A Warrior's Dance

VI – Crimson Palace

The high stone walls of the Crimson Palace secured at least hundreds of different tribes, housing elders and children, old races and new. It was a perfect picture from atop of the west tower, to where Rainlee used to frequent. With a paintbrush on her delicate hand, she began her strokes on the empty canvass, mirroring the city outside.

She was the only sister of the king, and her part in the kingdom was to maintain peace for the people. Her kind eyes made it impossible not to like her but she had a personality of a knight. She filled her head with knowledge and history, fed her heart with faith and love, and taught her hands to hold a weapon. She kept her hair long and usually loved it when the maids braid it prettily.

Her painting began to consume her when sudden footsteps reached her ears. Raiden halted the moment he saw her, uncertain if that was a right time to talk to her.

“Come, love,” she said, putting down the paintbrush.

Raiden wrapped his arms around his mother.

“You ask to see me, mother?”

Rainlee smiled at him, exploring his young face with her soft hand. She always examined him whenever he went out the streets, as if making sure he wasn’t harmed.

“You are growing everyday, love,” she commented, still looking at him. “I fear the day you will leave me.”

Raiden let out a small smile. “You have so many fears,” he replied. “But me leaving you shouldn’t be one of them.”

The royal lady shook her head gently. She tucked Raiden’s hair on his ears, revealing his jagged scar, before softly caressing it.

The boy tensed but he let her do it. No one dared looked too long at his scars, much more touch it. He was a freak in the palace, the cursed one. He remembered being stoned one time when he was younger for bearing that scar. So he started covering almost half his face with his hair, only showing the left side where he looked charming and beautiful.

“You are beautiful, my son,” she said after a while.

Raiden bowed his head, avoiding the praise. “I wish everyone has your eyes. Everything’s beautiful in your eyes.”

“No,” she muttered, shaking her head. “I’ve seen real monsters out there. You are far from them. So don’t be hard on yourself, my dear boy.”

“Like I said, I wish everyone’s like you.”

“Would it help if I say that in other tribes outside the wall, scars are trophies, a symbol for strength and bravery?”

He sighed. “Like the valkans?”

“Yes, like the Valkans,” she said. Reaching out to the wooden table, Rainlee pulled out a necklace with a glimmering moonstone pendant. “Here, take it.”

“A gift?” He carefully held the necklace. “For me?”

His mother nodded. “Do you know that a moonstone symbolizes passionate love? They said that if you give a moonstone necklace to your lover at full moon, you will have passion for always.”

Raiden let out a small smile. He didn’t believe much in love and sayings, but he said nothing, knowing his mother was just being herself.

“And who gave this to you, mother?” he asked instead.

She was silent for a moment. Rainlee smiled at her son and turned away from him, facing their favorite board game on the table. This time, she looked troubled.

“Do you remember what I used to say when we play divide and rule?”

Raiden turned his attention on the board game, taking note that she evaded answering his question. “The king is the most powerful in the game. The pawns are dispensable. But knights can also reign.”

“Promise me, Raiden,” she whispered. “Promise me you will never let anyone treat you like a pawn.”

He wasn’t sure why his mother suddenly looked lost. But he nodded his head, anyway.

****

“The Valkans landed their ships in Barren, my king.”

King Darius was comfortably sitting on his throne which looked like a night sky. Different stones and gems made the chair, shimmering under the dimmed room. A red carpet was laid from the foot of the king’s throne all the way to the door. Royal guards stood on each side, not moving, stoic expression, as if they were made up of statues.

The king was just in his mid-forties, yet his face told another story. Ruling had its way making anyone old, washed away like a forgotten place. His hair had white streaks, his beard long, a picture of a wise man but tired.

“They are pushing their luck, my king,” the general continued, his big bottom tucked in his armour. “Barren Island is our territory. They broke their words to touch it no more.”

King Darius sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he thought about it. “We lost our right to Barren Island the moment our men raided their stocks and raped their women.”

The general suddenly went stiffed.

“And remind me again, General Gregory,” the king went on, “Who allowed our men to savage that beautiful island? Whose fault it is to lose their loyalty to the palace?”

“They were never loyal to the palace, my king,” he replied with dignity, nose flaring. “They’re loyal to the Sea King. Their chief married his daughter off to the captain’s brother.”

The king laughed heartily. General Gregory wasn’t interested in winning battles. He was way more interested in gaining power and pushing himself in politics to manipulate people.

Only a few men knew their history with the greatest voyager. The first King Jarius once extended his hand to swear allegiance with the Valkan captain and laid his plans in building a civilization. The great war had done so much damage that the country needed law and order. King Jarius wanted to be not just a ruler, but a god among men. But the Valkans only believed in Sun God and none other. They wouldn’t bow down to a man posing as a god.

“The chieftain on that island can do what he wants, as long as they continue trading services with us. The only fealty we have with them is an exchange of gems and foods and other services. Whoever their people want to marry is not included in that fealty. That is not our territory, general. Perhaps you want to review who belongs to this palace before you kick yourself high into power.”

Gregory’s face reddened, his cheeks felt warm. He bowed his head, avoiding the king’s pointed stare.

“My apologies, my king,” he muttered. After a while, he looked up to him again, holding the king’s stare. “But maybe it’s time for you to extend your land and claim that island. The Valkans will soon use the Barren’s treasure to conquer the world. They already started claiming lands north of Port City. Soon they will be on our doorstep, and I hope you won’t be too kind to welcome them.”

The king remained silent, weighing his words.

“Perhaps you want to review our history, as well. I hope you are not forgetting the way they killed one of your best soldiers. That the Sea King once has his eyes on your sister.”

Thick silence seemed to suffocate them, the words too heavy to digest.

“Then what you’ll have me do, general?” Darius asked, staring at the man.

Gregory composed himself once more. “Tribe leaders thought this would be the best time for the prince to marry a suitable princess. A lady or a princess who holds a powerful army under her name.”

The king nodded stiffly. “I take it you have a name in mind?”

A contented smile graced the general’s lips. “Summon all the tribe leaders and those who oath to serve you across the continent, my king, and see how beautiful the princess of the Morcan palace is.”

Darius let silence sink in for a moment before turning to an old man near him. The latter nodded his head, agreeing with the general.

“Do what’s necessary for the invitation and gathering, Lord Yuric,” King Darius said. The image of his only son came into his mind as the comfort he once felt in his chair started to slip away.