The Coming Of Shadows (The Shadow Tide Book 1) Page 12

  “Shut up! Now House Sandrin opposes me?”

  “Your Majesty, No, we only-”

  “You Oppose me. Lord Sandrin, I suggest you leave this room now and report back to me with your House’s complete allegiance.” Damn them all.

  “I will not let any one of you oppose me. You by law must obey the laws that I lay down. Those of you who feel these taxes are unjust stand now and leave.” He said watching Lord Sandrin turn and look upon the rest of the Earls. No one stood. And you are alone now, Lord Sandrin.

  “Then let’s move on.” He said. “Lord Carlye, I understand that your Brother the Duke of Denoi has made a threat against your life. Could you please inform this court of what transpired?”

  Dominic stood and bowed. “Your Majesty, if it pleases this court I choose not to discuss the matter in open court,” he said.

  “Why, does that scare you? Tell me, Lord Carlye, do you remain loyal to your brother after he attempted to kill both you and your lovely wife?”

  The room went quiet. Whispers among the Earls faintly could be heard through the silence. “Lord Carlye, I asked you a question.” Jayden said.

  He could feel his blood starting to boil. This new found Lord tempts my patience. He thought as he looked at the Lord in anger.

  “It was a misunderstanding Your Majesty. Nothing else, I have written to my brother and informed him that I am loyal to my house and to inform him of the taxation requirements of his province. Your Majesty with honor I ask you to please forget this matter.” Dominic said.

  Forget. Forget. No. “Lord Dominic, I happen to know what transpired that night. I will not let this be overlooked. You see, as King I must honor our Gods and laws, and your brother committed a crime,” Jayden said.

  “Your Majesty...”

  He cut Dominic off he was tired of the game. “NO. YOU LISTEN TO ME. Duke Aiden Carlye is hereby wanted by the crown for the attempted murder of an Earl of the Crown. You, Lord Carlye, will find your brother and invite him here and when he arrives, take him into custody. If you fail to do this, I will call all houses in the name of the Crown and march them into Denoi and take him along with all the lands he owns. Dominic, I gave you everything and I will take it away.”

  He was furious. I was able to give you the woman you wanted, and I will take her away! He was tired of the games everyone was playing with him. Oberon had told him to be cautious, that each Earl was planning his own move and in time it would be shown. “Your Majesty, they plot against you. You must gain total control and bring the Dukes under one banner before they control so much that you cannot reclaim what is yours,” Oberon had told him before he came to the meeting.

  “Lord Carlye, you have your orders and for your sake I hope you understand,” he said rubbing his head. He thought he could trust Lord Carlye, but now he felt that even he was starting to turn against him.

  “Idris, please stand.” He had to end this meeting soon. His head was pounding and he wanted a drink.

  “Your Majesty.” Idris said standing and taking a bow.

  “How long did you serve my father?” he asked him

  “Six years.”

  “Good. Your service to my father is commended and your council has been good and bad. As King now I feel that your services have been used to their extent. You never served my father during a time of war, and now we sit on the edge of war. With that being said I must now announce that you are relieved of your duty. Please now go and retire in peace.” he told Idris. He didn't want to get into a debate.

  “Your Majesty if I may say...”

  “No, you may not. My decision is mine and mine alone. You no longer have a place here, NOW GO!” He was mad, frustrated. “I have said all that needs to be said today and I have heard all that I will hear. Go each of you; we will meet again in one week.”

  With that he slammed his chair away from him and stood. He saw Idris looking at him like a man who was now lost. “I once told you that your time was limited and I meant it. Now go.” He commanded him.

  Idris didn't even bow to him. Asshole!

  XXX

  Idris’ life was tearing apart. In the time he had been King, Jayden had become mad and madder with power. His mind was playing games with him. The man who now was King was not the boy Idris had once known.

