The scouts returned that morning
with great news. The nation of Starla had allied with the closer, weaker,
border nation Elon. Another of Selah’s most hated enemies, convincing the king
of Selah to give him troops might be easier than he thought. The king took ten
soldiers, his councilmen and a few gold good for buying, trading, and most
importantly, bribing.
Once upon the nation they were
greeted with what could only be described as hostile treatment. The king was
surrounded by calvary men armed to the teeth with arrows his army subdued by
the butts of soldier’s cutlasses. Once the ruckus had been effectively calmed
they were all dragged down to the front of King Krog. “What do I owe this
horrible intrusion upon my land?” Asked Krog with a rather distasteful tone,
reminiscent of the way a killer would treat its prey. “Well…” The mad king
responded, “If your grace would be so merciful as to let us leave with your
finest soldiers?” He watched as the Krog mulled over the thought. “Why should I
give you my soldiers? Do you not remember who went to war for three years with
my nation? The man who tortured my own son for years until he finally snapped
and killed a score of your best men, or did you forget how you ended up here?
You do know he is now king of your former kingdom. Damn boy doesn’t listen to a
word I say, refuses to join our nations and let me rule over the kingdom that I
deserve. That I deserve! Not you, not
him, so answer me why should I give you my best men to overthrow my own
flesh-and-blood and then no sooner turn on me?”
The mad king was more or less in a
pickle now. On the one hand this king’s son is a king as well which is why they
felt no need to ally with this nation, then on the other Krog hasn’t forgotten
the atrocities he inflicted on his nation during his reign. “Between a rock and
a hard place….” mumbled the king. “Must we dwell on the past?” “If the past
stubbornly places itself in front of my doorstep demanding weapons than I say I
must.” “Well, Krog, can I call you Krog?” “No” “Well, your highness, you say
your son refuses to join the two nations.” “That means you intend to?” “I don’t
intend to let you take over, no. What I can offer is your son’s safety after I
retake my kingdom.” The king’s guards tensing at the words. “Listen I have
enough men of my own armed to the teeth and ready to kill on my command. I will
not touch this nation whether you give me men or not let that be known that
from here on out our nations will not nor ever be at odds again. I hope my
goodwill can at least move you to supply my men with some food for the march.”
King Krog sat there soaking in everything. “So, you come here threaten my son,
indirectly. Give some piss-poor claim at peace and then reduce your offer to
food as if you didn’t really need my men. Yet, you wouldn’t be here asking if
you thought you didn’t. So I ask, what do I receive of any value out of this?”
The mad king mulled over the
question and figured he was going to get nowhere. The nation of Reis was the
king’s last and only hope of at least getting food for his own supplies were
running dangerously low. “King, I have nothing to offer but my word. If it will
take the control of my nation far ye well ‘fore I will not part with what is
rightfully mine. Not yours, not your son’s but mine! Had I not been in the need
for soldiers I would not have come, but I am not so desperate that I would give
up my belongings to a filthy, low-life, irresponsible, and flappable fool such
as you. Say what I want, but I can’t deny one thing: people are foolish enough
to believe you can save them. Yet you stand here unable to save your own son
when provided the opportunity! I’ll keep my promise I won’t harm your barbaric
town, but not before I return your imp of a son’s head on a pike and set it
before your majesty!” Graceful and cunning the mad king bowed and walked out.
His men, Krog, the guards, all just stood and watched as this insubordinate
walked out on the king after just tongue-lashing the demons out of him.
As he
exited he turned to his men, “well, come on.” As they all shockingly and
disbelievingly skittered their way out, they all thought to themselves what
manner of man are they serving, a fool or a genius. Krog, still in awe to give
any command finally came to his senses. “Let him go, we shall have our revenge
in due time.
