Spirit Blood: Genesis of War

The sound of clanking armor and spurs echoed throughout the abandoned corridors as Léon stormed into the private chambers of King Kalagin. Léon’s eyes glowed the intense crimson well known to happen when his anger was raised. His long silver hair flowed out behind him as he feverishly made his way through the chamber towards Kalagin’s office door. Summoning his inner power through his Spirit Blood, he thrust the doors open causing them to come off their hinges and crash piercingly to the floor. Startled by such an abrupt entrance, Kalagin jumped backwards from where he stood and turned angrily to witness Léon enter the room.

“You!” Léon bawled out pointing at Kalagin. “You miserable worm! Who do you think you are?” Léon approached Kalagin with clinched fists and grinding teeth, “I don’t know what makes you feel you have the right to kill one of my spies just because you are dissatisfied with one report!”

Kalagin shook his stubborn head and began to straighten his disheveled silk robes.

“Oh, its only you Léon,” Kalagin muttered as if bored. “I was hoping for more important company.”

Kalagin’s smug way of addressing and belittling Léon only infuriated him all the more. He grabbed hold of Kalagin’s robes with both hands and aggressively pulled him into his own face.

“I should rip you apart limb from limb little man!” Léon hissed from between clenched teeth.

Unscathed in appearance, though secretly a bit unnerved, the smaller and less dangerous Kalagin managed to shrug his aggressor off him with great effort, “Don’t you ever dare lay your filthy commoner hands on me again! Do you understand me?!”

Both men stared at one another with equal and intense hatred. Finally Léon had had enough with merely staring at the weak king, and without haste drew his sword with every intent on slashing his royal throat. Before his weapon could find its target, it was deflected by an unseen, yet powerful, source sending it sprawling across the floor. A terrifying voice rang out in the room so loud it echoed in the deepest corridors.

“STOP!!”

The forceful voice forced both men to their knees holding their ears in pain.

“If we fight amongst ourselves it will only insure our kingdom will come crashing down around us!” Again the voice roared.

With the pain beginning to subside, the men looked up to see the cloaked Canoes standing over them. He looked down upon them with disapproval in his menacing eyes.

“I gave him the order to have your spy killed Léon. Would you care to take up your dissatisfaction with me?” Canoes hissed.

Léon rose to his feet and answered most curiously, “Of course not my master, but, may I ask, why did you order it? He served me loyally for years.”

Canoes eyed Kalagin as he staggered back to his feet clearly still shaken from Canoes’ overwhelming command.

“Kalagin needed to do something to try and ease the small minds of his people and appear to still be in control of the situation.”

Léon shook his head, “Yes my lord, but why my spy?”

Canoes stared blankly at Léon, “Because he was yours and he was too good at what he did. Besides, you should be satisfied that he served his purpose well. You have other spies Léon. You should never become so attached to any one person or thing. It makes it harder to kill them when needed.”

Not happy about Canoes’ answer, Léon nodded and walked away from the cold piercing eyes of his master. He knew too well that he was to ask no more questions and quickly silenced his disgruntled tongue.

“I suppose it’s a good thing I showed up here today. Apparently you two cannot play well together,” Canoes said antagonistically.

Both men gave a slight nodding of their head still harboring hatred and malcontent for one another. They quickly glanced at each other only to be met with a fierce face staring back at them.

“Well, at least you two can agree on one thing,” Canoes replied witnessing their exchange. “However, you will both stay here and co-exist together; one, because I say you will and two, because it is only a matter of time before the children return to claim their kingdom.”

Kalagin and Léon let out child like sighs of displeasure bringing a sly sneer to Canoes’ face.

“That is also why I have brought my high priest here.”

Just then Malik walked in the exposed doorway holding both hands in a relaxed manner on his stomach. Both Kalagin and Léon began to protest to his interference when the icy stare of Canoes caused them both to change their minds.

“Malik will be here for the sole purpose of watching over you both and to report to me. I know you will respect his words as my very own. I also know you do not object to this arrangement,” Canoes finished eyeing them both with a deadly glare having decided he would kill the first person to speak against him.

