All Of Us - Part 1: Summer

Chapter 11 - The Baron of Vusenor

- Dæor -

The throne. There it is. Finally.

In a few movements, I cross the room and reach the chair. Reaching out to stroke the red velvet, I marvel at its softness. The wood is ancient and carved with craftsmanship lost centuries ago. I clench my teeth. This has lasted for far too long. I need to put an end to this tyranny. I twist and face the empty throne hall, wondering at its size. Imagine it filled with people chanting my name. Throngs of people, entire halls full of people, all chanting my name. "Dæor ! Dæor !"

"What are you doing in my Castle, you worthless runt ? If you don't leave, I'll kill you like your sister."

I sit up and smile, slowly. My pulse is calm and I'm not scared at all.

"I've come to send you where you belong."

The King's face clouds with anger.

"You Serv-"

"Oh, shut up."

I bound off the chair and rush in his direction. He barely has the time to get his sword out of his sheath before I bring Shadow up and down against his weapon.

"Time to pay for everything you did to us," I gnarl. He huffs and tries to push against my sword. But I am too strong; he is no match for me. His feet slide backwards, and before he knows it, he is up against the wall.

His face is one of sheer panic, and I can feel his heart thundering from here.

"Time to die," is all I say, before I raise Shadow and-

"D ! D ?"

... get woken up by Keiti.

"Keiti," I groan, wiping drool from my mouth, "Do you really have to do this now ?"

Through my half-open eyelids, I can tell she's smirking.

"It's already midnight, sleepy boy." She tosses a clean change of clothes on my stomach and I receive it with a dull "oof". "Get changed. We gotta go, remember ?"

I wipe my eyes before opening them wide. Has night time always been this glaringly bright ? Ah, no - it's just Keiti waving a torch in front of my face. I glare at her before pushing her out of the bedroom.

"Why am I being kicked out ? I've seen you naked loads of times, you kn-"

I slam the door in her face. I will deal with the consequences later.

I lift my arms and take off my shirt. Sweat drenches my chest. The dream had gotten my body heat up, apparently. I sigh. That dream... It's recurrent. It must be the, what, seventh time I've had it ? And every time, every single time, I wake up before I get to slice his throat. I always curse whatever wakes me up, but I don't this time. Maybe... Maybe it's better that I don't know what happens next. Would I set the throne on fire, like I promised I would do ?

Or would I sit on it ?

I slam the door back open, and Keiti jumps. "Shh, D, they're sleeping, idiot."

"You're literally the only person in Methron who can both call me D and idiot in the same sentence and still live to see another sunset."

My head doesn't turn, but I know she's grinning.

"Alright, recap. What did we ask from him last time ?" she asks.

"Twelve swords and around a hundred arrows. He better have them," I grumble. "We need to replenish our stocks."

We reach the exit of the camp, and Keiti pulls down on the old lever mounted on the wall next to the door. The seemingly bare rock face halves itself, and we step outside.