Viva la Vida

Broken Alliances

AN: The song has like no correlation to the story, I'm just obsessed with it//

As the ship continued slowly across the sea to Berolan, Ralton sat quietly mulling over the most recent attack of these so-called revolutionaries. He knew well of his cruelty to criminals, but he had done so to lower crime rates. He knew, or rather, he believed, that to treat minimal offenses as high level crimes would deter any who dared attempt any true high crime. It would seem the idiotic public wouldn't agree with that, however. The public postings of private executions and hushed arrests had caused a rather large riot in the market square. And not to mention the breakout of criminals posing minimal offenses. He was sure the revolution had grown larger in size.

He frowned to himself. Had it really been wise of him to leave his wife alone amongst the rebellion and chaos? He shook his head a bit. Now was no time to doubt her. She was strong, both in terms of her personality and physical strength. Plus, she had the guard at her side.

The guards. That was something else bothering him. How had the revolutionaries not only infiltrate the castle without being seen, but also get into the dungeons and out of them, followed by at least 20 convicts, without being noticed? Only two ideas came to mind, and neither were pleasing whatsoever to his already slightly nervous mind.

The first thought was that a majority of the guard was apart of the revolution. He doubted this heavily though. He assumed that should that be the case, he would already be long dead. It also wouldn't explain why the guards that had been watching over the dungeons had been brutally beaten.

His other thought was much more practical. Only a few of the guards were betraying him. Which ones, he had no clue, it was impossible to be sure, but this thought had plenty of proof behind it. Anyone off duty could have a simple alibi of being home for the night and getting their spouse to vouch for them. Most guards had access to the dungeon and therefore could have snuck their fellow revolutionaries into the dungeons. Claim they had no idea as to what had gone on, feign shock, and there you go, easily done. An experienced guard would also know what sections of the kingdom were under very low surveillance and be able to properly hide the escaped criminals.

He sighed and shook his head. This was not the time to be thinking on these events. He was nearing Berolan now. He moved to place his golden crown on his head and checked his appearance in a mirror. Everything about his appearance was powerful and royal. None could argue he looked like the young king that he was. He wouldn't allow his rule to end so soon.

The boat finally docked and Ralton walked off the glorious ship. He had come to Berolan to discuss alliance with the rulers of both the country he stood in now and Eratainia. He knew well if we wanted to easily silence this revolution, he would need the assistance of both kingdoms.

Beside him walked his elder brother, Mirlan. Ralton had never really understood his brother. The older man had never wanted the throne. Actually, Ralton knew Mirlan had wanted nothing to do with royalty at al. Needless to say, he had been rather pleasantly surprised when his brother had accepted the invitation to return to Alurn and command the guard. However, ralton now doubted his brother's motives for returning. Had he been planning all along to remove him from the throne once he learned of Arulet? He knew full well the macler family had originated in Berolan, and he had learned rather quickly of Mirlan's involvement with that side of said family, an ex royal combat medic turned witch, and a vampire girl around Mirlan's age. He couldn't be sure though, as Mirlan had no real motive that he could think of.

Unless Arulet had slipped up and revealed to him the secret she had been told to keep.

He shook his head to himself. Once again, it wasn't the right time for this. He needed to save his suspicions for when he had the freedom to fully develop these thoughts, not simply considering them in miniature tidbits of possibly false and assumed information. He needed to stay focused on the task at hand. He held his head high as he entered the meeting room and took his seat.

He observed his fellow royals, the leaders of each kingdom. From Berolan, a blue eyed woman known as Croilia Lacrinx. She was a strong and powerful woman who had no problem doing whatever she pleased to get her way. Vile woman, but she knew how to run a country. From Eratainia, a blonde man named Jake Marielli. He, like Ralton, was rather young for a king, but for different reasons. It was common knowledge by now that Earatainia should still be ruled by Alicia and Alen Marielli, however, an assassin had made that impossible. Jake was the only heir. Or so it seemed. Rumor had been going through Eratainia, and had reached the other 2 kingdoms, that there was another Marielli, an older sibling to the current king. How this had come to light, no one knew, but it was rumored and people were frantic.

Both rulers were accompanied by an advisor and a guard. For Croilia, that was a man named Itolar as the advisor and and a Spaniard named Arqueo as the guard. Itolar was Alurnian but had more success in Berolan. Arqueo was full Berolan. With Jake, an unidentifiable assassin who went by the alias Wisp, and his advisor Noah. Wisp was a confusing being as their behavior and appearance could not be used to determine even their gender. They rarely spoke, and when they did, it was in a hushed and muffled tone. They were known to be a rather eccentric character, but highly dangerous. Noah on the other hand was a shy, yet brilliant man. He had suffered an attack at the ball Ralton had hosted, but had made an easy recovery. Both of these rulers had made smart decisions on who to take advice from and who to allow to protect them.

Ralton, however, only had his brother by his side. Amongst all the panic due to the revolution, no one had stepped up as an advisor. Ralton was left on his own to make his decisions.

As the doors shut behind them, Croilia regarded Ralton with an almost condescending smirk. "Ralton Fizora. It's certainly been some time since I've encountered your family last. I hear from Itolar you're suffering your first revolution."

The violet haired male sighed and nodded. "You've heard right. I've called us together today to discuss the roles your kingdoms may play in this," he stated. "Should events continue to escalate as they are, I fear a full storming of the castle. I would like to request your guaranteed interference as soon as it can arrive should I call for help." With his suspicion of his own guard, he figured assistance would be helpful. He watched patiently as the royals discussed with their advisors and even their guards chipped in slightly.

What Ralton didn't know about this meeting was that it had already been sabotaged before hand. Mirlan caught word of the meeting and immediately made it known to the guards and advisors how cruel Ralton secretly was. He had also informed Arqueo that his younger brother, Karnos, was apart of the revolutionaries.

Ralton went wide-eyed in shock as both rulers shook their heads. Croilia spoke first, her mouth still in the form of a hope crushing smirk. "Sorry dear, but there's nothing in this deal for me. I don't feel like losing my guards to such an event, and besides, many Alurnians have Berolan relatives, so I would rather give your people what they want. If that's revolution, then you'll be lucky if we don't step in and help them."

Then Jake. "We're already spending resources on attempting to confirm or debunk the rumor of me having a sibling. War would leave us near defenceless."

Ralton looked at them both betrayed, but sighed and stood. "I see then. I am well aware there is no changing your minds. Croilia, consider your alliance to me and my family shattered. Jake, I wish you well in your search." He pushed in his chair and began to leave.

Just as he reached the door, Croilia spoke a haunting sentence that he knew would stay with him the rest of his trip home.

"Oh darling, I'm only shattering my alliance with you."