lord Jaendral. You may yet rule it, but you shall have to prove yourself further."

Jaendral began to grovel uncharacteristically, "My Lord please, that false queen is a schemer and a liar. She cares nothing for the people she is given to rule. I thought… I thought we understood each other…"

Rael knew what he meant. He reached into his pocket for the gold coin he kept there and drew it out. "We have no understanding." He tossed the coin at Jaendral's feet. The Gerudo lord picked it up and stared at it. "On your feet." Jaendral heeded his words and stood up, moving back to his place at the side of the room. Rael spoke up so that everybody could hear, especially Lana. He held up his hand so that Zelda's ring showed clearly. "I have the authority of the Queen of Hyrule, whose hands hold the desert. I will decide who will sit upon the Amethyst Throne, and when I have made my decision it shall be final. Until then, Lana will continue to govern the Gerudo people."

Jaendral shook his head despairingly, knowing his plans were all at a ruin. Clearly he saw Lana as the obvious choice to continue ruling, and that Rael would soon affirm her. He stood quietly, staring at the floor in dismay.

"A just decision, Your Highness," said Lana, rising from her throne and coming down the steps. Jevilla jumped to her feet quickly when saw realised her queen was standing. "And what of this treasonous worm?" she said, stopping a pace short of Ramades, staring up at his beautiful face with bitter distaste. "By the law of the land he should be executed."

"No," said Rael.

Lana looked at him suspiciously, "Pardon, Your Highness?"

"Ramades will not receive death. He will receive no reprimand for any past deeds." Rael knew well the implications of what he was saying. Lana was frightened of Ramades' popularity amongst his own people. They were currently camped outside the walls, but would begin repopulating the city soon. She wanted to quickly put down all opposition to her rule, and that included Jaendral undoubtedly.

Ramades remained deathly quiet throughout this exchange. "Your Highness," said Lana, taking on a royal and particularly patronising tone, "do you not understand what this man has done? He has broken the laws of this province, and of your mother Queen Zelda. If she were here she would do what is just, by sending this man to the gallows!"

"I have Zelda's authority here," Rael said, once more showing his ring-adorned finger to Lana, "and I decree that there will be no more death in Shaylin today. I cannot condemn this man for defending his heritage, and his honest convictions of power. To kill him would be just and right by the law, I do not deny it. Yet I am the law." He eyed everyone present in the room as he spoke, from Elane to Ramades. "Yes, there is blood on this man's hands, but there is blood on the hands of every man and woman in this room, including my own. Death only breeds more death." Rael extended a hand towards Ramades and felt for the source of his power. "I choose to give life." Ramades chained snapped, twisting and melting as Rael worked trace amounts of hot fire into the links.

Rael realised that he was in command of the room. For the first time he felt that he was more powerful than all these Gerudo nobles and leaders. He spoke with fluency beyond his years and held them all captivated by his words. "Soon there will be death and destruction of another sort than this… this minor skirmish. Twilight has fallen upon this world, and a darkness is coming that none of you could even begin to imagine, but I feel it growing day by day. Evil incarnate walks upon the earth.

……

A light rain was falling from bright grey skies, but he did not get wet. Though water dripped down his face and clothing, he remained bone dry. Before him was a city unlike anything Ralis had seen in his entire life. Only Hylia could compare in any way, but even the white walled capital of Hyrule paled in comparison to the mighty bastion of stone and steel that was Morlakai, the heart of Kaira. The city was an architectural triumph of white stone and shining steel that reflected the light of the sun in the rain. Great domed palaces and spiked towers rose above the thick citadel walls, with arching bridges and monuments that reminded him of crashing waves.

Rising up from a hill in the centre of the city was the royal palace. If Morlakai was Kaira's crown, then the palace was the brightest diamond that adorned it. Right now, a usurper king sat upon the throne of his fathers, and today his rule would be challenged at last.

Behind Ralis was a vast army. From an army of one, founded by General Arella, who stood beside him now, he had gathered to him a force with which he could challenge any king. No less than thirty thousand men were rallied to his banner, ready to rise up with him and take back Kaira for it's true king.

"What is your command, Master?" said Arella beside him, looking on before her.

"Occupy the city," he said, unsheathing his sword and holding it steady at his side. "Tadian is mine."

Ralis outstretched his arms and went to the place in his soul where chaos reigned. As he focussed, darkness began spreading from his hands, like a cloud as black as the night. It thickened and swelled and rose up into the sky, moving like a plague through the evening air. Lightning flashed in the sky, and thunder roared over the earth as the storms answered his call. As the darkness of his own personal night filled land like a dog, the clouds thickened into a dark grey smog above. The rain became heavier and fiercer, coming down upon Morlakai like a blizzard of hail.

Ralis seized control of the winds, and bent them to his will. With a sudden rush he was lifted from his feet, rising up into the black sky, flying by the sheer power of his own will. He laughed, revelling in his own lust for power. The wind was like a hurricane at this height in the sky, and he embraced the freezing chill of the harsh winds. "The world is mine!" he proclaimed.

He screamed as his inner energy raged inside him, filling his mind with hatred and anger. He set his sights on the tallest tower of the royal palace, and raced towards it upon the wings of the night.