Divided Nation

Negotiations

"It's been years, Your Grace," Jordan said, leading me down the halls of the royal palace, "How have you been. Life on the run hasn't treated you too harshly, I hope?"

       "Not too bad," I replied, still shocked at how he recognized me, "King Jordan, how did you recognize me after all these years. You haven't seen me in over 10 years."

      Jordan chuckled, "You still sound the same as when you were 8. The blood of royalty never changes. If you had came like this a couple years earlier, I would have thought you Henry."

       He lead me over to a royal chamber where a large table was set up, in a negotiation room style. Sitting on the table, was Karol, along with another person. 

      "You will leave us now," Jordan said, gesturing at the Titian's who were flanking us, "I want some private time with my son and the ambassador."

      Ambassador? Suddenly, I noticed a scary detail. Hanging at the end of the wall, was the Regime banner. That must make the ambassador...the man sitting next to Karol turned around. His face was familiar. Sir Crampton. One of the many assasins that had killed my father.

       "He's a murderer!" I shouted, drawing my sword, "Why is that traitor here?"

      "Calm yourself," Karol shouted back, standing up, "He's here the same reason you are. To sway this Kingdom onto their side of your little war. Isn't that why you're here?"

      "Hayden?" Jordan said, "That's the only reason you're here?"

      "Listen!" I shouted, trying to gain control of the situation, "The Regime has already declared war on you. I was in Lexington. There was a rebellion. Thousands died. Thousands more died when the survivors were attacked by the Exenica on ship!"

      "No!" Crampton replied, being the only one still sitting down, "He has brought the Blood Fever to your Kingdom. He is the only reason the cities are rebelling. Jordan, ally yourself with the Regime. We'll promise you prosperity and power. A unified Gala is the only way achieve peace."

      I couldn't believe what I was hearing! We had brought the Blood Fever to the West? There was no way in hell I was going to allow Alexia's sacrifice to go undone. Raising my sword, I marched towards Crampton. I was going to slice his pretty face right down the middle.

      "STOP!" Jordan hollered, quieting us down, "I will have no bloodshed in my halls underneath the peace banner."

       "This is NOT a peace banner!" I shouted back, pointing at Crampton, "HE has murdered thousands of your citizens. HE has planted seeds of rebellions inside your kingdom for years. HE usurpered my throne. HE killed your best friend!"

      "Henry was the usurper!" Crampton shouted, finally getting up and drawing his own sword, "We did the realm a justice by getting rid of him. He was making Gala weak. The Blue Kingdom had to be destroyed."

      "The Blue Kingdom is not dead, sir. We are having war with the Regime right now. Remember your vows, sir." I replied, looking him straight in the eye, "I know there's some part of you in there, sir. Some part of you that isn't corrupted by whatever Louis planted in your head."

     Something flickered in his eyes for a brief moment. Something that I had seen every time he had lifted me up and spun me around after I had returned from practice back in the Royal Palace. Back when things were normal.

      "Now look at him!" Crampton cried, "My vows? My vows were to protect Gala. To keep it strong. And Henry wasn't going anywhere near that. A war was inevitable if that fool had stayed on the throne."