Ascendants of Ancients Sovereign

CHAPTER 30

Justice

The City of Brandor

The Royal Dining Hall

SAM STOOD BEHIND JUSTIN GRAYWIND’S OLD CHAIR. He was wearing armor designated for the leader of the king’s army. This was Sam’s last series of moments as General Absolute. By the end of the meeting, he would assume the role of advisor to the new king, Aaron Brandor, and Michael would take his spot as general.

Sam spent 2 Peaks getting to know Keldwin’s son. There was much he admired about the royal offspring. They were about the same age with many of the same likes and dislikes. All in all, Sam figured his service to Aaron would be a pleasure.

Sam started the meeting. “Gentlemen, I hope you enjoyed breakfast.” He scanned the face of each officer. “I’ve called you here to listen to the king’s wishes. He’s weak. Once we enter the throne room, any questions you have will need to wait until after the king has left. I’ll be the one to address them. The king—”

Before Sam could finish his sentence, Mosley and the rest of the gods on his team appeared around the table. The men’s reaction to the surprise visit was far better than the last series of moments in which Mosley appeared.

Mosley spoke. “General, we have come to show our support. We have no need to participate in these proceedings, but we would like to acknowledge the new leader of Brandor’s pack.”

Mosley had learned of Double D’s arrival in the city, and this was the real reason why he wanted to come. He desperately wanted to inform Sam of the assassin’s presence, but he had to abide by the same laws as Lasidious. The wolf was unable to divulge any information that would directly affect a transition of power on the worlds. To tell Sam of the assassin’s presence could possibly result in the assassin’s failure to kill his intended target.

Sam took control of the meeting. “My Lords, we are honored to have you watch the proceedings.” Sam sent a messenger to inform Keldwin of the gods’ attendance. He wanted the king to be prepared when they entered the throne room.

Moments later, the king entered the dining hall, sitting in a wheeled chair pushed by the prince. Everyone, except the gods, kneeled.

Keldwin motioned for them to stand and reclaim their seats and waited for the room to settle. His voice was weak. “Thank you for coming.” As he spoke, he coughed, spewing blood into his hands as he covered his mouth. No one reacted. They dared not dishonor their king.

Keldwin regained his composure and continued. He outlined his instructions over a substantial series of moments. After concluding his orders, Keldwin called each man by name, bid him farewell and then proclaimed, “My crown is now my son’s. From this moment forward, Aaron is your king.”

Keldwin motioned for one of his servants to wheel him from the room.

Once Keldwin was gone, Sam led the group as they bowed to their new sovereign, Aaron Brandor.

Meanwhile, Mosley stared into the corner of the room. The wolf’s gaze penetrated the magic of the assassin’s mask, but he was careful not to allow Double D to notice. Mosley just had to see the killer’s face.

Aaron addressed the leaders of his army. “Much needs to be done to make this kingdom ready for the upcoming harvests. In addition to my father’s Passing Ceremony, we need to ensure the crops are harvested efficiently. I would like to hear status reports from those of you who carried out General Graywind’s orders.”

Sam was impressed by how Aaron was speaking. He sounded like a veteran and a young man with a powerful presence. The meeting lasted until the middle of the night, with the new king giving many orders, saving the most important for last. “My father’s ceremony will be held in the arena. You shall all attend. I bid you good night.”

After Aaron left the room, Sam called a close to the meeting. He waited for everyone to leave and motioned for Mosley to wait. When they were alone, Sam spoke to the wolf-god. But Mosley’s attention was elsewhere. He was still staring at Double D as the assassin left the room.

Sam watched the wolf’s eyes. “What are you looking at?”

Mosley redirected his gaze. “Huh? Oh ... nothing, Sam. What can I do for you?”

“Everything is changing so fast,” Sam responded. “I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed. I was hoping you’d give me one of those godly blessings of yours to help me sleep. I’d be grateful, My Lord.”

Mosley frowned. “Sam, please ... don’t call me that. We don’t need these formalities when others aren’t present. Let’s continue as we once were before I ascended. Let us treat each other as we used to.”

Sam smiled. “You mean like the way you called me a fool when I started training with BJ? I can think of nothing better than going back to our old ways to create more fond memories.” Sam moved in and lowered to one knee and then hugged the wolf. “Thanks for being here.”

Mosley enjoyed the exchange, but he could sense that Sam still had something on his mind. “What else can I do for you?”

