Throne of Blood

Part I Chapter 12

"Your majesty we are approaching Gold Pass," Dade, commander of the High Guard Cavalry, reported to King Valrun. The group had been traveling for three days and finally came to the first major stop along the road to Petroas. Gold Pass was a key city that divided the East from the West. It had been strategically placed in the middle of the Gold Road and was known as one of the most heavily fortified cities in the entire kingdom.

To the north of Gold Pass were the mountains of Idros, with the Gold Road running east to west through the city. The protection of the mountains along with the important road, made the city a crucial part of trade throughout the kingdom. The city itself was heavily fortified with a constant guard of soldiers in their gold-colored armor and spears to complete the deadly ensemble. The soldiers were known for being skilled with the spear and being able to easily impale an opponent from the tall stone wall that encompassed the city.

Very few civilians inhabited the city; most people were there only for their trade, such as the smiths, cobblers, tavern owners, masons, and the like. The city mostly contained barracks, inns, and shops with little to no homes inside. The goal of Gold Pass was to establish a safe trading point between the various kingdoms of Valtoria.

As the king entered the city with his men, he returned to the war and the lives lost in the battle on these grounds. He remembered the blood shed and the cost that had been paid at the expense of the greedy kings of Petroas and Kilaron. He could not, would not, forget the men he had lost in defense of their home.

"Your majesty, I believe it to be good to stay here for the remainder of the afternoon and push on in the morning. It would do the men some good to have an actual bed for the evening," Dade said to his king.

"Very well, commander," said Valrun, "let us stay here tonight." He turned to address the commander. "I have some business to attend to anyway. The men are dismissed for the night."

"Your majesty," Dade bowed and reared his horse about to notify the men that they could enjoy themselves after the three days of hard riding.

Valrun moved his horse at a trot along the streets of the fortified city as he headed towards the main hall. It had been several years since he had seen the warden of Gold Pass, Floran, and it would be good to catch up on the events of the kingdom. Floran knew everything that happened as all trade came through his city, and he had surely heard the reports of the king's brothers growing eccentrics.

The great hall was a good sized wood and stone structure that resembled the pointed mountains to the north. As Valrun dismounted his horse he pushed aside the heavy wood doors and entered the large, open room filled with the leaders of the city seated at long wooden tables. Every social event, decision, and celebration happened within this hall. Valrun took in the warm scene of fires crackling on round stands throughout as people shuffled about, laughing, and enjoying their conversations.

The king made his way into the back of the hall where Floran was seated with some of his men. Floran glanced ever so slightly to the side as he spied his king walking through the hall Gold Pass.

"Men arise before your king!" he shouted as the men immediately responded with the scraping of benches and chairs along the floor, standing at attention and silencing their conversation as the High King continued to make his way into the hall.

"At ease men of Gold Pass," Valrun announced to the hall cutting the silence to an end as each man took up his seat and conversation once again. Floran, however, remained standing as he made his way toward the king to welcome him into his city.

"Your majesty I was not expecting you for at least another day," Floran said, shocked at the sudden arrival of Valrun. "I apologize for the lack of welcome if only I had know--"

"Nonsense," said Valrun cutting the apologetic man short. "I prefer to not draw too much attention to this venture of mine."

Floran bowed his head in acknowledgement. "Come your majesty we have much to discuss before your departure." Floran lead the king out of the hall and into a smaller room that was hidden away and filled with maps and parchments of all shapes and sizes. Each one picturing a surrounding area and the strategic points of these landscapes.

The door had barely closed when Floran immediately blurted "You must head back to Meloas my king. You have to, you must, there are rumors, dark rumors, and -- well -- you need to be wary of what may lie ahead if you choose to continue your journey to Petroas."

There was sheer terror in his eyes as he said these things. A fear, unlike anything Valrun had seen before in the seasoned warrior. Floran's face was pale and his eyes were darting back and forth as though he expected the walls to jump from their place and strike him down. His sudden change in demeanor struck a cord of worry in the heart of Valrun.

"My friend what are you talking about? I understand the rumors of Kavanland building an army and I know my brother has been a bit -- I guess wild in recent days, but still these are nothing more than rumors," Valrun said, unsure of his own guarantee that the rumors were nothing more than that.

"You do not understand, these rumors of Kavanland are the least of your worries. There is a darkness that is befalling this kingdom and the coming attack from the west will only be the beginning. You must trust me, your brother has sensed it too. The ground quakes with the groaning of a new power that will try to take everything," Floran said, shaking at the idea of this power coming to fruition.

Valrun could not believe the transformation of this large, feared warrior who had become nothing more than a quivering child afraid of the dark. There was no sign of any power other than Kavanland and even if they decided to attack they would quickly be vanquished!

"My king I know this must be hard to believe, but there have been reports of an ancient cult that is reviving and preparing for it's triumph. You must heed my words, you must."

"Floran I understand that you may be worried but there is nothing to fear. Valtoria is in a time of peace and the world around us is thriving! I will not base my actions off of your fears of some mysterious cult that has no say in our world."

"But your majesty. This is no mere cult. There has been word that the Night Thorns have come back again."

"Impossible," Valrun scoffed, "the Night Thorns are a mere child's tale to scare their children into being good."

Floran's darting eyes halted as they stared into the kings own disbelieving stare. "They are no fairy tale, your majesty. The Night Thorns are coming and when they do there will be a price to pay."