Legacies, Destinies, and Betrayals.

Chapter #17 To Be A King

"I give to you King Ezekiel, Leader of the Nyraids." Alar's voice carried over the destroyed throne room as many people cheered for the new king. Ezekiel stared off into the distance barely smiled.

"Ezekiel?" He had barely spoken a word since we met in the woods.

"Liva." His voice was dead. Gone were any emotions. He seemed to be simply a shell of the man I knew. He had lost so many close to him.

"The next matter to attend to is the punishment of Kadim." I shuddered as I thought about what would happen to my brother. "As King you must decide."

"Call the council."

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Ezekiel looked around at the remaining nobles who were alive. Sadly most of them weren't much older than himself. Almost every noble family had lost all the parents in their family during the ambush. Liva and Trey stood next to their mother and you could clearly see the absence of their Father and youngest brother.

"Kadim, you have brought much tragedy to our people. You deserve death for all the death you have caused." He heard a few gasps from the crowd but knew that none of them came from Liva or her family. Both her and her brother were ready to take him out themselves. "However, death would be to short, to painless, to merciful."

Kadim looked at him with a questioning look. "Instead you shall be treated in like manner as the late Queen Lillian. Your eyes shall be gouged out. For punishment of giving up the location and secrets of the King and his nobles your tongue will be removed. Finally as a balance for your traitorous actions you will be sent back to your allies." Ezekiel let the words roll off with no emotion. This person before him had cost him his family, and then this traitor had betrayed his Liva.

"Please, Your Majesty, No. They will kill me!" Kadim had fell to his knees he begged and tears rolled down his cheeks. Ezekiel looked at Liva and saw her turn her face to hide her tears. This was still her brother. However, his mind was set.

"Then you will get what you deserve." Ezekiel turned and walked into the makeshift chambers set up for him behind the throne.

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"Hey Ezekiel, May I come in?" It was Trey.

"Sure." Ezekiel closed the journal he was looking at. Of course that's the first thing that was noticed in Trey walked in.

"You can't seriously be thinking about still going after the artifacts?! You are the King now. You have to be here. Calling the shots. Telling us what to do. Helping your people."

"I am helping my people. The balance can never be restored without the artifacts." Ezekiel looked up at the man standing before him.

"Liva and the others are more than capable of finding them." Trey didn't seem to want to let this thing drop.

"I will not send Liva out there without me." Ezekiel's response was way more defiant than he intended for it to be.

"You love her...." It wasn't a question, nor a statement. Her brother acknowledged the one thing that Ezekiel refused to acknowledge himself.

"I can't lose her. She is valuable and necessary to our kingdom."

"Suit yourself. But I know what that look on your face means." Trey shook his head, "But our kingdom needs a King not a boy running around trying to win the heart of a girl."

"Our Kingdom has a King and our people will be fine because I will have three Generals leading them who will recieve direct information from me. Three Generals who will attack the sisters' every weak spot until we get them worn down."

"And who will be these said generals?"

"Avery, Ironfist, and you." Ezekiel handed him a sword that had the royal crest on the handle.

"What makes you think I will do this while you run around chasing the artifacts? I am undieingly loyal to our cause but I don't agree with an absent king." Trey refused to take the sword.

"Because an absent King has the tactical advantage." Raphael walked into the tent. "If Ezekiel is constantly moving the sisters wont be able to track him."

"Also, because this is your father's sword. He was a head General in my father's army." Ezekiel smiled as he took the sword. "You are your father's son through and through. You have lead your troupes through battles that the elders never thought you would make it through."

"Then I guess stay safe my King."

"Your Father's troupes will report to you in two days time at the campgrounds we first met at." Ezekiel shook his new friend's hand before he walked out.______________________

Ezekiel had talked with Avery and Nicodemus before telling them where their respective soldiers would met them. All three generals were to send in a report of their numbers in three days after all the troupes should have arrived, then they would be given their assignments.

"I think we will leave you to rest, My King." Alar bowed as he and Raphael exited. Rest was the last thing on Ezekiel's mind. He wanted to talk to Liva. They hadn't spoken since they were in the throne room just days after his parents were captured.

"Ezekiel. May I come in?" He jumped and opened the tent flap to see Liva. She didn't wait for him to say anything she just stepped in.

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"You made a good decision today." She had sat in one of the chairs.

"Are you sure you're not mad?" He sat next to her.

"His blood isn't on our hands. You are a warrior not an executioner." She smiled and all his worries seemed to melt. "His choices lead him to where he is, besides he has made many enemies, he will be dead in three days." Her eyes held sadness.

"Nevertheless, he is your brother."

"Maybe so, but he is responsible for the death of my father, my brother, My King, and my Queen. Those are inexcusable." Her eyes hardened over. "My family has never taken kindly to traitors." 

Ezekiel wasn't sure what to say so they just sat there in silence for a while.___________________

I looked over at Ezekiel I could tell he was torn between what he felt he was supposed to do and what the people thought he needed to do. I agreed with him wanting to continue his search for the artifacts but he was hit with a lot of opposition about it. Everyone wanted him to remain at the Hideout and rebuild it. I couldn't help but think that I only wanted him to come along with me for selfish reasons. In just a few moments he would be addressing all the nobles present with his plan. He would not disclose any details however since he was still concerned that there is a traitor, there were speculations of one long before my brother had anything to do with it.

"I will continue on with the Locket-bearers searching for the remaining artifacts to be found." I heard the mumbles from the crowds as Ezekiel revealed his next move.

"Why would you think that's a good idea?! A King is easy to spot! You'd be in grave danger." Mikeal. I would remember that voice forever.

"Well nobody spotted me as a Prince."

"You never showed yourself as a prince." Mikeal scoffed.

"Raphael, if you would please." In seconds Raphael's voice wrapped around the new King and he stood in the clothes I first met him in.

"But you see, I did, Mikeal. You just so happened to call the Prince of your people a streetrat." Mikeal's mouth hung open and his eyes were as wide as saucers.

"Forgive me, your majesty." He bowed humbly and i had to hide my snickers.

"It's in the past." Ezekiel's clothes were returned to full glory. "I am more capable than many if you think. I will continue to lead the locket-bearers to the artifacts, and I will continue to plan our revenge on the Sisters."