A Crowned King (Complete)

Chapter 12

Ronald Runner marched through the halls of the large garrison that was dedicated to the Royal Order just off the eastern side of the palace. It was a large building made of black stone and quite smooth. The roof was square shaped and very utilitarian. The men and women within the building were the same. They knew that they had one purpose: to protect the Royal family at all costs, even if it meant their lives.

The Royal Order was thousands of years old, established at the same time as the Star Kingdom. They were founded by a dozen men and women who were dedicated to protecting their King at the time. The first Grandmaster had been the younger brother of the King and had been fully dedicated to his brother. He had trained the next generation of the Order until he died and one of the ones that he'd trained took his place as Grandmaster. That continued for thousands of years eventually trickling down to Ronald Runner himself.

He had joined the Order when he was fifteen summers old and he'd risen in the ranks quickly. The former Grandmaster, a burly and antagonistic man, had worked closely with him until he reached the age of twenty five where he assumed command after the former finally retired. He was now fifty five summers old and had worked to protect two Kings. King Dryn who had died less than a month ago and his father before him. His father -- thankfully -- had died of heart failure while on a hunt in the Wilds. Now he would soon be serving a third King, one that he'd met very few times personally. His father he'd known well.

Dryn had been a sweet, rambunctious child, and before he'd become Grandmaster, he'd been assigned to his detail four days out of the seven day week. He'd gotten to know Dryn quite well and had begun to think of him like his own son. That was why it had hit him hard when he'd learned of the King's death. However he had to move on and commit himself to the new King. He promised his former charge that he would keep Mako alive as long as he breathed.

Ronald was a tall and muscular man with broad shoulders and large arms. He had short cut dark blonde hair and hazel eyes. He was handsome in a hawkish sort of way with high cheekbones and a strong jawline. He had a square chin and a heavy brow. He wore the black steel armor of the Order with a longsword strapped to his hip and a roundshield strapped to his back.

All in all he looked like the typical Grandmaster.

The Grandmaster walked quicker down the hall heading for his office with intent. He knew that there was someone waiting for him and they were very important. That was all the recruit had told him when he'd come to him while the Grandmaster was watching the new recruits train with their sergeants.

In the Royal Order the rank of sergeant was delegated to training the new members of the Order. While it was well known that the Order were the personal protectors of the Royal line there were sub-Orders within the Royal Order. Some were spies, some took care of the monsters that plagued the Wilds near the cities, some ferried on the ships that patrolled the southern waters out of the city of Seaside, and there were many other different duties that they took care of.

Ronald knew that his guests were waiting for him in his office and he was standing outside of his office door in mere seconds. He paused and stared at the door. He didn't know why, but he inferred that the guests within would be more important snd more highly ranked than he himself. Only someone high ranked could call on the Grandmaster of the Order and would dare to be in his office before he himself was.

The Grandmaster took a breath and opened the door to his office. He stepped into the room and closed the door to the room. It was a well lit and large room, making it easier for him to spot the people in the room. One of them stood over by a window in his office staring out and the second was in the corner by the table, pouring himself a glass of whiskey. The Grandmaster recognized both of them and as he mentally coped with that he straightened his shoulders, hardening his spine.