CITADEL

A KING ON TRIAL

           By noon the following day, we had made it to the grasslands of Perseus just beyond the gargantuan entry gates to the kingdom. The day was unusually sunny, with the swift winds lashing at us from the four corners of the earth. After taking a close look all around, Adam said to us, “Perseus still looks as natural and beautiful as I remember it; I only wish her heart was as pure as she looked.”

            After an entire day riding through Perseus, we met a young woman moving in the same direction we were. Concerned as I was that we were headed the wrong way, I asked her, “Can you lead us to your ruler’s dwelling place?” In the most feminine voice conceivable, she responded, “You must be strangers in the land. I am Suzanne, a butler in the dwelling place of our new ruler.” Yves II then asked, “Will we get there by nightfall?” She rejoined, “Perhaps not my Lord; a journey up the summit of the mountain just ahead of us may take more than a day.”  

            We continued the journey from that point onwards in utter silence I couldn’t understand. It felt much like sheep headed for the s*******r. When the dark of day was upon us, we found ourselves high up Limbaugh, the mount upon which Tarsus had established his castle. After an entire night riding gallantly through its thick forest, we reached the crossroads from which the castle was plainly in sight. I then let out a deep sigh of relief and rushed to the gates like a child running into the arms of his mother. Little did I know what was waiting for us.

            Right there at the entrance, we waited as Suzanne went in to announce our arrival. While we waited, I looked to the sun, rising in the east like a fire and whispered to the winds, “Show me the way; I know mother didn’t just leave without a good reason. I’d like to find and bring her back home, where she truly belongs.”

            After that I turned and looked, and right in front of us were three armed guards. One of them surprisingly said, “Governor! It’s you! What brings you here great one?” Yves II rejoined, “Take me to Tarsus immediately; there are pressing matters that need to be dealt with.” Once we made it through the gates, we were led up the broad tarred street, flunked by beautiful gardens on each side.

            Soon we made it to the very room where Tarsus met with his guests. After minutes of waiting nonetheless, a middle-aged man with hair almost long enough to touch the ground came through. He then whispered, “I am Jude, the only surviving Judge of the then monarchy. What brings the governor here?”

            At that Yves II responded, “Does the Judge not know Maya, one of my own was murdered, dismembered and sent back to me as a way of telling me to surrender Citadel and all her children?” Seeing that my governor was beginning to fume, Jude got us to sit down and said, “I was once a powerful judge over the tribe of Arad. However, Tarsus has made me appear powerful in the eyes of all after he exiled the other two judges over the tribes of Athens and Nazir. Truth be told, I have become a pen in his hand. I am sorry for your loss; I didn’t believe it when I heard it through the grape vine.”

            Before any of us could utter another word, I began to quiver with fear when two lions broke through the door with loud roars. Seeing that I was ready to take off Jude said, “Calm down son! They won’t harm you.” Soon enough Tarsus came through, fully clothed in his purple robe and huge diamond necklace. We thought we had come all the way to Perseus to face a murderer on a peaceful front but once he knew who we were, he ordered the seven heavily armed guards he had come with to bind and throw us in the deepest dungeon of Limbaugh.

            Taken aback by the order of the tyrant, I was ready to fight but Yves II turned and gave me a look that suggested, “Don’t!” Before long we were bound in heavy chains at the arms and feet and dragged helplessly down an obscure stairway. Once we made it past the ground floor, it got darker and darker, with only few candle lights inserted in the walls to guide us.

            At the end of the nearly three hundred flight stairways, we went through a narrow tunnel that sent us straight to the pitch-black dungeon. Once the chains and the darkness thereof became our only companions, Adam broke his silence and said, “I know what Tarsus is up to. Soon, we may have to fight an army that will crush us or flee secretly because we are outnumbered.” Tired as I was from our long way to the dark, I rested my back against the cold walls and fell asleep.

            Soon I began to rouse with no sense of time or place as we were dragged along once again to the place in Limbaugh called Dome. On arrival, I noticed it looked like a man-made cavern with floor much like the crystal sea in ancient folklore. Tarsus was seated in council along with Jude, the only surviving judge of the monarchy and the ten elders, who ruled over the tribes of the land under the authority of Jude.

            Moments after our arrival Tarsus said to us, “When I became ruler of this great kingdom, I promised my people that I’d fight to gain all that was stolen from us generations ago. Yves II, do you govern with a clear conscience knowing the blood of innocent people still remains on your hands? Do you retreat to bed knowing that all the splendor of your kingdom rightfully belongs elsewhere? I Tarsus, am a man of very few words.”

