The King has a special guest
Jun 21, 2015 14:09:24 GMT -6
Post by Admin on Jun 21, 2015 14:09:24 GMT -6
Agorith sits at his throne gazing with heavy eyes as he watches yet another disappointed guest leave his presence. But the day was far from over, many more would approach him asking the same questions and receiving the same answers. As it came time for another to approach the King, the guards could be heard outside of the doors raising their voices to someone outside. Then silence, followed by the panicked voices of the other guests fleeing from the doors. The men in the throne room readied their weapons, clasping their spears and steadying their shields. The King’s Guard took position drawing their weapons. One of the doors opened and a man cloaked in black entered. As he stopped in front of the tall doors the open one swung thunderously shut as if by a sudden gust of wind. Agorith’s wife flinched, and one of the King’s Guard loosed an arrow at the cloaked man’s left leg. As the arrow pierced the man’s shin, the guards ordered the cloaked man to stand down and surrender. The cloaked man looked down at the arrow and back up at the king as he spoke. “Is this…” The cloaked man paused, pulling back his hood as the guards ceased their shouting, “how you greet an old friend?”
The King squeezed his hand as he stared at the man. “Leave us,” the King ordered.
The guardsmen looked back up at the king, hesitant. “Your highness, are yo-“
“Leave us!” he shouted. The order echoed through the room. The men relaxed their stances and headed for one of the smaller doors in the room. He turned his gaze to his wife sitting beside him. “You, too.” She gave but a brief face of shock before quietly standing and leaving for their chamber.
The king waited until all were out of ear shot. “So, did you come here to surrender? Or tell me that this is what the end of the world looks like? Because I’ve already heard both from you before.”
The cloaked man approached fixating his attention to the King. “It has been a long time since anyone has ever made me laugh, but you came very close to breaking my abstinence. No, I have come to you seeking a solution to our common enemy. This creature, he has brought nothing but discord to our world and has created quite the complicated mess. A mess so grand that only I can clean up.” He explained, never once a fault in his stride despite the protruding missile.
“A mess that you were more than happy to contribute to when you sent your mad assistant.”
Nearing the steps towards the throne, he halted. “I might have acknowledged that remark with some fake remorse forcefully regurgitated from my heartless gullet had it not been drenched in delicious ignorance. There is a greater threat here than just the loss of life or destruction of land and every action I take is very carefully calculated.” The cloaked man explained.
His temper thinning like the ice the cloaked man began to tread, the King responded, “Perhaps I am not the only one to possess ignorance to what is important here, seeing as you and your filth have not the proper understanding of life and death. And there is no threat of loss here; it has already happened. Every day I must bear witness to the families of those brave men who have died fighting against your ilk.” The king spat at the ground and began raising his voiced, “And worse than that, I must also tell them why the body could not be recovered. Did you ever take that into ‘calculation’?”
“Of course. But I am in charge of more than just a heard of sheep that are easily upset when the farmer comes with sheers in hand. But that is something that you could not hope to understand either. The mere presence of those that I must tend to is enough to strike life ending fear into the heart of even the bravest of men. The aching hearts of a few simpletons is nothing in comparison to the fury of a god. Yet, as entertaining as it is to insult a King and listen to his foolish responses while we discuss the short comings of our responsibilities until the rapture, I lack the patience and your people lack the time for us to continue doing so. I offer you my assistance and the price is simply cooperation. Accept and victory is all yours. Decline and things will get much worse.”
The king loosening his grip on the air, relaxes his voice and exclaims, “We both already know what must be done. The only thing remaining is what happens after all the dominos have toppled over themselves.”
“So we have an understanding then?” The cloaked man reached down for the arrow lodged in his leg and quickly yanked it out.
“On one condition.” The King quickly shot out, “The guilty must be made responsible and answer for their crimes.”
“I was not aware that we needed discuss such terms. I had all assumed it to be plainly obvious.”
“Then his surrender can be guaranteed.”
“Should my rogue apprentice decide to continue with his charade I will personally deliver to you his head. Just try to refrain from making any brash decisions. I’d hate to see this world become damaged beyond repair.”
“My decisions are fueled by the wellbeing of my people. Something I know that even you understand.”