“No,” was the only answer both men gave.

Canoes walked out of Kalagin’s chambers and faded into the shadows. Léon looked over at his enemy, Kalagin, to see him pacing back and forth with his arms crossed in front of him resembling a large spoiled child. He then turned his gaze to Malik who stood looking back with cold dead eyes looking remarkably like a motionless gargoyle. Léon grunted and began to walk out of the room. As he passed Malik he stopped and stared at him angrily.

“Stay out of my way Priest. It’s the last and only warning I will give you.”

Léon again started to retreat from the room when the unmoved Malik turned only his head behind him to reply, “And if I don’t?”

Léon abruptly halted and spun around to face Malik. He walked the two steps between him and Malik, who had by now turned his body around to face Léon, in order to stand nose to nose with him.

“Then I will rip your head from your shoulders and desecrate the unholy thing you think you are,” Léon answered, grinding his teeth.

Quickly turning back on his heels, Léon left the room. Malik only shrugged Léon’s comment off as if it were a mere idle threat. Kalagin, having witnessed this heated exchange, sneered with amusement at watching the priest ignite Léon’s anger.

“What are you grinning at you spineless worm?” Malik asked having turned his body and gaze towards Kalagin.

“I was quite amused by how well you hid your fear of Léon, o’ tattooed one,” Kalagin answered trying to display his pride to its fullest extent.

“Hmm, I’m sorry,” Malik said. He then turned his back to Kalagin and added, “I suppose I should talk to you like this since you are more used to being a subordinate rather than a king.”

Having said that, Malik chuckled and slowly departed from the room leaving Kalagin to stew over such an insult to his pride and position.

The beautiful city of Sherlin-Dea seemed to be covered in a fine and cooling mist spray from the picturesque waterfall centered in the city. Not only Elves, but fairies, nymphs and other Fae creatures thrived in the mystical and protected city.

Jason was standing on a crystal white marbled balcony stories above the city streets. He took notice of the flawlessness of the Fae creatures going on about their business down below him. No one living in the city seemed to be inquisitive about the new strangers in town or the return of Lockefren, the outcast. There was a calming peace to the city and its residents that conveyed to him what he had already feared; the people of Sherlin-Dea knew nothing of the impending doom closing in around them. The venture through the forest to Sherlin-Dea had been a troubling and saddened one. Villages and towns surrounding the fair city, which at one time flourished with life and business, were now nothing more than devastating sites of destruction and decay. Each village had been wiped out and annihilated by something great and powerful. Only telltale signs littering the grounds told the traveling party just who had caused such destruction. A few bodies of long ago dead creatures revealed that Léon’s army had hit every village and town on their way to Talkain killing everything in their path. And now, with death all around them, none of the fair people of Sherlin-Dea seemed aware of anything outside their own protected gates. However, in the safety and tranquility of this place, it was easy for Jason to forget about the danger himself. Only one thought kept haunting him over and over again. The events leading up to the death of his most cherished Thessa played repeatedly in his mind.

Again watching the Elvin folk below him, Jason whispered to himself, “None of these women are as beautiful as my beloved Thessa.”

When the party had entered into the gates of Sherlin-Dea after defeating the Saber Jaws, they were greeted by an entourage of the king’s guard and hastily escorted back to the royal castle. Grand in scale and extravagant in design, the castle halls were decorated with lush tapestries accented in gold and silver thread each bearing the markings of the kingdom and its supporting houses. Magnificent paintings of events in Elvin history covered the ceilings and high walls. The floors were white marble as were the great number of pillars adorning the courtyards and great castle halls. Lining the great hall leading into the castle, the pillars were carved into statues of royal Elvin ancestors of times past with engraved layers of gold and silver to personify the varying eminence of each.

