MY KINGDOM

CHAPTER TWO (THE TOP DOG)

King Henry sat very quietly on his favorite pelt couch, enjoying the peace and quiet within the walls of his study. His desk looked like a mountain of scrolls and parchments, but he seemed to be more interested in the breathtaking view that the windows lavishly displayed. The room was so quiet that one could hear the soothing sound of the wind caressing the trees, and it remained so until a mild knock eventually echoed from the door.“You may enter.” He muttered, releasing a deep sigh.

The door tilted open and a young, handsome, gray headed Man walked into the room. “Greetings, father.” King Henry released a warm smile almost immediately. “Greetings, Levi. You’ve finally arrived. Come sit with me.” He said tapping the exact spot that he wanted the young man to sit.

The young man hesitated for a few seconds but he eventually found his way to the couch. “I apologize for being late. I had to meet with captain of the palace guard regarding the recent security breach.”

“That’s okay. Has the breach been tackled?” King Henry asked.

“Not yet, but the captain of the palace guard is working towards it as we speak.” He replied.

The King paused and began to stare at his son passionately. “Are you okay, you look tensed?”

“I’m fine, father.” He stammered.The King continued to watch him very keenly.

“Are you sure?”He nodded in affirmation. “Yes sir.”

“Alright, if you say so.” The King said.

“Anyway I have summoned you here to discuss a pressing matter with you.”

Prince Levi’s countenance became firm in a flash. “Alright father, I'm all ears.”

The King paused and began to stare at him again, and somehow, Levi’s eyes got trapped in the magnetic field of his father’s gaze. There they were, saying so much to each other without actual words. The passionate stare between father and Son, continued for about five intense minutes, until the King eventually found the right words to begin his discuss. “My dear Levi, I have summoned you here to discuss the very subject that you dread the most.” He paused to take a deep breath.“You see time is like a treasure chest; it can afford you the frills and thrills of life, but it doesn’t sustain the ability to be unlimited, so how you spend your time will determine the legacy that you leave behind. Well, I'm afraid my time is slowly coming to an end, so I must do what I must do with haste and precision.”

The Prince’s eyes had gotten very wet at this point and he struggled to keep his tears within his eye lids. “Tell me father, why do you speak of these things? You're not going anywhere, Father, you are going to stay right here and rule Orion, as it should be.”

“You see Son, Kings are like the stars of the skies, they illuminate and give direction to the universe. But eventually every star will fade into the darkness. My light is getting dim, so I must make room for a brighter light to shine, and I have seen that light in you, my Son.” He paused and smiled very cheerfully. “My beloved Levi, I have decided that you will be King after me. You will be declared as my successor before the entire Imperium, on the night of the next new moon.” He said with much excitement, but the smile on his face faded out sooner than expected. “Why aren’t you excited? Don’t you want to be King?"

Levi froze up for a few seconds; his face was covered with fear and disappointment all at the same time. “Father, I mean no disrespect but I have no intentions whatsoever of becoming King. Moreover you have an older son who has dreamed of becoming King since he was older to start dreaming. Father, I love and honor you immensely but I cannot accept this and neither will Aaron.”

The King's countenance became serious and stiff. “Son, what do you think this is?? A game of rights and privileges! Your older brother cannot even cast a simple protection spell and you want him to rule the entire Imperium, that’s preposterous!”

At this point, he slowly went down to his knees. “Father, I honor you more than I can ever prove, in all my years I have never violated you, not even for once, and I have always been a good son to you but today I must beg for your forgiveness because I will not be able to obey you this time.”

“I am highly disappointed in you, but again you have proven to me that your heart is gold and you will indeed make a great King. Your loyalty to the bond that you share your half-brother is something I have never seen before. But you don't seem to understand that what I have given you here on a platter of gold is something that many are willing to kill and be killed for, yet you have rejected it without thinking twice.”

“Father, even if I am without a brother today, I would still have no interest in being the King of Orion.” He said, still on his knees.

The King’s face exploded with amazement. “Then tell me, what is it that you seek?”

“I do not want to have anything to do with the violence in the Imperium. We have more gold than all the other empires on earth combined, our barns are always full, our brooks never run dry and our grasses always green, but one can clearly see the fear and dissatisfaction in the eyes of those who are supposed to be the beneficiaries of these blessings. What good is a blessing if it comes at the cost of our peace and freedom?” He replied. The confidence and passion in his heart burned right through his eyes.

Then the King grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him up. “That’s enough now, get up and sit. Do you know why I have decided to make you my successor in your brother’s stead, knowing fully well that he is way older than you? I'll tell you. Orion isn't just a Kingdom in the Imperium she is the very heart of the Imperium, if she falls, so will the other kingdoms. Now do you really think that I will entrust the destiny of six kingdoms to a Man that is given to a life of debauchery and lasciviousness.” He paused to catch his breath; the veins in his eyes were already popping out like red ink on white linen. “Your brother is violent, unwise, and arrogant. And to top it all, his lust for power is appalling and unparalleled. He is not fit to be a King!”

“Tell me father, why are you condemning your own son like this? Give him a chance, I believe that he can mend his ways. As a matter of fact ill see to it that he does.” He said at the verge of bursting into tears.

The King didn’t utter a word at first he just got up and walked to the window behind his table. “Son, I'm afraid it's a little too late for that now. If your brother becomes king then it will be over my dead body.”

“Father, how can you even say such a thing?” Prince Levi asked looking like he had just seen a dead relative.

“You best believe it; I mean every single that I’ve said.” The King said with a stern face. Then he walked back to the couch and sat.Levi couldn’t utter a single word; he just bent his head low in disappointment. The room became as silent as a grave yard for a span of about five minutes, until the King decided to break some more news to the prince. “I have one more thing to say.” He muttered but Levi's head was still bent low and didn’t utter a word. “Since you’re going to become my successor I figured that couldn’t leave the choice of the future Queen to chance, so I have decided to get you married to Princess Ayesha, the Daughter of King Atlas.”

On hearing his Father’s words, he lifted his head in shock. “How could he do this to me?” He whispered.

“Are you saying something?” The King asked.

“Not at all.” He replied hastily.

“I thought you’d be excited about this one. Ayesha is your bosom friend isn’t she?” He asked but Levi seemed to be drowning in an ocean of thoughts and emotions.

“I’m speaking to you, can you not hear me? Or have you suddenly become deaf and dumb?” He asked again, but Levi still kept mute. “Levi, are you okay?” He asked again with a louder tone.

“Yes Father.” He answered, looking like he had just woken up from a nightmare.

“Are you okay?” The King asked with much concern.

“Yes father, I just got carried away by my thoughts, I’m sorry.” He said, sounding more calm and poised. “I’ll need some more time to process all this and come to a decision. It's a whole lot to take in.”

“Alright Son, have it your way. It’s nice to know that you have begun to think about it.” The King said. “But know this; I call the shots here, so you will play by my rules. The new moon is in fifteen days, so I will give you ten days max to do all the thinking that you need. Are we clear on that?”

“Yes father.” He answered.

“May I take my leave now?” He asked, his face suggested that he was very tensed.

“You seem to be in a hurry, but it’s okay; I’m done anyway. You may take your leave.” The King replied.

“Thank you father; I will make known my decision to you soonest.” He said and exited the room.

When the King was sure that Levi had exited the room he breathed out heavily. “Forgive me my son but this is for the best.”