“Yes, but it is this very understanding that has led us to conflict. So unfortunate that this has become the music we are forced to dance to. Perhaps in time, we may be capable of coexisting… or at least some iteration of ourselves.” With this, the cloaked man turned as he dropped the arrow clutched in his hand onto the ground. “And Agorith,” The cloaked man paused and stood in place, “When all is done you claim victory. There is one thing you must do.”
“And what is that, old friend?”
“When you close the door, you can only lock it by throwing away the key.” As the man utters his final thought, he simply vanishes.
The King squeezed his hand as he stared at the man. “Leave us,” the King ordered.
The guardsmen looked back up at the king, hesitant. “Your highness, are yo-“
“Leave us!” he shouted. The order echoed through the room. The men relaxed their stances and headed for one of the smaller doors in the room. He turned his gaze to his wife sitting beside him. “You, too.” She gave but a brief face of shock before quietly standing and leaving for their chamber.
The king waited until all were out of ear shot. “So, did you come here to surrender? Or tell me that this is what the end of the world looks like? Because I’ve already heard both from you before.”
The cloaked man approached fixating his attention to the King. “It has been a long time since anyone has ever made me laugh, but you came very close to breaking my abstinence. No, I have come to you seeking a solution to our common enemy. This creature, he has brought nothing but discord to our world and has created quite the complicated mess. A mess so grand that only I can clean up.” He explained, never once a fault in his stride despite the protruding missile.
“A mess that you were more than happy to contribute to when you sent your mad assistant.”
Nearing the steps towards the throne, he halted. “I might have acknowledged that remark with some fake remorse forcefully regurgitated from my heartless gullet had it not been drenched in delicious ignorance. There is a greater threat here than just the loss of life or destruction of land and every action I take is very carefully calculated.” The cloaked man explained.
His temper thinning like the ice the cloaked man began to tread, the King responded, “Perhaps I am not the only one to possess ignorance to what is important here, seeing as you and your filth have not the proper understanding of life and death. And there is no threat of loss here; it has already happened. Every day I must bear witness to the families of those brave men who have died fighting against your ilk.” The king spat at the ground and began raising his voiced, “And worse than that, I must also tell them why the body could not be recovered. Did you ever take that into ‘calculation’?”
“Of course. But I am in charge of more than just a heard of sheep that are easily upset when the farmer comes with sheers in hand. But that is something that you could not hope to understand either. The mere presence of those that I must tend to is enough to strike life ending fear into the heart of even the bravest of men. The aching hearts of a few simpletons is nothing in comparison to the fury of a god. Yet, as entertaining as it is to insult a King and listen to his foolish responses while we discuss the short comings of our responsibilities until the rapture, I lack the patience and your people lack the time for us to continue doing so. I offer you my assistance and the price is simply cooperation. Accept and victory is all yours. Decline and things will get much worse.”
The king loosening his grip on the air, relaxes his voice and exclaims, “We both already know what must be done. The only thing remaining is what happens after all the dominos have toppled over themselves.”
“So we have an understanding then?” The cloaked man reached down for the arrow lodged in his leg and quickly yanked it out.
“On one condition.” The King quickly shot out, “The guilty must be made responsible and answer for their crimes.”
“I was not aware that we needed discuss such terms. I had all assumed it to be plainly obvious.”
“Then his surrender can be guaranteed.”
“Should my rogue apprentice decide to continue with his charade I will personally deliver to you his head. Just try to refrain from making any brash decisions. I’d hate to see this world become damaged beyond repair.”
“My decisions are fueled by the wellbeing of my people. Something I know that even you understand.”
“Yes, but it is this very understanding that has led us to conflict. So unfortunate that this has become the music we are forced to dance to. Perhaps in time, we may be capable of coexisting… or at least some iteration of ourselves.” With this, the cloaked man turned as he dropped the arrow clutched in his hand onto the ground. “And Agorith,” The cloaked man paused and stood in place, “When all is done you claim victory. There is one thing you must do.”
“And what is that, old friend?”
“When you close the door, you can only lock it by throwing away the key.” As the man utters his final thought, he simply vanishes.