Book of Trirealm. Master Of Elements [BL]

Chapter 8: The Mysterious Curse of the Ruler

Healer Eru stared out of the carriage window through a black veil. A straight purple robe covered his slender figure and long legs. Its high collar, raised almost to his eyes, concealed half of his face, already hidden beneath a mask and the veil, and his head was covered with a wide hood. The healer always had a small, bottomless bag of medicines and other useful items hanging from his belt.

Wrapped in the skins of wild silver dogs, Ruler Uili was half-lying on the opposite seat, drinking wine and toying with his favorite diamond ring, received from his father long ago. He suddenly remembered how, sixty years ago, he had traveled to the capital to visit his father. He used to feel much better then, and hadn't needed carriages. He had been riding through the Dark Kingdom on a fearsome yellow lynx that obeyed only his orders and was ready to tear apart any demon that dared to approach it. The prince had been on his way to his father to confirm his new title, that of the First Heir. How excited he had been that day!

Ah, wonderful times. The Dark Kingdom had been torn apart by internal wars, and two of Uili's brothers had died in the struggle for power, though their father, Ruler Orkt Ackhor, had not intended to breathe his last anytime soon. Surprisingly, he hadn't noticed his sons growing up and their childish games turning into bloody feuds.

How astounded the careless Ruler had been when his middle son had killed his elder brother, the First Heir. By accident, of course. The prince had drunk poison, accidentally, and then accidentally fell on his own sword. Twice. All in all, the Second Heir was utterly blameless. Still, in his anger, the Ruler had ordered him beheaded in the Ceremonial hall.

The Third Heir Uili had never dared to think everything would turn out so well. Two years after the minor conflict in Black Mines, he had become the First Heir. Eight years later, Orkt had been killed in a battle with light demons in the Middle Kingdom.

Having gained power over the entire Dark World, Uili had reached the top. But in order to stay there, he had to work day and night for the good of the state, which he never wanted to do. He quickly found a way out: letting his son Ukkor bear the brunt of responsibilities and continuing to lead the same lascivious lifestyle as before, happy and satisfied with his fate.

But a few years after ascending the throne Uili had fallen ill suddenly.

Demons didn't tend to get sick. Usually, if a demon became ill, it was most likely the result of a curse. Even the fever that had spawned the gones was considered one.

Many court healers and mages had perished battling Ruler Uili's illness, mostly beheaded for incompetence. Because of this danger fewer and fewer demons had been willing to help the royal invalid. Some mages had even fled to the Light or Middle Kingdoms, fearing that they would be invited to the court to treat the cruel tyrant.

The vague symptoms of the disease made it difficult to give a diagnosis. Sometimes pain gripped Uili's whole body, at other times weakness prevented him from getting out of bed; sometimes fever, sometimes cold. Now he was blind, now deaf; periodically he could not smell or taste. Sometimes purulent sores covered his body. Then one or the other symptom would pass as quickly and suddenly as it had appeared, only to be replaced by a new one.

The ruler had grown so tired of this kaleidoscope of physical suffering that he could not even enjoy his favorite things: gambling, hunting and debauchery.

In addition to all this, along with the disease, failures had begun to haunt him. All of Uili's children had died in infancy. Their mothers had gone mad, killed themselves or expired in childbirth. Such events seemed astonishing, unnatural and completely alien for a demonic tribe. Everything Uili liked had broken or perished, be it things or demons. The Ruler's favorite had thrown herself into the Dark Abyss, and the adored lover had poisoned himself with catberries during a New Year's Eve celebration.