The Man Who Would Be King

Sunrise greeted the city of Stiarra Nor with jubilations. The standards of the Dragon Slayer Legion and of the Ruby Kingdom had been struck from their poles and pinions.

All the remaining legionnaires were conducted to the great stadium on the south side of the city. They were placed in the center of the stadium under guard.

Word spread quickly that the city had been liberated during the night.

By mid-morning, there were more who were entering the demolished North Gate in a parade of sorts led by both the banners of the duchies of Foxia and Eilon. Princesses Kitarra and Danara astride their mounts in the lead.

Also, among the parade were most of the citizens of the city that were led away to be slaves a couple of months before.

They were all greeted with cheers and fanfare.

New soldiers, bearing strange looking weapons, that belonged to the new lord of the city were either guarding the legionnaires or up on the walls.

Once the parade had stopped at the central palace, many of the liberated slaves had peeled off to be greeted by family or friends.

Being that the duchy that Stiarra Nor belonged to was that of the Dogua race, the majority of the demi-humans in the city as well as the former slaves were Dogua by race. But that majority was only slight, because Stiarra Nor was an important city of trade. Well known for its merchants.

Duke Vielle Rex was Dogua himself.

In the palace entry rotunda, after the fanfare died down and the people of Stiarra Nor went about reclaiming their city, Rowen was being harangued by several former city officials demanding their say in what was to be as they moved forward.

He was doing his best to answer questions and introduce himself to as many officials as he could. But when Kit and Dana entered the rotunda to join their husband, a reverent silence overtook the room.

Rowen looked at his wives and smiled at them. He could see that Kit was sad and holding back tears because she, Dana and Eliarra were linked into the discussion with Lady Rissa when she mentioned Kit’s aunt’s death.

He wanted to embrace and comfort his wife in the worse way, but first things first.

He took advantage of the hush in the room and said, “I understand all of your concerns. I will be seeing to it that any of the enemy soldiers who committed atrocities will be punished for them. So, that being said I want as many as can testify who witnessed any such war crimes to come forward to be recognized.”

He then said, “Does anyone have any other questions?”

The room erupted into a maelstrom of questions all asked at once.

Rowen held up his hand, but he was still being assaulted with all the questions.

Everyone was silenced by the shrill sound of someone whistling through their fingers.

Rowen thought, “Thanks, X.”

He said out loud, “I cannot answer your questions unless you ask them one at a time.”

One Dogua man, who had identified himself as the former Chief Justice for Stiarra Nor raised his hand.

Rowen said, “Yes, Your Honor?”

“Lord Rowen, what is to happen to both of the children of the Lord Commander of the legion?”

“Lieutenant General Tallough II is missing and presumed dead. Lady Rissa is in my custody and under my protection right now.”

“They need to be held to account for their misdeeds.”

“I do agree. But those misdeeds must be proven by due process. Until anyone can show me evidence that Lady Rissa has committed crimes, she will remain in my protection. The rest will be adjudicated by myself and my four wives. I of course will involve you, your honor in the whole process.”

“Of course, my Lord.” And he bowed his head.

Just then, there was an uproar as Domonique and four golem soldiers conducted a woman wearing white robes and vestments into the rotunda.

The majority of those who were there, were calling for the woman’s head.

One Dogua male attempted to reach over and grab her, only to be knocked back by one of the golems. The golem only used as much force as he needed to protect his prisoner.

The woman held up her head as if she were royalty and she said, “How dare you conduct me from my church like I were a common criminal!”

Rowen said, “Arch Priestess Malcente, you are being place under arrest for crimes against humanity and common decency. You are not under any immunity of justice, even your status as a priestess doesn’t give you any clemency in the matter.”

“And what crimes am I supposed to have committed?”

“You ordered the seizure of citizens of this city to be taken and sold as slaves. You did so to enrich yourself and the Church.”

“You are a heretic and a foul demon. You shall face judgement by the Guardians and the Creator.”

“Which is more heretical, to defy the church or to defy the guardians?” Rowen asked calmly. Then he said, “You know what. I’ll give you time to think the question over.” He turned to the lead golem and said, “Conduct her to her cell in the dungeon below.”

