Summer Beyond the Frontier

Prologue

"Escort the king to safety!" the General yelled amidst the thundering fall of the castle into debris.

"Yes, sir!"

"What about you, General?!" the king asked, not out of concern for the general's life but out of fear of incompetence from the general's men.

"Your life comes before mine, sire. I will lead the rest of the men to the meadow where the enemies attack our armies.

The king had spent a lot on his armies and the news reaching him was that they were falling. It shatters his heart but what shatters his heart even more was that his first wife whom they had built everything together led the enemies to him.

To him, she was being unreasonable, filled with greed and blinded by treachery desires. They had started the walls of the castle from scratch, facing challenges together and stepping above all odds. She had contributed more to the erection of the castle. She had even sacrificed more to create a world where they had risen above many. It was shocking to him to find out someone he had trusted more would contribute...no, lead the ruins of that world.

She had helped with the farming on the fields where the enemies now march. She had neglected her family in the Northwave to be with him and the people here in Almageon. She had neglected her roles of being on the battlefield with her brothers and father just to be with him; to make embroideries, to appear more lady-like in silk and embellishment. She had abandoned her warrior lifestyle to appear more delicate, only to turn against him for no reason. 

"Take me to the Northern Pavillion of the Mestige wing." It was the wing where the maids resided and if it hadn't fallen to debris from the harsh oil and fire, the enemies would have taken control of it. Why then does the king need to visit such a place?

"Your majesty. That wing would have fallen to..."

"You think I do not know what might have happened to that place at this hour?" the king grabbed his face in total anger and the man nodded vehemently out of respect.

The carriage rode hurriedly to the Mestige wing where women ran for their lives and to their surprise, it was the only building still upright.

The king got down from the carriage and hurried toward the building in all urgency.

"The enemies have taken control of the Southern Pavilion. In no time, they will arrive here!" one of the men said as he hurried behind the king, unsheathing his sword.

"Keep quiet and light the stick so I can see where I am heading."

The soldier felt the king was prepared for his death and he wasn't prepared to go against his military vow.

"I have sworn to escort you to safety, Your Majesty. I will do just that." the soldier said, standing firmly and before he took the second blink, the king's hand landed heavily on his cheeks.

"And you will disobey me in the process of carrying out your vow?"

"I have sworn to protect you, Your Majesty," he replied, unyielding.

"Fine. Stand your guard outside here. I do not need you to follow me there anyway!" The king was filled with anger as he grabbed the stick and lighted it from the side-wall lamps that lit the corridors.

The king had only taken a few steps before he walked back to the soldier who stood firmly with his sword in hand. "When all of this is over, report to me with your sword and armour. You have ceased to be a soldier of the Almageon!"

"Your majesty," he called after him with despair but the king walked away angrily.

"This is my last resort. If this goes down it only means I am doomed!" he said as his silky purple robe which his wife had made him flowed behind him hurriedly.