The Throne Room

A throne that appeared to be made out of various fangs and claws sat at the very center of the room, on top of a dais that towered above everyone else, with multiple steps leading up to the throne, which at this moment, housed no one. The room was dark, save for the lanterns that seemed to float in the air. The wall behind the throne had various men and women painted on it, something that I realized Amber took deep interest in as she couldn’t take her eyes off of them.

Faelar led us in, our footsteps echoing throughout the chamber. I realized that the walls of this room were all lined by books, their names too difficult to make out in the dim light. Some simple wooden benches were placed right in front of the dais.

As we walked up to the front of the throne, a young blonde man came into view, sitting on those very benches. A gold crown that seemed to mimic the shape of two feathers sat on his head, his back covered by a red cloak that bore the insignia of the Kingdom. A white tunic and brown leather trousers with high boots were all he wore underneath, and he seemed to be lost in a book that he was reading.

Faelar eventually knelt as soon as he got into view, as did the three of us, following his lead.

“Your majesty,” Faelar said, which finally got the attention of the young man.

“No way, no way, no way, no way, no way,” were all the words that I could think to myself. “No way this 20-something-year-old is the King.”

He snapped the book shut and placed it to his side, and finally stood up. His blue eyes pierced my very soul as he continued to eye me with particular interest.

“Rise,” his voice was low, almost a whisper.

“Thank you, Commander Faelar,” he turned to Faelar, finally taking his eyes off of me for once. “Escort the lady and the orc outside and wait until I call for you.”

Faelar bowed once again, turning to Amber and Jaeger to follow him, but Amber’s eyes seemed fixated on the paintings above the throne, paying no attention to the words of the King or the gestures of Faelar.

“Excuse me,” she finally spoke up, her voice desperate, almost a cry for help. “That woman in the center-left, the one with the brown hair, who is she?”

Fredreich’s eyes widened for a second, his eyebrows furrowed ever-so-slightly, a reaction you would miss if you blinked. He turned around, clasping his hands behind his back. “That… would be my mother.”

Amber’s expression dropped, her eyes wide to the point of delirium as Faelar dragged her towards the entrance of the throne room.

I reached out for her, only to be given a look from Faelar that told me not to cause a scene any further. Despite wanting to ask Amber what was wrong, or what happened, I realized that it would be in everyone’s best interests if I talked to the King alone.

“Your majesty—”

“Tell me, Aizawa,” his voice cut me off, “what do you fight for?”

“I’m sorry?”

He turned around, walking towards me as he rubbed his goatee, his eyes piercing into mine. “What do you fight for, Aizawa?”

“Your majesty, I don’t think I understand.”

Fredreich turned around and walked to the dais, climbing it as he made his way to the throne, sitting on top and resting his face on his fist.

“Is it lower taxes?”

“No,” I responded, straightening myself.

“Oh?” he smirked. “Isn’t that why my cousin sent you here?”

“That may be why he sent me, your majesty, but that is not why I am here.”

“Pray tell me why you are here then,” he prompted.

“Because I was dragged here by your men, your majesty,” I responded honestly.

“Ah, the magic,” his smile curled as he looked down on me, almost infuriating me.

“It wasn’t the Orc, that much is certain. Orcs are incapable of magic, and it certainly wasn’t you, either, given how badly injured you are,” he said, pointing towards the shirt where some of my wounds had let out some blood that I had failed to notice. “It was the girl, was it not?”

“Based on what evidence, your majesty?” I clenched my fists and tightened my jaw.

“My scouts received word of your departure from Luxion and rushed towards Feldheim to escort you to Kaisergrad,” he leaned forward, clasping his hands together. “When they went to look for you, do you know what they came across?”

“I’m assuming dead men, your majesty.”

“It was a battered-up bandit yelling about a witch and a giant, who led them to the bodies of three of his colleagues,” his blue eyes glowed in the light of the lanterns. “One had his skull caved in, while the others had their veins almost bursting with minor injuries.”

My heart sank for a second. Sweat started dripping down my forehead, and my breathing felt heavier than it ever had.

“What’s further, is that he described your carriage and Bergross horses with meticulous detail,” the King continued.

“Your majesty, if I may,” I finally spoke up. “While it is true that we had an altercation with the bandits which led to a struggle for life and death, while it is true that I had to tear at human flesh with my bare teeth, and my driver, Jaeger, smashed a bandit’s skull open, what kind of man would I be if I involved my wife in the conflict directly?” The King raised his eyebrow, a sly smile curling along his face as he reclined in his throne, a sign that I had his full attention. “Further, what good can the testimony of a man who had been injured and possibly in a state of delirium do?”

The King stood up, turning his back to me as he faced the portraits behind him once again. “I suppose you are correct.”

“So tell me, Aizawa, is it her you fight for?”

“Yes, but it is not all that I fight for,” I affirmed.

He turned his head slightly. “Then what else is there to fight for?”

“Justice, your majesty.”

The King's shoulders shuddered as if struck by an invisible blow, before the sound of his laughter filled the room. He held his head in his hand for a few seconds as he continued to laugh, sending chills down my spine. I clenched my fists once more, and I was on the verge of ascending the dais myself, before he finally turned around, and began to descend himself.

“Apologies, Aizawa,” he said, rubbing tears from his eyes. He put his hand on my shoulder, standing right beside me. “Aizawa, do you know who outlawed magic for the common people?”

“Your father, Aldric the Wise, your majesty,” I responded through clenched teeth.

“And do you know what I did to him?”

I shook my head.

“I killed him,” he whispered into my ear. “That was my justice.”

My feet froze, my jaw dropped, as I stood there motionless while the King walked over to the entrance himself, opening it behind me.

As I stood there, trying to process the words he just said to me, Faelar came walking in with Fredreich and came face to face with me.

“Commander Faelar, this man and his associates have done no wrong,” he spoke, placing his hand on my shoulder once more.

“But your majesty—”

A sharp gaze from Fredreich was enough for Faelar to bow in agreement and silence himself.

“Please, see to it that our guests are well attended to and have everything they need,” he finally let go of me, and started ascending the dais again.

Before I could leave with Faelar, Fredreich called for me again. “I pray you can join me for breakfast, Aizawa,” he said, standing at the top. “And we may speak more of your justice.”