13

  …

  Omar sat with his journal on top of the balcony of the capital fortress, watching a riot commence in the streets below. Citizens of Edindale were angry with their king, and tensions were high. The only peace Omar could find during these chaotic times was within his hastily scribbled-in notebook. Since he had arrived in town, guards passed by him and said nothing but shot him nasty looks. No one questioned why he was here. They needed him, even if he was considered a monster in their eyes. Who else would protect them? Who else could?

  “It’s day three hundred and one since Gamba fell to the Spectors and their Diborn Army. My body is tense and I’m still lingering at the thought on how my entire childhood was torched in flames by those monsters. No matter how hard I tried to fight Gurin, I stood no chance. Not alone, with that army behind him. He was too strong, I’ll never forget his hand had on my throat, the strangle hold he had on me… just to toss me like a sack of garbage across the narrow sea.

  My life was in his hands, yet he saw no value in taking it…

  I felt and still feel pathetic. Maeve and Magnus found me on the beach and brought me back to Belkos, the same warrior school I left to start my journey. Lucy and Liona had rescued five hundred people from the other side of Gamba and brought them to the capital.

  Omar stopped writing as he heard people beneath him bang on the gates of the capital.

  “Was it worth it, though? Saving all these people. It seems even when the world is in peril and doomsday is upon us, humans still find the need to harm one another. The Prime Lands and its five continents are lost to the Diborn Army. The wards protecting the dark magic of Diborn cannot safeguard us forever. So, has there been a point to any of this? And with the thousands of refugees from the Prime Lands, it is only a matter of time until eventually one is cloned like a Diborn, just like Shay did at Gamba. We need to fight against the enemy not each other…

  Father understood the world better than me. I admit that. But what world is left for us without heroes?”

  Omar hesitated and shook his head in frustration.

  I’m hopeful that they are still live. But as time passes, my hope slowly is beginning to fade away. Magnus just found the same ship Malakai sailed from on the coast of Gamba in ruins. He couldn’t have died, right? If I am all that is left out of my brothers, then the world might be in peril. I may be a champion, but I am no hero. No legend. Those titles belonged to Malakai and Jai. If I truly am all that is left, whatever time we have left, I will fight for this realm. I hope I can find forgiveness in myself. I still think of all those people I killed. Maybe, I can find it within myself to let it go.

  I know I will fight. And I know this isn’t the end. Just the beginning of a new tale or so… I pray to the gods it is.

  Omar Marshall, Augusto 23rd, 1124 A.L . The Pale Fortress Balcony ?

  …

  “Redbeard? Is that what they call you?” a nearly out of breath king bellowed to Magnus. The rotund monarch snatched a cup of wine from a servant and raised a brow to the Viking.

  The King’s stomach jiggled like gelatin when he spoke and shifted his weight in his throne. He downed the wine in an instant and lustfully pulled a servant to his side as she nervously poured him another glass. The room was silent, although crowded with three servants that were hastily rushing food and wine in and out. Two young women sat alongside the King at the small round dining table, restlessly fidgeting in their seats.

  Magnus stroked his beard with a sharp grin, raising his glass to the King of Edindale. “Ay, your highness.” He sipped his wine, quickly taking off his large wolf-pelt coat, revealing a plain blue tunic. The fireplace crackled beside him.

  “Guess they should call me the Silver-brown Beard King or some shit, huh?” the man drunkenly joked, fixing his graying brunette permed beard and taking a large gulp from his wine. He commanded for another refill. “Come, you wench!” he yelled at the servant and threw a chalice at her back. She fell harshly onto the floor, gasping. The King’s blue eyes sparkled when he studied the poor servant quickly get up and run back to the kitchen. When she returned, he swiped the chalice out of her palms and shooed her away. “Get out of here, broad. You’ve served your purpose.” The girl bowed and scuttled away nervously. He doused his third glass within two minutes, spilling half of it on his expensive dress robes.

