Phoenix

Chapter 5

I turn to Fe-Fe. She has one of my wool blankets wrapped around her. The healer had changed her respectfully while she slept. She had the same clothing on as usual. "Thank you, for what you did, my Prince." She says. I sit at the edge of the bed. "You did not fight them back." I say, angry. "You could have taken them all out, I know it. Yet you did nothing to fight back!" I snap at her.

"I promised Clifton I would not harm anyone unless in training." She says, picking at the blanket. Her voice, as usual, is slightly muffled from the cloth around her mouth. I frown trying to be patient with her. "This was an exception." I sigh, falling onto my back and looking at the ceiling. "We can not choose out fate, but we can choose how to live before it." Is all she replies with. "What does that even mean?" I ask again, but she does not answer.

"I as your Prince, give you permission if something like that ever happens again. Okay?" I say turning on my stomach to look at her. "Yes, my Prince." She bows her head. "It is Roakin." I correct her. "You will stay here for the day, as we want a tight show here to fix this." I tell her. She shiver, though the blanket is on her. "My lady, bother yourself not. Tell me something, anything, to get your mind off of this. I promise it will help." I order her food, since she had not had her morning meal. "What can I tell you of?" She asks looking out the window. "Tell me anything of the outside world, for I have not yet been." I suggest.

"Did you ever hear of the War Of Destrian?" She asks. "No, ma'am." A servent brings in tea and hot bread, along with some fruit. She picks up the cup of tea, Clifton grew the leaves himself. "Before your parents ruled the villages, the kingdom was hectic. The two Lords that reigned power were worse leaders then the ones now.

"At the time they had gained power, they were dealing with the post depression of Trojan that hit. When the King and Queen had died suddenly, lots of people starved to death, because there was no currency and goods being shipped. When the two lords began, they decided to give each town a sub-ruler. They would take care of all simple matters, so the Lords had time to clean up the mess the depression had made.

"At first, it had worked. Each sub-ruler was chosen from the village people themselves. My town, like many others, however, began to notice a change in the sub-ruler after a while. They became hungry with power and greedy. They no longer cared what the people wanted, they only wanted to please the Lords so they could be on their fair side.

"Most towns did not know what to do, for they never had this kind of problem before. The council could not do anything as well, for the sub-ruler was higher in rank. Specifically my village had a town meeting one day. They wanted to resolve the issue. I had yet to be born, but my father spoke of the terror they faced. The sub-ruler had sent an army to the church, where the meeting was held.

"He then proceeded to burn the church down. Luckily, everyone escaped alive. But the story spread far and wide. Soon other towns began to revolt against their sub-ruler. A war broke out between the villagers and these small kings. Finally, the Lords stopped the disaster. The stript the sub-kings of their responsibilities, and apologized to each sector.

"Sadly, that is when most villages fell apart. No one trusted anyone anymore. And more and more people became homeless and poor. Poverty struck and ever since it has been a struggle for everyone. The only way you are important now a days is it you have grace that's of use." From the sound of her voice, I conclude she has to be frowning.

"Did the riots do any permanent damage?" I ask. "Only a few casualties, mainly the armies, not the civilians. One town was left in ruble. The Village of Kreoke. The Lord's were ignorant of the land, or not carring. Kreoke was the only village that had fresh water. All the neighboring villages depended on it. Of course, the Lord's did not recognize this.

"They set out a message that this ruined village would now be where they put all the waste. By the time they cared to take notice, it was too late. Clean water around the villages is hard to fine, and expensive to get. But the Lords care not. The made a small speach of recognition, and promised the worst of it had passed. But, years later, it never improved.

Not until your parents reighned power. They brought everything back. They re-built each village by helping hand. They wanted nothing more but to undo the destruction that the Lords caused." She adds. Clifton had told me that, as well. How my parents put everything they had into rebuilding the lost world.

"Wow. And then what? They banned the idea?" I ask. "They have some supervisors, hand picked by the Lords themselves." She shakes her head as if the idea is still dismissive. "So why did they not revolt against the Lords? Why just the sub-rulers?" I question. "The Lords have always had the real armies. They have brought people from around the world to strengthen their power. It is truly chaos down their, my Prince." She looks out the window. "It is been hard on everyone. We barely have the money to eat, they are all starving. There may be a lot of us, but a lot of us can barely move, let alone revolt. That is why we need you. When you reign true, we will no longer suffer. Our people will live happy and healthy. So much change will come. Can not you see why it is urgent you get your kingdom back? Why we have all worked so hard? You are parents were great rulers, and one day you will be as well."

It is no doubt that the people had loved my parents as rulers. But all the pressure to be as great as them was a lot to bear sometimes. She clears her throat. "I think I will go now. I feel better, thank you." She bows. "I am sorry, for what my comrads did to you. It will not happen again, that I can promise you." I will not let it happen again, I think to miself. "I believe you, my Prince." She says opening the door.