The Obsidian Heir

Meekly

   Harwin clashed his sword with Lona the guardsmen. The sound of their steel pierced the ears of the guards watching them duel.
   Ser Haulen and Peline watched carefully as steel and steel was swung. The swords rung as swords clashed once more. Harwin gripped the grip of his sword tightly making sure it will not be forced out his hand. Lona El was a fierce guardsman. Although he did not easily control his anger. He had a face forged of anger and a mouth that spat out blasphemy to all.
   Harwin danced around swinging his sword from left to right. Lona jumped forward and gave a merciless swing of his sword.
   Harwin gave a tough hit to the sword of Lona. Lona's sword flew out his hand and onto the dirt ground of the courtyard. Lona gritted his teeth in anger and his face turned red. "You did good, you're in group b," said Harwin. The guardsman picked up his sword and walked over to a group of guardsmen. His black obsidian armor clanked together as he did a rough walk into his position.
   Ser Haulen walked up to Harwin and gave him a pat on the back, "I think that's enough training for today, what do you think?" asked Elinor. "I do too, men of the Obsidian City you may be dismissed," said Harwin as he gave a courteous bow. "Mark wants the army to be seperated in five different groups, labeled by the first five letters of the alphabet, a, b,c,d, and e, the first being the best of men and the last being the worst of men," said Hawrin.
   Elinor nodded, "I can see that," said Elinor as guardsmen left their groups and told crude jokes to each other. One built a fire and was telling a story about the mythical creatures of Valeen. "It is said, the dragons and Inferno are having their fight in the western part of Valeen, the ancient gods have foretold the Fight of Dragons, and some say it's the time for it," said the guardsmen in a stiff accent.
   Harwin listened to a bit of the story, "Damn the ancient gods, and the gods with no names, there is only one god," said Harwin to the guardsman. "And what kind of god is that, the god of foolery," said the guardsman mockingly and being the only one to laugh at the joke. "The kind of god who will be delivered your head. Peline his head," demanded Harwin. The guardsman stopped laughing and unsheathed his sword, but Peline grabbed him by the throat and broke his neck before he was able to use his sword. He kept squeezing until his head bursted off. "That's brutal; damn," said Ser Haulen.
   Peline grabbed the head of the guardsman and showed it to Harwin; Peline gave a grunt sound to him, "Throw his body in the well and his head too," said Harwin. Peline nodded and picked up the dead guardsman's corpse with one hand.
   All the guardsmen watched as Peline did his duty. Some looked away to not be glared at by Peline. Peline hated being stared at.
   It made him insecure, some will call him giant and he'd pinned them to the wall and crush their face on it in one punch. He always made sure the men were still alive during the whole process to feel the pain. A brutal giant, thought Harwin who was glad the giant couldn't read thoughts.
   Peline threw the corpse down the well, you can hear the disturbing flesh thuds of the corpse hitting the walls of the well as it fell down it. Harwin tried to keep himself from belcthing his stomach out, but he gave a gag anyway.
   "Disgusting it is," Ser Haulen agreed with Harwin's gag.  "Let's just hope that's not us one day," said Harwin as he covered his mouth incase a ill stomach comes upon him.
   "I need to get away from these wretched and wicked guards before one tries to kill me out of spite of losing against me, I have terrible news for Mark that I must not discuss while being here," said Harwin as a whiff of sulfur passed him.
   Ser Haulen nodded at him and Harwin took his leave. He entered through a doorway of obsidian and red flaming torches lit up the room through the doorway. The walls were pure obsidian; the floor was black as night.
   Harwin went up a flight of stairs and went down a long dark obsidian hallway. Harwin past the door to Mark's mother's room, and kept walking passed it. The end of the hall had took a ninety degree angle to the right and contiued on. He walked down to the end of the hallway the original turned to. At the end of it was Mark's chambers.
   Mark was scratching his almost full grown beard, "I have some grave news, my grace," Harwin said sullenly as he entered through the door to Mark's chambers. Mark looked up at him with his sullen eyes. "What is it general?" Mark asked.
