Trilverda - Winds of the fall

Chapter 10

Even Erton himself chuckled in shock, he would never even think of touching the Crustonian throne, he would mutilate his own leg if he stepped the throne. “But me lord –“

“Just do it, I have given ya the power to do so”

Falver paced towards Kelvin, placed his palm on his shoulder. He had obeyed what Kelvin ordered despite a lot of contentions, this was too much. “Are ya out of yer mind, brother?”

“Erton, if ya love Cruston, yer land of birth, yer family,” Kelvin said, ignoring his brother.

Erton still hesitated, drove his sights through all others' who looked at him, their eyes suggested him not to step on the King's throne. “I cannot do it, me lord”

Kelvin hauled his brother’s palm, stood from his chair. “Ya bloody fools. Do ya know why the banner is placed above the throne? Have ya any idea?” he cried out, roaring. “It is because the banner is the kingdom itself. It waved gloriously when there sat no King, it waves gloriously even today”

Falver, confused, he had no notion of what next, no matter what, the throne was not to be stepped by any man or woman. But he could feel Kelvin's burn, pulsing through the air around him and he knew, Kelvin would make Erton step the throne, no matter the law. Vivian, still placing her heart in Kelvin, she had no trouble seeing the boy step the throne, the gods had no constraints against it, non of what she knew. Five excited faces, the King's caretakers enjoyed, they favoured seeing such drama and Elena's face was a sight to behold.

“The banner waves above the throne because it is the people of this Kingdom, the throne is just one man who is to be replaced by another” Kelvin's thundering voice echoed all around the castle. “The day we place the King before the people of Cruston, that is the day we lost the Kingdom and teachings of our ancestors” No one dare speak or object Kelvin's statement, what he spoke, the real truth. “If ya respect the throne more than the banner, O Erton, I wish ya horrible death and I will spit on yer grave if gods give me the chance” Erton's heart ached, his blood went cold, couldn’t reason more, he had to step and bring the banner. Kelvin cleared his throat, he sat on his chair. “Now, step the throne and bring me the banner of Cruston”

Erton lifted his leg to step on the throne. Falver stared, eyes wide open, but no restrictions in his heart. Vivian smirked as she layed eyes on Erton. Lucky boy. Elena did not blink as she saw her love step the throne of Cruston and pull the banner down. Erton tugged the banner and it fell, rested in his shoulders, covering him like a cape. He walked with the banner in his hands, gulping, he felt the weight of Cruston on his shoulders, he felt powerful not in stepping the throne but in carrying the banner on his shoulders. He handed it to Kelvin.

“That was easy, innit?” Kelvin said. Erton just nodded his head, no words uttered. Falver did not dare to speak as well but he felt proud when he saw the banner of his kingdom. Kelvin held the banner under his arms. “Take this with ya when ya go to the field and tell the people what I told Timmer, tell them the banner is more important than any king who sat on the throne” Falver let his arms wide out, he desired to embrace the banner, it pulled him with a great force, greater than his duty towards the throne. Kelvin placed the banner in Falver's arm. “Let this great banner wave in the filed, order the men to protect it, see the battle won”

Falver, overwhelmed by its beauty, he bent his knees and bowed. “As my kingdom commands”

“Now go, brother. Send a call to the army of Hairnipolis as well. This war is ours to win”

Falver took the banner with him as he rushed out of the hall towards his chamber. Tomorrow would be a great day, day to finally make use of his position. His heart had fully been twisted by his brother. Now I understand why father made him the High King. His eyes nearly glistened, he was moved by his brother, wanted to show the same energy tomorrow.