Everworld Knights

Chapter Three: The Prodigal Son

Ryland Everworld woke up this morning the same he had every morning through the week previous. His father was meant to return from battle all those nights before, and yet nothing came of it. Rushing from his bed, through his father’s home, he was hoping that somehow, his father returned to him in good stead, without harm. No word or mention was made through the town of Andril about the battle of Sanguine Hill and this brought ill thoughts to Ryland. Surely, if it was a victory the streets would be celebrating, he considered, but even if not, he knew that there would be mourning of the deceased if a loss was taken.

Not that Ryland knew much about this world, he was an Emerald Knight, following in his father’s footsteps to someday become a part of the Everworld Knights. He lived and breathed his successes that someday, he too, would stand beside his father as a champion in the eyes of God and their king.

But Ryland was young, brash and had no understanding of the true depth in which their lives were intertwined. Unlike his father, Ryland found solace in the little victories instead of simply conquering everything in his path. He was soft-hearted and calm natured, which were never shown to be traits that the Everworld Knight’s accepted. He was a lover, who fought to win his father’s admiration, even though he had claimed that spot many years before.

The home, again, was empty. He called for his father, to no avail, and again the town Cryer who moved through the streets had no news regarding the battle at Sanguine Hill.

“Today, in high court, the king addresses the sovereign unity of Everworld.” The man shouted out through the streets, Ryland only hearing the muffled scream from behind the door. The King wanted Sovereign Unity of Everworld? That was interesting news. It seemed unfortunate to Ryland that Everworld fell in the center of all the frays. Not only because it seemed human factions could never keep themselves to themselves, but because they were in the center of the realm. Up north, moving to the Trinian Sea, the Northmen blocked passage between Andril and whatever lay beyond. To the west lay dragons and other fowl beasts that neither man nor monster dare roam near. To the east, the pyro elves of the Solarian Empire fended off any human’s that cared to make their way towards their realm and vice versa, had the Solarian’s attempted to enter Everworld. Finally, to the south, the Dwarves kept Tandor at peace, holding back whatever attempted to break through the mountains path.

There truly was no rest in this world.

“Mother,” Ryland called through the house. With no answer, he assumed that she too was seeking answers for what happened at the battle of Sanguine Hill.

“Mother are you here?” He called again.

Ryland’s mother, Roland’s wife, was Alyssa of Sanguine, daughter of King Sivid, who long ago passed to a disease unknown. Since his passing, the four remaining kings of the five realms scrambled to claim his place, which was, in fact, passed on to his daughter. She cashed out for unbelievable wealth and let the other’s fight it out among themselves.

“Yes,” The reply came, “I’m outside, my boy.” A reply came. Ryland made his way through the house yet again, to the back of his home, where outside his mother sat in the garden, watching her birds. Ryland never understood the appeal of keeping birds as pets, then again, he never understands the appeal of any pets. They were just animals that could have been put to better service in the war efforts.

“Mother, has there been any word of father?” Ryland moved to the bench where his mother sat. She tucked one of her black locks behind her ear, turned to look at him over her shoulder and shook her head from side to side.

“He will be home soon, my boy,” Alyssa pat the seat beside her. Ryland accepted the offer to sit, his hand being taking into Alyssa’s, “Your father won’t go down without a fight, Ryland and you know that. If he’s not returned, it means the war effort has continued. The battle of Sanguine Hill was meant to break the Northmen and their spirit’s, bringing yet another victory to our King. With this victory, he will secure the lands of Sanguine as his own, and he will unite the banners beneath him to become the one true ruler of the human realm. I don’t think it’s a half bad idea to have one ruler around, either. With such divide among the human factions, it gives easy breach to the Solarian’s if they strike. If the major houses fall, then we will collapse in on ourselves.”

This all seemed rehearsed and planned out since Ryland asked nothing about what was happening with the kingdom but he made no mention of it. Perhaps, he thought, his mother knew more than she let on and this was her way of coping. Dropping small hints here and there to benefit the conversation and herself further. Her mental state was in tyranny, after all, since it had been a week with no sign of Roland.

“Yes mother, I understand. Are you going to be attending the King’s address to unite Everworld?” Ryland asked. Only hearing of it today, he knew that he would be attending. Perhaps it was a hush-hush affair, regarding the victory of Sanguine Hill and today in High Court everything would be cleared up.

“I believe I have to attend. As current heir to the throne of Sanguine, it is my duty to be a part of all these meetings. Though the court looks after the land, I suppose, I need to be the one to make the final decisions when the time comes. Your father will be fine, my son. I assure you.”

