The Kingdom of Noitcif

Chapter Fourteen - Engres Whitewood

  "You're kidding."

  Espen's hands had slipped off Wesley's garments when he heard those words, but he managed to stay upon the griffin's back.

  "No, I am not," Wesley responded.

  "Then... how on earth did Engres become leader over Ytilaer if he originally lived in Noitcif?"

  "I was just about to get to that. I just needed you to get over that initial shock before I continued."

  "Engres was the younger brother of the two; Hyperion was five years older. As your father was the eldest, he was the next person to become king over Noitcif, but Engres did not approve of that idea. As soon as your grandfather - King Silas - passed away, Engres tried to talk your father into letting him co-rule alongside of him. Hyperion was well aware that two kings ruling over one nation was a terrible idea, so he declined. But Engres wouldn't give up that easily. He got it in his head that if his brother was not going to agree with him, then he would threaten and blackmail him.

  "At first, he tried to use the legal system to change the laws, and attempted to turn Hyperion's subjects against him. He was able to rally a band of rebellious teenagers such as himself to side with him, who did whatever he said and assisted with these plots. But he soon tried more subtle and dangerous methods. He tried to slip poison into his cup, or paid one of his turn-coat knights to shoot an arrow at him from a castle turret. For a fourteen-year-old, these were some malicious plans indeed.

  "But Hyperion was a clever man, and he was able to discern his younger brother's attempts to dethrone him before he caused too much harm. As soon as he came to grips with the extent he was willing to go through to assert dominance, Hyperion banished him from the kingdom. Engres quickly recovered. Estevan, your uncle is a master of dimension-hopping – the slang term for traveling through portals to reach different worlds. He was also extremely brilliant in both politics and invention – legend has it he took classes in the Base World to improve his knowledge before and after his banishment. He was able to scout out a world which was highly developed, without an official leader, and no military. After he found it, Engres brought in and set up his loyal knights over the land – the rebellious teenagers from Noitcif who joined him - crowned himself emperor, named it 'Ytilaer', and called it a day.

  "You would think he would be happy there. But alas, he has never forgotten the kingdom from which he came and the bitterness he had for his brother," Wesley stated flatly as his griffin landed at the Knight's Quarters. He dismounted and turned to assist Espen. "I suspect..." Wesley continued, "... that Engres knows King Hyperion is dead. We were all informed to keep his illness a secret, but there must be a traitor in our midst," he finished with a faraway look and a set jaw.

  "If so," the young king added, "he knows I'm here, too."

  The two stared at each other wordlessly until the pages appeared and began tending to Wesley's griffin.

  "So, how can we stop him?" Espen inquired in a hushed voice as they slowly walked in the direction of the castle.

  "That is up to you." Wesley answered with a shrug. "You are the king."

  Espen raised an eyebrow. "I just told you I know close to nothing about this long lost uncle of mine and how the tower works, and, honestly, I'm still a real newbie when it comes to being king. I don't think that's a good idea."

  Wesley looked troubled and bowed deeply. "My apologizes, my king. You are absolutely right. And, I do have some advice for you – assemble all the high-ranking knights and have a meeting. I am sure you will get many useful suggestions."

  "Thank you, Sir Wesley. That is very helpful. Could you give me a list of their names?"

  After Wesley had given Espen a list of all the officials who should be present at the meeting, another question had come into the young king's mind that gave him hope – if the answer was 'yes'.

  "Is this how Noitcif defeated Engres last time? When the tower went dormant?"

  "We did not defeat him, Your Majesty," Wesley stated grimly. "He just stopped on his own."