Sam took a deep breath. “Are you really able to provide Justin and Keldwin’s souls a pleasant existence after their spirits arrive inside the Book of Immortality? They were good friends, and it’s irritating to know that they’re going to be stuck in a damn book. You made it sound like you had some control over what happened. So level with me. Can you really do something for them?”

“I intend to try,” the wolf replied. “All I can do is speak with the Book to see if it will create an alternate existence inside its pages. But it’s up to the Book to make the final decision.”

Sam shook his head. “I had a gut feeling they were going to get hosed.”

Mosley cringed. “I swear to you, Sam, I intend to make an impression on the Book.”

Gessler Village

Kepler and his brothers squeezed through the window of George’s room at The Bloody Trough. Standing around the bed, their massive bodies filled the large room and the wooden planks of the floor bent beneath their weight. They watched what they thought to be a sleeping George and joked as they looked down at the mage.



“Ahhhhh, how cute,” Kepler chuckled. “I didn’t know something so ugly could look so adorable.”

Keller responded, “Humans don’t have the ability to look adorable. They’re furless monstrosities.”

Koffler made an attempt to jump into the conversation, but the youngest of the triplet jaguars was not known for his intellect. “Yeah, yeah, human, yeah. No fur on the human, you guys.”

Kepler and Keller looked at each other and rolled their eyes. After a moment, Koffler realized his brothers were mocking him. “What? What? Hey, Mother told you to be nice to me.”

“Mother was destroyed many seasons ago, imbecile,” Keller growled. “Do we need to take you out back and bloody you up?” He turned to look at Kepler. “I hate to say it, but I think every pride has a member that’s not fit to be a territorial force.”

“What?” Koffler growled.

Kepler rolled his eyes again. “Shut up.”

George sat up, catching the cats off guard. “If you think I’m ugly, then I would hate to tell you what I think of you. Every moment I look at your big asses, I feel like I should put out a freakishly huge saucer of milk and say, here, kitty, kitty!”

“That’s not funny!” Kepler snarled. “You know I hate that word, especially when you say it.” He looked at his brothers. “That’s the same thing he said as he stood over the Saber Lord and tortured him.”

Keller and Koffler grumbled their displeasure. “We’re not kitties, George!” Keller snarled.

“As you wish,” George conceded.

After a moment, Kepler queried. “Where’s Amar?”

George shrugged. “I killed him.”

“What? Why?”

“He was going to screw us up.”

Kepler shifted in place since the room was too crowded to pace. “How?”

“Lasidious told me that Amar would create problems. Do you remember the woman I told you about? The one I came to this world with?”

“I do.”

“Well, she’s a sorceress now. Lasidious told me that Amar had gone to Luvelles to study the dark arts. Apparently, Amar had plans to kill Shalee to take her power. I couldn’t let this happen. If I had, Amar would’ve become powerful enough to destroy us both, and that would’ve sucked. He could’ve taken the barbarian throne for himself. So I ripped his heart out and ate it.”

Kepler growled. “Wasn’t it enough to kill him? What could you possibly gain from eating his heart? Would you have eaten Kroger’s, too, if he wouldn’t have turned to stone?”

George smiled. “Of course I wouldn’t have eaten Kroger’s. I only ate Amar’s because it was the only way to steal his magic.”

Kepler’s eyes flashed. “What are you talking about?”

George figured he would show the beast instead of argue. He lifted his hands into the air. Once they were level to the bed, he turned his palms up and lifted them higher, causing all three jaguars to rise from the floor. Just over six tons of undead cat hung suspended.

Kepler’s brothers snarled, but George silenced them with a glance.

Kepler, on the other hand, remained calm. “I see your point, George. So what else can you do?”

The mage lowered the jaguars back to the floor. “I can do many, many things, but let’s talk about them on the way to Bloodvain.”

The cats agreed.

“Good,” George responded. He stood up on the bed. “Meet me just north of the village in the morning.” The mage closed his eyes and vanished. When he opened them, he was standing over his wife. He leaned over and ran his fingers through her hair. When she woke, she smiled, and made room for him to crawl in beside her.

The Castle of Brandor

The Next Peak

Aaron stayed with his father through the night. Keldwin had intended to go to the throne room to hand his crown to his son, but found he was too weak to get out of bed. He tried to apologize to Aaron, but he was unable to get the words out. Using his last breath, the father said to his son, “I’m proud of you, boy.”



