Dack lay still, listening to all the noise echoing through the cell. His hearing was as sharp as his vision when he took time to focus. For that reason Dack was able to hear the guards coming long before they arrived at the door. From the sounds Dack guessed there were four heavily armored people who were as afraid of retrieving Dack as he was of being taken before the king.
“Do you think that thing will wake up?” asked one.
“I’m hoping he’s already taken care of the little one.” The other guard chuckled. “Save us the trouble of doing it later.”
“All this over the king’s scepter,” said a third.
“Think he’s really from the Brotherhood?” asked the first.
“I heard he was brought in from the Central Territory just to do it,” remarked the fourth.
“It’s a shame how things have gotten. When will it end?” asked the first.
After a few more seconds, they arrived. Dack lay still as someone opened the door. The light flooding the cell made Dack close his eyes tightly.
“Looks like he’s still with us,” said the second guard as he approached Dack. “It’s your time to appear before the king. We suggest you come quietly and no one will hurt you.”
“Yet,” Dack said loudly as he sat up. “You will when the king is done with me. The same waits you when the king is done with you. It will end when you want it to end.”
The four guards looked at each other. Dack wondered if it was because he had heard them or perhaps they had never thought that the answer was so simple that made them pause. However, it passed quickly as another guard pushed his way through and unlocked Dack’s chains.
“Let’s go, little one; no more talking!” barked the guard as he pulled Dack toward the door. “Any more comments and you will not make it to the king.”
As they left the cell, Dack could hear laughing. It started slowly but became more hysterical before ending in a coughing fit.
“At least that thing didn’t attack us again. We’ve wasted so many good weapons trying to feed it,” said the first guard.
“How long has it been in there? Since the war with Lucan?” asked Dack.
One of the guards began to answer but was stopped by a look from another. “No talking,” Dack was told.
Dack decided to keep his mouth closed and his eyes open in case he had a chance to escape. It wasn’t long, however, before they approached an impressive set of doors behind which Dack was sure the king sat.
“We have arrived, little one,” said a guard who looked at him kindly. “You will be surrounded by trained warriors who will protect the king with their lives. I suggest you speak when spoken to; all will go well if you behave. I do not want your death on my record.” He paused and leaned forward so only Dack could hear him. “Brother,” the guard whispered before turning and opening the doors.
Dack was surprised at the bold move, but the other guards did not question him. He nodded slowly as he passed the guard and through the threshold of the king’s court.
“Permission to approach the throne,” sounded off one of the guards.
“You may approach,” came a voice from somewhere to the right of the throne. Dack tried to tell which person had spoken, but could not.
Dack turned and saw the guards staring at him. When it was obvious that they weren’t going any farther, Dack took a couple of steps forward. After nothing was said, he slowly walked to within feet of the throne. No one was sitting there at present, so he took the opportunity to look around cautiously. There were so many people lined up on either side of the throne that they formed two rows. Most were staring forward, but a few met Dack’s eyes as he surveyed the scene.
Trumpets sounded suddenly and loudly from throughout the room, including some that were being played on balconies that overlooked the court. As quickly as they began they stopped, and a voice bellowed, “Hail the entrance of the king who rules justly and fairly!”
The crowd responded by shouting, “Hail him and may he live and rule forever!” The entire room went down on one knee as the king entered. Dack, surprised, stood watching the action and forgot to take part. The king strode quickly to his seat and all stood again.
“Who is this boy that shows me no respect?” asked the king in a bored tone.
Dack began to answer, but another voice said, “The one who helped steal your scepter.”
“Oh,” replied the king, staring condemningly at Dack. “He is one of those Scarlet fools who think they can overthrow the right order of things by sneaking around, taking my property. Are you one of the leaders, or just a follower?”
“I acted on my own, as I always do,” replied Dack coolly.
“If you acted on your own, I would have the scepter in my right hand and your right hand in my left for stealing. However, when you were caught, you did not have it, and a search of this castle has not produced it. That makes me conclude that you had help in getting it out when you failed.”
“I did this all by myself. Maybe one of your own people took it so they could swat flies,” said Dack, shrugging his shoulders. A few of the crowd snickered but not long enough to be caught.
The king heard the response and eyed the crowd before addressing Dack again. “Why would you do it, my boy?” asked the king, hoping to make Dack reveal the true reason.
“Your scepter is a symbol of your power. I tire of the current conditions we live in while the kings refuse to return the island to its former way of life,” said Dack honestly. “I took away your power when I took away your scepter.”
“How old are you?” asked the king as he tried to appear relaxed to the crowd.
“Old enough to compete in the King’s Tournament if you would give the people what they want.”
