Solace and Nox: A New Light

Chapter 9

"Raiden," King Lotharius said happily. "I'm so glad you could make it! How is training going with the recruits?"

Raiden entered the throne room of Lotharius's castle. He hadn't been in this part of the castle since the night Moldark attacked. That seemed like an eternity ago... he could almost see the bloodstains on the floor. That image would never leave Raiden's mind.

Raiden bowed to the king and said, "Training goes on, but very few are right for the job. Many of them think that they are joining to kill Kresallis, when I'm looking for men who are going to participate in the King's Guard, sir."

"Well, that is what I asked of them," the king replied. "There isn't much I can do to change that."

Raiden didn't say anything. He just stood up straight, and at attention, like the recruits were the first day of training.

"How are you holding up, Raiden?" he asked.

"I'm fine, sir," was his only reply.

"You don't seem fine. You haven't been in the castle since that night, you haven't put your whole heart into training, and you have been spending a lot of your time by yourself. I'm concerned about you, son," he explained.

"Sir, nothing is more painful than watching your squad die right before your eyes, and your powerless against it. So no, I'm not fine. I'm just trying to accept the fact that they're gone."

He nodded. He stroked his grey beard and looked like he was trying to read Raiden's expression.

"What do you remember of that night, Raiden?"

"Moldark appeared, we fought him off, I got stuck to the wall, he said something about doing to you what you did to him, and then I saw Markis breathing. That's when I attacked Moldark and he disappeared," Raiden said, simplifying the story as much as possible.

"Do you remember what Moldark's promise was to me?" he asked curiously.

Raiden shook his head. "I was in shock, and didn't pay attention to him. When I saw that my men were dead, I lost all sense of reality. Seeing Markis's chest move brought me back to reality and that's when I broke free."

"How did you break free, exactly?" he asked.

Raiden wondered if the king would ever ask that question. Raiden wasn't exactly a fan of that question. In fact, he wished he wouldn't have asked it.

"I mean no disrespect, but why am I here, sir?"

King Lotharius sighed. "Raiden, you have a wonderful gift. You were able to break free from Moldark's dark magic, and after the promise he made me, I fear that you may be the only person capable of protecting me from Moldark Rathmore. I know that sounds selfish, but none of my sons are ready for the throne, and we are in the middle of a war. Shodon can't take a fall like the loss of their king."

"I completely understand, but why am I the only one who can protect you?"

"Moldark threatened me by threatening the lives of those I love. He said he was going to cause me so much pain that I'd wish I were in the Dark Depths rather than here."

The Dark Depths? That was a dangerous threat.

"And you think, with my abilities, that I am the only person capable of protecting you and your family?" Raiden asked, making sure he was understanding correctly.

The king nodded.

"If that's going to happen, I'm going to have to let Markis, and the few men I've chosen for my new squad go to work immediately. And you will have to get everyone you love in this castle. I can't protect them all if they are in different parts of the nation. Bring everyone here, and my men will assist me in protecting each of them."

"Won't that be dangerous? If everyone's here, all Moldark has to do is send an assassin and kill all of us in our sleep."

"Well, sir, that's the idea. If we bring everyone here, we'll lure the assassin, and if the guards are doing their job, they'll know when the assassin's here. Then that's when I take care of them. If Moldark, himself, comes, my men will be ready."

The king looked satisfied. "But what if Moldark overwhelms your team like he did before?"

"I won't let that happen," Raiden said. "I promise you that."

Raiden was leaving the room when Direl came in. He seemed surprised to see Raiden there.

"Raiden!" he exclaimed. "Did you come to take the king's offer?"

"I accepted a new offer," was his reply. "And you're going to help me."

He, too, seemed satisfied. "Now there's the Raiden I know. Good to have you back, friend," he said, putting a gauntleted hand on Raiden's shoulder. "What do you need me to do?"

Raiden smiled. "I'll let you know."

He left the throne room, and made his way back to the barracks just outside the castle. He walked with a newfound confidence. He stood up straighter, took longer, more powerful strides. His sapphire eyes had a glint of determination that hadn't been there since the night of Moldark's attack.

Markis was shouting out orders to the new recruits when he saw Raiden approach. At first, he looked confused. But when he saw Raiden's powerful emotions, he couldn't help but smile.

"What's new Markis?" Raiden asked.

"You, apparently," he said, looking dumbfounded. "I haven't seen you like this since before the attack."

Raiden had a proud look on his face. He looked at each soldier and saw new brothers. He saw a new family. Yes, he would miss the old team, but he was building a new team, and they would be just as important as the previous one.

Markis nudged Raiden with what was left of his left shoulder. "It's good to have you back, Cap."

"It's good to be back."