Far away in the east, distant from the bulk of Garemir Castle, lay yet another fortress. Rounded and made from semi-smooth black rock, in the night it looked just as formidable as its cousin in the west. A large port lay off the coast of the sea nearby, closed and seemingly abandoned with the coming of night. A few torches burned like sparks on the castle's dark walls, moving slowly across, marking the place of the Night Watch. Posted on the wall were flags, near invisible in the night, portraying the Red Hawk of Accipater. Silence was nearly complete - even the normal nocturnal night sounds seemed muffled in recognition of the overshadowing citadel in the night. The only noises with enough audacity to break the silence were the sea-waves in their calm, repetitive advance and retreat on the coast.
High in one of the black towers of the inner acropolis, King Steven Dembras was getting ready to retire for the night. It had been a regular day schedule-wise, filled with talking and dealing with high position nobles, sending messages, and getting military reports from the defenses on the Suffran Plateau. The former task was annoying and time-consuming, having no foreseeable benefits. The nobles all knew who was in the real position of power in Accipater, despite their titles of nobility. They all wanted to get in close with the King, hoping to get pulled up the political ladder.
Sometimes King Steven thought that he should just get rid of the ambitious nobles and be done with it. But that was what King Clayton in the West Kingdom had done, and King Steven despised his rival's blunt tactics. So instead, King Steven was satisfied to twist and trick the nobles according to his wishes. It was a fun game to play. The aristocrats thought they were furthering themselves, when really they were furthering King Steven's plots of power.
As for the fortifications on the Suffran Plateau, that was the front of the war. Recently, since the disappearance of the Orb of Power, the war had died down to a few skirmishes. But King Steven knew not to underestimate his rival, and a full-scale attack could pop up at any time. The Suffran Plateau happened to be the only clear way to get to Dembras Castle, and both Kings knew it. It was the center of all the conflict, and the desert-like land was bathed in blood.
The King walked over to the large window, opening it up and letting the cool night air in. Breathing deeply, he looked at the cages on the sill. Inside were several hawks, shifting and moving around slightly as they too, prepared to sleep. These were the King's messenger hawks, capable of flying across the land at fast, reliable speeds to carry any message. These were current trained to fly to Garemir Castle, where King Steven's spy-assassin waited and watched. A few empty cages sat outside as well, in case the spy had anything to report to the King in turn. But tonight, everything was silent.
And so King Steven turned back to his bed and began to blow out candles. The twilight outside quickly invaded through the window to take up the vacuum of light the smoking candles left. Silence quickly followed as well.
But a few minutes later, the silence in turn was invaded. King Steven sat up, alert. The slight sound of flapping penetrated the shadow, reaching over and tickling the King’s ears.
He stood up and quickly moved over to the window. Moving around in one of the empty messenger-hawk cages was one of fast birds, a strip of paper tied around its leg. Quickly King Steven took the message and closed the bird inside its cage, where it settled down obediently.
Eagerly the King’s fingers open the strip of paper and read its contents.
My King,
An extremely surprising turn of events has occurred here at Garemir Castle. A boy appeared in Farlin Woods during a hunting party. He was found carrying an item that disappeared three months ago, an item that you have shed much blood to acquire. The Orb of Power.
King Clayton desires the Orb very much, and is probably already planning a way to get the Orb away without the boy destroying him. If you want the Orb, then you better move fast to get it before King Clayton uses it. I cannot steal it for you – if King Clayton gets it no one will be able to take it from him without force.
I await your command,
Dreadnought
King Steven smiled inwardly. Dreadnought was the perfect secret name for his agent. Who else could infiltrate into the very center of the vile realm of Caerulus?
But this information was very troubling. The Orb of Power, found at his rival’s palace, about to enter his possession. This message would have been written a day ago, and by now King Clayton may have taken the Orb. He needed to move fast.
Soon King Clayton would find a real battle on his hands.
YOU ARE READING
The White Orb
FantasyOne day, Caleb finds a white marble. He immediately is entranced by its beauty. But he has no idea where it actually came from, and what trouble it will get him in to......
