Chapter 4 - A Surprising Turn of Events
1432 Words
Shortly after his terrifying visit from the demonic Master Mage, King Leofilliah finally emerged from his private chambers and proceeded to march toward the doorway leading into the main corridor.
He appeared to be in a hurry for some unknown reason and as he reached the door two doormen quickly rushed to grab the handles in time, each bowing their head respectfully as they opened them and allowed their ruler through.
Leofilliah did not even acknowledge them as he continued to make his way through and out into the main corridor on his way to the Great Hall.
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The feast was a great success to say the least and the room was buzzing with excitement and energy.
You could hear the sounds of laughter and chatter as the serving women were practically throwing themselves all over the many drunken soldiers with hopes of getting a little extra money for their efforts.
And of course many soldiers obliged.
Suddenly all conversations were interrupted as the royal trumpet sounded loudly echoing off of the stone walls of the Great Hall and formally announcing the arrival of their King.
All eyes turned toward the royal entrance as King Leofilliah walked through it with his head held high and proceeded to make his way over to his throne where he finally stopped, turned and glanced out at the crowd of his bravest fighters seated before him.
It appeared that it was time for his congratulatory speech.
“I would like to extend the warmest of welcomes to my honoured and bravest of soldiers. Welcome all of you, to the Great Feast!”
There was a sudden uproar of cheering and clapping as everyone celebrated their great efforts for a moment together as one; the room slowly returning to a dull silence once again as the King raised both hands into the air with a cheesy smile.
“Yes, yes. I am delighted to see so many of you here tonight, here to share in your recent string of victories and conquests against our common enemies. Without you, I am but a man. Sure, I may command one of the greatest armies ever known and I wear a crown of gold upon my head, but… at the end of the day I am just a man.” he paused for effect.
“But with you, my brethren, I am a King!”
The Hall erupted in an equally loud round of applause; fists thrust up into the air by soldiers as they cheered while being inspired by their leader.
If there was one thing to be said about King Leofilliah, it was that he knew how to work the crowd.
Once again the King held his hand in the air and the crowd quietened down, becoming silent once again. It was clear that he had more to say and everyone in the room waited, listening intently with great anticipation.
“Now, we have had many victories over many months. And there have been many reasons for this, one of which I will address now. There is one amongst you who has led us throughout this string of victories with his incredible bravery, his fine swordsmanship and outstanding leadership in the heat of battle. A man who has truly proven himself as Captain...”
Kaine turned to Magnus who was sitting there with his arms folded in front of himself, a small smile beginning to grow as he was knowingly nudged on his shoulder playfully by the men around him.
Liston raised his head from his lap and shouted aloud, not sober enough to think before the words escaped his lips,
“I know him!”
Ignoring the obviously drunken outburst King Leofilliah continued, “He is a man who knows no fear… You all know of whom I speak. Where are you Magnus?”
The men around Magnus stood and prodded him along, some patting his back as others pulled him up by his arms to his feet.
With a modest expression on his face Magnus hesitantly bowed playfully to the adoring crowd and shook his head at all of this unnecessary attention and embarrassment.
The King’s expression suddenly darkened as he smirked.
“Ah Magnus, there you are…” he spoke with a strangely sinister expression.
His next words caught them all off guard...
“Guards, arrest him... Bring the traitor to me at once!”
The entire atmosphere suddenly changed like the flip of a switch and matching expressions of shock and disbelief were evident on the faces of the hundreds of seated soldiers filling the Great Hall that night. No one could believe what they had just heard their King command!
Many of the soldiers around their beloved Captain looked from one another then at Magnus and no one could understand what was going on.
Magnus himself frowned when he heard his King’s command and he put his hands up in the air in a form of immediate surrender as armoured guards marched over from the sides of the room where they had been standing, waiting for their King’s command.
“My King, what is the meaning of this?” a voice cried out amidst the crowd of disbelievers.
“Traitor? What is he talking about?” another asked.
“Magnus, what’s going on?” Kaine asked Magnus.
“This can’t be right!” Payne added, standing up and stepping across to be beside his Captain but he was quickly stopped.
One of the armed guards marched forward and forced Payne back down onto his seat, “Stay down, don’t move! Nobody moves!”
The armed guards began to surround Magnus who was still in shock and had no idea of what was going on. He quickly decided that he would not fight back, not yet anyway.
Instead the accused Captain allowed the guards to take him by the arms and escort him forcefully towards the base of the stairs leading up to the throne where King Leofilliah stood grinning.
As they came to a halt Magnus looked up at Leofilliah in bewilderment and he waited for his King to speak out of respect.
“Magnus William McRae, you are hereby charged with treason to the crown.” Leofilliah began, his expression remaining void of emotion or empathy.
“What?” many whispered.
"No..."
“No way!” another voice spat in disgust; the voice of many it would seem, though none of them would dare go up against the word of their King.
Magnus narrowed his eyes as he silently glared up at the coward of a man standing before him; the man he had once admired; the King he had once respected.
Finally he could no longer remain silent. He demanded answers.
“My King, may I ask what treason I have supposedly committed?” he enquired.
Leofilliah completely ignored his question and instead continued his sentencing before all in attendance there that night, as if he was making an example of him for some reason.
“As a traitor to the crown and to its people, you are hereby sentenced to execution for your crimes. The sentence will be carried out at dawn.” Leofilliah finished.
Gasps and shouts began to grow louder as many protested for this man they had come to admire and respect as their leader on and off the battlefield. This had to be some sort of sick joke, or some kind of misunderstanding!
Every man in attendance there that night knew full well that Magnus would never do anything to betray their King; they were absolutely certain of it.
Magnus scrunched up his mouth trying to bite his tongue but his expression said it all; he was furious. Not only was the King ignoring his request for more information but he had blindly chosen to sentence him to death with no explanation whatsoever!
Something was seriously wrong with this.
Magnus would not go silently into the night. Not for something he hadn’t even done.
His hands were clenched into tight fists either side of him as the two guards struggled to hold onto his bulging arms. His biceps tightened constricting in burning anger.
Almost instantaneously, Magnus was filled with a violent rage.
He was not going to be taken without a fight!
- Writer