“In other words, not old enough to really know the way things were. Someone or some group has been filling your head with stories of how great life was before the war. Did you say you lead the Scarlet Brotherhood, or just follow them?”
Dack shook his head slowly. “I said neither. I acted on my own. I want what is best for everyone, not just a few.”
The king did not try to hide his anger as he sat forward and pointed at Dack. “I have people in the Scarlet Brotherhood who told me that they were planning to steal my belongings. I knew it was going to happen. I let it happen to bring them out into the open. You are so naive if you think you know anything about the old ways. I lived through the old and helped create the new. I helped defeat Lucan. I watched many die around me. You know nothing, you are a misguided child.” The king slammed his fist down to emphasize his frustration and anger.
After a brief period of silence, he began again, although much more calmly. “I lost my father to Lucan and my mother to the Cult.” He covered his face to shield the tears the crowd expected were there but the king could not produce.
“May I tell you about my family?” asked Dack as he went to one knee in mock respect.
The king removed his hand and smiled at Dack, knowing that they were both playing for the crowd’s favor. “I will allow you a minute to explain yourself; tell us about your hardships and how you have been moved to action.”
“That is correct, my liege. My parentage has indeed motivated me to do what I do. Our stories are similar; it is as if we are brothers. My father was killed in the war with Lucan; however, it was at the hands of ten assassins. He was a general fighting to stop the war like everyone else, except he loved a woman who loved him in return. My mother and father were supposed to die that day, but she survived because my father was stronger than the hatred rained down upon him. Do you want to know who it was that sent them, or have you already guessed?” Dack asked, knowing that the king knew he was talking about him but was not fully aware of who was in front of his throne.
The king stood and announced, “This boy speaks of wrongs against him. I wish to speak with him in private so that I may show him, and all of you, how I intend to rule justly and fairly in his case. He is a victim of terrible circumstances that have driven him to do this deed. I promise all of you that I will personally solve this matter.” He waved his arms to signal that everyone should leave.
Many stared at each other, wondering why the king was being so generous as to allow a mere boy a private conference. Not having the time to pursue it any further, everyone began to file out of the room. “Should we stay, your majesty?” asked one of the guards.
“Oh, no thank you,” said the king kindly. “I believe this matter will be resolved quickly and peacefully.” He smiled and motioned for the remaining people to leave. “If I need anything I will call.”
The king reacted violently once he knew they were alone. “I should remove your head and be done with this mess,” whispered the king into Dack’s ear. “Now get up and come over to my throne.”
Dack laughed aloud as he stood up. “Can I sit in it too?”
The king spun around and went nose to nose with Dack. “I will kill you myself right now if you don’t keep quiet!” The king looked long into Dack’s eyes and pulled away to return to his throne. “Sit down next to me and keep your voice down.”
Dack moved to a smaller chair near the throne, drug it closer, and plopped down roughly. “So, what would you like to talk about?” he said with a big grin.
“Go ahead, make fun of the situation, but know that I will not tolerate your attitude for long. I am the king and have an entire kingdom at my disposal. If I want you to disappear, you will never be seen again. Tell me, what do you know about my part of the killing?” demanded the king.
“You arranged and commanded their deaths, although you lacked the courage to participate,” Dack said coolly.
“Where did you hear this?”
“Orex.”
“Orex? Who is Orex?” asked the king, trying to remember where he had heard that name before.
“He leads the Shadow Cult. He and his official, Valay, told me the whole story.”
The king shifted nervously in his seat. “What do you know of them? They are liars who kill without mercy.”
“You have much in common with them then,” Dack replied sharply. “Those assassins were handpicked by you. You sent them to kill your own mother because she loved another after your father was killed. She was trying to stop the war just like everyone else. Why?”
“For someone who knows so much, you don’t know why? She was working with the enemy. The Shadow Cult used her to gain our trust. With the Scarlet Brotherhood on their side, an example needed to be made—”
“—that was our mother. She was not working against anyone but Lucan. You must have had terrible advisors feeding you half truths.”
“What?” asked the king, furrowing his brow at Dack’s comments.
“That’s right, your father’s advisors did not know how to stop something they were afraid of, and they did not like anyone working with anyone that was not human.”
The king waved off Dack’s political commentary. “Our mother? You said ‘our mother.’ Who do you think you are?”
Dack sat back and looked at the king’s worried expression. “We are brothers. I thought you had figured that out,” Dack said as he studied the king’s dumfounded expression. “Don’t you get it?”
“Of course I get it! Why did you walk in here and tell me that the one thing I could never control is now within my grasp?”
“Well,” chuckled Dack, “I did not just walk in here, I was escorted by armored guards.”
