The Elderkin Prophet

Chapter 6

The news was grim and needed immediate attention. King Magnar assembled his council of generals, lords and advisors, for a call to action was deemed necessary for the fate of Feregar and her people.

Nita stepped outside and pondered out a small balcony amidst a room set in chaos and confusion. She saw the warm, waning sun slowly falling, glistening the busy city's rooftops. The smoke from the chimneys created a bed of smog and as she stared further into the distance beyond the city walls and onwards. To the expanding flatbed plains where the city's farmland lay with their large mills and warehouses; standing tall in an expanse of wheat fields. She saw the shores where the plateau plains sharply descended into the sea. Tons of arguments and bickering from the council chamber frequently disturbed the silence. Nita had a book in her hand, An imperial log on warfare: Feregar, and as she skimmed through the series of battles and wars this kingdoms walls had defended, Jayyed walked into the balcony. He placed himself besides her and rested himself on the stone palisades. He looked at her and sighed.

“What're you thinking?” He asked.

Nita shut her book at turned around, looking straight into the council chamber and then at Jayyed.

“I think, this war is…” 

“Useless?” Jayyed interrupted her.

“Yea... I mean. The people need time to grow, time to breathe freely without worrying about another war.” She looked worried.

“These wars are necessary to restore peace amongst the kings and queens of these lands.” Jayyed replied.

Nita’s expression turned sour. She shook her head in disapproval.

“If we defeat Muraka and drive out the divided vermin warlords,  shortly after another set of false kings or claimants will rise and challenge us.”

Jayyed nodded.

“Then let them come, let them throw away their lives at out doorstep. But one thing I assure you, we've kept our people safe each and every time.”

Nita frowned. “And what about the Innocents? Soldiers? Fathers? All those who end up losing their lives trying to fight for their kingdom, all those who needlessly get caught up in this war and die? What about them and their families?”

Jayyed bit his lips and remained silent.

“Muraka shall perish. Then we shall bask in a long peace. I'm sure of it. The neighboring kingdoms and rulers will finally all unite under one king and form an alliance. There'll be nobody stupid enough to dare challenge us again.”

Nita turned around and pondered into the distance again, She seemed nervous.

“I feel like something's wrong, something feels different this time.”

Jayyed laughed and knuckled down at Nita’s hair. Being the older of the three he'd always poke fun of his siblings.

“Don’t be scared, let them come. They'll fall like any other who came before them!” He said proudly.

“Never underestimate anyone, especially when you don’t know what to expect. Mother used to tell us this all the time! How're you so cocky about this?” Nita shrugged. 

Jayyed rolled his eyes, paused and changed the subject.

“Have you seen Ino anywhere? Why is he always absent for such important things? He's never there when you need him… And I don't understand how and why you even babysit him so much? He doesn’t deserve it for his actions. I knew that he wouldn’t show up... He wouldn't care if this kingdom falls or stands, it’s all a little plaything to him.”

Nita sighed, she too was disappointed on Ino’s absence. She chose to say nothing.

Jayyed continued ranting about Ino.

“Once he gets a little older, I'll personally teach him a lesson. He needs to stop behaving like a small child and become responsible for his actions, he brings shame to the family at times.”

Hearing this angered Nita. “You’re too hard on him; All the bloody time! Why do you think he behaves like this?”

“There we go, now you begin to protect him all over again. All this pampering will only be his damnation.”

“Enough! If there is anything you want to say about him, tell it to him in person, to his face. Stop complaining about him in his absence. What kind of a brother are you?”

“Pffhh! Yea right; The last time I stood up to his foolishness, he ran away and locked himself inside his stupid room filled with his rotting junk for two whole day.”

“You punched him! What did you expect?”

Jayyed rolled his eyes and nodded dismissively. Both remained silent.

While both the siblings were bickering, the king commanded everyone to seat themselves. Nita and Jayyed both entered back into the chamber with an annoyed look. Nita seated herself two seats away from her father. Shortly, everybody began filling their seats. There were people scattered all across the room, some were near the bookshelves while some stood the fireplace. Everybody seated themselves in their respective places and a brief silence followed. Magnar had several maps and pieces of parchment scattered all across his end of the table. He sat there resting aback on his comfortable chair, wearing his big shiny crown decorated with blue jewels and diamonds. It fit him perfectly as it rested across his forehead, exposing is round wrinkled face. His hair was mostly grey with patches of brown here and there and had a sharp nose along with full cheeks. His hazy blue eyes burrowed behind layers of darkened skin revealing that he desired a good nights rest. He began addressing every renowned name present in the room. He wore a long oversized and spotted white fur coat; it had yellow accents to it underneath revealed a thin layer of steel mail held together by some leather buckles and straps. After addressing everyone, he leaned back into his armchair with one arm stretched across the arm while the other stroked his long, well-trimmed beard. He had an overwhelming figure and his size and strength were unmatched; even with old age. He was more of a warrior than a tactician and ever since his beloved Talia died, the kingdom slowly weakened. He began the council meeting.

