Dragon's Keep

Chapter Six: Law of the King

“The King wishes to see you immediately.” Commander Karo spoke with an air of authority, directing his attention towards Sabeline.

“Do not take that tone with us.” Echoris replied darkly.

The Commander suddenly seemed to remember exactly where he was and who he was addressing. Sabeline stifled a smirk as the entirety of the Knights shot him unimpressed looks.

“Ah yes, my apologies.” Commander Karo stuttered, trying to save some grace in front of whoever was with him. Examining the newcomer more closely, she noted the sigil engraved on the left spaulder. An apprentice. Someone just got a promotion and they send him to us? She didn’t know whether to be insulted or honoured. The man was young, but strong. It didn’t take a scholar to see that. But from his nervous glancing at them and heavy reliance on Karo’s lead, whatever purpose he was to have here had clearly fled his mind.

   “Very well. If the King requests an audience, then I must comply.” Sabeline rose from her seat. Seems the debate was unnecessary after all.

“If the King wishes to discuss the dragon, then he can do so in front of us all.” Ascilia rose from her seat also. Soon the room was filled with chairs scraping across stone and armour clattering as the Knights moved.

“I hardly think that will be…” Commander Karo trailed off as Sabeline marched past him, followed by an equally agitated entourage of Knights. In the end, Karo sighed and walked out after them, motioning for the apprentice to do the same.  

   She stormed across the small courtyard and onto the path towards the main castle. No more fear. No more secrets. Sabeline would face this like the Knight she was. And after, these ridiculous feelings would disappear and she could put it down to over exaggerating for the first time in her life. It could be blamed on the failure to murder that beast and the injuries she sustained.  She hadn’t been thinking properly that was all. But Echoris and Bersaba’s words still echoed in her head, no matter how much she tried to silence them.

   The anger swirling through her (and mainly directed at herself for still entertaining these thoughts), caused the walk to be much shorter than usual. Before she knew it, Sabeline found herself charging through the main castle doors, too focused on what lay ahead to notice the guards’ surprised expressions. If they were surprised at her, she could only imagine their faces at the entourage behind her.

   The guards at the throne room however, were much more accommodating. Upon seeing her form heading straight for them, they quickly opened the doors for her arrival.

   King Falon was seated casually on his throne, The Hand hovering nervously near his left. Sabeline halted a respectful distance from the dais and bowed before him. “My dear Sabeline, the Bringer of Truth.” King Falon started, taking a sip of wine before continuing. “You stand before me, after months away, without the dragon’s head.”

Sabeline flinched at the reminder of her failure. “Yes my lord, but if I could just have more time…”

“Time,” King Falon spat the word as though it tasted foul upon his tongue, then composed himself. “Time is why we’re here Sabeline. You’ve already had adequate time to destroy the creature for a warrior of your calibre. And each time you fail to stick your blade through that thing’s heart, it’s destruction grows until villages are blackened and charred.” Though the King did not shout, Sabeline’s ears noted the barely contained fury. Fear for the people is something she understood. Protecting them was her most sworn duty.

“I understand your majesty. A Knight’s duty is to the people of Idrelas and I have failed in that duty. But please, I beg of you, let me put this right. If you believe I have lost sight of my duty, then let me prove to you that I am a Knight of Idrelas in every respect.” Sabeline pleaded, eyes blazing as the King smirked. The Hand rubbed the pads of his fingers over his mouth repeatedly, while glancing between her and the King. The motion drew her gaze and Sabeline’s brow furrowed slightly. While The Hand was a cowardly sort of man, he was never this out of sorts. She quickly smoothed out her expression.

   “Indeed, a Knight’s duty is to the people.” King Falon placed the goblet back down and calmly stood from the throne. “And it is with a heavy heart that I have come to this decision.”

He does not mean to strip me of my knighthood does he? Is that why The Hand is so concerned? 

“As the dragon takes more and more lives, it seems we must return to more drastic measures to combat this. And so, I have come to the decision that one life must be sacrificed to save the many.in order to save the people, I King Falon, decree that Sabeline, The Bringer of Truth, be sacrificed to the dragon.”

Her jaw fell open. What!? “Sire please, there must be another way…”   

“I have considered a great deal of possibilities. When Idrelas was young, maidens were sacrificed to dragons to stop their reign of terror. I am bringing back this tradition for the good of the kingdom.”

Sabeline stood still, every muscle had turned to ice as the King continued with his proclamation. The Hand covered his face refusing to watch the situation. An explosion of protests erupted from behind her and idly Sabeline wondered how long the rest of the Knights and Commanders had been standing there.

“You can’t…”

“Sire!”

“This is madness!” 

“Take her to the dungeon.” The King cried, his voice rising above the angry shouts and shocked yells.

    Her mouth moved, but not even a whisper emerged. Even when her statuesque limbs were yanked by some complying guards, she couldn’t tear her vision away from King Falon. The outcry from her sisters in arms and Commanders had faded in her ears, replaced by the loud pounding of her own heart as it pumped blood frantically. As Sabeline was dragged across the throne room (her limbs were still struggling to adhere to the forced movement), she watched as King Falon tried to reason with everyone present.

    She would never forget the malicious grin that slipped through his facade for just a moment before it was masked once more.