These five words tore at Aaron’s heart. Abandoning all control, he threw himself across his father’s body and wept.

Later, Sam found Aaron kneeling by the king’s bed with his head lowered into one of his father’s palms. He lifted the young king from the floor and led Aaron into the royal garden, signaling the morticians. “Prepare the body for viewing. It will be held at the Peak tomorrow, and the fire will be lit after dark. See that the senators know the moment has come to carry out their assignments.”

Once in the garden, Sam sat Aaron down on one of the many benches to console him. “Talk to me, Aaron. Get it off your chest so you can breathe.”

“I’m fine, Sam. I’ve had more than enough moments to prepare for his passing. It hit me hard, and I’ll continue to grieve, but not without performing my duties. My father would’ve wanted it that way. His last words to me before he passed were that he was proud of me. Many men never get to hear their father say something so special.”

Sam helped Aaron off his seat. “I thought I was going to have to console you, but it looks like you have everything under control. What do you say we get a mug of ale? I don’t know about you, but I could use one.”

The king agreed the idea sounded pleasant. The men headed for the kitchen with their arms draped across each other’s shoulders.





City of Serpents





Seth was slithering through his underground kingdom toward his royal rock, the serpent’s version of a throne. Far beneath this flat boulder was an underground lava flow. The heat from the river produced enough energy to warm his rock. This was the giant snake’s favorite place to sleep. It was also the same rock where his great-great-great-grandfather, King Sotter, had slept seasons ago.

For the most part, Seth’s kingdom did not interfere in the matters of the two dominant, human kingdoms of Southern Grayham. The serpent’s domain was everything south of the Poison River where it left Lake Zandra and west of the Snake River that also exited the same lake.

His kind was known for their poison. They sold their venom and various forms of plant life that grew in the marshlands of his kingdom to Merchant Island. The coin collected was kept in an underground shaft that was so full it was overflowing. The reptilian population did not have a need for wealth. The sale of the serpents’ wares simply kept the other kingdoms out of their borders and allowed them to live without fear of invasion.

There were four tunnels into Seth’s cavern. Each was guarded by two reptilian soldiers. The guards were not there to defend their king from outside invaders, but rather, they were chosen to protect the king from his own kind. Every now and then, an ambitious up-and-coming serpent champion felt strong enough to take the king’s rock. For the most part, the guards managed to spoil the attack, and life went on as usual. But Seth’s relative, Sotter, had succeeded, and he seized the throne.





Fellow soul ... a quick fact. Unlike other kingdoms, the serpent’s throne was volatile. If a serpent was powerful enough to kill the king and the eight guards that protected him, by default, he was given the throne, and he would remain the monarch until he was either killed in turn or passed of old age. The crown remained in this new monarch’s bloodline beyond his seasons unless another champion rebelled and was able to seize the throne.





When the Mischievous One showed up in front of Seth’s boulder, the snake was napping. The Serpent King’s guards were quick to attack, but Lasidious put up a wall of force, and the reptiles simply slammed into it.

The god made sure Seth was the only one who could hear his voice when he spoke. “Seth, I need to speak with you. Have your guards stand down.”

The serpent hissed, “Who are you to stand before my rock?”

The Mischievous One was annoyed by the Snake King’s ignorance as he responded. “My name is Lasidious.”

The reptile knew the name belonged to a god, though he had no previous knowledge of what Lasidious looked like or what he stood for. But Seth did know his ancestors worshipped Celestria, and she was believed to be the mightiest of serpents. In many of the stories of old about his great-great-great-grandfather, Sotter, there was mention of Lasidious’ name. Lasidious often fought at the serpent goddess’ side.

Seth ordered his guards to back off. “What issssss the purpossssse of your visssssit, Lord Lasidiousssss?”

The king’s hissing was going to drive Lasidious mad. The Mischievous One decided to tell the snake everything he had to say, without interruption, and let the snake dwell on it.





“Seth, you’ve proven to be a wise leader over your kind. You’ve continued the ways of the kings before you, and this has kept outsiders from crossing your borders. I’m here to tell you that a great threat has emerged, both in Brandor and in Bloodvain, that will destroy your way of life. The human kingdoms will be at war before the season ends.”



“War?” Seth hissed. “I sssssee. Over what do they fight?”

