The Son of Hades - Born of Fire

William Chapter 15

"Wake up, you filth," shouted Victor, as he stood next to William while he slept on the ship's mucky hall. He shouted three more times but still there was no movement coming from William. Being annoyed, Victor began stamping his feet repeatedly against William's chest until he heard coughs and panting coming out from him. "Look," Victor said aloud, staring at his men. "He still lives." The crew began laughing hysterically.

"Why have we stopped?" William asked him, struggling to stand up.

"You'll soon find out," said Victor, "as will all of us." He then proceeded to toss a black cloth bag over William's head. He then placed him into a small boat, with some of the crew sitting amongst him. He then felt the boat as it were being lowered onto the water.

"Can't you lots row any faster," Victor quarreled. "You've managed to beat me to the brothels but can't row to save your damn lives."

"I would like to see you do better," a tough voice told him. He was a large man with the colour of summer upon him. He had the size of three grown man and a large bald head to match his thick rounded gut. "You're always complaining, no wonder your wife left you for a fishermen."

"Shut up Cyrus," replied Victor. "Don't force me to sell you to that fat merchant in Valtray. You know how tough he likes his meat."

"I'm sorry," Cyrus said almost immediately, forcing the words out.

After rowing for more than ten minutes, they finally reached the shore. Victor led them all, dragging William along still bound in shackles. He led them through a very large port, he explained his business to the guards and after a few minutes of confirming his story they let him through. As they were walking through the streets minding their own, every eye befall them.

After arriving at the castle's gate, the soldiers permitted them to enter after hearing what they had to say. Victor waited eagerly in the throne room alongside his men. William knelt before them still unware of his surroundings.

A man nearing his fifties came entering dressed in a fine blue robe. He approached them, trying with all his strength to not shed a tear. Though they weren't any tears you could still see the sadness that stuck to his eyes. "Is it really him?" the man asked.

"I don't make mistakes Theoden," Victor replied. "I did once, when I married my whore of a wife, but that was then."

"Let me see him," Theoden demanded.

"Not so fast," Victor told him, massaging William's shoulders as he spoke. "I'd like my payment in full and at once."

"I don't buy cat in bag Pirate, so show me his face."

"I can't do that," Victor admitted. "What if you don't like what you see, then the efforts of my men and I will be in vain."

"Fine," Theoden said in annoyance. He ordered one of his men to fetch the purse. The man brought back a small white cloth bag filled with coins. "Now show me his face," ordered Theoden.

"With pleasure," responded Victor, before pulling the cloth from over William's face. Theoden looks at him curiously while William was still a bit confuse.

"I have never seen this man before; it must've been a mistake," Theoden confessed.

Victor and his team stood there confused, not knowing how to respond. "No take backs," he then said, hiding the bag of coins in his crotch.

"Is this the Kingdom of Valgorn?" William asked. He seemed to have recognized the place.

"Yes?" Theoden replied.

"I cannot be here. He'll kill me if he finds me."

"Who will?" Theoden asked.

"King Balthazar."

"Balthazar died eighteen years ago," Theoden explained.

"Who are you?"

"My name is William Valgorn, son of Balthazar."

Everyone in the room were stunned at the new revelation. Even the guards who stood there in firm positions couldn't help but pay notice at their long lost prince.

"Don't you recognize me William?" Theoden asked.

"Theo," William muttered.

"Yes," he answered. The man then knelt before William, giving him a warm welcoming hug. "Release him now," Theoden commanded Victor.

After hearing all that had been said, Victor immediately pulls his curved bronze dagger, pressing it against William's throat. "Seeing that he's so important, I want triple the amount. Three hundred goldlings sounds more than fair."

Before he could've finished his sentence, the Valgornian guards were already aiming their spears toward him and his band of thieves.

He looked around and in an instant he knew he held no chance against Theoden's forces. There was no way out for him, except for options that weren't in his best interest. Even his men had given up, handing over every little weapon they hid in different areas of their clothes.

"Drop your weapon, or die where you stand," Theoden's patience were beginning to run thin.

Victor drops the dagger and was soon escorted alongside his men by nearly two dozen soldiers, being carried into the deeper most unpleasant part of the dungeon. William was free of all chains and was curious to know everything.

"Tell me, how did my father died?" he wondered.

"Killed in his bed," replied Theoden. "Three months after you left home, they found a green serpent wrapped around his throat with a bite mark on his neck. The poison did most of the work, because when we found him he was already dead."

William stood in disbelief. "Enough of my father," he then said. "Where is my brother?"

Theoden carried him to his brother, he was lying in a sarcophagus in the Kings Tomb. William stood near the coffin, crying over him. For a moment he couldn't believe what he was seeing. He thought his eyes were playing a trick or two on him.

"Brother, I'm here. I'm sorry it took me this long to come back home. You never once failed me as a brother. His tears fell even more.

"How'd he die?"

"He had a lung infection," Theoden confessed as he stood on the other side of the coffin. "If you'd come just four days earlier, you would have made his day."

"I'll leave you alone," said Theoden, "to make your peace."