Both knew the promise was empty but each found their own peace in this life.

~ ~ ~

The King’s hall was filled from back to front as Ryland entered. Hoping that somewhere in the king’s address would he get his answers relating to his father and if he would be fortunate enough to get to see him again. The King was nowhere to be seen, though the clambering had come to an end with the many various politicians, nobles, clergyman and people by a raised hand from the King’s Sword.

Three men, who constantly guarded the king, were given the titles of Sword, Ryland had never met the sword but he was a giant brute of a man, that stood tall and proud. His face was littered with cuts, scrapes, and scars, chunks of hair lost from his head due to wounds that destroyed the tissues. The sword was his first line of defense and always stood in to take to fighting or dying under his king’s command.

Next was the Shield. He was short, stoutly though holding great muscular attributes. He was near always on the king and would defend him to the death. The shield was the closest man to the king, though in taking up the honor of the King’s shield your tongue was removed as a sign of allegiance so that no secrets could ever be shared.

Finally, the Eyes of the King. Ever watching though invisible. The eyes of the king were everywhere and nowhere, which put Ryland at ill ease. They were under constant observation, in situations like this more than ever.

The shield moved in first, once the room fell silent, with the king only a few steps behind him. This conversation would give Ryland the answers he needed. Silence on the matter of the battle at Sanguine Hill would only prompt more questions, but it would mean nothing good could have come for those who fought at the battle. He stood beside his mother, who seemed to be unnaturally attracted to the king and perhaps this is why she wanted him to unite the realm of Everworld by any means.

Did this mean that he did something to the Knight’s?

Maybe. But it would be to no avail. The Everworld Knights were very much under King Edmond. They listened to no other in the realm that was Everworld, nor did they show any promise to do so in the future. Why then would Edmond have reason to show any ill intentions towards them?

King Edmond moved from a doorway at one end of the room towards his throne, where he sat a moment, waved to the Sword and Shield to take their places beside him. Their ever watching gaze only emphasized by the thought that somewhere in this room, the Eyes had everyone under control. One wrong move and they would die without rhyme or reason, as Ryland had seen on multiple occasions before.

“Hello,” The King said, “Thank you, everyone, who decided to attend. This meeting is of utmost importance. The sheer numbers of members who have come into this meeting only show me that the realm has good intentions towards rule under one king. Though I don’t find myself to be arrogant enough to conquer those who stand in my way, I do believe that I am the rightful owner of the title. Having the ruler of Sanguine here, among us, living in our town for years and married to one of my greatest warriors, I find that there’s no reason that I shouldn’t take claim over Sanguine. This is only a meeting to discuss the movements in the direction for the rest of this ordeal. Soon, I will hold a meeting with the other three kings, who each believe their own claim over Sanguine, though I don’t see them having any reason higher than mine.”

The King’s address began in its typical fashion with vast arrogance and delusion, and where Ryland would often mistake this for brilliance, today he could not. His father was missing and he would find him at any cost.

“The Sovereign Unity is not meant to be seen as an attempt to belittle our brothers in their various realms, it is meant to strengthen Everworld as a kingdom. We are meant to stand together and fight as one against impending threats, and with the qualms and bad blood that the various rulers face, none of this is possible. We stand against one another, allowing the Solarian’s to fight and kill our brothers and sisters because we are too stubborn to lend a hand to those who did the same to us. I no longer wish to live in a world where we are ruled by our own hubris, but rather unite the world and bring our strengths back to where they once were. Before the great divide of the five realms of Everworld, there was a United Kingdom. This broke when the King passed and none could come to a decision who would take his place. As a blood born child of King Zorack Edmonds, I am the one that is meant to take the throne.”

This speech continued without mention of the Everworld Knights. The Northmen, a threat that had to be faced at some point in their lives, was not one of great importance in terms of the King and this fight for superiority and power. Their threat is snot on a grand scale. It was small and a dealing that went on between the King and his men, not a fight as with the Solarian’s. Though Ryland knew that untrue. Without the Everworld Knights, who would stand against the Solarian Empire? The Emerald Guard were strong but untrained in magic, the same could be said for any and all the guards in the various camps that King Edmond so badly wanted to rule.

Nothing made sense to Ryland. He wanted to shout over the King but he knew he would meet a swift end by an arrow from the Eye.

For now, he would fall silent and make his meeting. He was soon to be an Everworld Knight, after all, the King would have to take his meeting.