The Duke's Lament

The Duke's Address

Within the capital city of Grimfell, nestled in the kingdom of Ardenthorne, commoners and nobles alike gathered in the courtyard underneath the main balcony to the Duke's castle.

A tall, pale man appeared before the people, walking onto the balcony into view as a hushed silence fell over every man, woman, and elf.

After a few more moments, the dignified man spoke, his voice booming across the crowds and into the city.

"Mana." He spoke plainly.

"It rules our humble world. It rules our very way of life. Without it..." he looked to those in the crowd he knew not to naturally bear mana.

"We are weak." he sneered and he motioned to another part of the courtyard where a man ranted and raved mad nonsense to the wind.

"When one overindulges themselves? They destroy themselves." his focus returned to the center of the crowd before him.

"I am pleased, nay, honoured to stand before you today as the leader who can effectively control this valuable, yet dangerous, resource. Together, we can thrive, but if you choose to be alone you will perish. Ultimately, the choice is yours, I will not force your hands." he spoke with a small grin which dropped once he saw some citizens beginning to filter from the crowd to leave.

"However, I will make you aware of the consequences of deserting." he growled as he outstretched his hand, his eyes glowing a fierce crystal blue.

A pained cry erupted near the gate that marked the exit to the courtyard as a man was lifted into the air by a distinct blue force. Within seconds he flew towards the orator, his neck landed in the open hand that waited patiently for his arrival.

"Your sacrifice will be of great service." was whispered as the terrified man's body erupted with blue veins. The crowd was dead silent as horrific screams filled the air. As quickly as it had begun, a bright light shone and the screams silenced as dust fell from the balcony to the courtyard below.

"It isn't without a heavy heart that I make my point, but this kingdom cannot... this kingdom will not thrive without us all working together to make it a better place." the speaker's voice boomed once more across the crowd filled with displeasure.

The figure reached behind him, clasping a silver chalice and lifting it from the pillow as it was presented by a servant. He raised the chalice before the people, a bright blue liquid sloshing out of the cup and falling into the courtyard. A few of the citizens below raced to capture what had fallen from the balcony but were very quickly apprehended by the guards who were standing by.

"A toast to us all in these fine city walls. A toast to all those who saw the value in my leadership. A toast to this new age. The age of magic, life, and of course, myself, Duke Arogwyn." he paused a moment to allow his name to fully ring across the city.

"Most importantly, a toast to all of you who will make this new age possible. For Ardensthorne!"

"For Ardensthorne!" roared out from the crowd which evolved into thunderous cheering from all over the city as celebratory flower petals fell from the sky.

All the while, Duke Arogwyn smirked looking out to his subjects. Taking a sip from his chalice, his eyes glowed brightly, cows mooing loudly nearby.

"Cadogan! Wake up!" a knock resounded in the room where a brown-haired young man lie in bed.

Cadogan bolted from what remained of his sleep, both from the images that had played before his mind's eye and his mother's more than needed loud knock.

Another knock resounded loudly.

"Get your chores done before we head to market! Food doesn't put itself on the table!" she nagged in the way only mother's can.

"Yes, mother! Be right there!" Cadogan responded loudly, trying to match his mother's volume so she would hear him and spare his ears from another loud pounding on the door.

Cadogan slowly rose from his bed, wiped the sleep from his eyes and yawned profusely.

"I don't feel like I slept at all." he complained to his empty room as he pulled on his clothing and began to tie his bootstrings. Once he felt ready to face the day, and made sure he had everything he would need he set out into the field to complete his chores.

"Mother, when is the formal address in Grimfell again?" Cadogan asked as he loaded hay and other feed into a small cart to bring to the hungry animals around the farm.

"The new Duke's address? Hmm, around a few days time. Why ever do you ask? Planning to go and make your debut as a farmer before the Duke and his nobles?" his mother jested with a hardy laugh at her own joke.

"No reason. Just curious really." Cadogan ignored his mother's joke as he automatically completed his chores, mind absent from them as it had fallen deep into thought.

"A few days time, and yet I have seen it so clearly in a dream despite it not having occurred yet." Cadogan spoke aloud, the animals making their various noises around him as they were happy to be fed.

"You all don't happen to know what's going on, do you?" he asked a nearby pig who snorted impatiently as Cadogan's questioning also stopped the hand with the feed in it from reaching its destination.

"No. I guess you wouldn't." Cadogan dismissed it, finishing up chore after chore until it was finally time to head to market with his mother.