  One of the women sat with her nose scrunched in disgust at the King’s treatment towards the female servants. Her eyes quickly darted away. Magnus tried to sit courteously at the table. Compared to his Viking clan, the King’s behavior towards others was outlandish and never heard of or seen. Magnus cluelessly stared at utensils, unsure of what to grab. He lifted a spoon to cut his meat, and the other woman to his right, between him and the king, chuckled slightly.

  “No?” he joked. “I am not one with this fancy dining.”

  She smiled. “What you have is like a small bowl we use to drink soup. See?” She showed him.

  Magnus’s eyebrows rose in embarrassment. “Ah.” He smiled and pushed the meet aside and pulled in the small bowl of soup lied out before him. “Forgive me. Our people do not partake in such… extremities.” The young woman sat her fork down and brushed her fingers through her brown curls, which fell graciously down her silk navy blue dress.

  “Is it true… you and the one they call Omar Marshall saved Eukaperok last year from the Diborn attack?” she asked.

  “Luna… that is not necessary.” The King rolled his eyes at his daughter in spite.

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  Magnus replied, “No, it is quite alright, King Hyvin.” He wiped his face with a napkin, seeing that the soup had greased his beard.

  “Last year, Omar and I did defeat what we thought was the Demon King of the Diborn. However, we were alarmed to discover that it was not the Demon King. It was… something else. Which is why the state of the world is what it is now. It is falling as I’m sure you are all aware.” Magnus rested his elbows on the table. “Now, forgive my Lord Hyvin, for I am not one to partake in these meetings.”

  Hyvin glances at Magnus unimpressed. “Yes, Merek usually speaks for your kind, Nord.” The King sipped his wine smugly.

  “Merek…” Magnus looked down. Luna looked gingerly at him. Her eyes were full of life but dwindled at the faint sadness resting on Magnus’s face. “Merek passed two months ago. He lost his limbs during the attack at Gamba. The bleeding was the start of it. He recovered after months, only to die in the harsh winter we faced. The Irregular Demons that aided the Diborn took most of our men. We lost even more of our people because of them. Including Merek.”

  “That is awful. I give you my prayers to Altira,” Luna sympathized as Magnus slowly nodded to show his thanks. King Hyvin remained calm as his face became bright red from the horrendous amount of wine.

  “It’s quite alright, my dear. You know, I have a daughter about your age, Luna. You both have such a gentle soul.”

  “Are you trying to fuck my daughter, Redbeard? Or are you here on official business?” Hyvin spitted soup out when he spoke, nearly splashing Magnus’s face.

  Luna sat back in her chair, and her narrow brows met. Her jaw tensed when her eyes contacted her father’s. Magnus could feel that the tension in the room was higher than the riot in the streets. Luna squeezed the cloth of the table, trying to hold her tongue.

  Magnus cleared his throat awkwardly. “As you know, the wards casted over Sakaria which means Edindale will fall soon. Cassiel set them up long ago, but they are not to last.”

  “And?” King Hyvin shrugged his shoulders. “Why should I care?”

  “Well, for one there are rioters at your doorstep and most of them are survivors of a Spector attack. These people are begging for your help. I think… after looking at your situation… you might want to deploy more troops to protect them.” Magnus closed his eyes and took a deep breath before standing up at the table. “The people of Edindale and Sakaria are protected by your family and the Alkia family. It is your job as lord of this half-realm to protect your people. When you shun all who seek aid, what do you think will happen? They will never forgive you and riots will continue to fill your streets.” Magnus pointed towards the rioters outside of the castle.

  Luna turned to her father in shock, nearly spilling her wine glass. “Is this true? Have we not given aid to all the people of the Pale?” she demanded.

  King Hyvin laughed. “You, dear, are nothing but an Archduke. I gave you that title to look presentable in court. Do not doubt my choices as King. I am your father! And your disrespect has no place at this table regarding my decisions. Giving the Backwaters more protection brings less in for us here at the capital. Have you tasted the wine? If we give those bastards more protection, we cannot afford to bring all our necessities into the capital. We are more important, don’t you understand? When some royal gets his hands on you, daughter, and makes you his Queen, you’ll understand the choices I make. You will finally see how wrong you are about politics. You’ll finally know why you women could never be in charge at the throne.”

