Rebirth of Kingdom

Dark Tidings

The torchlight rippled against the stone walls and a pair of elongated shadows danced against the room of the eastern fortress war room. David traced the outline of Babylon on the map of the sprawling palace as he drew his fingers over it.

"The spies report my lord that Queen Elena's condition is progressing well." Silent against the flagstones, a figure emerged from the darkness hooded.

David's jaw tightened. "A daughter. They intend to call her daughter." He curled his hand into a fist on top of the map. How fitting that Edward would put his hopes in a girl child.

The people in the streets celebrate this birth, they say, it will bring a new golden age."

"People are sheep, Marcus." They'll celebrate whatever they're told to celebrate by their shepherds." Moonlight caught the sharp planes of David’s face through the window as he turned. "What of our eastern allies?"

Today three more noble houses pledged their support." Two thousand men come from House Blackthorn, another thousand from Serra."

"Still not enough. There are four thousand in Edward's royal guard alone." David paced the length of the war table, picking up maps and tactical markers as he went. "We need more. The moment must be perfect."

Another figure rose from shadows. 'Maybe we could use the birth, my lord,' perhaps. Security will be 'focused on protecting the queen and child,' he says."

David's voice cut like steel; 'no.' So that would make martyrs of them all. The people need to believe Edward is weak, unfit to rule. "They have to transfer their loyalty naturally."

Marcus shifted. "The deficiency in the southern provinces is getting worse." The whisper of gods overtaking Edward's favor for the throne echoes among the people's whispers and jaw dropping."

David wore a cruel smile. “What if those whispers became louder? Yes, Suppose vital grain shipments started... disappearing?"

"The people would suffer."

Already under Edward’s soft heart they suffer. They coddle them, make them dependent on royal charity." David's fingers tapped against the edge of the table. "It's better they learn that now, that strength is the only currency that matters."

"And the queen?" The second figure asked.

David's expression darkened. She was always too good for him. Years ago I gave her a chance to rule at my side. She preferred Edward's pretty words to real power."

'Soon enough she'll have another choice to make.' David swept a violent gesture across the tactical markers on the map. "She can bend the knee and keep her child, or share his fate when Edward falls."

Marcus bowed. "The grain shipments will be my concern personally."

"Good. And Marcus?" David's whisper had dropped to a dangerous whisper. 'Make sure our involvement does not get out.' Let Edward's own nobles talk about his shortcomings. The seeds of doubt will grow to be beautiful flowers of rebellion."

The moonlight and his thoughts were all left with the lone man as footsteps retreated into shadow. Babylon was far off, and he went to the window.

“Edward, you built your kingdom out of mercy and love. "I'll build mine on strength and fear," she says. The glass smirked back at him, showing his reflection. "We'll see which foundation stands longer."

He was interrupted by a knock. "Enter."

A battle scarred captain strode in. 'We have the eastern armies growing restless, my lord.' "They want action, not endless preparation," he said.

"They'll have it soon enough. Captain, how does one topple a mighty oak?" Tell me.

The captain frowned. "My lord, with many axe strokes."

David turned, eyes glinting, 'No.' "You poison its roots. You hollow it out until it collapses under itself." He gestured to the map. These are my poison, every noble I turn, every grain shipment that disappears, every mumbled question about Edward's rule. But Babylon will fall not to outside forces, but to its own rot," he said.

David's expression hardened. “With Edward, the age of gentle kings dies.'" He drew a line from the eastern provinces to the heart of Babylon. "Power is not in love or tradition," he said. "But power is in will and will alone and the people will learn it."

'You want the throne because you are ambitious,' some say.'

"Ambition?" David laughed, a cold laugh. I want to make Babylon into something bigger than Edward's pastoral fantasy. Harder and darker is the world becoming. Weak people are bred by soft kings." He added. "I will burn this kingdom in fire until it comes out stronger than anything."

The captain nodded slowly. "When do we move?"

"Patience. Edward can have his moment of joy. ‘Cradle your precious heir, and dream of your future,’ David smiled predatorily. "He will fall the further when we clip his wings, the higher the soars on those dreams."

The moon rose higher, its dim light lengthening its shadows, while his plans in the darkness of the eastern fortress coiled like snake’s poison below Babylon's peaceful skin. At his window, David stood sentinel waiting and watching as the pieces of his great design began to change.

His armor clinked as he bowed. "The men will be told to remain ready."

"Do that. I've doubled the reward for any information about Edward's movements, and spread word."

"Yes, my lord." The captain hesitated. "But if we catch the child?"

David had a carefully neutral expression. "Edward will then realise that even the greatest king ceases to be a king when his child's life is in jeopardy." He turned back to the window. "That will be all, Captain."

David pulled a worn silver coin from his pocket, a remnant of the old Babylon, before Edward’s reforms had weakened both the currency and everything else.

"Time has come for you, old friend." He flipped the coin to catch the moonlight. "The question is: Before it's too late, will you see it coming?"