  Jayden’s spending had left the crown bankrupt and now he was making enemies inside of his own kingdom. Even though it was only two houses, in time more and more of the Dukes would start to feel the pressure, and at that time Jayden’s rule would fall into peril and civil war would tear the Kingdom apart.

  Since his dismissals from the King’s service Lord Dominic had given him a place and room at Easterway. Standing out on his personal balcony he faced the fact that Dominic was the King’s first choice to lead an army into a clash with those who legally and rightfully opposed the new taxes, a job he felt that Dominic wasn’t ready, or even willing to do. But would he disobey his King?

  Even though Dominic had made peace with Aiden he was still loyal to Jayden. Jayden must be made aware that the threat was not that of his own people but that of an enemy who was now awake and roaming freely through the lands.

  Jayden is a fool; he will never listen to reason as long as his thirst for gold and power controls him, he thought as he sat on the edge of his bed. Dominic could be the one to help convince the King of this, but would he do it? Would Jayden even listen?

  Jayden had to be stopped. If he wasn’t, war would break out and then everything Idris had worked to protect these last eight hundred years would fail.

  It was becoming colder. The night's chill was starting to become more apparent. Time to retire, he thought. Maybe tomorrow will bring hope.

  He slept restlessly, tossing and turning, confronting dreams of a broken kingdom, or the Shadow Beings returning. He dreamt of their leader emerging and uniting the lost souls for a war that would this time destroy everything. The Shadows were coming, and for once he felt powerless. He was, cursed with immortality, cursed to hold a prison together that was destined to fail.

  He woke.

  The dreams were so vivid, as if implanted into his brain. It was cold in his room and then he knew. “Approach. I know you are here.” he said into the darkness, and he put his feet onto the cold wooden floor.

  He made his way to the fireplace to add wood for more heat and light, hoping to see more into the darkness. “Approach me,” he commanded one more time.

  The darkness in the room began to change; the sound and feel of a cold breeze began to blow in the room. The flames which had been stoked started to flutter in the breeze.

  “Enough of your Shadow games, FACE ME!” He had become angry. The wind began to gust, the flames almost extinguished. Through the breeze, the wind began to take shape and change colors into a deep gray, almost black and nearly invisible in the night. The dark wind twirled and then manifested beside the hearth into a man.

  “Easy, wizard,” the man said, “You don't want to alarm the guards. As easy as I came, I can leave,” the man said.

  “Why are you here?” Idris asked. He knew all too well what this man was but he didn't know his name or his purpose inside the Estate.

  “Surely you of all people haven't forgotten, or has eight centuries collapsed your memory? Old man!”

  “No it hasn't, why are you here?” He asked again sternly.

  “I am a Watcher, the name of our kind in this realm, I am here merely watching,” he said. “My name is Jarrell and I have been here for some time, ever since Jayden took the throne.”

  Idris had often wondered but now his wonders were true, the Watchers had been watching each King as they took the throne. So they were like us; they still watched.

  “So I see the Guiden are still acting as advisers for the Lords of this land, rotating every few years as not to raise attention to the fact that you, are immortal. Not to raise any attention that you, and yes I mean you fought in the Shadow War,” Jarrell said as he made his way to Idris' wine bottle and
poured himself a generous cup.

  Idris felt anger brew up inside of him. Eight hundred years ago at the end of the Shadow War he had been there after the Shadow Beings had been defeated at Estanguard. “On that night we the Guiden, the keepers of The Balance and the Watchers, the last of the Shadow Races decreed that from that day forth the race of men and the Mortal Races should govern without the assistance of us. We would advise and teach but at no time would we break this new Balance. Evil magic has been destroyed and the need for the old Balance is no more. We the Guiden sacrificed our mortality and drew from our last reserve of magic to help destroy the Shadow Beings’ power and control over this world and in doing so we became immortal--cursed to walk this earth forever.

  “Watchers, your power is intact but your power has never been used for evil. Please, by the rules of this accord use it sparingly; this realm must now protect itself. Will you abide?” Idris asked looking at the group of Watchers to his left.

