Throne of Blood

Part I Chapter 3

Ilor felt his lungs about to burst.

"I just have to make it back to the tower," he thought to himself.

"Halt and I won't cut off your hand," a Valtorian guard suddenly appeared in his full crimson armor and drew his sword. He pointed it at Ilor and let a grin of satisfaction pour across his face.

Ilor felt trapped. The surrounding homes along the streets of the Valtorian capital of Meloas quickly seemed to suffocate everything around. People chattering, the bustle of the city all seemed to encase him as time froze instantaneously as two more guards from the rear rapidly inclosed upon him.

Two guards behind one in front. Knights of Valtoria, guards of the city, easily bored humans who wouldn't hesitate to feel the thrill of chopping off a street thief's hand. The two rear guards unsheathed their swords and began enclosing Ilor. Ilor lunged at the first guard with his fist landing squarely on the unsuspecting guard in front. The unfortunate front guard never saw the fist flying towards him and was out cold by the time his armored body clattered to the ground. The two guards behind Ilor slashed at him but were unable to hit the speedy young man who was used to running from the slow, encumbered knights. Ilor leapt over the unconscious guard, racing towards his freedom. He turned an alley corner feeling the rush of a battle fought and won coursing through his veins. The young man clambered up a building leaping roof to roof until he felt the ease and excitement of having escaped the clutches of such inferior warriors once again.

Ilor continued his path along the flat rooves in the city until he managed back to his lonely paradise in an abandoned watch tower that had been left after the expansion of the city walls.

As Ilor climbed the crumbled stone stairway leading to the top, he felt the invincibility that young people do when they think nothing can end them.

As Ilor reached the top, he let out a slight chuckle. "You just can't beat this view," Ilor smiled.

The city Meloas stretched out before Ilor in all its splendid evening glory. As sunset began to stretch out upon the citizens of the grand seaside capital, the taverns and the port began to light up like little flickering specks of light suddenly coming to life as the encroaching darkness made its advance. The vast city with its many inhabitants stretched out on the bay with its thick marble walls linking in an arch on the eastern border of the city with both ends halting on the shore of the sea. Three towers stood watch over Meloas, with one in the upmost part of the arch and one on either end of the half circle that allowed the city watch to observe the hilly area around.

The ports along the coast featured sharp crews with well-trimmed navy captains, haggling merchants, and scraggly fishermen. As the sun continued its descent into the ocean, Ilor gazed at the ships dotting the water like stars amongst the dark blue expanse. Meloas was known for its mighty ships and its bustling port. Through them all trade spread throughout the entire kingdom of Valtoria. The wealth of the kingdom was in the possession of these ports.

At the center of the expansive city was the crown jewel of the Blood Palace. Built in the first days of the king of old, the Blood Palace of Meloas was a sight to behold. Two walls of dark ash-colored stone separated the alluring structure from the rest of the city. The outer wall was old and used mostly prior to the formation of the grand marble wall now standing today. Inside this circle housed the noble's and kings' court. These were the people of royal lineage and of great importance that had decided to set up their domain in the prosperous capital. The inner wall served as protection for the castle itself, where the king and his family presided. The Blood Palace defied its name in its smooth,  tan stone walls, roof, and columns. Courtyards filled with gardens of every variety of fauna surrounded the main structure. These gardens, with their river-like water paths and carefully placed greenery, allowed one to feel as though they had suddenly been transported into a rainforest in the deepest and most sacred part of the land. The palace itself stood twenty stories high. A marvel achieved by the first high king who established the Valtorian empire long ago. The palace consisted of a main central tower that stood proud and strong in the midst of every trying situation. Around it were the wings of the building spotted with their own much smaller turrets. The palace was truly the pinnacle of Valtorian success and wealth.

Within the palace lived High King Valrun's family. King Valrun came from a long line of royalty dating back to Valtoria's first king himself. Valrun was a good king who loved his people dearly and enjoyed a time of peace unlike any before him had seen. The prosperity of the realm was at its height, and it seemed as though it would never end. He had been a grand warrior who fought at his father's side during the War of Reunification. Valtoria, upon its formation by the first king, was an established empire of five kingdoms; Meloas, Seavern, Amfell, Kilaron, and Petroas. The latter two kingdoms decided to revolt during Valruns father, King Talerns rule. During this revolt, Valrun had established himself as a cunning soldier who quickly showcased the expertise of a seasoned general, the strength of an ox, and the ferocity of a lion despite his youth. He was feared and respected amongst all soldiers who fought with him. After peace had been established and the two revolting kings had been subdued, Valrun began to enjoy the peace and allowed himself to develop the ideology that peace would never be broken again. His wife, High Queen Esmer, was a beautiful woman with striking features. Her long brown hair and piercing blue eyes only further complimented her defined, lovely face and dark olive skin. Her eyes pierced all those who dared speak against her and easily warmed the coldest of hearts were you to seek her friendship. The king and queen ruled together with a grace and power that brought joy and pride to people who served them. The monarchy couple was expecting a child soon that would hopefully be the first of many children to strengthen the established line. Joy was on all who lived in the city of Meloas and benefited from its success.

At the center of this bubbling excitement was the awe-provoking throne room of the Blood Palace. This very room consistently sent a shudder down Ilor's spine whenever he thought of it. Every decision made on behalf of the kingdom and its people was made in the throne room of Valtoria. It was a grand room filled supported by blue marble pillars and flooring, both of which depicted Valtoria's history through the expansive murals and carvings that covered them. Every battle, triumph, king, queen, and important decision remained forever etched in the surroundings. It was a reminder of all that had passed and the future that awaited the kingdom. Positioned in the back of the room, the high king's throne sat alone on an elevated platform positioned in front of a window gazing out upon the vast, glistening Val Sea. The throne itself was of the finest iron craftsmanship and was built by the first king himself. Known to be as gifted in smithery as he was with a sword, Valtoria's first king, Fedrdor, wrought down a swift victory over the five kingdoms of the realm. He unified Valtoria and established the grand kingdom that now existed. When building his throne, he decided only he was worthy of creating the very thing he and his descendants would pass judgment on for centuries to come. The throne was forged of black iron with the back perched high upon the seat with beautiful carvings of the landscape of Valtoria etched into it. Fedrdor knew that becoming king of such a vast realm comes at a price. Holding such power in one's hands should not come lightly. He, therefore, decided to leave the right side of the throne open as an execution block. It was here all capital punishments would be performed by the king and the king alone. This was to serve as a reminder for himself and the generations to come that for one to dole out punishment, one must be willing to enact it themselves. Ruling comes at a cost, and a good king understands that cost. Fedrdor made sure that no king after him would forget it, and for the next five hundred years, into Valrun's time as king, the throne was used as the place where executions were held. Criminals, from the lowest thief who had been convicted of heinous crimes to the lords who had chosen rebellion over loyalty. Every single one faced their end on the king's throne. And thus, the Blood Throne was established, and King Fedrdor came to be known as the Blood Emperor.