Chapter Twenty Three
Vengeance

Tadian, King of Kaira, looked out upon his kingdom from the balcony of the throne room, in the high reaches of the royal palace. Before him, thick black clouds covered the land to the horizon, unleashing a torrential storm upon the land. The weather of late had been dramatic and without pattern, with lightning indiscriminately striking the land, and hail falling so fiercely that people were confined to their homes. It was a sign that the son of his brother Ralian had returned to contest the throne.

The man, who Kairin men and women had come call 'The Master' had at last reached the walls of his city with his army. Despite the scouts' reports of a great force marching towards the Morlakai, Tadian had taken this for exaggeration, and had still for a long time expected the man to come with just a handful of rebels. He had not dared to dream that he might muster up such force as was now positioned a mile from the city gates. Reports said there were at least thirty thousand swordsmen. Many were farmers, craftsmen, merchants, both young and old, who had lost their livelihoods because of the economic devastation caused by the war against Hyrule. Others were soldiers of the crown, turned traitor against him at the command of the counts across the country. Despite being heavily outnumbered Tadian still had control of the city, and he would not surrender to this rebel. He would sooner die than see another man upon his throne.

Tadian turned from the balcony and crossed the marble tiles of the empty throne room. As lightning flashed, the shifting shadows in the iron rafters appeared like spectral shapes, as though they were menacing ghosts watching his steps. He was more afraid this evening than he could remember in his entire life. He believed tonight he would be judged by his fathers for his actions twenty years ago.

In the centre of the room, on a short, circular, marble podium, rested a majestic crown. The Lunar Crown - a solid band of gold, laced with carved spikes of polished onyx. The spikes cut by the jewel smiths to mimic the magnificent steel and stone palace towers. "Why should I fear to touch it?" he whispered into the dark, gazing at the perfect craftsmanship of the crown of the Kairin monarch. The words of his dying father still haunted him. As Rodian al'k'Drodamen breathed his last, he cursed Tadian and the crown. He said that any person who should wear this crown, other than the true heir to the throne, would surely perish.

It had been over twenty years since that day, and in all those years, months, weeks, days, he had feared to wear it, and had never attempted to do so. There was always the constant nagging in his mind that said there was another heir out there. He knew that Ralian, Rodian's first son and chosen heir, whom he had slaughtered in this same room before turning upon his father, had produced a baby son of his own.

Tadian's fingers hovered above the crown. "I should not fear to name myself King Under Stars," he said. "I am the true King of Kaira." He wanted desperately to reach out and take the crown, place it upon his head and declare to his kingdom that he was the rightful ruler. Yet the fear was overbearing. The whispering of ghosts filled his mind. Closing his eyes he laid his hands upon the crown, feeling its smooth and sharp surface.

A deep thud on the floor behind him made Tadian turn, his nerves suddenly sharp and alert. The silhouette of a man standing on the balcony stood out against the lightning behind him. "Who are you?" Tadian demanded. "How did you get in here?"

The shadow figure moved towards him slowly, the folds of his dark cloak moving eerily behind him. "You know my name," replied the figure. His voice was that of a young male, confident and purposeful.

Tadian reached for his sword, pulling it out quickly and stepping backwards across the throne room. As the figure walked, the dry lamp stands along the walls of the room suddenly ignited. "What devilry is this?" he stammered, waving his sword at the oncoming foe. "What are you?"

A flash of lightning momentarily illuminated the hooded face of the advancing figure, and Tadian screamed in terror, tripping over his own boots and falling down onto the floor in front of the throne. "Ralian!" His brother seemed almost to glide over the floor towards him. His heart pounded in his chest as his footsteps drew closer. "Have you come back to kill me after all these years?" The ghost of his brother moved towards him with quickening pace, each footfall a beating drum. "No! Get back ghost! You're dead! You can't hurt me!"

The ghost stopped about four paces in front of him, and drew back its dark hood. "Yes, I am the ghost of Ralian," said the spectre, "I've come to take what belongs to my father and my father's father." The six lamp stands which surrounded the throne burst into flame; not just the oil lamps but the golden pole and branches also, burning with a perpetual fire. The light was bright and allowed Tadian to see the face of the one standing before him.

He saw at once that the face was not that of Ralian, though the likeness was undeniable. He saw too that the figure before him was no ghost, but a flesh-and-blood man. At once Tadian's fear turned to steadfast resolve. He grasped his sword and climbed to his feet. He took a few steps away towards the columns at the side of the room, and then stopped, holding his ground, half-lit by the blazing lamp stands. "You aren't Ralian," he said, "you're his son."

The young man smiled, throwing his cloak to the floor to reveal his scarlet tunic. "My name is Ralis al'Resh," he said, drawing his sword. "Tonight you will die like my forefathers died."

