Ruple And Evelyn (Codex Grandomina Volume II)

Chapter Ten: A Hap Dash Event

~ CHAPTER TEN ~

A Hap Dash Event

The throne room had been stripped of all ornament. Crudely wrought iron plates had been welded to the outer walls and all but covered the great stained glass windows. Fair, the external structure itself remained largely unchanged, but it was still a terrible shadow of the splendour of old Grand London. Rex called out and drew Ruple's attention to the thick layer of dust on the throne; its once crimson velvet now a dreary salmon. The Cardinal had obviously not used the throne room for years, and the great fire place in the centre of the space flaunted a thick layer of moss and weed.

Rex patted as much dust off the seat of the throne as he could, and turned to Ruple.

"You're certain that you're ready for this, little brother?"

Ruple glanced at the throne, memories crawling from hidden alcoves in his mind: a beautiful woman looking down at him with tears in her eyes. Eyes that had promised so much love, and yet had betrayed that promise, for reasons he could not fully understand. He could see a man leaning over the woman's shoulder with magic dancing behind his eyes, a man who'd leave behind his boys at the time they needed him most...

"What about Septus?" Ruple asked. "We need to find him. I need to find him and make him settle his debts. You saw what he did. Thousands dead. He fought those he called his people, rather than fight our soldiers. The coward must pay."

"And one day he will," Rex answered. "But not now. You heard that crazed knight that almost killed you. Septus has fled. The massacre was his way of scuppering our victory. We will not find him here..."

Ruple sighed and turned away.

Something moved over by the west facing window, and Ruple stepped towards it, his flintlock at his hip. "There's something on the other side of the window, Rex."

At that moment Romero stomped into the throne room with a grin of triumph on his face.

"I have news gentlemen. The city is ours! It would seem we were the catalyst for all hell to break loose. We've spent more time protecting the enemy than we have fighting them! I'd rather have drawn traitors' blood myself, but seeing them all squirm and beg will have to suffice."

"So it is done," sighed Rex. "I'm glad. Now we can get on with building anew, isn't that right, Ruple?" Rex turned to see Ruple examining the blacked out window. "Ruple?"

"Brothers, help me lift this table to smash the glass!"

Romero and Rex stepped forward and with inquisitive smiles, tipped the broad table to one side, sending long abandoned golden cups and plates tumbling to the dusty stone floor.

"Come," said Ruple taking the front leg in his hands. "Forward!"

The three brothers stormed towards the window using the table as a battering ram.

"Why are we doing this, Ruple!?" yelled Rex as the table crashed through the window and made contact with the iron plating on the other side.

With a violent creak, the metal gave way and the shield of iron crashed down the side of the cliff below, and blinding sunlight filled the chamber. From the ledge, a hundred doves that had been nesting behind the plate gave flight.

"Well, that's a sight..." Romero breathed as the three brothers dropped the table and stared out at the western mountains bathed in the golden afternoon sun. RR's old cathedrals rose high above the unsightly spires erected by Septus and gleamed with a resplendence only a tower of Grand London could achieve.

Ruple turned to Rex and spoke, his voice as soft as a summer breeze, "I'm certain I'm ready for this."

There was a loud crash as Hector and James burst in.