“Over what matters not. This war will spread beyond your borders, and it won’t stop until you’re destroyed. The only way to protect your way of life is to ally your kind with the barbarians. A new king has ascended to the throne. He’s powerful, and although he’s not a barbarian, he defeated their king in battle and took the crown. If you align yourself with this human, your kingdoms can work together to defend the advances of Brandor. Once their bid for power has been stopped, you can continue life as normal. This is a friendly warning, Seth. What you do with this information is up to you. The man you need to find, if you choose this path, is called George Nailer. I wish you good fortune in whichever decision you make. I must take my leave.”

Before Seth could hiss a response, Lasidious vanished.

Agitated, the Serpent King looked at his soldiers and then called for the Council of Serpents to convene. He would announce a trip to Bloodvain.

City of Brandor

Sam woke early on the morning of Keldwin’s viewing. After he left the room to grab breakfast, Shalee opened her eyes. She rolled out of bed, stretched, and then she asked her servants to prepare her morning bath. She was about to drop her towel and step into the hot tub of water when she let out a shriek. Shalee ran across the room, pulled the covers off the bed and then threw them around her. She looked back across the room at Mosley who had materialized next to the bathing tub.



“What are you doing popping in on a girl like that? I was fixin’ to take a bath. Can’t a girl get some privacy? ”

Mosley gave a wolfish grin. “Don’t worry yourself, Shalee, the look of your hide doesn’t appeal to me. You don’t have enough fur, or a bushy enough tail for me to find satisfaction in your appearance.” The wolf paused. “Now, if you had a tail ... I might—”

“If you finish that sentence, so help me, I’ll turn you into a god-frog!”

The wolf laughed and then turned around. “Please cover yourself.”

Shalee dropped the blanket and wrapped her towel around her.

The wolf turned to face her. “Shalee, I have come to speak of things you need to know as a sorceress. I want to ensure my message weighs heavy on your mind during every moment. This will keep you alive when other magic users pass.”

“Holy cow, Mosley, you really know how to ruin a girl’s bath. You pop in unannounced, tell me I don’t have a cute butt, and then say you have something I need to know that might be the only thing that keeps me alive. Nice. Are you the God of War, or are you the Wolf-god of Bad News?” Shalee walked across the room and ruffled her hands through the fur on the top of Mosley’s head. Damn dog, she thought.

Despite the fact the wolf came for a serious discussion, Mosley enjoyed Shalee’s affection. After a moment, he pulled away and asked Shalee to take a seat on the edge of the bed. “Shalee, I need you to take me seriously. I cannot tell you why I’ve come, but I can tell you it’s for a good reason.”

“You’re scaring me, Mosley.”

“You should be scared.” The wolf’s green eyes narrowed. “You need to watch out for that which does not seem normal. Have a plan prepared for when this happens. Shalee, you have the power to take control of most any situation. You must heighten your senses.”

“What are you trying to say? Stop talking in riddles.”

The wolf looked up at the ceiling. “I’m being summoned. Remember, Shalee, you must be ready ... no matter what. I’m sorry I can’t explain, but this warning was meant to save the lives of those in your pack.”

Mosley’s voice echoed throughout the room even after his departure, leaving Shalee sitting on the bed, shaken and trying to decode what he said. After taking a faster-than-normal bath to make up for lost moments, she headed out to find Sam.





Aaron decided to change the venue where his father’s body was to be viewed. The young king ordered Keldwin’s corpse to be moved to the Royal Theatre of Brandor.

As usual, Double D had his mask on when the order was given, but during this series of moments, the assassin was standing directly behind the king’s throne. Aaron was sitting in the chair delivering his instructions to a room that was filled to capacity, and the tip of Double D’s blade was pressed against the back of the chair. The assassin was ready to shove the blade through when the command was given.

Double D pulled back the knife and smiled. This change of venue would provide a grander stage for a killing. Better yet, this would make his job even easier when the moment came to escape. Unlike the confines of the throne room, the theatre was spacious and had many exits. He immediately departed to familiarize himself with the layout of the structure.





With the assassin standing on a stage where a few souls were preparing for the viewing, Double D kept his mask over his eyes as he dodged between them. He was plotting both Aaron’s assassination and his escape, and it was not long before he felt like he had a plan.