“Yes…Sir!”

He then turned back to the rest of the former officials and said, “That’s enough for now. I will be having discussions with each and every one of you in the days to come. Until then, I have other issues to address so good day ladies and gentlemen.” And he turned and left the rotunda to head towards the stairs.

He wrapped his arm around Kit’s shoulders on his way.

They were met at the top of the stairs by Jade, Marek and War Chief Arkeer.

Rowen waved them off by saying, “I need to spend some personal time with my wives. Unless an army has shown up on the horizon that I’ll have to deal with, you will not disturb us.”

The three of them bowed and said, “Yes, Lord!”

Then a messenger came running up with a slip of paper and handed it to War Chief Arkeer.

He looked at the paper and his skin lightened as if he turned pale. He said, “My Lord, an army is approaching from the west!”

Rowen closed his eyes for a moment then opened them and looked at Kit apologetically.

She just nodded, smiled a half smile and said, “I will be okay. Let us deal with this army first.”

Sometime later:

Rowen was sitting astride Baldy with Kit to his left and Dana to his right. He had a platoon of his cavalry to his rear as he awaited the representatives from the army that had arrived from the west.

The banners of this army were recognized as those of the Duchies of Eilon, Foxia and Wolfen.

Rowen figured that having Kit and Dana in view will ensure that they don’t attack right off but give Rowen a chance to talk to them. He guessed that this army was sent to liberate the city. Something that he had just barely accomplished.

The newly arrived army arrayed themselves in a long set of columns stretched from north to south along a small river. Some ten thousand or more.

An honor guard being led by an obvious woman in silver scale armor bearing the banners of all three duchies approached Rowen and his retinue under flag of truce.

Once within speaking range, the woman…Elf? The Elven woman said, “I am Duchess Marcia Eilon, are you the one who has taken this city?”

“Yes, my name is Lord Rowen…”

She interrupted him, “Before we discuss anything else, I wish to know what it will take for you to return my daughters to me?!”

Rowen was stunned, “I beg your pardon? What do you mean, Your Grace?”

“I see my daughters there, you’re a human, so I assume that you intend to use them as hostages. I wish to negotiate their return. I will even offer myself as a return hostage.”

Rowen then realized that, his mother-in-law, was operating under a wrong assumption.

He opened his mouth to speak but Dana chimed in, “Mother, you’re mistaken. We are not his captives. He is our husband. The one I foresaw!”

The Duchess looked at Dana with her mouth agape.

Another member of the delegation, a Wolfen Male said, “I’m Duke Anguinus Wulfia. Are we to understand that you took this city and yet you married Princess Danara and Duchess Kitarra?”

Rowen realized that everyone here was operating on a misconception. So, he decided to clear things up.

“I liberated this city from an army of the Five Kingdoms. More specifically the Ruby King. I just liberated it this morning.”

“And we’re to just take your word for it? A human.”

Kit growled deeply and rode forward a few paces and said, “You can take his word for it. My husband is an honest and trustworthy person. He has never looked at me as anything but who I am. Not WHAT I AM!”

The Duke bowed his head and said, “Pardon me, Duchess Kitarra. I didn’t mean to offend. It is just such an unusual situation, Your Grace.”

Xyarra chimed in, “Ladies and gentlemen, I think that we should retire to within the gates, so that we can discuss this matter in more comfortable environs.”

A rider was riding hard from the Tierian Army. From a distance she looked a lot like Duchess Eilon. Same kind of armor.

Rowen watched as she got closer and the resemblance grew. She could be Dana’s twin for all he knew.

Once the rider was in earshot, he heard her saying, “Where is he? Where is the one who liberated this city?!”

Dana said, “Aunt Quintessa! This is the man who led. He’s my husband that I fort…”

“Yes, yes!” she said as she pulled her horse up short in front of Baldy. She scrutinized Rowen’s face and rode closer.

She was right next to Rowen before he knew it.

She brought her face to within inches of Rowan’s and said softly, “Yes, yes, it is you, it is you indeed.”

She then turned her horse around and said in a projected voice, “All here bear witness! Here is the man who I foresaw. Here is our new King! King Rowen, first of his name!”