  “Yes, unless we are needed, we will refrain,” the Watchers had responded.

  But that was eight hundred years ago and this was now. Jarrell had not broken the accord but his presence was strange.

  “Idris, I know that just like men we Watchers are born, we grow old and we die. But we carry with us our power.” Jarrell said as he took a long swig of the wine. “Ooo, sour,” he said. “The funny thing, Idris, is that something is happening. This new King is more concerned with his own greed than being concentrated on his true enemies.”

  “I know, I have lost my position with him, and I fear that Jayden is lost to us now,” Idris said. He had become obviously confused from Jarrell's statements.

  “Not lost, but convinced,” he said taking another swig of wine. “You don’t know, do you? Of course not, Jayden has a ward around him. It started shortly before you were dismissed. I haven’t been able to see him or get close to him in some time.”

  Idris' head felt like it was about to explode. Before he was stripped of his power he could have sensed it, but now he was powerless, just powerless and immortal. He didn't doubt the sense of the Watchers. Even though their magic was more or less just being able to move and hide outside of the normal plain of existence.

  “Where?” Idris asked. He had to know. “You know where - where your friend lived for so many years. Where four soldiers of the Crimson Army met their death.” Idris’s blood turned cold and he felt the chill bumps rise over his body. “Is it Shadow Race magic?” he asked.

  “Not exactly, it's different, older,” Jarrell said. “This is not the same Shadow Magic as before.”

  If there was Shadow magic at work it had to be stopped. But could the Watchers do it alone and was it too late. “How much has it infested?” Idris asked.

  “It's presence is here, but to what extent, only time will tell.” he said as he began to manifest into the dark gray smoke in which he came.

  “WAIT!” Idris shouted. “Is there Shadow magic other places, or is it just here?” he asked stopping Jarrell from leaving.

  “You know that it has come in west, and there it is much more powerful than here,” he said coming back into the room.

  Richard. Richard knew that they were back and he had given his life to protect this world and now the prison has weakened. “How much?”

  “Idris. Jayden’s war that he intends to make on the Dukes is just the start. This war must be stopped at all costs. If not, it will give the Shadow Beings the opening they need to make their move into this world and begin a campaign. You somehow have to stop this and find a way to convince this King of his wrong doing before he loses all control. But be careful, the Shadows are in this city. They are playing a game and we are the pieces on the board, their strength is weak, and they can be defeated but now is the time to strike, the prison is failing fast now that Richard is dead.

  “I have consulted with the others of my kind and until more evidence comes forth to support their arrival, we are powerless to intervene.” Jarrell added.

  “Can you help me? I have a contract...or had a contract, the killer let me live.”

  “Yes I know. Ash, he will not kill you. He has bigger issues now.”

  “You know him?”

  “He is The Order of Righteous Blood, the Order we founded.”

  He spoke the truth. The Watchers had founded the order as way to keep the Shadow Beings at bay. “Can Ash help us?” He asked Jarrell.

  “If he is told; the Righteous Blood is unaware of our presence here, and for now it will stay that way. I will do what I can, but as of now my hands are tied. Please, Idris, I beg of you stop this somehow before the game pieces are played to a point that no victory can come, and the players in anger toss the board and the pieces into chaos. Please,” Jarrell begged.

  Smoke once again filled the room, and as fast he came, he was gone. Idris was alone again. The Watchers would not get involved unless the Shadow Beings came back to power, and Idris feared that the day was coming.

  Jayden had to be convinced. Somehow, some way. He walked back onto his balcony as dawn appeared over the horizon. Today would be a long day.

  XXXI

  Dominic was torn. He didn't know if he should go with his gut feeling or the feeling that his mind told him to follow. After Jayden's outburst last week during the Earl's meeting, he had drafted several letters to his brother but none of them made it past his own desk. Please gods help me with my decisions, he prayed, hoping for some answer, something that would help him through.

