The Neomation Chronicles

A Plan To Succeed

16 hours earlier
"WELL, WHAT ARE WE TO DO THEN?"

Elias was in a pretty bad mood, his counsel meeting had dragged on for nearly 4 hours, and still not one of his advisors was talking a single word of sense!

Baron Walter sighed, and ran his hand through his hair gingerly as the king fumed. He was beginning to get quite worried about whether he'd make it home that night; already four new positions had quite........ messily........ opened up in court due to the King's temper, and Walter wondered if he was next.

"WALTER!"

The sound of his name roused the Baron from his stupor, and he looked up at King Elias.

"My liege?"

"Please, enlighten this counsel room once and for all. Tell us how we will succeed in beating the prophesy. And think carefully before you speak, we don't want another "accident" now, do we?"

Walter gulped, stood up, and looked at the entire counsel room. Hoping and praying to all the gods he knew that these wouldn't be the last words he uttered, he addressed the room.

"Gentlemen of the court, we are in dire times. Every minute we fear an attack by giants and goblins on our borders, and the rebel cause grows stronger by the day. The people are nearing revolt as rumors the The Enlightened One has arrived."

He paused, and looked around the room.

"The rumors are true."

A loud gasp went up all over the room, and then everyone started whispering to each other, scared of what this meant for them and their positions in the kingdom, and even their own lives. As soon as they all realised their lives were in danger however, the whispering turned to yells as they all turned on Walter and demanded answers.

The Baron looked over at King Elias, a silent ask of approval to continue in his eyes. To his immense relief, Elias nodded and standing up yelled, "SILENCE!!"

The room immediately fell silent, and all eyes turned to Elias.

"The good Baron is not finished gentlemen. Please, let him continue."

Walter looked over at Elias, and the king nodded at him to continue.

"As I was saying gentlemen, the rumors are true. The Enlightened One fell from the sky exactly as the prophesy said two days ago. However, we have no need to worry. He is but a 15 year old boy."

A fifteen year old boy?

The courtroom soon felt comfortable again, and some of the Knights even started laughing in relief that the danger was over. Over in the corner, a hand went up. King Elias looked over, and waved him up.

"Sir Timmomds?"

The young knight stood up, and looked at the Baron.

"Gentlemen, I wouldn't advise getting comfortable just yet. In my head, I still think this boy poses a threat to the kingdom. After all, don't the books on the history of our Kingdom state that our King's own grandfather was also only 15 when he conquered these lands?"

The chatter soon stopped again as the words of the young knight sunk in, but scared to start voicing their thoughts again, they a turned to the Baron once more for answers.

Lord Corolin spoke up for the room and said, "Baron, the lad speaks truth. I saw the late king conquer these lands with my own eyes. I hope you thought about this, and considered a plan of action that will keep this Kingdom safe from an attack from within."

All eyes were fixed on the Baron again, who by this point was sweating. He turned slightly, and noticed Elias darkly watching him. His life flashed before his eyes as he spoke again.

"We could just end his life here and now."

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the counselroom, but then another young knight, Sir Williams, stood and spoke up.

"I don't think that would be a wise course of action Baron, what if the rebels get wind of it? They would use it to further fuel their cause!"

The room fell silent again as yet another ton of truth was dropped on their heads. King Elias looked up at the knight, and glared at him.

"And how do you propose to fix this problem then boy?"

The knight paled a little, but regained his composure soon after, and answered.

"We should do the unexpected my liege. The rebels expect us to kill him on the spot, but what if we didn't?  What if we used their own weapon against them?"

Elias looked up suddenly, his brow dark and moody, but then the knight's words sunk in, and the room saw his face change from murder to an evil smirk.

"So what you're saying is, we tell him about the prophesy, but make us the victims?"

He looked up at Sir Williams, who was slowly paling by the second, and walked over to him.

"Well then lad? Is that what you're saying?"

"Y-y-yes s-sire." stammered Williams.

"Hmmmmmmmm......"

Elias looked him up and down, then turned to the general over his Elite Palace Guards.

"Lescott!!"

"Sire?"

"Is this boy in your battalion?"

General Lescott looked at Sir Williams, then shook his head.

"No Sire."

Elias looked back at Williams, who by now had broken out in sweats and was as paler than a sheet of paper.

"Move this lad over to your battalion. Also I think a promotion to captain is due, don't you?"

Lescott nodded, and bowed. "It will be done Sire."

"Good." Elias turned around and walked back to his seat, leaving a stunned Captain Williams standing there.

"Walter?"

"My liege?"

The Baron was now sure he was going to die, a young boy had just showed him up in front of the court for crying out loud! He silently prayed over his soul as he heard what he thought would be the last words he'd hear in this life.

"Make sure that what Captain Williams said is carried out. I don't care how you do it, but I want The Enlightened One on our side, whatever the cost."

"It will be done my liege."

"Good."

Elias darkened as he looked around the room.

"Now all of you, GET OUT!!"

Everyone quickly vacated the room, murmuring a few "My lieges" and "Sires" as they left. Elias was soon left alone with his thoughts, and he started to laugh as he thought about what had just happened.

"We'll see who "the enlightened one" is now little boy!!!"

And saying that, he fell into hysterical laughter.................