The companions were led down a long corridor leading to a pair of giant oak doors. Instead of handles each door was embossed with Elvin symbols set in a small circular pattern making it impossible to read for any untrained or unknowing eye. The leading guard spoke a few words activating the symbols, which illuminated as the doors swung open until they touched the walls and then closed again once the party was inside the room. Halting them from going any further than just inside the room, the guard announced they were to wait where they were. He then walked five feet towards a pair of purple velvet carpeted steps leading up to the King sitting upon his great throne. King Sess looked up from his business nodding his head allowing the guard to approach him. After the guard whispered a moment into his ear, King Sess expressionlessly stared at the small band, which included his own son, Terrell, and simply motioned with his hand for them to approach him.

Jason, though somewhat insulted at such a cold welcome, couldn’t help but notice the differences between this regal and respected king and the worm Kalagin showed himself to be. Everything about King Sess demanded respect though he never asked for it. Even his coldness in summoning them to the steps seemed to be out of strength and demeanor rather than contempt.

King Sess was quite noticeably old. Not by wrinkles on his face or the lack of color in his once platinum blonde hair, but by his presence and self-assurance. He had been the ruling king of Sherlin-Dea for 1000 of his 2000 years of life.

“Why have you come to see me formally my son?” King Sess asked impassively while excusing a servant at his side.

“Because my Lord, I need your help once more,” Terrell’s father raised one hand stopping him from speaking any further.

Terrell lowered his head and gaze signifying he was not going to challenge his father.

“If you are asking me to support your efforts in another battle then my answer is no. I can not help you.” King Sess leaned back in his chair staring at the group before him. “I can only assume that is why you have brought outsiders and a half-breed before me,” he added smugly.

Raising his head to glare into his father’s disapproving eyes, Terrell spoke out, “Father, I bring allies of our people and a native of our very own land.” Terrell continued after his father sat up in his chair irritated by this defiance from his son, “I ask only that you keep your own people safe. Or do we once again ask the humans to save us?!”

“SILENCE!” King Sess roared rising to his feet in anger.

Everyone in the group took a step backwards except for Terrell who stood defiantly and confidently before his enraged father.

“How dare you insult me and my intentions?!” Walking towards Terrell he added, “You know I cannot support you on this. The council would not hear of it; any of it. They would not aid humans or want them as allies.”

“Yes, but I thought you ruled Sherlin-Dea, not the council,” Terrell announced boldly.

King Sess scoffed and returned to his throne, “Last time I looked it was I, Sess Glimmerblade, who has reigned in this very throne for over 1000 years, and not the young pup Terrell I see before me. I think it would be best to rely on my own advice when it comes to the well being of our people, wouldn’t you agree?”

Angered, but not too moved, King Sess sat staring back at his son once again. He did not like being so harsh with him, but he would not be questioned by anyone, especially his very own family.

“Father, no matter what you or your blasted council decides we are being drawn into a war and if you do not help me…”

King Sess rolled his eyes waiting for his son’s threat, but Terrell, instead of finishing his statement, took two steps backwards, bowed one last time at his father and glared into his eyes with anger and disappointment. Before leaving the room he said his last intended words before the court.

“Fine. I must sadly decline my title as Prince of Courts and give all rights back to King Sess to find a more suitable official.”

Terrell coldly removed a ring from his finger and placed it on the floor in front of him before turning on his heels and walking briskly out of the throne chamber. A guard residing closely to the King rushed down the few steps scooping up the ring and placing it upon a white silk pillow before handing it over to him. King Sess looked dismayed and was quite sad about his son’s hasty departure, but he could not allow his son’s actions to dictate what he needed to do for his people.

“You may all sleep here tonight, but tomorrow you must leave,” he abruptly spoke to the remaining party. “Benthalas,” he beckoned, “You will watch over Terrell and report to me his dealings and whereabouts.”

As the party began to leave the room Jason thought about what had just transpired. Surely this wasn’t going to help matters or save the good people of Sherlin-Dea. Feeling led by Shiloh to right the wrong, Jason turned around and stormed over to the steps leading to the King. Stopping just before the first step, he bowed at the waist and looked up.

“Honorable King Sess, I am Jason Jendryke once Knight and Commander of the Talkain kingdom.”

The guards started towards Jason, but were halted by the raising of the King’s hand.