“Today our court was disturbed by some village boy who brought in troubling news. These are tidings of war and I summon this council to discuss our strategy, so let us begin.” He grunted.

The king scanned each face sitting around his large square table. The skylights allowed light in and onto a large map of Phaera that was carved and painted into the stone table. The tall walls surrounding the table darkened the room allowing specs of dust to be seen floating in the light. Soon a small boy carrying many small clay lamps entered the chamber and placed two lamps on either ends of the room and lit them shortly after. The room was filled with a feint warm light as the sun slowly set. The king called for the boy to pour him a cup of sourbelly wine.

Nita placed the big leather bound book from earlier onto the table and began to speak.

“My king, Feregar is an old city, built originally as a fortress, with its walls scaling a height of 87 feet. It also harbors the famed royal navy which has enough firepower to lay waste to any city. Feregar also has won all of its battles in the past through heavy naval combat and its Thoniite walls can house numerous archers and warriors. I believe that if the opposing forces are claimed to be more than us, we should hold them at our walls and the harbor should be protected. Our ships can easily volley fiery cannonballs far onto the mainland rendering their trebuchets useless. The rest of the fleet can patrol the seas to stop any pests trying to sneak up onto from the shores.” Nita spoke at length.

After hearing Nita, a lot of the other council members and lords of the neighbouring kingdoms approved while some disapproved. Kendall, the vault keeper spoke out loud.

“But we are as blind as a bat! Didn’t you hear that boy? He said that the kingdoms soldiers and spies had been payed off by those Murakan pigs! What happens if there are too many? We will be cornered and trapped, waiting to be gut like fish.”

After hearing these questions, a lot of the people began to talk amongst one another. Magnar raises his hand.

“We are no cowards; we won’t flee even if they outmatch us three to one! We shall protect Feregar until our last breathe before letting them walk through the city streets.”

Kendall frowns and remains quiet. Jayyed then begins to speak.

“We don’t know how much time we have exactly until they show up at our doorsteps. We should pull back all the villagers and guardsmen from the nearby unaffected villages and farms. Bring them into the safety of our walls along with a large stockpile of food and harvest. Our finest craftsmen should begin preparing traps and the blacksmiths should begin crafting armour and sharpen the weaponry. Our ballistas mounted atop the walls should be inspected and checked before the battle. All these preparations should begin from daylight.”

Aldritch, the lord of keep Stockbrew adds.

“My king, all the knights and soldiers under my command will begin marching towards Feregars garrion at dawn.”

A few other lords vow to do the same as well. Some weaker lords offered to send in supply wagons filled with their sharpest and finest set of tools, weapons and armour. While some promised wagons of food and other supplies.

King Magnar thanks each of the lords. But there was one lord who remained silent. Magnar asks lord Eudich of Hightower.

“Lord Eudich, your silence intrigues me. Do you not wish to offer any aid to Feregar?”

“My lands run weak with the constant blows of my enemies; I cannot spend any resources or even think of sending my soldiers to their imminent doom. Where was Feregar when I asked for aid? I would be called a fool if I helped you.”

This angered Magnar greatly. He stood up and pounded his hands on the stone table.

“How dare you! I give you the freedom to make your own banner house and rule over the high deltas and you dare to mock me with this nonsense? After this war is over, I will personally relieve you off your lordship. Begone from my court!”

The lord gets up and begins to walk out of the chamber; he has a wide smirk spread across his face. He mumbles under his breath. “An old fool dare challenge my new king, he will be put in his place as I watch his kingdom burn and his children weep.”

As Eudich leaves the long archways, he sees Ino walking pace fully towards the council chamber. He looks at Ino and greets him, then walks away.

Ino turns around and asks. “Where are you off to?”

Eudich, smiles. “Carrying out a kings command. The usual.” He turns and continues walking.

