Solitaire King

From Legend to Myth

Finally, Spadia was free from those who had wanted to harm them but the price was too high. The Time Mages, an ancient group of powerful warriors and sorcerers were almost completely wiped out, their powers protecting the inner parts of the island. The storms would only allow Spadians to pass through. The strongest of the mages had fallen into a great slumber after the enemy was vanquished, the King of Clubs having died upon his sword. He had suffered many wounds and was tended to by the remainder of the mages, sealed away in a hidden cave somewhere in the south of Spadia where he could forever see the sun rise and set as he dreamt of the day he would awaken.
Twelve mages had survived and created clocks and symbols that remain forever. Three grand clocks did they craft, infused with the very magic of Spadia. The King's clock, Queen's Clock, and the Jack's clock. They would be the symbols of Royalty. The golden crown that the strongest mage wore would be the King's crown, the sapphires, spade in shape and gold delicately crafted to look like roses entwined, glistening in the sunlight. Only those worthy could wear this crown or go mad with the strength and will of the people raging in their head. This crown sat on a pedestal by the King's throne. The Queen's crown was a mixture of gold, silver, and spade shaped amethysts heavy with the burden of military knowledge and a desire to protect the King and to glimpse the future. The Jack's crown was more of a silver circlet with an obsidian jewel shaped as a spade dangling in the center, wisdom and visions of the past to guide the nation. Three blades were forged but would only respond to those who bore the mark of the royal. Thus the mages gathered the peoples together and built a mighty castle, from above it appeared to be a large compass to point those wise enough to where the forgotten mage slept on. No one had ever gone to the upmost tower to observe the view or watch the compass.

Millennia passed and the Tale was only told to young children. Yao, the Jack of Spades had always remembered the tale fondly as he would look to the southern part of Spadia. Admiral Kirkland, Hidden Queen Of Spadia, had always believed that the mage was real and could be freed. Many of Spadia secretly believed in these tales of the ancient warrior but never sought him out in fear of finding that the tales that united them all were just tales.

Kirkland always wore gloves after his mark had appeared, afraid that someone would see his mark and turn him in. He had managed to remain hidden for 13 years and wanted to remain hidden but fate seemed to be against the youngest Admiral of Spadia. As the Jack, Yao, passed him on the inspection on his ship, Yao offered his hand to shake Arthur's. Yao felt a nudge or a pull to remove the right hand glove of Admiral Kirkland, his instincts yelled for him to take it off. He knew better than to ignore the nudge and pulled off the glove, glimpsing the mark. Kirkland was already starting to flee, knowing it was pointless to escape his fate but he tried anyway. A guard in armor stepped in front of him as Yao caught up to him. Kirkland managed to fight for a few seconds before he went limp. Yao caught Kirkland under his arms after hitting a pressure point on the neck to knock him out. 

"Take him to the castle. It would be in our best interest if you secured him though. We do not want a repeat of what just happened. It is time to continue the search for the King." Yao stated, starting a chain of events that would change Spadia. Maybe the Solitaire King truly was out there as there had only ever been one King of Spadia. Yao pondered this as he rode in the carriage, studying the unconscious Admiral.

Halfway to the castle, Kirkland awoke, trying to move his hands and feet and finding them bound. The two guards he was sandwiched between restrained his shoulders.
"You can't do this to me! Let me go! You bloody idiots have no right to take me!" Kirkland was quite vocal and creative with swear words, adamant that the mark chose wrong. Yao grabbed his face, silencing the sailor.
"The Mark has never chosen wrong in all the years that I have served and the Queens that have risen to the occasion. Your were chosen and there was no mistake. We need you to be crowned then we need to find a Time Mage. The King's Clock has moved a second hand this morning. It is the first time it has ever moved in the history of our country. I have a feeling that those tales of the Solitaire King are true and that he is out there, waiting to be found."