Bastard of Fate

The Council

CHAPTER 5

***ALEXANDRE***

They stood around the long oval table in Alexandre's father's meeting room. The king, Daniel, was a large man with salt and pepper hair and a receding line. He had a moustache and and soul patch of a beard on his chin.

"Attention!" he called to his various knights and lords seated at the table. He was at the head, a dwarved messenger by his left and Alexandre by his right. Chandler stood near the door with the servants and his arm around Martha. Alexandre made sure not to look at them lest his anger flare up again. Instead he focused on one of the knight's squires who was standing behind his teacher. He had medium length brown hair, a confident pose and a diamond shaped face. He caught Alexandre looking and sent him a wink before Alexandre quickly looked back to his father.

"This here is Wyvern. He is from the Roanoak Mountains in Ered Lithui," this was met with shouts of shock and outrage,

"I though Ered Lithui was a myth! No one has been there in thousands of years!" a knight shouted.

"How did he get here then? Everyone know you have to find the sacred ruins and the portal within!"

"Silence!" Daniel bellowed. After a moment or two of quiet he said, "As we all know, our world, Atishman, is flat. And underneath our world is the desolate, mountainous, cavernous land of Ered Lithui. It is indeed very real, as our friend here can prove"

"Well what keeps them from falling off the land if they're upside down?" another lord called.

"Magic, you buffoon," the king said, "Jargon and Helfeild work together to keep their subjects grounded. Now, I will let him tell you his story," the king sat down like the rest of them gathered and allowed the swarf to stand up.

Seeing as his head didn't reach the top of the table when standing on the ground, he stood up on the chair instead,

"See here, the dragons have gone stark raving mad. They came and knocked on the door to our mines in human form and demanded that all the dwarves convert to worship Jargon instead of Helmfeild. So we managed to slay one of them but the other of the two messengers killed almost fifty dwarves when he changed into dragon form"

"They can shapeshift?" someone shouted in disbelief.

"Yes, where have you been this past couple thousand years?" Wyvern asked sarcastically, "Now, they are planning on attempting to convert all the other races that don't worship Jargon. That means humans, elves, nymphs and dwarves. And if you fight back, they kill you. So who wants to fight back?"

"Why do they need converts?" Alexandre wondered aloud.

"You see, the gods get their power from worshippers. Without them they are nothing, they have no subjects and they cannot grow in power," Daniel responded to his son, "So, the more worshippers and magic users Jargon has, the more powerful he gets. And if everyone stops worshipping the other gods they will eventually die"

After a moment more of silence the king stood again, "Well now, boys, it looks like we're at war. Summon a messenger to bring word to Grimmhold across the river. Have you attempted to tell them, Wyvern?"

The dwarf shook his head, medium length beard swaying. He must have been young, for dwarves did't cut their hair. "Hell no, your majesty. Our king, Fore, told me specifically to wait for a human to tell them. He said they'd kill me on sight. So I came north first, from the southern reaches of the elven continent where the sacred ruins are at"

"Why would they kill you?"

"They don't much like other races, sir"

A messenger scuttled into the room. The king motioned for one of the servants to bring him a piece of parchment and a quill with ink. He quickly wrote down a few words before rolling it up and giving it to the messenger, "Give him a horse"

After the messenger had left Daniel looked around the table once more. "Well, boys," he said, "Seems like we're at war. I want my lords to go back to their provinces and recruit as many people as possible. Even young girls are welcome, we need medics. Get witches too, all that you can find that don't worship Jargon. My knights, begin preparing for war. Train your squires, train new recuits. I will give you one month. If the dragons have stayed on their side of the portal, we will go to the elves"

He dismissed the room and the men began to leave. Alexandre saw Chandler attempt to slip out the door after saying goodby to Martha but Daniel caught sight of him. He began marching towards the boy and for the some reason, despite his anger at Chandler he prayed to Sylvia to keep him safe from his father.

"Boy!" the king called, "Who are you? I have never seen you in my castle before. Are you a spy?"

"Wh-what? N-no, sir, I'm just..."

Alexandre got up to listen closer. As he did he saw one of the knights wearing an amblazened tunic with his crest on it stand and make his way over. Alexandre noticed the handsome squire that had winked at him earlier follow the knight. He must have been his apprentice.

"Ah, boy, where have you been? Found yourself a girlfriend? Come now, it's time to head back to the keep to continue your training. I'm sorry, your majesty, was he giving you trouble?"

"What? This one is yours, Jason? I apologize, I had thought he somehow made his way in with the servants"

"Nonsense, I just picked him up the other day"

"Well, alright then," the king gave Chandler one last look before leaving the room.

Chandler was looking at the knight with a mix of surprise, gratitude and confusion. The knight looked down at him, "Wondering why I just saved your blacksmith arse?"

"H-how did you-?"

"You're a big boy with scarred hands. Strong, used to work. I think you'll make an excellent squire"

"Squire?"

"Yes. You don't think I saved you from the king for nothing, did you? You'll come with me back to my keep where you'll be trained in the art of war and knighthood"

Chandler's eyes were as big as dinnerplates, "Really? But you already have a squire!"

"Nothing says a knight of my status can't have two squires. This here is Nick; I think you two will be good friends"

Nick stepped forward to shake Chandlers hand, giving him a charming smile. Chandler smiled back, "Thank you, sir! I won't dissapoint you!"

"I sure hope not. I live in Aston, south of here in the manor along the edge of town. You have three days to gather your things, find someone to take over that shop of yours and get yourself there. Your majesty, can I help you since you've listened to all of this conversation?" he spoke to a startled Alexandre.

"Oh, um, I was just wondering if I could talk to Chandler for a moment," he stuttered. Sir Jason shrugged and turned to leave,

"Of course. See you in three days, Chandler"

Chandler looked wary of him, "What can I do for you, your majesty?"

"Stay away from Martha for one thing," Alexandre said curtly, anger flaring up once more, "Now that you are a squire she is beneath your position"

"Just like I'm beneath your position?" Chandler snapped.

"Yes. As your prince, untill you are of knight status at least you are beneath my position"

"Oh of course, your majesty. Forgive me for thinking that you cared at all"

"Chandler don't be like that you know that we couldn't be together because we're boys and you know I can't-"

"Oh come on," Chandler said, exasperated, "Just- just give it a chance? We can see other people, how about that? But we get to know each other. Before we agree to anything serious. Would you at least try?" he was almost begging now.

Alexandre hesitated, "...okay. Okay, I can try that"

"Thank you," Chandler looked considerably more happy and excited now, "I'll see you later... Alexandre"

"Goodbye"