  Silence filled the room. Magnus shook his head in disappointment, staring outside where thousands were gathering in protest. Torches were being lit as molded food was tossed at the capital guards hurrying inside the capital. His head turned to the left to see Omar sitting on the balcony edge outside, closesly observing the carnage. Omar silently raised his thumb, and Magnus nodded his head in disappointment. Omar sighed and looked back towards the angry citizens.

  Luna’s eyes began to water. She clenched a sapphire necklace that hung around her neck and ripped it off, cutting herself with the chain. She stood and slammed both hands on the table. “You are a mongrel! These people are ours to protect. And we sit here drinking this rubbish wine!” Luna picked up a chalice and threw it across the room.

  “Not only that,” Magnus added. His eyes locked on Luna’s. “While Belkos is a refuge for people who come to Eukaperok, it is also a place that prepares champions to fight back against the Diborn Army. Belkos has been left to defend itself, as well.”

  Magnus knelt down on one knee, looking carefully at King Hyvin who was now bitterly drunk. “Lord Hyvin, allocate funds to help us gather weapons and supplies to educate and prepare these young champions to protect Eukaperok. We can fight back and defeat the Diborn Army. We seek your aid. Come to your senses. Please. Sakaria has allocated enough to open our doors to even more students. We just need–”

  “Quiet, Nord! You have no place here. You are lucky that the pitiful School of Champions even exists in my realm. I should have it burned to ground, just like that tar boy’s city in Gamba.” King Hyvin spit on Magnus’s face and pushed the Viking to the side as the King waddled from the table.

  Magnus tried his hardest to not react to the King’s harsh words. He wiped the scum's spit from his face, and quickly grabbed his coat. “Very well. Thank you for your time today, King Hyvin. If you reach your senses, send an eagle bearer for us.”

  “I doubt I will need to do so, Nord.” King Hyvin took another swig of wine. The King stood eerily still as he looked outside and watched the rioters fill the streets in protest.

  Luna’s face was in pure disgust as she crossed her arms over her chest. Her eyes darkened when she closed in on her father, who forgot she still in the room. Her mouth hung open in utter disbelief.

  “How dare you stand there filling your body with poison while our people die!” Luna screamed out. Magnus exited the capital before he got caught in the drama, yet he could still overhear the conversation behind the capital’s doors. “You are no King. Just a coward hiding in shame. I will not stand for this!”

  The doors swung open, nearly hitting Magnus in the nose. Luna came barreling out of her father’s chamber, breathing hard. She looked up at Magnus and smiled.

  Omar climbed gracefully down the balcony to greet Magnus. He was not expecting Luna to be standing with the red-bearded Viking.

  “Hey, Magunus, so I was thinking– Who are you…?” Omar gawked, not realizing he said the last sentence out loud. Embarrassed, he shook his head trying to shake away the thought. “Hi, um, I’m Omar. Omar Marshall,” he stuck his hand out for a shake while his cheeks blushed bright red.

  Luna stared at Omar wide-eyed. She felt warm at the sight of Omar and her cheeks quickly blushed with his. She accepted his hand, “I heard much about you, Omar Marshall.”

  “Omar is fine,” Omar awkwardly laughed. His face flushed at her beauty.

  “Okay, Omar. I’m Archduke Luna.”

  They stood stiffly, holding hands for a moment before Magnus cleared his throat and they let go of each other’s hands. Magnus nodded to Luna. “May we discuss things with your brother and sister, Luna?”

  Luna’s eyebrows raised in concern. “Um… those two are different,” she hesitated. “Damian is just like my father, but with smaller balls. Amy is very shy. I don’t know–”

  “We only wish to speak to them. We wish to offer them the same proposition we are going to offer you.” Omar winced at how much his voice was cracking. Luna didn’t seem to mind. “Come to Belkos. Help us save the realm,” Omar pleaded. The riots grew louder outside, and glass shattered. Luna’s concern returned. “I am sorry. I have a duty to this realm. To protect it my way.” She hurried, leaving the two men standing in confusion.