“I know you are working for the Scarlet Brotherhood to return the King’s Tournament. Why?”
“I believe it is time for a change. The people are becoming increasingly demanding all across the island. I will continue to do whatever I can to help see that cry answered,” replied Dack.
“Do you want to rule too?” asked the king, sensing that Dack might be swayed to do his bidding.
“Rule? What territory?” asked Dack as he leaned closer to the king.
The king leaned toward Dack and whispered, “It is quite obvious that you are committed to your course of action; however, you lack the support of those in power. You might be able to get popular support, but that will only get you so far. With the kings looking to you as a real solution to the confusion in the Central Territory, you could easily claim kingship over the land. That way everyone will give you the respect that you deserve.” The king sat back and allowed Dack’s mind to imagine himself not only as king, but the king responsible for making everything better again.
Dack looked around the room for the first time, thinking he would not mind being a part of the elite. “But what about the King’s Tournament?” asked Dack, remembering his original purpose.
“That could be reestablished once all the lands were being ruled over once again. I would work with you and the other kings to see the return of the tournament in five years.”
Dack balked at the time frame. “Five years? That is too long to return things to normal.”
“You have to understand people, my boy. They say they want change, but they never like it when it comes. With you on the throne of the Central Territory, we can move people in the right direction at the pace they can handle. Maybe three years.”
Dack began nodding his head slowly, as if it all made sense, which he thought it did. “So, how do I begin to rule the Central Territory? Isn’t there already a king there?” Dack asked, remembering those who claimed there was one.
“A king of the Central Territory? I’ve never heard of that before. It is possible that someone has appointed themself to that position, but no one has informed the other kings.”
“Oh,” thought Dack aloud. “So how do I go about ruling the Central Territory?”
The king knew that Dack would do anything and saw this as the chance to use him to gain even more power. “I suggest a quest, like one a competitor would perform in the tournament.” Dack smiled. “However, you will have to prove to the other kings that you are worthy. We must involve them, but without their knowledge. I suggest it be something symbolic since you and the Brotherhood have already seen that the people think that way.” A momentary pause increased Dack’s curiosity, so the king continued when Dack sat in wide-eyed amazement at how everything was falling into place.
“At the end of the war with Lucan, the current kings decided to seal off the area where he opened Ways. We made a small fortress surrounding the spot and secured it with a door with four locks. Each king took one key. It was symbolic of our unity in ending the war and our desire to move away from the past. Each king has their key as a reminder of what it cost them, a token of their pledge to never let it happen again. If you could gain those keys and claim your leadership with the promise that you would govern fairly and justly, the other kings would grant you their favor. If you can get the keys from the kings in the Western, Eastern, and Southern Territories, I will gladly give you my key. I think you have done so much already.” He wiped away more imaginary tears.
Dack sat back to digest it all before speaking, “Steal three keys? That’s your idea of a quest?”
“Steal a scepter? What’s the difference? It’s all about getting people to respect you for more than what you say, but for what you can do. If you are not comfortable with that idea, go to each king personally and convince him. Either way, when you return with the three keys I will add mine to your collection as my show of favor.”
Dack began to seriously consider his chances of convincing three kings that he was the right choice. “Is there no other way?”
The king shook his head solemnly. “I will provide you with what you need to get started, but I can’t even guess as to how much you will need.” He paused dramatically as if he truly cared about Dack’s needs. “A horse and some food are about all you will need.”
Dack nodded in agreement. They both stood and the king put his hand out for Dack to shake. When Dack put his hand in the king’s, the king pulled him close and whispered in his ear, “Brother.” They patted each other on the back and proceeded to the kitchen for some food and to the stable for a horse. While there were many horses, the king chose a slightly less-desirable steed so that it wouldn’t be a great loss if Dack failed on his fool’s errand.
Dack packed his provisions in the saddlebags and mounted the horse. “If you stay to the main roads, you should have no problem finding the castles of the other kings. One thing the old kings did well was create roads.” Dack smiled at the king’s comment. “Take care, Dack. We will meet again soon.”
The king patted Dack’s horse and off they went. An evil grin slowly appeared on the king’s face as he considered what to do next. Hastily he gathered some of his most trusted advisors and told them the plan. They suggested sending messengers to the other kings to put them on alert.
“Two riders on the best horses should leave tonight, one for the Western Territory and the other for the Eastern Territory. They can deliver their messages, meet at the southern kingdom, and return. If Dack succeeds, we can take the keys and expand our power, or we can mourn the loss, blame it on those things that live in the Central Territory, and en masse take over the space for ourselves since we represent the strongest army,” insisted the king. “Either way, Dack will bring this island together whether he likes it or not.”