The morticians entered from the back of the theatre to avoid the mob that had lined the streets for more than 500 breaths. They placed Keldwin’s casket not more than three paces from the curtain at the center of the stage. Seeing this placement and understanding his escape route, Double D could only marvel at how simple his execution was going to be. Not only was this going to be the ultimate assassination ever witnessed on Grayham, but he would not even break a sweat when he escaped.

Double D listened as the head mortician spoke, “We should usher the people onto the stage to say goodbye. They can walk up from the left, pay their respects and then exit to the right. We should bring the nobles in first to keep them from standing in the rain, followed by the Senate and then the high-ranking officers of the army. Everyone else can fill in what’s left once they’ve been seated.”

The next part caught the assassin’s attention.

“The king has decided to address the people. Ten guards, five on each side, need to be placed next to the casket.” The mortician walked across the stage and stopped three paces from the edge of the stage. “The casket needs to be moved away from the curtain and placed here. I also want it parallel to the curtain.”

Double D smiled. The back side of the casket would be wide open for his approach.

The mortician continued as he pointed. “I want King Aaron’s throne placed on the far side of the stage over there. His advisor, the General Absolute, and their wives will join him.”

The assassin shook his head in amazement. He could not have dreamed of a more perfect scenario. Double D stepped behind the stage curtain and waited.

As the Peak of Bailem passed, the doors to the theater opened. As planned, the royal family was ushered to their seats, followed by the members of the Senate and their families. These first two groups were placed, one behind the other, in the first three rows of seats directly in front of the stage.

Key members of the military and their families were next, numbering 900 souls. With the other 6,000 seats filled, it would be the biggest assassination ever witnessed.

Double D peeked through the curtain and rolled his hands together. If not for his greed, the gathering was large enough that he would have killed Aaron for free. This was his chance to make the ultimate statement. Assassins for ages to come would always aspire to match his greatness. Upon the Peak of his passing, he would leave behind a note that revealed the truth that he was the one who slew the king and the general. The Scrolls of Old would read: Dawson Drake, the Assassin Who Single-handedly Changed the Face of the Kingdom of Brandor.

Many moments passed before the theatre settled. Double D watched as Sam stood from his seat and kissed his wife’s hand before he walked to the center of the stage.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” Sam shouted. “Please! Everyone take your seats!”

The crowd quieted.

“In a few moments, your king will arrive to make his way through the theatre. He has requested that no one speak until he has said goodbye to his father. Once the king has left the building, you may talk amongst yourselves. You’ll be told when it’s your turn to pay your respects. I ask that you show respect for the passed, as well as for your king.”

A young, well-dressed servant ran up the steps of the stage and stopped next to Sam. “The king has arrived,” he whispered. “He is waiting to be introduced.”

Sam signaled the trumpeters and shouted, “Ladies and gentlemen! Rise for your king, Aaron Brandor!”

The sound of the trumpets filled the expansive room with wonderful music as Aaron entered through the double doors and made his way to the stage.

Sam lowered to one knee and bowed his head. It was agreed that Sam’s acknowledgement would symbolize the respect of the audience who could not kneel at their seats. Sam kissed the king’s hand before he was signaled to rise, whereupon Aaron embraced his advisor as he whispered in Sam’s ear, “I find much strength in you, Sam. Thank you.”

The advisor was touched by the king’s sentiment. Sam nodded and then returned to his seat.

Aaron turned to face the audience and began his address.

Shalee listened from her seat, still bothered by Mosley’s words. They had left her with a heightened sense of awareness. She scanned the theatre, looking for something out of the ordinary, but she could not find anything. The sorceress gripped Precious with white knuckles as she directed her attention toward Aaron as he finished his address.

“...You’ll always be remembered, My Great King.” These were the last words Aaron spoke as he turned to say goodbye to his father.





Double D looked across Keldwin’s body as Aaron approached the casket. The same knife he used to kill the barbarian in Gessler was in his hand, and he had laced the blade with poison to ensure the job was completed if he made an imperfect thrust. He moved his arm into position, and made sure his mask was secure. He did not want his actions to cause it to shift and ruin his escape.

As Aaron stood above his father, tears fell from his cheeks and landed on Keldwin’s cold hands, but the assassin felt no compassion. On the contrary, the pain filling the king’s eyes excited Dawson Drake. Double D licked his lips as the grieving monarch leaned over to kiss his father on the forehead.