  KNOCK KNOCK

  “Yes,” Dominic said as he looked at the six drafted letters to Aiden on his desk.

  “My Lord, Master Idris to see you.” The guard opened the door.

  “By all means, send him in,” he said standing and pushing the letters under more parchments on his desk.

  “Master Idris, please sit. Guards, wine please.” He said gesturing to Idris to take a seat.

  The King's former Steward took the gesture and took his seat in front of Dominic's desk. “Thank you My Lord. It is with many, many humble hours of pondering that I come to you today. There are things that I must tell you and things that you must know. Please know that the things I tell you today may weigh on your decisions over the next few days, and those decisions may find me imprisoned.”

  He hung his head saying it. Dominic knew that this man had much on his mind. He was holding things in that he knew might cost him his life. Dominic felt humbled that he wished to confide in him. “I will hold any secret with regard for this, Idris, but as you know I have a duty that I must uphold.”

  “Yes, my Lord,” Idris replied as the guard returned with a bottle of wine and two cups. They poured glasses of the sweet wine. “My Lord, King Jayden has turned into not only a threat to himself but a threat to the Kingdom. As you know his reckless spending has left him no choice but to tax the provinces for more and more gold to build the treasury back. This estate alone nearly broke the treasury to construct it.

  “As you have also seen, Jayden is threatening military action against those who choose to oppose him, even though the claims of opposition are legal. I fear Jayden has gained enough power through fear that he might be able to control the hearings,” Idris said.

  He was not telling Dominic anything he didn't already know. “My Lord I want to tell you a story. It will take some time, so please wait until the end. Fifteen thousand years ago an enigmatic race known as the Watchers appeared in what was then the Kingdom of Berasaid. They were said to have eyes as green as the fresh summer grass and they appeared in a wave of smoke. They walked among the mortals of the world but watched from the shadows. They were peaceful, never interfering in war or strife until nine thousand years later when those who held the same powers as the Watchers came, but this time their eyes glowed as orange as the sun itself.

  “These orange eyed beings were not like their predecessors. They influenced man to do evil, foul things turning them into pawns to do their own bidding. They came in numbers so great that there was no stopping them unt
il they eventually clashed with the Watchers.

  “It was the first war of the shadow races and it lasted for almost fifty years. The orange ones known as the Shadow Beings wanted man to control the world in their own vision and the Watchers fought to oppose the enslavement of man.

  “For fifty years the war raged until one day the Shadow Beings bestowed on man magical abilities, abilities that gave man such power that man turned on man.

  “After the war our God, Joramon knew that his creation of these beings was a mistake and not having the power to destroy them himself, he sent another race. He found it necessary for another race to Berasaid. They were known as the Guiden.

  “They were the keepers of power and magic, the keepers of the balance between the Watchers and Shadow beings. The Guiden were neutral; they worked between both the Watchers and the Shadow Beings to maintain a perfect balance.

  “For a thousand years the balance was perfect. The Watchers became known to all people as the protectors. They begin to train normal men in the ways of combat to fight and defeat the Shadow Beings. They educated these chosen men to be perfect in every way, and these groups became known as the Order of Righteous Blood.

  “The Order was the voice and sword of the Watchers. They hunted the Shadow Beings and ended the lives of those who were touched by darkness. As time passed they became proficient in wet work, but to hold to their oath they only took the lives of those who deserved death.

  “For four thousand years’ peace reigned and then there was the Shadow War. The Shadow War was a retaliation of the Shadow Beings against not only the Watchers but the Guiden and the men who believed in the light. The war brought all of Berasaid into the bloodiest battle ever to rage on this land.

  “Twenty years of death. It was never ending, the country of Elm’ Ladin supported the Shadow Beings and turned on Berasaid. Avondale was utterly destroyed in fire, Trodiania split into civil war from the opposing factions both holding allegiance.