A Game of Chi Book I: A Crown of Blood

Chapter 16: Cragger III

CRAGGER

"How can this be?" demanded Rukus. "Chima has never, in all its history, had a queen!" Wendyll shrugged. "That's nothing new to me. In the Pack, anyone can rise up the ranks. If King Crominus decreed that Crooler is his heir, then we must abide by his last command." Cragger was sitting in the council chamber alongside the King's Council in order to decide on what to do with Crominus' last decree, a glass of wine in his hand. Rukus shook his head firmly. "No. There is a reason why most of the Seven Gods of Cavora are male. Cragger may not have been crowned, but he is Crominus' heir apparent. Nothing can change that."

"The Seven Gods of Cavora are mostly male because the charlatan who made them up was male," Razcal cut in. "You dare speak ill of the gods?" demanded Rukus. Razcal smiled his cunning raven smile. "You dare speak ill of the princess and rightful queen? Of the two of them, the gods and Princess Crooler, who is more likely to punish you if you insult them? Which is more likely to reward you if you help them? If you truly believe the gods have more influence on us than our rulers do, you're a fool." Rukus had nothing to say to that, so Razcal turned to face Cragger.

"Your Grace," he began, "surely you understand that I mean no harm. But decrees are decrees. If your father saw fit to name Crooler, his firstborn, as his successor, then it is law. It must be done." The rest of the council looked at him. Is it really my decision? Cragger hadn't been crowned, yet he had sat in on judgement on Lagravis, and Cruz a bit earlier. He had ordered Cruz to be thrown into the dungeons for the rest of his life, on Crooler's advice of course, since he had only poured the wine. "Please, Your Grace," Cruz had pleaded. "I tasted the wine. There was nothing in there! Please! I'm your cousin! You know I would never do something like this!"

"No doubt Crokenburg put him up to it. He was probably working with Lagravis." Cragger couldn't argue with his sister's sound advice, and so commanded that Cruz be locked up until the succession was dealt with. "Please! I swear on my life!"

"Then that's a promise with little value," Crooler had retorted. Before Cruz could be dragged off, the throne room doors had burst open. The guards aimed their spears, but when Cragger saw who it was, he waved his hand to stop them. "Father?" squeaked Cruz quietly. "What is the meaning of this?" demanded Crokenburg. "On Firestone, I hear that my brother is dead, so I come here at top speed to pay my respects. And I find my nephew charging my son with Crominus' murder?"

"The case against Cruz is strong, Uncle," said Crooler. "You will address me as Lord of Firestone, princess," Crokenburg said angrily. "I will address you however I like, Uncle. Cragger is king, and I am his First Advisor." Why did she lie about that? Cragger hadn't chosen a First Advisor; although Crooler was essentially acting like it, it was still a blatant lie. Crokenburg ground his teeth to his metal jaw in anger. He turned to address Cragger. "You say the charges are strong, Your Grace," he said, bristling. Cragger could tell that it had been hard for him to say the last two words. "We have evidence which suggests that Cruz was instructed by Lagravis to poison my father's wine. Lagravis is being brought to us now. Crokenburg shook his head. "Lagravis and Crominus were thick as thieves. He would never have killed his best friend."

"Says the one who conspired with them," accused Crooler. A vein bulged on Crokenburg's scaly forehead. "You dare insinuate that I killed my own brother?"

"Let's put you on trial and find out," Crooler replied. She nodded, and the guards began advancing on him. Crokenburg drew his trident from his back and slammed it into the ground. Behind him, an entourage of crocodiles, ravens and even a gorilla surrounded him, brandishing their weapons in a defensive circle. "I will not be subject to this false court," he spat. "No doubt my son had no chance to defend himself; no witnesses or alibis. I would get no chance if I were on trial. If you want to take me, there'll be a massacre in the throne room. And I don't think Crominus would have wanted that." The situation had been tense, but finally, Cragger waved his hand and the guards receded. "Will you be staying, Uncle?" he asked. Crokenburg turned away in disgust. "Return my son to me, and perhaps we can work together to make this reign an improvement over my brother's. Touch a scale on his head and I will stop at nothing to destroy you." Crokenburg and his forces turned and marched out of the throne room, leaving Cragger deep in thought. He knew we wouldn't fight him here, he thought. While he was still thinking, Crooler waved her hand. "Bring in Lagravis," she commanded.