As the young king straightened up, the assassin plunged his knife under Aaron’s chin, thrusting so hard that the tip of the blade pierced the top of Aaron’s head. Double D savored the penetration.





Shalee watched as the king moved across the stage toward the coffin. Her gut was telling her something was not right. As the sorceress watched the king bend over to kiss his father, she exhaled with relief, but then the hole in the king’s head opened and blood spurted everywhere.





Double D decided to leave the barbarian’s knife buried in the king’s skull to punctuate his statement of artistry. Let’s go get my money, he thought as he let go of the knife and turned to run.





Seeing the blade appear in Aaron’s head, Shalee immediately slammed Precious against the floor of the stage and screamed, “Precious, illuvu sol!” Everyone and everything within the theatre stopped moving, both seen and unseen.

The sorceress stood from her chair and rushed across the stage. Blood was everywhere, and the drops that were falling from the knife were suspended in air. Shalee gathered her emotions and took a closer look. How could a knife just appear like this? she thought.

Shalee went to Sam and released him from her magic. She placed a finger over his mouth and explained the situation.

With Shalee in tow, Sam studied the scene. He moved around the guards to the backside of the coffin. As he did, he tripped over the extended foot of the assassin. “Something’s here!” he exclaimed as he picked himself up off the floor.

Shalee reached out to feel around. Her hand touched Double D’s stomach. As she moved it beyond his chest, her fingers touched the scruff on the bottom of the assassin’s chin. “Oh, my gosh, it’s a man!”

Sam responded. “Step aside.”

She did as Sam instructed. A moment later, Sam’s hand bumped the mask. The mask shifted upward, and Double D appeared. “Holy,” Sam said as he pulled his hand away.

Gravity grabbed the weight of the mask and forced it back into position over Double D’s eyes. The assassin vanished.

“Oh, my gosh, Sam, that’s it. Take it off.”

Sam reached out, felt around and then yanked the mask off Double D’s head. The assassin was in stride, and his intended path was for the curtains behind the coffin.

Sam handed the magical item to Shalee. “I think this is in your arena. Put it on.”

Shalee’s brow furrowed as she studied the skull. “No!” she rebutted. “Look at it. It’s creepy.”

“Just put it on and see what happens.”

The sorceress examined the mask. After a fair series of moments, she shrugged and then placed it against her face. Just like Double D, she vanished. “Can you see me?”

Sam shook his head. For the moment, he forgot about the prince’s death. “Whoa! That’s amazing. What kind of magic is that?”

Shalee pulled the mask away from her face. As she reappeared, she responded. “I think it’s dark magic. What should we do with him? We can’t let him get away.”

Sam did not respond. Instead, he circled the frozen figure and rifled through Double D’s pockets. “I want to know who we’re dealing with.”

“Be careful,” the sorceress urged.

“Why? He’s not going anywhere.”

“I don’t know. Just be careful. He’s a killer.”

Shalee’s warning was accurate. Sam pulled out a small, wooden case that was filled with poisonous darts. Their points were capped with leather sleeves, and as he closed the case, he noticed that the initials DD were burned into the lid. “Hmmm ... DD ... I wonder what it stands for.”

“Who cares?” Shalee snapped. “What are we gonna do with this creep? I can’t keep everyone frozen forever. And don’t forget, Aaron’s gone.”

Sam put the case in his pocket and then lifted the assassin off the floor. He turned Double D around and carried him back to the coffin. He adjusted Double D’s posture until he was in the perfect position and then placed the assassin’s hand back on the handle of the knife that was still buried into the king’s skewered head.

“ Goodness gracious, Sam, what are you doing?” Shalee whispered.

“I’m making him look guilty. You said we don’t want him to get away, right?”

“That’s a great idea. Make him look guilty.” As Sam continued to adjust Double D’s posture, Shalee held up the mask in front of her and rolled her eyes. “There’s blood on this thing. I can’t believe I put it on.”

“Would you please focus?” Sam snapped. “Help me.”

With Double D in the ideal position, Sam adjusted Aaron’s weight to fall toward the coffin while Shalee hung the mask from the assassin’s belt, and then they reclaimed their seats.

Shalee slammed Precious against the floor and released everyone from her magic.

The next thing Double D knew, he was standing with the knife in his hand, and the weight of the king was falling toward him. He released the blade and looked at the crowd. Everyone could see him.

Sam shouted, “Guards, seize him!”

