Merson paced the floor, hoping one of his new friends would contact him soon. While he waited, he splashed some cold water on his face and tried to remain calm. These new allies had promised that he would be the only king when they left. A wave of pride went through him when he imagined everyone bowing down to him. They told him he would have to trust and obey them completely while they remained. He rubbed the back of his neck where something they put on him had painfully burrowed into his skin. It was only a precaution they said.
A buzzing noise in his ears signaled that the time had finally come. He sat down quickly on the ground and began to shake. Pain made him clench his teeth while he felt his body go limp. His eyes rolled upward as he lost all control.
“Can you hear me?” he said meekly.
Are you alone? A voice echoed in his head.
“Yes.”
Where are you now?
“I’m in the former king of the Southern Territory’s bedroom.”
Have all those in authority been slain?
“We put all dissenters in the jails of the castles.”
You were instructed to kill them all.
“Is that something you can help with?”
There was a few moments of silence. We will find someone else if you cannot handle it.
“I guess we could make an example out of the remaining two kings.”
If others have risen against us, they must die too.
“But there are hundreds!”
Then you had better get started.
Merson sat up and slammed his fist on the floor. He sighed as he stood up, wiping his eyes. As he walked toward the door, he caught a glimpse of himself in a mirror and stopped. Picking up his cup, he quickly drained its contents and threw it, shattering the glass violently. He composed himself and left determined to do the bidding of the Alkaskre.
“Are there any more?” Dack whispered as he looked through the cell door bars.
“If you think I’m going to help you, you’re dead wrong!” The guard rubbed the bump on the back of his head as he stood and then rushed the door shaking it loudly.
“The Alkaskre aren’t here to help. They are going to murder everyone on Storality. I can stop that from happening.” Dack watched his words calm the guard. “Are there any more prisoners down here?”
“You got them all.” The guard looked at Dack and then the door. “Are you going to let me out?”
“Are you willing to help me?”
“Let me out first.”
Dack rubbed his chin and looked at the nut from the Way he used to push all those that Merson had imprisoned to safety. “I need you to spy on him for me. Is that something you are willing to do?”
“You’re not going to leave me here, are you?” The guard looked terrified. “Merson will not take kindly to me when he sees all the others are gone.”
“Someone needs to tell him what happened here.”
“Tell him yourself,” a voice said behind Dack. As he turned, an earsplitting wave of noise overwhelmed him, and he collapsed roughly on the ground dropping the piece of the Way.