            Tamar then asked, “Is that why you killed my sister; you took her life and used her remains as a mere prop and yet you sit in council and put innocent foreigners on trial for theft and murder? Where lies the proof of your accusation?”

            Tarsus rejoined, “Like I said, I am a man of very few words and let my actions speak for me.” I was in disbelief at the reality that was playing out those ungodly hours of the night, and was so muzzled by anger that I couldn’t say a word in the moment.

            However, Yves II took in a deep breath and said to Tarsus, “I have read the laws that have governed Perseus from the very beginning, and I know they clearly state that no ruler would be tried in the absence of the inhabitants of the land, and that applies to foreign leaders. You appear gentle but I am convinced you are as evil as they say you are. I knew what I was getting into when I set out with these three; I came to tell you Citadel will not bow to you. Again, the laws of the land say a ruler who kills another unjustly must abdicate the throne.”

            Before Tarsus could say a word in response, Adam, staring at him like one who had just seen a ghost said, “I now remember the face; they told me about you during my time here in Perseus and how you and your evil cult were planning to overthrow the monarch over Perseus. I should have paid closer attention and warned the monarch.” Tarsus then yelled, “Shut up before I strike you down!” Adam then said, “Remember that the evil that men do lives after them.”

            Tarsus then said, “As far as Perseus is concerned, I am an honorable man who saved them from a weak ruler without a vision. I don’t see why you should be tried for misdeeds done by your ancestors. You are heirs to their deeds and the consequences that follow.” He then gave the signal for the guards to send us back into the dungeon until our fate had been decided. I struggled to accept the reality our fate had suddenly fallen in the hands of a counsel led by a tyrant who had suddenly taken control over a powerful kingdom.

            Drowning in my fears of what could possibly happen, I payed no attention to the ever-meandering tunnel as we treaded its dustiness in those heavy chains. When the heavy iron gates of the dungeon were slammed shut nonetheless, and the darkness is all that was, I couldn’t help but silently shed tears.

            By the third day, the pot of water in the dungeon had ran out, yet there was no sign we would be let out any time soon. I then asked my governor, “         What do you say about all this?” He rejoined, “Perhaps I should have come with an army. While things do not look good, I have learnt as governor to trust my inner being, who tells me that we would escape the sword.”

            After those words, I heard the dungeon gates open and once again we were led to the Dome. It was evident something malicious was brewing in the pot because most of the elders couldn’t even look at us, and Jude kept pacing back and forth. It was awkwardly silent in the Dome for the next thirty minutes until Yves II said to Tarsus, “My mission here is complete; We will never surrender to a fool like you. If you have nothing to say, let us out of these chains, because I have a kingdom to govern.”

            Tarsus rose to his feet immediately and said, “I allowed you time to breathe because you wouldn’t be breathing much longer. Your fate has been determined and the verdict reached by the council of the land. All of you will be locked away until you fall into permanent rest.” When I heard that I yelled, “You may have to get blood on your hands because I would fight anyone to the death, especially when I have nothing to lose.”

            After an uncomfortable moment of silence Elrond, one of the elders rose to his feet and said to Tarsus, “Great one, may your sovereign rule remain till the end of time. While I have faith in your wisdom, I ask that you reconsider taking the life of the governor over the greatest kingdom in the land; word of your deed would catch on like wild fire. The reputation of Perseus among many other things is on the line. Please Tarsus!”

            Tarsus responded, “I will do whatever I want, and no one can stop me; not even God.” Raising some eye brows with those strong words, three others followed in Elrond’s footsteps and stood to their feet. The tallest and darkest among them all said, “I am ready to exile self if remaining would get my hands this dirty.”

            Elrond then said, “I am a learned fellow in matters of the law. If these foreigners have been found guilty of what their ancestors may have done, our laws make clear that they can only be flogged and let go.” Yves II then looked to Tarsus and yelled, “Murderer!” At that Tarsus ordered the many guards in there with us to cease all four of us. He then shouted, “It is settled! They would all be flogged mercilessly in the iron chamber tomorrow. I’d let the governor and his friend go but Tej and Tamar would remain in Limbaugh to serve for seven years.”

