A Tale of Time: The Malice of Men

Chapter 11: Doubts

                  .      Doubts are frank. Doubts are mocking.

                          Doubts are questions. Doubts are answers.

                          Doubts are suspicious. Doubts are obvious.

                          Doubts are seeds; the winds of change.

Teylin certainly had his fair share of doubts. The nature of his societal status required him to he suspicious. His own nature required him to be questioning. He always wanted to know why. He asked tough questions and eventually found the hard answers. Still, the world continued to astound him.

His current employer and liege Lord had certainly sprung a few surprises himself, leading Teylin to wonder if he did indeed know Asteryn Greatsbane and if so, how well?

Asteryn managed his resources well. He made good use of the abilities of the men he had surrounded himself with. He was a great planner and knew how to get things done. Those who failed him quailed in fear while those who were competent could hope to rise high. Teylin's own men often spoke of their new King. Some flaunted outrageous rumours while others spoke subtly and cautiously. They all praised the acts of the new King, but they were worried, fighting a faceless and nameless enemy. Even in the town, , the talk refused to die down. Tongues were wagging, ears twitching. 'The King has magicians to make food.' 'The King has a secret army.' 'The King will distribute some gold.'  They would be sorely disappointed. Nevertheless, the general mood of the public seemed happy and crime rates had come down drastically. Teylin reported as much to the King.

Asteryn the King was a ver different man compared to Asteryn the Prince. As a prince, he was open, loyal, explicit and outspoken, even. As a King, he was reserved cold, calculating and stern. He became as grim as could be. He was iron. He refused to bend and always got.his way. People obeyed him, followed his orders to the dot. Asteryn, Teylin's friend did not exist any more.

He had cut his hair short. Those long locks that got entangled in and amongst themselves when he shook his head were no more. His beard had begun to grow. He looked leaner, more fierce than Teylin had ever seen him. Indeed, how well did he know his friend?

Over the course of a week,  his life had changed completely. He was no loner a blacksmith but the captain of the Townsguard. He didn't have customers. He had men who reported to him. 

His second-in-command, Shastha, reported frequently, helping him out in making decisions. Shastha belonged to the old men. If things had taken its natural course, he would have gone on to become the next captain. He did not grudge Teylin though and conveyed as much to him. "To lust for power is a mistake we made long ago. It is one I choose not to repeat." Said the forty year old from Symbeya.

Evvery evening, Teylin was to give a general report of the city to the King. The reports were one my positive. Rebellions were quelled, public peace maintained and the town seemed to blossom like it never did under the rule of Aghbard.

There was stil some time left forTeylin to report to the King when an unexpected visitor came to visit Teylin in his private chambers. Assad, the Royal physician was very skilful. It required all his skill to revive Joe Salsberg. He was resting on Teylin's bed. His head was heavily bandaged and little could be seen of his once long and golden hair. Still, he seemed fairly strong, though his face was very pale due to all the blood he had lost. He was conscious now and could help Teylin in his investigation, though not as much as he would have liked.

"I told you Teylin, the man was masked! I do not know who he was. He did not even speak. He paid Bronstonn and left."

"What,did you notice? How was he built? How was his mask?"