Chapter 1 (2/4)

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.

(Part 1/4) Chapter 1: The Mad King Plotteth

Chapter 1

“Now comrades, I must warn you these vile vermin and low life scum are nothing more than peasants! Peasants who had the audacity to remove their beloved king from his well-deserved throne,” said the mad king as he stared at the outrageously constructed wall which could be seen even at about a week’s journey away, which was the around same amount of time facing the king and his army. By now they were closer to the small kingdom of Selah rather than the kingdom that he felt belonged to him. After the rebellion the king’s personal army had dwindled to two hundred and his officials down to three. Ever resilient, the king managed to build up his army to a drastically larger number than even he thought possible.

Two score peasants that he used as his personal servants, a hundred more poorly trained combatants equipped with nothing more than metallic pipes and sharpened sticks (only there to stand in front of the ranks and take the blunt of any beating, basically suicide missions). A score of decent knights who had chain-mail armor rickety weaponry, but amazing sills in battle making them more valuable and less expendable. Three score soldiers to match his own and a dozen of Calvary men with horses. Lastly, he enjoyed the company of flutists and drummers, more whores then he could count or handle. Plus, he had strategically “borrowed” archers from the small city-state of Rokur (More like killed the governor and convinced a group of warriors to join his cause and their reward was all the gold they could ever want). He had somewhat of a royal king’s militia, so he had hoped. The citizens of Starla had been secretly training young men to become fighters and by now he was sure they had chosen a new leader who continued this training, especially since news of his escape have been known around the world by now.

The king needed a plan if he wanted to penetrate the walls of his own kingdom. He needed a bigger army and he was sure if he pleaded he could convince Selah’s king, King Darrial to loan him a few fighters. Both kingdoms had been warring with each other even before he was born and surely if he could offer them peace Darrial would loan him his whole army. Still, that was a big if, the king had been gone for quite a while and the possibility that Selah and Starla had come to an agreement were highly plausible. Nonetheless, he couldn’t come running up to his old kingdom with no more than his numbers and expect to have an easy go of it. The king called for a halt and instructed his head officers to set up camp. That night he, his officials, and his captains met to discuss their future plans. In attendance was the mad king, his closest official, Jordan, the head of the army, Heinrich, Matthais, the the sorcerer and Gengrich, the most secretive of them all.

“We're no less than a week's journey from our victory, now I've sent to scouts to get wind on Selah. See if those savages have made any sort of agreement with my kingdom in my absence," Jordan said, "If they haven't I suggest we get their support, those dirty, filthy, peasants will have surrounded their walls with archers, soldiers, warriors, allies, and any and all natures of beast just ready to attack if they get any whiff of the smallest enemy." The group was in general agreeance. Everyone expressed their support for the idea, except one. "What makes any of you believe we can't take those peasants?" Said the king, "Do you doubt my prowess? Do you believe I'm an ineffective leader, that I can't squash FILTHY, DIRTY, LITTLE MAGGOTS BETWEEN THE COARSE OF MY FINGERS?" All of those in attendance frightened daring one to disagree so they won't have to run into battle overwhelmed. "S-s-sir, your highness.... it's not that we don't----" Heinrich's words stopped short as he saw the king reach for his blade. "Even you, a big burly strong man as yourself is scared of me and my power." The king said with a near smirk. "Hahaha, you guys need not sit their scared out of your wits. Powerful I am, stupid I am not. We will see if the scouts return us good news. If they do, we will make our move."

**Nightfall**

Prologue

Prologue

Thus the laden king removed his heavy sword and laid it upon the ground celebrating his off-kilter victory against the hordes that tried to lay waste upon his kingdom, the kingdom of Starla. Ah, but see my child, you think this is great; you think this was meant to be. Well, do not be fooled. This king is no savior, no hero, and no man who’s willing to fight for his people with his own sword. This man is crazy, devilish, disparate from the legions and generations of kings in the land before and most likely after his reign. See, this king was cast off, exiled to a faraway land deep within the bowels of vast jungles and cavernous pits. He and his “officials” men who were little more than “yes men” and bullies who’d collect taxes from those who had already paid with means of swords, maces, rape, and any other form of torture saved specifically for those insubordinate. Who am I kidding? These men tortured all of those who were in distance, for no reason but amusement. His personal army was a thousand strong and his advisers were a score in number, while his concubines and filthy whores nearly tripled that number. You often wonder how a group of rebels ever managed to remove such a large force and send them away. Well it was done nonetheless and now I pray for their lives. This man, this thing, for he is far removed from a man, managed to escape his turmoil and has started his conquests to reclaim the kingdom which was his. Well our story starts well after his exile, after his escape, well after his journey back, but let it be known, this man and his army has grown ten-fold as for all of his evils he one thing, a charismatic speaker, no matter the situation, he could convince a rich man to part with all of his possessions and convince a blind man that he can see. Oh, Starla be ye ready for the test which will be upon you. Make bordering kingdoms your allies, build your armies, fortify your walls; the upcoming months will be trying ones and let no man question your mettle in the face of bloodshed. Thus our story begins…..