The Corrupted Sentinel

The Banishment

                                    ~~~~~ Anjui's POV ~~~~~~

Betrayal that is what he had just done to his entire family, and yet it seemed to not affect him in the slightest. Looking still at the gem within the crown Anjui had only seen his twin out the corner of his left eye. Perhaps it was a good thing his brother had joined them. The young ruler had no sense of how to handle the matter. He knew the houses around him once allies would now turn against him and the house he just formed, so to keep the home he now ruled meant he would have to face against so many houses, including the possibility of his own family. First they would have to reinforce the fortress to make them suitable so they could withstand a war season.

Turning to face his twin Anjui looked deep into his brother’s ice blue eyes, Perhaps it was the thought they could pierce through his soul that kept the young king from having words with his brother. 

“Brother you must sleep. War will be coming to our doors within a few moons, and we must prepare for it.” Anjui nodded. Placing the crown on the seat as he vacated it. 

“You rule the house now brother, is it you who shall wear the crown of our people.” Anjui paused a moment at the door his family had been lead through but a few moments ago.

“Yes brother, in time Taerael Airi will be under one banner again, The Sentinel will be restored.” Anjui waved his brother goodnight and returned to his room at the top of the citadel. The bright red wood door standing out from the white alabaster stone walls. Placing his hand on the wood the young elf could feel the grain of it as he ran his hand down the doorway. The thing had aged very well along with that of the entire city itself. 

“Great Fathers, I must ask for your aid, The future is unclear, but the Gods have demanded we cleanse the land.”

With silence following his words the young male pushed open his bedroom door. walking in the male looked around the room. It was a medium sized room considering many within the fortress itself. Its design was simple four walls, ceiling, floor, and a single window. The walls were white just like the walls itself, only decorated with a single bed, a vanity, a desk, and a single door which would lead into the study just off his room. Stepping to the bed it like the room was a simple thing dressed in white sheets hand woven by the common crafters. The bottom blanket was a soft fur from the white lions of Oshus region. It was also scented with a pine needle forest scent to remind one of where the creature had come from. On top of that was a simple green blanket as well. Stripping himself of clothing Anjui settled himself into the covers. Drawing them up to his chest Anjui had a hard time to fall asleep, but he did eventually fall asleep.

It was a dreamless night, but was full of nightmares instead. Images of the dark god Lesharc seemed to haunt them vividly. Whispering dark things to him, showing him images of the dying tree the white stag had told them about. “Your world will be corrupted, There is no stopping it. Join us and you will be spared. Join us and you and your kind will have rule of the earth once again beside the chaotic forces I shall unleash upon the world.” Anjui only covered his ears, but it didn’t work the whispers still came in his head.

Waking with a scream Anjui was drenched in sweat. The sickly sweet smell covered his noise, but his skin crawled like the god was still touching him, rubbing his hands on the man’s body. Removing the covers the young male went to the vanity and put water into the bowl. Removing a cloth the male began to wash himself. While he would be bath later like all nobility it was a matter of pride that would affect him. He was after all ruler now and he had to keep the appearance of one. That meant he needed to have respect from the people.

Looking at himself in the mirror Anjui could tell one thing for sure he needed to get the elves united. Leshrac would be sending forces to make sure the Sentinel was forever corrupted. Perhaps soon, but it would not matter. The noble houses would not see their people under one king again, and yet that is what Anjui aspired as his dream. To reunite not just the elves on the Crescent Isle, but all of them across the world, their Empire would be vast. Soraer Thysaer, Paestyr, Taerael Airi, even the Bondryli Shyr.

It wasn’t until Anjui looked to the window that he realized that it was once again the c***k of Dawn that peaked through the peaks of the mountains that would call their land borders and that soon would change. Taking the stairs back to the throne room Anjui looked out to the sunlight from within the hall. The doors had been broken, but the main frame still stood clearly for all to see.

Nodding to the guard anjui spoke 

“Bring the guests in.” Of course he meant the nobility that had attended the festival from last night. Slowly each house was lead into the hall once again, guards included. Anjui eyed them over a few times before speaking to the group. 

“Hence forth House Thaelyr is no more. These lands now belong to Masjhol” pausing a moment the young prince looked specifically at his parents. 

“We shall rule differently than any other house, but not without reservation.”

Nodding once again to the guards who all stood aside to stand between Anjui and the group the male spoke the words. 

“You all have until dusk to leave these lands, if you are not gone by said time you will be dealt with like any other Trespassers.”

                                ~~~~~ Ado's POV ~~~~~~

Family was his lifeline. Ado felwood was one of but eight children to his parents. And one of the sixteen or so grandchildren his grandparents had in the elven lands. Of course that would mean that Ado and Anjui would more than likely have to face one of their relatives and perhaps very soon even. Ado had stat down next to his brother, but his focus seemed to be upon the crown he now held in his hands. Perhaps the Burden of being king to the house was something Anjui had to yet wrap his head around. Ado only perked up when he saw that Anjui had turned too looked at him. Their eyes met for a moment, and yet Anjui still could not draw words.

