The Green Amulet

Chapter 6

Avarice is a trait that cuts across many amongst humans. No one can ever be fully satisfied with what they already possess. Everyone is always in relentless search for more. It's an urge that scorches their core if not fulfilled. Because of this, war was borne.

Kingdoms tore each other into smithereens in order to hog over what the defeated kingdoms own. To win, various kings employed various tactics in careful orchestration and as centuries evolved, so did their means to victory. Super natural was no longer a thing feared or shunned, it was a thing to embrace, to hold dear. If asked why they risked when even them could be obliterated, they would simply scoff and mutter, "keep your friends close and enemies..."

Carraba kingdom stood high and mighty surrounded by thick woods. The dwellers of this particular kingdom were protected by a large wall where the seven knight order members patrolled every now and then. The members felt safe, unthreatened by the raw lust of blood by the other kingdoms, unthreatened by an unknown malevolence. Even the Malin kingdom had participated in their fair share of gluttony, despite their goody two shoes act with their people. They were simply wolves merely adorned with sheep clothing.

Now what the Carraba kingdom did not know was that king Thaddeus, like many other kings, had indeed chosen to tap into the super natural. This, however, had not been for selfish reasons unlike the other kings. King Thaddeus sought extreme methods in order to protect his people. Methods that had  consequences.

Six elderly men huddled in a dimly lit chamber within the palace, grimness etched in their features. Seated in a circle, all held their own thoughts, some heftier than others. Two knights of the order stood outside the door leading to the room, it was the first time such a thing had taken place, truly a new dawn had descended upon Carraba.

"Gentlemen, members of the council… welcome."

David paused to weigh whether he had captured the attention of everyone in the room. Satisfied, he licked his lips and cleared his throat.

"We have had no need for this council for a long time, well to be precise for almost half a decade and this was when an evil among us had threatened to cause havoc among  our people. King Thaddeus-"

David's voice broke, Thaddeus had been his closest ally since childhood, since he was crowned King at the tender age of nine seasons. They had been thick as thieves. He breathed heavily, dissipating all sadness from his being. If Thaddeus were around to witness his momentary weakness, he would flick him on the nose despite their age. A smile creeped on his lips, he would surely miss that buoyant fellow.

"King Thaddeus was a phenomenal leader,  always going to great strides in order to protect this kingdom."

Again there was a pause as the six men angled each of their heads, their eyes wandering all over the white curtains draped over the walls.

"But now he has departed from us and we are at the brink of a compelling doom. The news of him passing on is bound to spread like wild fire and within no time  other kingdoms will retaliate. We need to hold an inauguration ceremony and crown Earl as king with imminent effect."

There were mumbles of agreement within the room, everyone sharing the same thought. The loud sound of footsteps approaching silenced the council, all became wide eyed  staring at the door with anticipation. Whoever was approaching them wanted his presence to be felt, immensely. David gulped, unsure if his long lived bones could put up a fight after years of dormancy. None of them had been to war since their youth, conquering the most valuable treasure that had kept them safe all these years. The door creaked open, the hinges emitting an awful sound that irritated their ears. Gritting his teeth, David fetched his knife from his waist band, once a knight always a knight.

"My apologies for being late, I must have somehow missed the invitation to this meeting."

Silent gasps filled the room as the elders, one by one,  turned to speak amongst themselves. Louis  smirked and waltzed across the room to fetch a seat. Dragging it meticulously in line to where David had planted himself, he plopped his derriere on the wooden chair, his eyes dancing with unhinged mischief. The elders watched him, uncertain on what to do or how to act.

"Louis you are not a member of the council thus are not welcome here so please...leave."

Louis' chuckle was free of humor. David knew he would not budge, this was Louis after all. He had been wrong though, they were not at the brink of doom, the doom was already looming over them. Doom was seated next to him.

"Well dear David, I happen to hold vital information within my grasp from of course my trusted sources but if you do not want it...then I would be just as contented to watch Carraba fall, I personally have nothing to lose."

David felt his blood pounding against his ears and temples. The unsettling humorless smile had not escaped Louis' lips, he definitely knew something. Sighing, he gestured for him to stand up and address them. Louis held his chest dramatically  in mock astonishment before reaching within his pocket and removing what appeared to be a pseudo handkerchief that was meant to dry his pseudo tears. He then proceeded to stroll to the middle of the circle, all attention was on him, how he lavished at this.

"According to my  sources, Earl has vanished with his lover Melanie to the unknown probably too eager to make bastards if you ask me. The kingdom is without next of kin which brings me to my next agenda...it is about time I take my rightful place at the throne."

The latter words were uttered in such a way that there was no room left for argument but even Louis knew that it would not be that easy for him to be accepted back into Carraba after all these years much less be declared king of the people, so he waited for a counter reaction.

"Why do you speak as if Lyra does not exist?" Simon, a member of the council spoke up, his face unfathomable.

Louis rolled his eyes as his shoulders shook with  humorless laughter. David silently wondered how two individuals from the same womb could be so different.

"So now, after centuries of a man dominating the throne you would have an ill experienced immature young child, a female at that,  take over the throne to lead Carraba?"

A feeling of giddiness bubbled within David. Yes, a new dawn went hand in hand with a new perception, a new light. Tradition be damned, female or male, a leader was a leader and if the gods would approve it, who was he to stop such a revolution?

"Those in favor of Lyra becoming queen raise your hand."

One by one the elders raised their hands. David smiled, they had all participated in a war that had bound them for life.

"Well, it seems that the ill equipped, immature, young child who is female a that, is to be queen Louis, the next leader of Carraba."

Louis reverberated with pure rage, he would bring pandemonium on this wretched kingdom. How could they easily forget that even he was at the war that seemed to bind them to the core? 

Anyway where there were secrets, there was division and with division came conquering.

"Well gentlemen, applaud yourselves for initiating the dawn of Armageddon."