Divided Nation

Escape From The Landfall

"Get the all Titan's posted," Jordan shouted, "Every guard on high alert and start bringing in the rations. The gates shut in two days."

      The king was in the old throne room, with the elegantly decorated drapes and banners around the long ovular room. Karol and a bunch of other generals were off to one side, listening to the king's commands.  

      "And the Prince?" Karol asked, "What should we do with him?"

       "He's telling the truth, I can sense it," Jordan exclaimed, "If he is the crown prince, then we have to give command of the castle over to him. It is technically property of the crown..."

      "Jordan! You cannot do that!" Karol shouted, "This castle is mine by rights. And mine only."

       My head started to spin. I was floating off to the side of the throne room, but I could tell that I wasn't in a vision, but rather a flashback. This must have been after Crampton had been executed, and I had been dragged off to the dungeons. But Jordan looked perfectly healthy though.

      "Where are you even keeping him?" Jordan asked the guards lining the walls.

     The familiar figure of Denver stepped forwards, "The dungeons sir. Any spectators to the debacle were put inside the dungeons until further notice."

      "You idiots!" Jordan fumed, "Do you think it was proper to put any royalty down there? Much less the heir to the Colour Throne? Get him up here right now!"

     The guard shuffled to obey, but Karol gestured for them to wait. "How about a glass of wine to calm your nerves, father," He said, "A siege will be laid soon. It's awfully hard to get wine in then."

     Jordan scowled, but he accepted the wine nevertheless. He downed the whole glass in one gulp, then tried to stand up... but only stumbled and fell down.

     "Sorry father, but I can't hand over control of the castle to that child," Karol said, revealing a packet of powder from behind his back, "Don't worry, it's not poison. It'll get you to be terribly sick, but you'll get better. Of course, you won't remember any of this."

       "You bastard!" Jordan choked, trying to stand back onto his feet, but only succeeded in falling back down, "I'll have you're head for this! Guards! Titan's do something!"

         Karol smiled and gestured at the guards once again, "Their all loyal to me. Not real Titan's, obviously. Those are much too loyal to be swayed over. But they'll know the truth in time. The other truth."

      He turned on his heels and marched over Jordan's body to the throne. He then grabbed the crown and put it over his head. 

       "There's been an accident," Karol said in a completely different tone, "A terrible accident. The king has been infected by the Regime ambassador. Until his recovery, I will have to assume control of Titan's Landfall."

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     "Surprised?" A voice said behind me.

     I whipped around, drawing my sword and met the gaze of Karol and a pair of Titan's flanking the entrance to the bathroom.

      "He did try to warn you many times," He said, "but the sickness was simply too strong."

       "It wasn't blood fever," I murmured, "But how is the castle still suffering from it?"

      "Not blood fever," Karol agreed, "But a simple powder that I put inside their soup. I made sure only to infect a portion of the castle."

      "You're a madman," I realized, "Are you working for the Regime? Why would you turn against your own Kingdom?"