It was a moment of silence between the two of them, but Ado spoke first, Words rattled around in his head what is it that he could say to his brother that would allow him to understand what he was doing was far to important then to seek redemption from their parents. If it meant war with them then so be it, the war would come eventually between them anyway to unite the Crescent Isle anyway. 

“Brother you must sleep. War will be coming to our doors within a few moons, and we must prepare for it.” Anjui only nodded as an answer.

Ado watched as his brother left the crown upon the chair he just vacated. Looking at the thing it was a simple matter, they would have their head butted with at every turn from this day. It was the events that unfolded earlier that would be the cause of it. Anjui had taken over the house and would be the ruler. Picking up the crown Ado held it in his hands running his fingers around the weaving from the crown. [@f5990a “You rule the house now brother, is it you who shall wear the crown of our people.”]

Seeing his brother pause at the door cause Ado to smile, the same devilish grin his brother had upon his face. Looking to the doorway Ado watched as his brother turned his gaze fell just over his left shoulder, his younger twin called back 

“Yes brother, in time Taerael Airi will be under one banner again, The Sentinel will be restored.”

His brother had gone to bed, however Ado had stayed awake and was already making plans for the rest of the nobility that were yet within their walls. 

“Guards I want the Wall Captains to be summoned. A war council shall be held.” “Lord, Its far too early season to hold a war council. The season of war is but several months away.” 

“Yes I know this, however we must discuss this plan. I am giving you an order, now carry it out.”

The soldier saluted the prince and disappeared. A war council was usually held within the Spring time, usually it also consisted of the generals and forces they would send out into the field of battle not under the command of a royal, however Felwood had no force they could use against the other houses. Its why the family had always kept a good diplomatic standing with the rest of the houses on the Isle. 

“I need the war room prepared.”

Several servants nodded and dashed off out of the room. It was shortly after they had disappeared the four elves had come into the room, fully dressed in armor and covered to the nail with weaponry, but their eyes were yet showed signs of sleep, Groggy and sluggish they seemed to all stumble to the table they now would hold the council of war upon.

“Lord Ado, what is the meaning of this.” Ado held up his hand, 

“Leave us please. Anyone who is not given permission to be here you are dismissed.” 

“Lord Ado What is the meaning of calling this meeting? And out of season?” The prince yet still held up his hand. 

“Wait but a single moment.” Having the servants bring all the maps and supplies from the war room to the chambers they now sat in the young male watched them all as they left. 

“Proceed.” The four new elves all looked at the prince with confusion in their eyes. 

“Everyone is asleep, and so should you be Prince Ado, now what is the meaning of this meeting?”

“To answer All your questions, first I must ask you one question. Your Loyalties are where?” All the captains looked confused at first. 

“As always they are with the crown that sits in the Throne.” The elf that had spoken was Captain Eidosar Shar, the West wall Captain. His eyes drew to Ado’s, but his hand was motioned to the crown that sat upon the cushion where Anjui had placed it. The golden Wreath crown gem glistened in the starlight as the night yet finished and dawn’s first light appeared across the land. The captains and even Ado’s eyes trailed his finger and looked at the gem itself.

Ado’s eyes returned to the captains now in front of him, each one dressed in the felwood armor they were given. 

“House Felwood has a new ruler. The young Prince Anjui has taken the Crown and the house for himself. I will see that you all give your Loyal Oath to him as he wears the crown upon his head.” The captains all turned their face’s held their both surprise and empathy. Why though? Why would the captains be worried about what happened to the rest of the Royal family? They were given power based off their skill and until their death they would hold it. They were sworn to the crown, and whomever wore it would give them orders.

“My orders to you are simple captains. Gather up your legions here in the capital. I shall have all the men give their oaths to my brother or be removed like that of the nobility yet still within our walls.” Before the captains could speak Ado held up his hand and in his most commanding voice. 

“Do this and do it quickly. And without question.” The guards had just left and the war room supplies had just been cleared out when Anjui had reappeared in the doorway.

Taking to the ruler’s chair Anjui had just summoned forth the nobility, and the rest of the Felwood family. 

“Bring the guests in.” Ado watched as his brother would look over each noble as they came into the room. Agonizingly each house was lead into the hall once again, guards included. Like his brother; Ado’s eyed the nobility in front of them they were still on High alert and would not let their guards down.

“Hence forth House Thaelyr is no more. These lands now belong to Masjhol” Surprised by his brother’s words Ado looked to his brother. He wanted to speak, however Anjui kept his words going. 

“We shall rule differently than any other house, but not without reservation.”

Seeing his brother nod again all the guards stood aside from the nobility and in between his brother and the others. Of course the guards were still tense and the guards from the other houses all between their rulers and the guards for his brother. 

“You all have until dusk to leave these lands, if you are not gone by said time you will be dealt with like any other Trespassers.” Standing from his own seat Ado watched as his brother finished his words. 

“If you are not gone before dusk I will have to release Shor Cel upon you.”

The Wild Hunt. It was a series of statues of elven heroes of the past brought to life by magic. They would hunt their target down until either their target was dead or they hit the border. While many of the heroes were believed to just be stone carvings into the outer wall of the capital, they did not know that Ado and Anjui both could easily bring them to life with but a single drop of their blood, but they could as the magic that coursed through the stone was the same magic that ran through their blood.