"What is this sorcery you are using?" Tadian asked, brandishing his weapon.

"It is dark magic," said the man named Ralis stepping towards him, "but I do not need it to kill you. I need only my blade." Ralis lunged with his weapon, and Tadian swung his long sword out to meet it. The man recoiled as the blades clattered together, then swiped at Tadian again. Tadian met the attacker's strike with equal force, and pushed him back, and brought his sword down from overhead. Ralis knocked the blade aside and took several paces back, warding Tadian off with his sword-point.

"To think," said Tadian, "that all these years I have hunted for you, even started a war in a foreign country just to find you, but now you have found me instead."

"Don't waste your breath on words," Ralis said, readying his sword for another attempt, "just die!" He leaped towards Tadian and bore down upon him with the full force of his bodyweight. Their swords met and locked together, twisting and turning over their heads as they wrestled with each other. Ralis punched Tadian in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him forcing him to fall back. As he staggered, Ralis swooped with his sword, cutting through the air and narrowly missing Tadian's chest.

Hen quickly found his footing and met Ralis' blade once more. Years of torment and fear could not simply come to nothing. Tadian refused to let this man have the victory after so long. "Kaira is mine, you worthless vermin!" he shouted as steel clattered together again. He swung again and again at the younger man, every time denied the pleasure of striking him down as Ralis beat away every attempt he made. The pain of his past strained his heart and sorrowful tears ran from his eyes. "Damn you!" he screamed, throwing himself forwards, sword held high.

Time seemed to stand still, and he gasped as cold wet steel pierced his unprotected belly, running through him to his back. He dropped his sword to the ground, knowing now that he was as good dead. Ralis let go of his own weapon, which was still embedded in Tadian's body. "So this is how it ends," said Tadian, staggering backwards, looking down at the sword. His killer's face was as hard as stone even in victory, his dark eyes reflecting the flames from the lamp stands so that they glowed like furnaces.

Tadian looked down at his body as blood began to stain his clothes. His heart still pumped blood, and his lungs still carried air, but he was losing strength rapidly. His mind was beginning to feel more distant.

"Tadian al'k'Rodian," he said, with a voice so hard it was like iron, "your false rule is over."

Tadian stumbled, looking at the shining silver blade in his chest, protruding so unnaturally from his body "False rule?" he said, a final embittered thought coming to him, cutting through the contemplation of his own demise. He looked up at Ralis and shook his head. "Are you so certain?"

Ralis said nothing, simply standing revelling in his own triumph.

"The crown," said Tadian, turning to the podium in the middle of the room. Gathering what strength he had he stumbled across the room, each step nearly bring him to the floor, and fell at last upon the marble stand to stop himself moving. "Father said anyone except the true king would die if he wore the crown." He laid his hands upon the golden crown, running his fingers along the sharp edges of the shiny onyx spikes. "What have I to lose now? Yes… you shall see that I was the true king, and I shall wear my father's crown before I die!" His own speech sounded feverish, mad, but he could not prevent it.

Ralis laughed, starting with a small snort of contempt and building to a hearty mocking laugh. He sighed, shaking his head. "It is true then? You haven't worn the crown in all these years?" He laughed again, and Tadian stared at him with confusion. "You fool, Tadian! Was my grandfather, your father, a sorcerer? Could he curse objects and give them magical potency?"

Tadian's breathing quickened, as he struggled to keep his eyes open. His stomach convulsed and a spew of blood burst from his mouth. "No, no," he said desperately, spitting blood from his tongue and teeth, "you will see!" He lifted the Lunar Crown, and doing what he had rehearsed hundreds of times in his dream, laid it upon his head. His weakening neck struggled to support the heavy gold, but he knew one thing in his fading consciousness: he was still alive. "You see," he said weakly, looking at Ralis, "the crown has not killed me. I still live… I am the true king… I am the King Under Stars…" His legs gave way underneath him and he leaned his full body weight into the marble stand.

"The foolish words of a dying man," said Ralis, "just like the confused words of your dying father. Are you so naïve? Rodian didn't put a curse upon the crown as he lay slain; he was just ranting and putting fear in you."

Tadian tried to shake his head, but the crushing weight of the crown restricted his movement. The weight of his own folly was coming to bear, and suddenly he saw that the final triumph was not his, but his brother's. Ralian had finally achieved vengeance.

"Yet," said Ralis, with a twitch of a smile, "indeed Rodian's final words were strangely prophetic."

"I am the king…" he whispered, "I am King Tadian…"

"No, you are not," said Ralis, lifting his hand to point at him, "not any more." The were flames suddenly extinguished. As Tadian's grip on the podium weakened, a blue-white light rushed towards him. The last thing he was aware of was falling, falling, falling, and plunging down, down, down into shadow.