“Disdain, malice, and wrath can consume a soul and knows no time.” -The King Slayer-

Far off in what seemed like a distant land, a country and its people feel the sharp edges of despair, as their freedom and homes are taken from them. Terrified by not just their new fate, but of those now in control of it. As cages fill with the young, the old, be it woman, man, or child, and new but old land becomes unoccupied and claimed. A King tormented and consumed by wrath moves slightly closer to his perceived goal. among the constant turmoil, two unknown figures move in and out of the shadows watching, waiting to report back on all the horror, violence, and disregard for human life, and warn the other side of the Ever-pass that there are monsters, wayward shadows, and collectively corrupted souls unlike anything Ever-land has dealt with before, and this army is headed straight towards them, carving a path of destruction, leaving devastation in it’s wake.

“A marvelous piece of new-land, you’ve acquired King Judiis, marvelous indeed!”

The King’s right-hand, snickered, and drooled at the thought of all the newly acquired resources, as he did in all the previous countries they conquered on the long path. He knew the king had no real interest in any of it. The King’s focus was solely on the cause of his long burning torment, and left the matters of land and resources to his right-hand.

“.................” Silence was his typical response.

The King had not spoken to anyone but his right-hand and himself since the journey began. His eyes always spoke more words than his mouth needed to though, all there was were two black holes that would consume anyone or anything if stared into or at for too long. His physical stature incased by armor only a King could wear, along with the fact that it had been so long since anyone, including the army and his right hand, had seen the King out of it, even the helmet that seemed to grab his head so well it appeared to be skin, made his aura imposing, and intimidating. It had been long enough that no one remember what he looked like under it anymore. In the beginning many whispered that the King had gone mad but his right-hand quickly made sure they whispered no more, making sure fear took its place. Still, his right-hand was amused at the fact that so many of the women and men in the army, so easily feared the King more than the ones they dismantled countries with.

“.....The ones they dismantled countries with…...” His right-hand thought to himself.

He had never understood the King’s decision to involve such monstrous species, though it wasn’t like the Kingdom of Earth and all its clans had any choice in the matter. The deal the King was forced to make with them, bothered him even more but only because the lack of bodies cost him coin, not because he possessed even an ounce of compassion or kindness. There was so much he could have done with so many people to enslave, sell, and trade, especially women and children but the deal made it so that he couldn’t lay claim to not a single one, and it perpetually bothered him so much that he had spent the entire journey thinking of ways to loophole a small herd or two but nothing came to mind or presented itself yet. He loved only two things, coin, and status. Coin allowed him to live the life he wanted and status was power, he answered only to the King and had complete control of the Kingsguard, thought to be the most fearsome, powerful and well trained fighters in not just the King’s army but the entire Kingdom of Earth.

Still, like all consumed by greed, a brother to envy, the King’s right-hand grasped for more. Being the weakest of all the De-mon clans, there was still so much more to grab hold of, humans had nowhere to go but up, from the back to the front, the King and his right-hand intended to be at the top of that front. Nothing came easy though, in the King’s way stood the mighty and powerful Kingdoms of Ever-land and in his right-hands way, presently, Goblins, Orcs, and Trolls, of the second strongest clan of De-mon, the ones they tore apart countries with.The snap of the reins, and the sound of hooves tapping the ground as the King quickly moved ahead and out of the carnage and screams that surrounded them, pulled his right-hand back from his inner plots as he watched the King’s horse fully armored and just as terrifying itself, trot away taking the King back into his normal seclusion, until the next battle. The pace in which the army moved was swift, it had only been three years since they began, and they only had one to two years left until they’d reach the Ever-pass. The King had already sent a scouting brigade ahead, and the Kings of the Orcs, Goblins, and Trolls, and most of their generals, insisted they’d do the same, creating a forward advance that was larger than most countries and kingdoms armies itself. In time this would prove to be a very costly mistake.

Back in his tent, the young King contemplated every single word of a prophecy that blanketed the hemp canvas as he unrolled the scroll again, for an untold number of time, his father had received over five hundred years ago!

“Those people so tight within your grasp, fueled by unrest, determination, and hope, will succeed to flee forever, prosper and grow, learn, understand, and know. From them, those who lead will be born a castor and castress and they will seed the downfall of it all.”

The young King was tormented by these words, perhaps only because his father was for so many years, but never the less, it fueled him, this scroll ruined his father and made the king’s life miserable. He would return all of this pain and torment ten fold, to “those people” he held responsible for it, while also proving the scroll to be nothing more than a mad woman clinging to status and life, even if it meant crushing everything and everyone who stood in his way, but “those people” would suffer the most, along with the pointed ear ones that helped them so many years ago, giving them aid and sanctuary within their lands. The deal or payment the Kingdom of Earth struct with the forsaken De-mon clan only extended to the Ever-pass. Everyone before it would be in-slaved and given to the forsaken as payment, all the land and resources was the Kingdom of Earths to keep. Beyond the Ever-pass though, everyone was to be exterminated except “those people”, they would be returned to their rightful place within the Kingdom of Earth. Eion would be the first beyond the Ever-pass to feel the wrath and witness the rise of, the strongest human clan in the Kingdom of Earth.