            As we were dragged out by the seven-armed guards that fateful night, I heard the jiggling of keys in the pocket of one of them. Risky as it was, I knew I had to take advantage of the situation if we ever wanted to save ourselves. Like garbage we were thrown into the dark of the dungeon once again. I waited for hours and woke the other three up and said, “I managed to rob one of the guards of his keys; we can escape the evil schemes of Tarsus and his minions!”

            Yves II then took the keys from me and said, “Son, you shouldn’t have done that even though it seemed perfectly rational. While you may not see it, our escape from here is near impossible but time will liberate us. More importantly, escaping would trigger many deaths.” Feeling completely disappointed by all that day had brought, I sat in silence till we were escorted into the iron chamber the next day.

            It was in close proximity to the Dome, both in the underworld of Limbaugh. With a heart beating like a noisy gong my eyes drifted hither and there as we made it to the center of the iron chamber, a large room ill-lit with candles. In the presence of all his elders and several guards armed to the teeth Tarsus said to us, “Some don’t make it out of here. Say your last prayers just in case any of you turns out to be one of those.” Immediately after those words of empty sympathy, our chains were broken.

            Nonetheless, we were bound tightly at the arms by strong ropes and suspended in the air right above a narrow ravine filled with deadly snakes. Staring straight into the eyes of my governor, who hanged directly across from me, I whispered to him, “My father Roy always taught me to say in difficult times that this too shall pass.” Before I could turn to Tamar, who hanged right next to me, the guards began to whip us merciless with scourges.

            By the seventh time I felt that scourge on my back, my clothing ripped and the flesh on my back began to tear. I still hear Tamar as she groaned in tears loud enough to pull down the entire mountain. The memory of that ordeal is one I would gladly erase if I could but I guess there is something to be gained from every painful situation of life. Together we endured all eighteen lashes and soon were brought down. As blood trickled down my body, I fell at once and pure darkness is all that was.

            Days later, when time had begun to heal the wounds from our undeserved ordeal, Jude came through to our dungeon and said to us, “It’s time. I am sorry I watched you suffer and did nothing about it.” Adam then said, “We need to return to our people so let us out of here immediately.” 

            Without saying another word, Jude released us at the behest of Tarsus and led us on the days long journey to the entry gates of Limbaugh. There, we met face to face with Tarsus and wife Thalia. Before Yves II and Adam could get on their horse, Yves II took a closer look at Thalia and froze in a blind stare for almost a minute. He then said in a rather soft tone, “How did this happen Thalia? I thought you were married to the true monarch over this land.”

            After looking at my governor from head to toe in disdain, she threw her arms around Tarsus and kissed him. Tarsus then turned to Yves II and Adam and said, remember that I spared your lives. I need you to renounce your rule when you return. It is my dream to meld our two kingdoms into one; when that happens, you could serve under my rule. Think about it or you will have yourself to blame. Yves II then whispered right into my ears, “Be good son, I would be back for you. Count on that.”

            Moments later, he got on the only horse available with Adam and rode off to Citadel. We stood for minutes looking on as the horse faded out of sight. Tarsus then turned to his three guards armed to the teeth and whispered, “Go after them; make sure they never make it home.” Though young at the time, I knew Tarsus was only trying to get his guards to kill Adam and Yves II. I yelled in anger, running after the three in hopes I could stop them. More importantly, I hoped my scream would move like light through the morning breeze to my governor and Adam. Before long, I was struck in the head by a heavy blow that sent me straight to the ground.

            Totally weakened by our entire ordeal in Perseus, I remained on the dew drenched ground, staring into the cloudy skies. With bitter tears running down my cheeks, reality dawned on me so brutally. I realized a young fellow like me with a bright future had suddenly been` unjustly sold out to a tyrant for the next seven years.

            Soon Tamar came through and sat by me. After getting a firm hold of my shaky hands, she whispered to me, “I’ve never felt more powerless in my entire life. Mother was never wrong to say there truly are wolves in this world. I guess the universe chose today to place us under the rule of a tyrant; perhaps life has something to teach us while here. I then asked her, “Do you think Adam and our governor would return to Citadel in one piece?” She answered, “I choose to believe the stars that guide us would protect them and lead them home safely.”

            Moments later Thalia walked up to us and said, “My son and daughter, looking at you reminds me of the day my parents left me as a four-year-old child in school for the first time. I was so afraid and alone. Nevertheless, time passed and I realized growth happens through the most uncomfortable seasons of life. Let us go home. For now, I am your queen and mother. It’s best you accept that which life had brought your way.