“What am I hearing?” I snapped as the man tried to stand, when I saw his face, I realized that he was Isolde’s father.
“Yama…” He started crying as the people who were holding him, let go of him and with his loud sobbing as the only sound filling the room, he crawled to me.
“My daughter. Gone.” He added.
I raised my head to look at my queen who had tears in her eyes even though her expression was pinched as if she was angry.
“What happened?” I asked the man who cried as he narrated everything to me, after he did, I was silent as my rage grew, this was getting out of hand and certainly a huge blow to the empire at large. A whole legion dying like that.
“See to his needs.” Gwenn ordered and then she took my hand and led me to the throne where she forced me to sit down. Me sitting down just made it more pronounced, the weight on my shoulders.
The crown and the loss of my people.
“Kastav, get the council in here.” Gwenn said softly.
“You cannot Order me.” Kastav growled at Gwenn who arched an eyebrow.
“I can assure you Brother in law that I can, the only person whom I cannot order in this kingdom is sitting on that throne and it’s certainly not you.” Gwenn said as Kastav growled but still stood.
“Just do as you are told Kastav, I am not in the mood to be smoothing any frayed ego of yours.” I said to my brother tiredly and he stormed out of the throne room, slamming the door behind him to show that he is not happy with my injection.
“Arius…” Gwenn started softly.
“My reign is going up in flames, my reign will be the time when the highest casualties will be recorded, Hell it is already the highest so far and I still don’t know what is going on. It will take a miracle if there is still a Northshore to rule after my time.” I stated.
“Don’t say that.” Gwenn snapped at me as she yanked my hand away from my face. “Something terrible is going on yes but I believe that you are going to start tackling it right now and not treat it as if it is just a small issue…”
“I just lost a legion out sixteen that exists, of course I am going to treat it with the seriousness it is due.” I answered as Gwenn nodded.
“And with the passion behind your voice as you stated what you just did shows that you will not be the last King, you will defeat this thing and I will do it by your side.” Gwenn stated firmly, with enough force put behind her words that I couldn’t even stop myself from believing in it.
“My king…” Ruslan said as he opened the door and entered the room with the rest of the council at his heels. “Prince Kastav, gave us a news that certainly cannot be true… Right?” He asked.
In moments like this, I hated the fact that I was the king and I had to share the bad news with everybody, it was something which I couldn’t get out of and my duty.
Gwenn placed her hand in mine as she sat on her own throne seat then squeezed mine to show her silent support. I was relieved. I didn’t have to do this alone. I would always have a partner to do this. Kastav mother was never this way for my father. My father bared the burden of ruling alone and with Gwenn sitting down beside me, I knew that this was not to be my fate.
Clearing my throat, I addressed my council, people who was going to be busy until this menace is taken care of.
“Commander Isolde is gone and it appears that it might be what took the animals in the forest that took her and her legion. As from today, I am declaring a state of emergency in the whole Empire, no one gets to be careless about his movement until I give the go ahead that everything once more is fine.” I decreed and just like I knew it would, it took a minute for the news to settle with my council before they launched into necessary steps taken tom protect the Empire.
They lost their friend and they are grieving the best way they knew how. By ensuring that her death was not in vain.
*******************
Kastav Pov
“Can you believe that she had the audacity to order me, Me! Who does she thinks she is?” I ranted as I paced my room, barely keeping myself from vibrating with than ager I was feeling.
That bitch who has no origin here thought she could talk to me that way and get away with it? Never.
She might have her husband wrapped around her finger but she doesn’t have me there.
You know that you can take care of her. All you have to do is say the word. The entity said. He was leaning across my bed, face towards me and watching me get angry when I should be using him. He had his fill and he was eager to do my bidding.
His offer was tempting, seriously so but no, I had a better idea.
“I want her to beg for me for protection, I want her to be nothing, useless and without any capability, I want her to be miserable, a simple death is not going to cut it.” I answered.
I like the way you think but the best way to start is to take her husband away from her, are you ready to start now. He asked and I couldn’t help but flinch.
My brother, I would be ordering the death of my brother and that was something which I was not sure that I could do.
Reading my flinch right or maybe because he was in her head, the entity knew what was going through my mind.
For you to gain what you desire, he needs to go. It is only a matter of time but I suggest you do it now. There was worlds awaiting your rule.
“Maybe I can put him in a dep sleep while figuring out what to do with him.” I suggested after a while of thinking. I might be able to kill my father but I couldn’t do that to my brother… at least not yet.
It will be best if you end him.
“But Gwenn will suffer more if he slowly slips away. I want him to be in a deep sleep that nothing in this world will be able to wake him from.” I ordered.
I will do your will my King. The entity replied with a crackle before disappearing.
Come tomorrow, I will be king.