   Harwin took a deep breath and sat down in the same chair that Iline watched Righara the second get his head sliced off by Peline. "Daren Gandar has been poisoned and gone into a coma," said Harwin. "By who? Tell me," Mark quickly demanded. "David sent the message and its saying that everyone says your half cousin Mace had done it, only because he fled Red Vail once Daren was put into the coma, but David says that Red Vail was overran by another house unknown to him," said Harwin, "What else?" Mark asked with a break of sadness in his voice. "It is said that this house is building an army bigger than all the armies in Esternia combined, their banners are men with nooses around their neck. Mark we may be next, so we have to do something about this; I have a few suggestions, but you may not like them," said Harwin.
   "Get them over with then," demanded Mark, Harwin can sense the stress in Mark. "Raehera had offered to ally with you, he says that the unknown house tried to poison him too by using the Goat Knight as it's toy, but the Goat Knight never did. Raehera says that the unknown house is called Tether. It has no kingdom, so it moves around like the Midnight Riders, but even they fear Tether. Tether calls his army the Moving Kingdom. Raehera has offered to ally with you, and he says if you do, at the end of the war, he vows to give back Tontly," said Harwin.
   Harwin saw a slight glimmer of glee in Mark's eyes. Maybe he'll agree to the terms, thought Harwin. Harwin waited for a response from Mark, "I want him now, I do not know how long this war may take us, I'll partner with Rein, but only if he gives me my dear brother back. Only then will I help Rein," said Mark. The Gandars have never been keen on telling the truth, so will Mark's terms be true? Harwin thought.
    Harwin didn't realized he had dozed off until Mark banged his fists on the table, the bang got Harwin's attention.
   "Anhthing else?" asked Mark angrily. "House Tether were seen marching towards Yorencraw, that's supposedly where Mace has headed to," said Harwin.
    Mark sighed. "Get my troops ready to march towards Yorencraw, I want each of them mounted on a horse. When there's not enough horses, the others can stay in the carriages led by the horses," said Mark. Harwin nodded, "May I dismiss myself?" asked Harwin. Mark shook his head, "No, stay please, I am in need of assistance," said Mark.
   "What's the matter, my grace?" asked Harwin. "If I go to war I may die, I need to make an heir before I do," said Mark. Harwin raised his eyebrow curiously, "So you: my king, wants to be betrothed to someone,"  assumed Harwin.
   "Yes. I'm asking you because you have a sister, and she is of age," said Mark. "Are you asking to marry with my sister?" asked Harwin, "Yes, what better match," said Mark smiling. "You barely know her my grace, what if she doesn't want to?" asked Harwin.
   "I won't force it on her, I am not like my brother. I would never kill a woman who denied to love me," said Mark. That brung glee to Harwin. At least Mark has manners for a woman.
   "I'll talk to her about it, if she says no, forgive her," said Harwin, "No, bring her to me, let me talk to her. It'll be more convincing if it came out my mouth than yours," said Mark.
   Harwin nodded, he impatiently shook his leg, he didn't want to stay any longer. The wanting to wed his sister made Harwin a bit agitated.
   "You may take your leave, Ser Meekly," said Mark. Harwin was in shock, no one ever calls him by his knight name, he must be excited. It kinda made Harwin a bit sad that he was feeling agitated about this. Mark seemed like a good man, better than Gregor.
   Harwin took his leave and gave Mark a fake smile as he exited through his door.
   Harwin made it to his house, a stone path led to the home. It was made of black concrete to match the gloomy looking obsidian. The door was painted purple. Windows made of iron bars were on the walls. He entered through the door and his sister was sitting on a purple cushioned chair. She was playing chess with their father, Colin Meekly. His sister was named  Layla Meekly. Colin had no hair, but a gray beard that was coarse thin and long. He had gray pale eyes and wrinkles swallowed his face.
    Layla was pretty, she had long brown hair, and very smooth skin, she was the same age as Mark. She had bright blue eyes thay were as beautiful as the clear sky. Colin checkmated Layla, she had no place to move her king without it being knocked off the chess board. Colin gave out a grand laugh.
   Layla frowned and stared at Harwin, "Just in time for chess, brother," Layla said with her sweet euphonious voice.
   Harwin shook his head, "That's not what I came for, I need to speak to you," said Harwin. "What is it son?" asked Harwin's father.