The Kings loud and powerful, yet very dark voice rang out of his tent into the rapidly warming, but still cool morning air.

“They will all come to know that it is indeed the time of sapien man, and they will fear and worship me, King Judiis Gordon Omega De-mon the first, the Sapien King of all Sapien Kings!”

While one King pushed forward further into his journey, a future King again returned from one of many of his. Back across the Ever-pass, in the Nourish Kingdom Hall, two young ladies prepare for the much-anticipated arrival.

“Lunar!”

“Lunar!

“Lunariverse!”

A young but strong and mature elven female voice calls out, growing more impatient and irritated at waiting and being ignored!

“ Oh for evers sake, what is it Pen? Pen! Penne!”

A slightly older but much more immature and weaker elven female voice replies back, irritated at being bothered.

“Don’t get short with me Lunar, and stop ignoring me. I’m tired of waiting, pick something already!”

Lunar rolled her eyes upward.

“Tired of waiting? Well, how miserable your life must be then since all you do is hurry up and wait.”

“That’s hardly all I do Lunar, just put something on and let’s go! I’m sure he’s back by now or did you want him to get the news from someone else?

Lunar peeked around her changing partition, giving Penne a maddening eye.

“Who would dare?”

“Oh I don’t know, maybe his father, his grandfather, his mother, his sister, any number of people from the order.”

As Penne raddled off possibility after possibility, Lunar quickly realized that she might need to speed up a bit, if she wanted to be the first to greet her best friend with the exciting news.

“Okay, Okay, I get it, Penne! I just love how you give me orders. Perhaps you need the practice, though, one day you might just very well have to be my double.”

Penne rolled her eyes, Lunar didn’t at all talk so proper.

“If you’re going to repeat what the Queen says word for word, then perhaps you should start copying her movement for movement as well.”

Lunar quickly fired back, as she, always did.

“And just because you didn’t quote her word for word, doesn’t make it any different. There, all done! How do I look?”

“Like you took too long to pick that outfit, come on Lun, let’s go!”

“ You seem more excited to see him then I do Penne, should I be concerned?”

Penne always remained calm under pressure, unless she told you, you wouldn’t know or figure anything out. With conversation and secrets, it kept her one step ahead, if not many. With her skill and training, you’d never see her coming until it was too late. So, despite her true feelings, without hesitation and very little reaction, she responded as she always had when Lunar question the nature of her relationships or movements.

“He’s my bestfriend too idiot, of course, I’m excited to see him, and as far as how much more than you, well I’m ready to go, been ready to go, but you on the other hand seem much more excited about the garments he will care nothing about, or how long you took to pick them! Can we go now!”

“I don’t like you sometimes, how in-ever did we come from the same egg?”

Lunar says with a coy smile, as she cuts her eyes at Penne now standing directly behind her, through the mirror created with elven glass so pristine and clear, one could swear they’d seen their future self within it. Bordered in elven gold, it looked more like a portal to another world, than just a mirror.

Under her breath as she begins to walk away, Penne jabs her back, her voice so firm, confident, and steady, Lunar can’t help but wonder about what she says sometimes and often gets so caught off guard by her words that she doesn’t fully think them through.

“Mother says you’re adopted!”

Her smile even coyer, her almond shaped eyes cut as cunningly as possible at Lunar.

“What? What did you say?”

Penne’s jabs were never random, she always planted the seeds before hand, through well-placed banter and misinterpretation of partially heard conversations. Penne constantly set Lunar up for the verbal climax and punch-lines.

“Oh, nothing.”

Penne’s words pulled Lunar right out of the uneventful and plain room, not the type of room anyone would look at and believe it was fit for a future queen. Besides, the mirror, there was no above and beyond lavish style, one of the few qualities they shared, Penne thought to herself, as those words also unknowingly pulled them soul deep out into a real world adventure. The type of adventure in a world that turns a naive, weak, and immature future queen, into a clever, strong, and mature one. There was more to Ever-land than just the kingdoms of Nourish, and Telic, much more!

Telic is a secluded Kingdom of Ever-land, that borders the mighty and ruling Kingdom of Nourish to the southwest, and the powerful and also secluded Queendom of Eion to the south. The southern tip of Telic slightly cut through Nourish and Eion to barely touch the Ever-Ocean. To the east was the Ever-Valley; the doorway to the Ever-pass, and to the north, the vast Ever-forest; home to numerous tribes, among other things. Telic city literally bordered Nourish city so closely that both cities appeared to be just one; there wasn’t any physical or visible barrier, nor any indications that separated one city from the other, one could easily walk through one city and into the next without immediately knowing. Besides, Telic city, most of the Telic Kingdom was forest and untouched land. Millions of flowers and plants paint the green canvas with a rainbow of colors, and freshen the air with enough scents to make any soul dance, as one’s lungs intentionally inhaled deeply with every breath. The countless number of animals, birds, and insects, created a deafening sound, almost maddening to the unadapted ear and symphonically beautiful to the adapted.