“Let him speak. I have not received such a formal greeting in a long while. I can at least give him a chance to say his peace,” he announced to his guards.

Bowing again Jason started, “Thank you my liege. You honor me with your grace.”

King Sess nodded slowly for Jason to continue with what he had to say and to end with the formalities.

“I come before you now as a man with no home,” Jason said. “My kingdom was overthrown by evil marauders and control of my land is now theirs.”

“Yes, I am quite aware of all this,” Sess stated.

“Well your Highness, were you aware that they are now headed here to Sherlin-Dea?” Jason asked with respect.

“And how can you be sure of this young man?” The King asked coolly with a hint of interest in his voice.

“I don’t know for a fact Sire, however, the towns and villages surrounding your city have been destroyed by this same evil army. Their destination back home would take them right by here again. If they can overtake Talkain, they can also take Sherlin-Dea,” Jason remarked with confidence.

The King slouched back down in his chair and shook his head, “I don’t wish to listen to my son’s paranoid delusions coming from another. You have already been shown mercy with me allowing you to stay in my city…”

“Don’t you mean the Council’s city?” Jason asked not hiding his irritation.

Again raising to his feet in anger the King blurted, “You will leave my throne room now human! You have a journey away from here to prepare for.” Sitting back down he added, “You have no right to tell me of my affairs or the affairs of my people. It would be most wise of you to not forget your manners.”

Bowing again, Jason turned away beginning to walk out of the room before stopping and turning towards the King again, “One thing is inevitable your Majesty. Darkness is falling across our once peaceful province; there is no stopping that. I have already seen your friend, my father, fall at the hands of this menace because he stood to defend a weak king. Do not be so hasty to let such a travesty happen to your kingdom because of mere politics or my friend, your son, may lose his father as well to the same menace.”

Without hesitation Jason turned on his heels at attention and marched out of the room relishing in the silence knowing that could only mean King Sess was actually contemplating his final words. A small grin covered his face with this thought.

Terrell was busy packing his horse as Ben rushed into the stable with a saddle in his hands and a set of saddlebags slung over his shoulder.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Terrell asked in his native tongue grinning at his friend.

“Your father has commissioned me to follow you and keep him informed of your exploits, which I have no intention of doing of course, but it’s nice to know he’s entrusted me to such an important job,” Ben answered in his normal humorous tone.

Terrell laughed at this remark, “So, you wish to go into exile with your hard headed cousin then?”

Ben shook his head, “Nah, I just plan on babysitting my hard headed cousin.” Sighing he added, “In all seriousness Terrell, why are you defying your father again?”

Terrell fell silent and continued to pack his horse.

“If I wanted to be questioned and treated as a simpleton I would have stayed with my father and allowed him to berate me with his narrow minded point of view.” Terrell looked at Ben with an almost hurt look on his brow continuing, “I didn’t ask you to join me, and if this is your reaction…”

Cutting in Ben announced, “I get it! I get it! I’m not questioning you. I just wanted to make sure you’d really thought this through.” Shrugging, Ben continued to pack his horse, “You obviously have.”

The wise crack was light enough to bring a smile back to Terrell’s face.

“I’m sorry Ben. I just know in my heart that this is the right thing to do and no council will stop me. I will just have to do what’s necessary without their help.”

Ben nodded, “I agree with you Terrell. This is something you must do and your father will come around eventually. He is very wise. He’ll soon realize his influence is greater then even he believes. Once he figures that out, he’ll change the council’s mind. I believe this with all my heart.”

The two cousins nodded both realizing their departure would lead them down a road where there was no turning back. They finished their preparations and mounted their Elvin steeds riding in great haste toward the impending threat growing in the forest.

In the morning Jason awoke from a life like dream where he and Thessa were finally able to live together in a large home displaying their love for one another to the world, but as the sun began to beat down warming up his room, he realized it was only a dream and his beloved was still gone from him forever. Grudgingly he arose and began to dress when a knock came at the door.

“Enter,” he called out in a gruff voice without thinking of who it might be or how he was dressed.

To his embarrassed shock, Lockefren was the one to walk in on him half clad.