   "Mark Gandar wishes to marry Layla, he requests her prescence right now, Layla I want you to say no to him, please, I do not wish to be tied into a royal family," said Harwin, "Okay?" she said confused, "Why not, brother?" she asked, "Because being tied in a royal family means assassins, wanting to have you killed," said Harwin, "But you're his general, other people want to kill you already," said Layla, "That doesn't matter, I am a trained fighter and I didn't choose to become a general, now go to Mark's prescense and say no to him," demanded Harwin. Layla nodded and left the room. Colin looked at Harwin, his face was a shade of pink with a shade of anger.
   "You should let her, make her own decisions," said Colin, "I'm not making her, I'm demanding what I want, she can say yes, but it'll bring us in a royal tree," said Harwin as he sat down in the chair Layla was sitting down on, "And a royal tree means, assassins will want to poison us and cut our throats if the king makes a decision they do not like, a lot of people hate Gandar already."
   "That still doesn't mean you can control her," angrily said Colin almost slapping Harwin, but Harwin grabbed his risk before the impact can hit, "If the outcome is dangerous, you should do whatever it takes to prevent it, even if it means controlling someone, making people angry or sad, or ruins a bond, it's worth it all to keep you and those people safe," said Harwin. Harwin let go of his father's risk and exited through the door.
   Mark steadily beat the tips of his pink fingers against the wood of his desk making a thudding sound. He was shaking his leg. I'm a king of course she'll say yes, thought Mark. There was a light knock at the door. "Who may it be?" Mark asked, "It's me Layla Meekly, you requested my prescence, your grace," responded Layla nervously, "Oh yes, come in,"said Mark as he stopped beating on his desk.
   Layla entered and Mark looked at her with adoring eyes. She's beautiful, thought Mark. Her pink gown flung side to side as she walked towards the chair in front of his desk. She sat down with her hands on her thighs.
   "What is it do you want of, your grace?" asked Layla, "I want to get to know you better Layla, I'm interested in you. You're just... amazingly beautiful," said Mark who couldn't help, but to gaze at her beauty.
   Layla smiled and gave a slight giggle, "Thank you, your grace, you're handsome as well," said Layla. "Oh am I? I didn't know that, each time I look in the mirror I see quite the opposite actually," said Mark who chuckled.
   Layla chuckled with him. Please say yes, be my queen, Mark hoped. "So does Harwim treat you like a queen, or some skum on the road?" asked Mark, "He's never home, but he treats me fairly. He's polite. Sometimes he can lose his temper and he'll yell at me, but never hurts me," said Layla, "Well at least he doesn't bring any harm to you, the last thing you need is an ugly welt mark, or bruise on your beautiful skin," Mark complimented.
   Layla gave a sweet smile to the compliment. She has a pretty smile, and gorgeous blue eyes, I love her by the looks of her already, thought Mark. "You must be a brave man to lead armies and to kill Righara's son. You're quite the bold one," said Layla. Mark acted like he's never heard the words before and scratched his beard. "Thank you m'laday," said Mark as he held his hand out towards her. "Here take it, let me take you somewhere. I want to show you something Layla," said Mark. She nodded and grabbed Mark's hands.
   Their palms fit perfectlty into the other's. Both of them stood up from their chairs and Mark led them out of his chambers.
   They went down the hallway and stopped by a obsidian door. Mark opened the door and gave her a polite gesture to go inside.
   Layla gave him a pretty smile once more and entered through the door. The room had no ceiling and it had been raining before they came in. Rain hit their faces when they entered the room. There was a beautiful garden with tons of variations of flower.
   She gazed at the flowers, "Here, you can have one," said Mark as he gestured toward the flowers. Layla's eyes glimmered with romance as she stared into Mark's eyes. As she gazed at the rows of flowers, Mark felt a feeling in his chest. It was a strong feeling, and it made him feel good. It made his face red, but with love. It was romance.
   She gazed at a purple flower, "That one is what the Ra'lerians call D'ea'hu B'loop'uh. Also known as the Melancholic Bloomer," said  Mark.
   Layla looked at Mark and noticed he was red, "Awh, you're blushing," said Layla as she rubbed her finger across Mark's face, and kissed him softly on the cheek.
   She backed away from Mark and their eyes locked together. The feeling of love filling both of them...