THE REALM

Chapter Twenty Five

  As I saw it, I had two options before me. Fight my way through the guards and end up in the dungeon, if I proved unsuccessful, or see to whatever they wanted of me first and then track down the ungrateful old man I had helped escort to safety.

  I stepped away from the guardsmen and made my way up the steps as I moved with reluctance into the pretentious surroundings of this foreign kingdom. I was led past several grand halls that were filled with people, who appeared to be embroiled in legal work of some kind.

  I doubted that Smirnaz had anything like this to boast of, but then again Smirnaz was the poorest of all the Kingdomer Nations.

  Just where was I being taken?

  The sounds of people and heated conversations grew distant, until they were but a faint murmur in the background. In contrast, the finery of the massive building that I was walking through only grew finer in appearance. The better question might be, who was I to be meeting with?

  At last the entourage of guardsmen around me came to a halt. A pair of oaken doors opened to reveal a suite that looked out on a terrace garden overlooking the city. I looked around uncertainly, only to see one of the guards gesture for me to enter into the room.

  I went forward, but they stayed where they were. I moved on into a room decked out with vibrant colors and gilded tapestries. A servant girl appeared out of nowhere and gestured for me to follow her.

  We moved out onto the terrace that seemed to run the length of this side of the building. I saw an older man standing at the railing that overlooked the city. The girl gestured to him and I got the picture that this man was to be my questioner.

  I had no knowledge as to why I was being questioned further like this. I'd had very little to report. I'd come across a caravan and saved a baby. That was all. Why was I here in the presence of someone who was obviously very important?

  I drew within six feet of the man before I stopped. Distantly I heard the servant girl leaving. We were now alone on the terrace except for the bees hard at work on the flowers that were in pots and planter beds all about us.

  "It would seem, stranger to our lands, that you are quite the hero. I must thank you for that. There are few left in all the world who give a care over whether or not a Thyanian baby lives or not."

  "It was nothing sir. I just did what I could to save a baby's life."

  The man's regally held shoulders turned as he faced me and said in a voice that brooked no arguing, "On the contrary it is of great importance, what you have accomplished."

  For a moment I was mesmerized by the sight of the man's face. The whole right side of the man's face was marred by the scars of what looked to have been made by the swipe of a big cat. Apparently this man at some point in time must have had his own run-in with a Lion Man.

  "The report I received said that you killed one of the cursed beasts."

  I nodded, not sure as to where this was going.

  The man's face broke into a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes as he saw me gazing at the scars on his face, which twisted his smile off to one side. The fingers of his one hand rose to briefly feel along the furrow of the scar only for him to then say as his fingers trailed away, "I killed the beast that did this. I was close enough to smell his rotten lion breath as I drove my blade through him again and again. Looking into his eyes was like receiving a glimpse of Sheol. You and I are the only men I'm aware of who have ever managed to kill one and walk away from the experience. What do you think of that?"

  Not having an answer to his question, I just shrugged expressively.

  The man looked away, his face appearing pensive as he stared out over the bustling city below us. "I am a prince of this nation. Not a Crown Prince, but rather one of lower birth. I love my country and it saddens me to see it being slowly destroyed by poor leadership. Tell me, what you would have done if you were in charge of the expedition that met up with your caravan of farmers?"

  Not wanting to stick my neck out, but also wanting to be truthful I said, "I would have pursued after them. The lion men have no horses as far as I can tell and they could've easily been chased down."

  "Then what?" he interjected, as he turned to face me.

  "Well then, I would've done my best to kill them. Little is to be gained for your kingdom by letting them destroy your outlying countryside without even putting up a fight."

  The Prince nodded. He gazed at me for a moment before saying, "You're young and not of my people's birth, but of Kingdomer blood no less I think. I want you to take charge of part of the army that's under my command and head back down south. In specific, I want you to lead the very regiment that was led so cowardly in the south and which failed to do its task of protecting the nation."

  "Sir, I regret that I must reject your offer. I mean no offense, but I've been tasked with a mission and I can't commit to anything else until that's done."

  The Prince eyed me up speculatively before saying, "Honesty and loyalty. Those are two more ideals you possess which I very much admire. Tell me Benaiah, what are you going to do in a foreign city without money, with no horse, no sword, and no references by which to gain employment?"

  Those were all valid questions, but I didn't like the way he was forcing me into a corner without choice. An answer came to mind and I confidently responded with, "El Elyon will make a way for me. If my mission is true He cannot fail but to provide to make a way for me."

  I was proud of myself, but also a bit apprehensive as I watched the prince's smile turn sour. "Faith too, I see. You are a rare man indeed, but I have no need of faith. I've found that the proper leverage of both wealth and power can accomplish all that is needed. Outdated beliefs in a Creator are just that, outdated. You will soon learn that for yourself Benaiah. Unfortunately, along with that lesson you will also have to learn that a Prince of Thyana is not to be denied. A couple of weeks in the dungeons of the palace should be a sufficient learning experience for you to come to the realization that my offer is a good one as opposed to the alternative. Take him away!"

  Several pairs of hands seized hold of me from behind and began to lead me roughly away.

  I had to admit to a certain degree of profound shock as I was being led back down the ornately decorated halls of the palace. I had done the work of a hero and I was being rewarded for it by being thrown into the dungeons. Where was the justice in this?