Double D instinctively reached up for his mask, but there was nothing to grab. “Garesh,” he blurted as he turned to run for the curtain.

One of the guards tackled Double D before he could take his second step. A moment later, nine swords of the king’s guard were pointed at his throat. The murderer was captured.

The theatre was frantic. Everyone screamed as the king’s legs buckled. As Aaron slid off of his father’s body and the handle of the assassin’s knife caught on the edge of the coffin and left Aaron dangling. A moment later, the bone at the top of the king’s skull cracked. Aaron slowly slid off the blade and crumbled to the floor in a heap. The assassin’s dagger toppled off the edge of the coffin and stuck into the stage next to the young king’s shoulder.

Sam rushed to the center of the stage and shouted with all his might. “People of Brandor, sit and be quiet!”

Everyone stopped to look. Most of them did not realize it, but Sam was now their new king, and he was about to make the chain of authority known. He shouted again. “King Aaron has been murdered! I won’t allow this gathering to make a mockery of his death! Sit down! NOW!”

The nobles and the members of the military were the first to comply. Seeing their reaction to Sam’s command, the rest of the theatre followed.

Sam ordered four of the guards to clear Aaron’s body from the stage. He then commanded two others to wheel Keldwin’s casket behind the curtain with Aaron. Sam snatched the assassin’s dagger and pulled it clear of the stage, and then he ordered the morticians to take the bodies from the theatre, and return with the kings in clean attire and fresh coffins.

Once this had been accomplished, Sam ordered the four remaining guards to bring Double D to the front of the stage. The guards complied.

Sam faced the crowd. “People of Brandor, you will remain seated until our kings have been returned! Justice must be delivered. I intend to give the fallen the vengeance they deserve! You will not leave until the command is given! Do you understand?”

Michael, as if he had been prepared to say it all along, stood from his chair and shouted. “Our new king has spoken! Hail, King Goodrich!”

The mob paused as the new reality sunk in. Eventually, they responded, “Hail, King Goodrich!”

Many long moments passed before the morticians returned with the bodies of the late kings. During their absence, Sam forced Double D to kneel and face the crowd with his hands tied behind his back.

Sam beat Double D until the assassin proclaimed his profession.

Double D spit blood onto the stage. “I also killed your general. I laughed as his body convulsed on the sand.”

Upon hearing the confession, the crowd reacted. They shouted curses and called for Double D’s execution.

Sam lifted his hand and shouted, “This man has dishonored three great men with his actions! Two of the fallen were warriors, but all three were leaders this kingdom cannot replace! They will be missed! They will be honored on this very night, AND THEY WILL BE AVENGED!”

Sam turned an event meant for a viewing of the passed into a pep rally. He would not allow the people to leave without closure—knowing full well that his fallen friends would have approved.

When the bodies were returned, Michael commanded the caskets to be tilted toward the people.

Motioning for the guards to lift Double D to his feet, Sam made another announcement. “People of Brandor, on this Peak, in front of our beloved kings, there will be justice! This man will explain why he has attacked our kingdom and killed our leaders!”

Double D spit on the floor again. “I will say nothing. Beat me if you must, but I’ll pass before I utter a word.”

Sam lifted the assassin’s dagger and opened a gash across Double D’s chest. As the assassin screamed, the new king pulled Kael from his sheath and commanded the blade to bring forth his fire. The king lifted the weapon in front of his lips. “Are you ready for action, Kael?”

The blade’s confirmation was sadistic. “Make the torture last, Sam. I want to hear his cries. He deserves punishment. I want to feel the warmth of his blood as I slice him through. Allow me to bathe in his life’s source.”

Sam relished the thought as he lifted Kael above his head. The people were awed by the blade’s flame as he addressed them. “People of Brandor, I hold in my hand a sword given to me by Bassorine! This is Kael, the one and only Sword of Truth and Might!”

The theatre erupted. They knew how treasured a god-sword was, and the fact their new king possessed a weapon of this magnitude amplified their acceptance of Sam.

“I shall use this sword to strike down our enemies!” Sam pointed the tip of Kael at Double D. “I say we start with this traitor! What say you?”

Everyone in the theatre exploded, “Slay him! Slay him! Slay him!” Their screams eventually transitioned into, “Hail, King Goodrich! Hail, King Goodrich! Hail, King Goodrich!”