* * * *

Step was echoed in the council chamber, the highest ranking of nobles’ faces respectively drawn with concern. Sir Alaric clinked from around the massive oak table that had been carved with the history of the kingdom when he moved beside King Edward.

'The reports get worse by the day, Your Majesty,' he said. A weathered map got spread out on the surface of the table by Sir Alaric. The eastern territories were dotted with red marks. He said David's influence spread 'like wildfire'.

Edward traced the markings with his fingers. "How many houses do they have pledged to him?"

He has House Blackthorn and House Redwind in the last week alone. One of the younger council members leaned forward as his voice cracked. "Their banner men followed."

"Traitors." His fist slammed down on the table. Before... we should crush them now.

"And split our forces, risking that his gray eyes narrowed, Sir Alaric's. David wants us to rash. Every hasty decision is working in his favor."

The torchlight caught in Edward’s crown as he paced up and down the length of the chamber. "The grain shipments to the southern provinces, what of them?"

"Attacked again." Sir Alaric's beard twitched. "Three convoys lost. And the people grow restless, the drought worsens."

"David's men?"

"There is no direct evidence, but it's too convenient." Sir Alaric drew a line upon the map. Each attack follows a pattern, each one bringing the southern houses closer to desperation.

An echo of a sound came forth from the shadows. Duke Merritt came out. 'As we debate, David builds his army. They whisper the old man has twenty thousand men."

"Impossible." Lord Hammond scoffed. "Our scouts would have"

"They only see what he wants them to see, our scouts." Sir Alaric's voice had experience to it. "David's too smart to make obvious troop movements."

At the grand window of the chamber, Edward stopped and looked out over his city. "Old friend, you counsel what?"

"Patience. Strengthen our defenses. His chainmail caught the light as Sir Alaric stood. "Now, a show of strength could push wavering houses into David's arms."

"Patience?" Lord Hammond spat. "David steals half our kingdom, while?"

"Better half for a while, rather than all for always." Alaric glared sternly around the room and shifted uncomfortably. "David expects aggression. 'It's his strategy, built around it.”

Duke Merritt's rings clicked on the table. "The people need reassurance. The gods favor David's cause," they say.

"The gods like coin and the steel." Lord Hammond pulled his sword out and laid it across the map. "Let's give them both."

He turned from the window. "Many," Hammond said, "and how many loyal subjects would die in your display of force?"

"Fewer than will die under David's rule."

"Your Majesty." Sir Alaric took a few steps closer, still speaking softly. "Consider the Queen. Even more so, these rumors afflict Elena’s spirits. Open warfare now..."

"Would put her at risk." Edward's jaw tightened. "Along with our daughter."

Shadows played on and across Duke Merritt's face as he leaned back. "Perhaps a compromise? A controlled show of force. It was something to rally the people without the risk of full scale war."

"Go on." Edward's eyes narrowed.

"A tournament. Invite all loyal houses. Celebrate Babylon's might, not in conflict, but with show of might."

Sir Alaric stroked his beard. "It would allow us to see who was loyal, to get intelligence."

"And if David's spies attend?" Lord Hammond scowled.

"Let them." Edward's voice hardened. "See our strength. See our unity," let them. But more importantly, 'Let them see our mercy'."

"Mercy?" Several voices protested.

"Yes, mercy." Edward traced the crown of Babylon carved into the table. "The month from now we will announce a general pardon for any house that turns its back on David's cause."

"Rewarding treachery?" Lord Hammond's face reddened.

"No," Sir Alaric's eyes lit. A way back to those who might regret their choice. David rules through fear. "Something stronger," we must offer."

"Hope." Edward said. 'And tempered with justice with wisdom.'

"He would have crushed this rebellion immediately, your father." Duke Merritt's words dangled there.

"Here, we are because of my father's ways." Edward looked at each council member in the eye. The old brutality is remembered by David’s supporters. "They need to be shown a different path." .

Sir Alaric moved to the map, and began to rearrange some markers. And the tournament could have another purpose. Set up to position troops as a security force. If David makes us do it, ready them."

"Get ready for both peace and war?" Lord Hammond's tone relaxed a bit.

"The wisest course." Sir Alaric pointed to the eastern territories. David expects that we are supposed to pick one or the other. Let's prove him wrong."

His shadow fell across the map and Edward returned to the table. "Make the arrangements. Remember, this display is for the people first. Any aggression at all defeats our purpose."

"And the grain shipments?" Duke Merritt asked.

"Double the guards. Triple the supplies." There was absolute authority in Edward's voice. "Let’s show them who truly cares for their welfare if David wants to starve our people into submission."

His movements deliberate, Sir Alaric gathered the map. It starts immediately. It should coincide with the harvest moon."

"Two months." Edward nodded. 'Time enough to send word to all loyal houses, but not so much time that David's momentum could not be countered.'

Purpose replaced the council members' earlier anxiety, and they rose. Sir Alaric stayed behind as they filed out.

"Your father would be proud." A hand came down on Edward's shoulder. Instead, you've picked a more difficult road, but a more careful road."

"Old friend, the path of peace always seems harder." Edward looked back at the window. "Count the cost of war," until you do.