“Oh!” Lockefren said with a start. “I-I-I didn’t know. I’m so sorry.”

Her voice shook with nervous energy as she attempted to look anywhere in the room other than at the bare backside of her friend. Hearing a female voice, Jason quickly grabbed his shirt lying on the bed and covered up his chest region, completely forgetting his bottom half was still left exposed and unclothed. He turned around to find Lockefren blushing and quite embarrassed.

“I am so sorry Lockefren. You may look now, I am covered,” he told her with his own cheeks a dull shade of pink.

“Oh My!” Lockefren let out when she turned towards Jason only to see he was still quite exposed. “Um, not exactly Jason.” She chuckled this time covering her eyes from view.

“Oh my goodness! I am so sorry!” Jason exclaimed now wildly looking for a place to hide. “Um, could you please wait outside for a moment while I make myself proper?”

“Certainly,” again she chuckled while clumsily closing the door behind her now more embarrassed for Jason than for herself.

After the few minutes it took for Jason to gather his composure and get dressed he walked out of his room to find Lockefren patiently waiting to speak with him.

“It must be something important if you were willing to stick around after that embarrassing scene,” he said to try and break the tension.

Chuckling she replied, “Well, I was more shocked than embarrassed really. I mean, I’ve seen you without a shirt before, but the rest of you was something quite new.”

“Yeah, well, I’ll try and forget my embarrassment if you try and forget what you saw.”

“I think I can do that. By the way, it is important what I need to say,” she said trying to get back to the reason she was here today.

The two companions began to make their way towards the kitchen while they spoke.

“We can’t let Terrell lose his title and position in the kingdom just for us,” she blurted in one breath wanting to get it off her chest.

“Why not?” He asked in a way that reminded Lockefren very much of Haldrov.

“We may need his influence later. His position comes with great respect and reverence. Besides, he doesn’t owe us this much. We can’t ask this of him,” Lockefren pleaded with great worry in her voice.

“Lockefren, I know this may be hard for you, but you must remember he has made his decision. I do not believe there was anything we could have said to sway his view or influence him otherwise. Don’t worry, he is the king’s son after all,” Jason told her trying to ease her wounded heart.

“But for Terrell to resign his title means he has no other choice but to go into exile for the rest of his life. He can never return to Sherlin-Dea,” again she said pleading with Jason to understand.

Slowing his walking down a bit, Jason replied, “I realize the consequences of his decision, but the king is no fool. I’m sure he wouldn’t allow his son to just step down unless he had a way of getting him reinstated, but with the backing of the council.”

Lockefren shook her head, “You don’t know the council Jason. They will not allow Terrell to return, especially after another offense.”

Jason abruptly stopped and faced Lockefren quite curious about what she meant by her statement. Realizing she may have just said too much, Lockefren lowered her head closing her eyes tight as if irritated at herself for opening her mouth.

“Um, what do you mean by ‘another offense’?” He asked her looking straight into her closed eyes.

“I can’t say,” she muttered while trying to escape his piercing gaze.

“Lockefren, you are no longer considered a citizen of Sherlin-Dea. You are, however, a commissioned officer of Talkain and speaking to your superior,” Jason spouted off hoping an intimidation technique might help to get her to answer.

“Then I resign my position and remove myself and my services from the kingdom of Talkain,” she spouted back at him with great courage and pride.

“No, don’t resign. Besides, I won’t accept it,” he said in defeat. “I will just have to accept you’re not telling me. I’d be a fool to let you go just because of my own curiosity.” Placing his hands upon her shoulders he continued, “Just remember please, anything you tell me, ever, is said in confidence. Also, I trust if the information you have ever needs to be told then you will tell it. Until then, my friend, we should prepare for our departure as I feel we have over stayed our welcome here.”

With mended hearts from their hurt feelings, both friends went upon their way to ready themselves for the trip ahead of them. Lockefren felt a deep regret for keeping anything from Jason, especially when he tried so hard to get it out of her. I’ll tell him if he needs to be told, she thought to herself trying hard to push it out of her mind and focus on the task still set before them.