Thauma: The Black Souls

Two

The King of Anharth looked fixedly at his gold ring with nostalgia. The blue eagle with open wings engraved on his ring had been the emblem of the Orkan House for centuries. He remembered when his father, King Dolthos, gave it to him on the day of his coronation on the Pedestal of Destiny, a day he will never forget. He has faded memories of applauses, a feast, a dance, the richest families of the Kingdom attending the event, because what he mostly recalls is the moment that crown covered in sapphires was placed on his head. The memory of kneeling before his late father and receiving the emblematic Sword of the Blue Ember, a blade forged with sapphires and sharpened by the ancient thaumaturges of old, was the memory that made him smile. Yet, the most vivid memory he has is when he sat on the Eagle Throne and everyone knelt before him chanting: "May Death never reach your soul, King Altus! Acclaimed be Anharth!"

"My king, why are you looking at the ring like that?"

The voice of his wife brought him back to his bedroom. He looked at her as if he was lost.

"I think I need to choose a new heir," he said bluntly.

The Queen wasn't expecting that. And the King noticed through her shocking face. She tidied up and cleared her throat to speak. She wore a velvet green dress and her chocolate hair was tied up with braids and a diamond brooch. Her small crown was nicely put in her thick hair. She always wears her crown, prideful and arrogant. "And who are you thinking of choosing?", her tone hunted for the right answer.

"I don't know yet. All my nephews are hopeless".

"I believe Lord Eric has done an astonishing performance as head of the Secrecy".

"Being the head of those useless spies is not the king material I need".

A hard knock was heard on their bedroom door interrupting the King. An urgent call came after.

"My king, I need to speak with you".

"Come in" ordered the King.

Lord Toxar, castellan of Molkan Castle and personal advisor of the King, stepped in making a slight bow.

"My king, there has been an attack on The Three Bridges". The King's frustration quickly escalated to a wild punch on his table. "Construction has been suspended until further orders from you, my king".

King Altus sighed, calming his untamed temper.

"What's the toll?" the King barely asked.

"Fourteen workers and twenty-one knights dead by fire"

"Fire?" asked the Queen this time.

"The attackers burned the crops and farms from the past weeks and now they have used it on the bridges" reported Lord Toxar.

"Summon the Aegis now. I need to do something about this", ordered Altus to Lord Toxar.

"Please forgive my intrusion, my king" the Queen interjected, "but I believe that your personal council won't have the guts to do what needs to be done. They are attacking. We should attack back".

The King's eyes glared. "I didn't ask for your opinion, Belza. Know your place".

The Queen's face was a rampage when the King left the room with Lord Toxar. She stood up, walked to her balcony and took in a gulp of ocean breeze. She touched her ruby ring embedded in gold. "I know my place. I am the Queen", she said to herself whispering like a wind in summer. "And soon, I will be eternal" and she smirked.

***

Marcus was unable to dream. Since his ninth birthday, Marcus has never dreamt. He only sees black, nothing, void. That's why he slept the entire night and woke up late.