Sam brought his hand up to silence the crowd. He commanded the blade to evoke a new element. Kael brought forth the destructive force of water as Sam turned to face Double D. “Why did you end these men?”

Again, the assassin spit on the floor.

The crowd responded with profanities.

Once again, the king held up his hand to command silence. Sam placed Kael’s blade on Double D’s shoulder. “Why did you kill these men?”

The assassin screamed as the watery flame ripped at his skin. He wanted to spit on the floor yet again, but Kael’s power was overwhelming.

“I said, why did you end these men?”

Double D looked at Sam defiantly.

“The king pushed the blade into the assassin’s shoulder. “Answer me!”

Double D broke. “I was hired to slay them! It was just a job!”

Again, the people cursed the assassin.

Sam silenced them. “Who hired you?”

“I don’t know,” he cried. “I get my work through a man called Assistant Kane. He pays me when I’m finished.”

“When are you to meet this man to get your coin?”

Again, the power of the sword ripped at the assassin’s skin to force a truthful response. “I don’t. I retrieve my coin from a specified location once the job is finished!”

Sam only had one more question before he brought down judgment. “What’s your name, murderer?”

Double D fought to avoid the answer. Many, many moments passed, and Kael was still unable to break through the assassin’s determination to remain silent. He had not said his real name since the night he ended his father and uttering the words pained him to such a degree that he wailed in agony.

Sam shoved and twisted the god-sword, causing the assassin’s collar bone to snap.

Double D screamed, “Dawson Drake! My name is Dawson Drake!” His knees buckled.

Sam motioned for the guards to lift Double D back to his feet and spoke for all to hear. “Dawson Drake, I hold you responsible for your actions! The murders committed against King Aaron Brandor, and General Justin Graywind, will be brought to justice on this Peak in front of the people of this great kingdom.”

Sam placed the point of Kael against Double D’s healthy shoulder and commanded the blade’s fire to come forth. He pushed the point into the assassin’s flesh at a slow, steady pace.

The killer cried out as the heat cauterized the wound.

The crowd cheered as they watched their king twist the weapon. The louder the man screamed, the happier the people became.

Sam withdrew his sword and then pushed the blade ever so slowly into Double D’s stomach. The screams of the murderer were horrific as the crowd continued to applaud his torture.

Sam’s abuse of Dawson Drake would have continued, but Shalee ran across the stage to stop him. She whispered in his ear. “Sam ... you’re scaring me. Stop.”

“I’m not finished with him. He deserves this.”

Shalee stood her ground. “You end this, or I’ll end it for you!”

Sam held Shalee’s eyes for a fair period of moments before he commanded the guards to release Double D.

The guards did as they were told, unsure of the king’s intent.

The crowd’s eyes were filled with questions, many of them screaming for answers.

Sam held up his hand.

The mob silenced.

The king leaned in and whispered to Shalee, but it was not Sam that responded. It was the demon at the back of his mind. “I will end it my way.”

Shalee shuddered. There was a coldness in Sam’s expression—one that she did not want to oppose. “Do it however you want ... just so long as it ends.” She retreated to her seat and turned away.

The king’s face tightened. Without another word, he turned and buried the assassin’s dagger into Double D’s gut and then left the blade buried as he took a step back. With the assassin doubled over, Sam lifted Kael to his mouth and commanded the flame to go cold. Without further hesitation, he lifted Kael above his head and brought the god-sword down across the top of Double D’s head.

The force of the impact split the assassin and his dagger in half like a knife cutting through butter. After a few short moments, the assassin’s weight shifted and both halves opened like a fisherman’s net that dropped its catch across the deck. Double D’s halves fell in opposite directions as his guts slid across the stage.

The crowd erupted, glorifying their new king’s actions, screaming their praises and asking the gods to grant Sam long life.

Sam fought to put the demon in his mind back in its cage as he held up his hand to silence the mob. He commanded the nobles and the senators to leave for the arena. “I want you to build a platform. We will light the fire to celebrate our fallen kings tonight.” He then addressed the rest of the spectators. “I command you all to go to the arena after Late Bailem! ”

He turned to look down at Double D’s remains. “Finish cutting that thing up! Throw it into a pail and feed it to the birds!”

The mob cheered as Sam walked off the stage. As he passed, he tried to grab Shalee’s hand, but she refused to let him have it. Irritated, Sam exited through the back of the theatre.