Ino felt strange when he saw lord Eudich leave like that since he was as close as family to him. He served his father and his family for years as a knight. He would often take him out for hunting trips and always stood next to the king’s side. He was one of the most loyal knights under the king’s belt. For his service, king Magnar decided to appoint him to become lord of Hightower and create a house of his own under the rule of Feregar. Ever since then, his visits became less frequent and his bond started to fade away with the family.

Ino brushes off the thought and begins to prepare himself to enter the council chamber. He knew he was very late and his father would be disappointed in him.

Lady Leonis of Shabellok Isle’s began to speak.

“My king, we all heard of the strength of the royal navy and the Feredian defences. I wish to ask, what is the strength of our walls against the numerous trebuchets and ballistas the Murakans have? How long will the walls hold?”

Nita answers. “These walls are twenty feet thick, filled with sheets of blasted iron to fortify it further. Trust me, these walls will not even move.”

Lady Leonis looks at the king who gives her a nod, approving what his daughter said.

During this discussion, Ino walks into the council chamber and everyone stares at the young boy. Ino’s gaze falls onto his father whos eyes were fixed upon him with a grim look. The king looks back at his council. Nita beckons Ino to occupy the empty seat in front of him.

As Ino sits down, Jayyed looks angrily at him. Ino begins to panic as he frantically searches through his satchel for his booklet. He removes it and places it down in front of him. As he begins to flip through the pages, Nita observes her little brother and asks.

“What do you want to show us Ino?”

Ino lifts his booklet up in the air and turns it around so that everyone could see. He points to the scribbled drawing of the snake and sword.

“Can anyone recognize the house to which this banner belongs?”

The room carefully observes the drawing and look at each and every detail of it but nobody seemed to recall ever seeing such a banner anywhere or even belonging to anyone.

The king breaks the silence by asking his son.

“Where did you get this information from?”

“Deolan drew what he saw.”

“The stable boy? Do you trust his memory?”

Ino looks around the room, at everyone’s faces and nods.

“Yes.”

Ino tears the page from his booklet and hands it to his sister and returns to his seat. Jayyed begins to suggest some more plans.

“If we have the upper hand of strong castle walls and a strong fleet, why don’t we surprise our enemies with a surprise attack? A backstab of sorts. They would never expect us to be so far behind their lines.”

People in the room begin to agree but Nita raises an eyebrow.

“How do you expect them to not find out about this surprise? Are you all forgetting that they have some of our best spies in their pockets? It will end up to be a s*******r of good warriors, men and woman who will be crucial for holding these walls and protecting them.”

A short silence later, Ino puts forth his proposal.

“Is nobody considering what will happen if the walls actually do fall? What happens if they siege through the gates and flood the city? Is there any hope left if they broke through? We would be trapped. Even if we have no intention of losing this battle, can we at least prepare for the worse?”

One of the lords gets up and speaks.

“We cannot give up the city! At any cost! Not to those barbarians.”

“What if we don’t have a choice?”

The room runs silent again. Nita supports Ino and suggests.

“There is one way. Considering that we are trapped within this city because of its location, many hidden passageways were built that ran underneath the city. One of the passageways leads out towards the harbour. We could use these passageways to escort the women and children along with armed militia and soldiers into smaller and faster ships. These ships will wait for them at the docks. The royal navy could protect the smaller ships from the enemies by keeping them at bay.”

Lady Leonis intervenes.

“And where will those refugees go?”

Ino suggests.

“The ships could dock at Brigna, It’s a small fishing village south of Baylon Isle’s. That village is under our protection and located close to the Gull border. It’s no man’s land beyond that border, I believe our enemies will not bother to chase that far out into swampy terrain. They would not want to provoke another war.”

The people look to the king for his decision. He approves the decision and begins to ask for further plans. The room is silent once more. Magnar decides to dismiss the council after thanking each and every one present. Soon, the council members begin to leave and the room is left with only the royal family. Magnar gets up from his seat and stands in front of the fireplace. He calls to Ino and he responded at once. The young teen stands beside his father and looks up at him.

“Yes, father?”

“Where were you?” he asks with a grin face.

“I was at the barracks, with Deolan. I went there to tend to his injury and ask a few questions. I… I understand if I was late to th…”

“Enough. Go eat your supper and then sleep.”

“Yes, father.”

 “Don’t ever be late again.”

“Y..Yes, father.”

Ino looks down at his feet in disappointment. His father did not even look at him. He felt like crying but held back. He turns around slowly and looks at his siblings who were staring at him.

By now, the sun had settled and darkness had filled most of the room. The large fireplace lit up the centre while 2 smaller candles flickered in the two ends of the room.