Standing in admiration of all the beautiful sights, sounds, and comforting midnight early morning breeze, as he so often did for so very many years, was an old but very young looking GrandMaster who stood in wait for two kings. Surprising, but familiar footsteps broke the nature induced trance, and walked powerfully towards the edge of the balcony like room of the Telic order.

“Ah! The Telic King, and what or who do I owe for this honored and unexpected visit?”

The GrandMasters’ voice was powerful and steady, raspy but calming. Every word he spoke felt like knowledge and wisdom penetrating the mind that eventually found a home festering in the soul.

“What do you mean old man?” The Telic King said with a smile.

“You’re the one who called this meeting!”

“Yes, yes indeed, but you act as if all my previous calls were answered.”

The Telic King paused for a moment, choosing his next words carefully.

“I mean no disrespect, GrandMaster.” The King bowed his head in respect and apology.

“None taking my King, I assume you’re still cross with me because of the decision that was made concerning Gar?”

The King didn’t answer but he didn’t need too, the GrandMaster already knew the answer.

“Gar, my young King, is perhaps the greatest Telic pupil to grace the inner halls of the order since it’s initial creation. Something is happening in this world, nature doesn’t create such powerful beings just to sit idly by, if his level of power is needed to maintain the balance, then we are all in grave danger and I sense troubling times ahead of us. I thought it best, the council thought it best, we not take things lightly. It was not an easy decision to take your only heir but it was a necessary one. One day I hope you and the Queen come to understand that.”

“We don’t agree with the decision but we respect it, father.” The King replied now staring at the same view that his arrival pulled the Grandmaster, his father from.

“My son, Gar is meant for so much more important things than becoming the next great King of Telic. Nothing should give a father more pride and joy than knowing his son will surpass him in his own right, forge a new path, their own path, of greatness.

The King of Telic was proud and thought it was just like Gar to excel at this, he excelled at whatever he did and with what seemed like very little effort. Gar was different and he always had been.

“It honors me that you think so highly of my son and you of yours father, but I question if the council shares your view of Gar.”

“Oh my boy, it is me that is honored, there may be trying days ahead of us, but there isn’t anyone else I rather go through them with. You needn’t worry about the council, their perception of Gar is expected, I’ve had him hold back quite a bit, and in time they will come to see and know just how important Gar is, to not just the order, but quite possibly all of Ever-land itself! Speaking of the great continent of Ever, come sit with me while we wait, and tell me all about the outstanding news I’ve been hearing about, I hear you’ve not just found a way to still make your son a king but the King of all Kings!

“You act surprised father, wasn’t it you that told me to think outside the box?”

“Ah, yes, but one can’t know how far outside the box the other will go. It appears there was never really a box for you in the first place. So, how in-ever did you get the High Queen and King of Nourish and of Ever-land, to accept your proposal of marriage.”

“You underestimate the respect Nourish has for the Kingdom of Telic and the Telic order!”

“They wanted Eion as an ally huh?” His father comically questioned.

“Yes!”

The King replied quickly in anticipation of that response and question from his father, causing them both to erupt in laughter.

The Grandmaster and King of Telic looked more like twin brothers than father and son. Though the King’s father had hundreds of years on him and was in the middle aged part of an elven life span, the GrandMaster hadn’t physically aged past the look of a twenty five year old human. The King, hundreds of years old himself, had the appearance of a nineteen year old one. Both had copper brown melanated skin, terrifyingly intense and powerful light brown eyes, that sometimes appeared to be more fire red than brown, to go along with tall, athletic, and extremely strong bodies. The only things that allowed others to tell them apart was their cloths and their hair. The GrandMaster wore Telic order robes and when necessary, Telic armor. The King’s wardrobe varied from Sun to Sun but he hadn’t needed to wear his armor in over two hundred years. They both had dreads that fell down to the middle of their backs but the GrandMasters were wisdom silver with a few jet black ones sprinkled in the mix, the Kings were completely jet black.

The GrandMaster, while still wiping the tears away with one hand, patted his son on the thigh gently as he spoke.

“Though I’m sure the power of Telic and the Telic order isn’t a bad consolation prize, my son what a strong and wise King you’ve grown into, it’s not often both sides benefit so greatly and equally in arrangements of this sort. Excellent leadership by both Kingdoms.”

Before the King could return a thank you for such a great compliment, a horn not heard in over 200 years sounded throughout the Telic Kingdom and echoed throughout the halls of the Telic order, before roaring out all across Ever-land, signaling those trying days had indeed come and come quick, and would continue coming one after another, moving towards something neither the King nor the GrandMaster could’ve foreseen. The massive scatter of birds from the trees to the sky as the horn sounded, was as ominous as the sudden silence after the horn finally toned down, and the echo subsided. The pitter patter of feet coming towards them broke the eerie silence, like the ending climax in a grand symphony! The four feet that orchestrated it were two new Telic order warriors, and the fear that vibrated in their voices as they called out the GrandMasters name in panic, showed just how new they were.

GrandMaster Alder!!...........

Next Chapter: So, you think you know the way?(3)