Edwin awoke to find himself in his bedroom in the palace. His head pounded, and his back was sore from the long ride. He struggled to sit up as he tried to feel out his surroundings. Charles was in the chair next to him. “What happened,” asked Edwin as he rubbed his eyes.
“I am not sure, Ed. We came to the palace, and people were rushing about in a panic. They said you had fallen and were unconscious. We feared that you might have fallen ill, but one of the healers told us you would have shown signs by now, so you are going to be alright.” Charles paused for a moment with his head bowed. “I am sorry about your parents. They were great people. The best Hailgalad had to offer.”
“Then it wasn’t a dream. They are really gone.” Edwin paused and hung his head. Tears came that he forced back. It felt as though he was falling into a pit and could not stop himself. Doubt and grief swirled in his head. Finally, he spoke to cut out the storm, “What of your and Johanna’s families? Her brothers, your grandparents?”
Charles’ lip quivered. “They are all gone. Most of the royal court have passed. For some reason, they are saying the disease was worse the closer to the palace. It explains why the homes on the hill were so dark. Some of the top healers are trying to figure out what caused it and why it was worse here, but they have not gotten far.” Charles paused as he scanned Edwin’s face. “There is some good news coming to the palace, though.”
“Come on, out with it.”
“The palace has been receiving reports from healers around the capital. No new cases of the sickness have been reported, and no one has died of it since last night. It seems too early to tell, but we may be at the end of it,” said Charles. He looked hopeful, but there was uncertainty in his eyes.
Edwin was in shock. “How long have I been asleep? How could this have happened so quickly?”
“To answer your first question, it is only the late afternoon of the day we arrived on the palace grounds. It was about four o’clock in the morning when we came to the courtyard, and it was a quarter past four in the afternoon now. The healers say that you were overcome with exhaustion and anxiety, which is what caused your sudden collapse, as for your second question. That is just it, how? Like I said, the healers have been unsuccessful in figuring out this riddle.”
“Your theory of magic is looking more believable by the minute,” Edwin said as he tried to sit up straighter in his bed. “I fear there is something greater afoot as we speak. It feels as though some evil moves against us, but I haven''t a clue where the next strike will be."
"There is something ominous in the air around the palace," Charles said as he bit his lip.
“That is quite enough postulating for the time being. Edwin has enough on his mind we mustn''t muddle it up with more nonsense.” Johanna stood leaning up against the doorway.
Edwin looked down in thought. "It is possible it is just our minds running wild as something that is simply unexplainably terrible has happened to our people.”
Johanna stared at her friend with searching eyes. “Hey Edwin, it is good to see you are alright.”
“Thank you. I am sorry to hear about your families,” replied Edwin. “If there is anything I can do for either of you, please let me know. We are in this together, to whatever lies further up the road.”
“I should say the same, I am sorry. I will miss them all dearly.” She paused, looking deep in thought, but shook herself out of it. “Well, we cannot lose any more time today. You have a big evening ahead of you, Edwin.”
“Is that so? I was hoping for a quiet meal and some more rest."
“Well, unlucky for you, the new king has a rather large mess to clean up," Johanna said with a smirk.
“King!” Edwin exclaimed. He knew this would happen but had thought he could have a few days to discuss tactics and next steps with a group of advisors. “Can it wait a moment while I get my bearings?"
“Ed, we need a leader. This is what you were born for,” inserted Charles.
“Edwin, do you know what is at stake? Do you remember those desperate people outside the walls? There is talk of a revolt if we do not retain order. Crime is rampant in the streets. That is just the beginning of it. Neighboring kingdoms, such as those Vaelorans, could see this as a moment to strike. They would like nothing more than to regain control of our resources. There are even strong people in this kingdom who may take this chance to usurp the throne. Sylvester, or even Helewise, just to name a few.”
Edwin knew those two names all too well. Sylvester had always been around the palace, making uncomfortable, confrontational comments to his father and mother. He had at one time been the king’s closest friend, but that time had long passed. Edwin always thought them to be flawed but loyal to Hailgalad. Would they try to make such a move?
One day, early in King Edward and Queen Melanie''s rule, Sylvester was one of their chief generals and main advisors. There were reports of raids of Hailgalad town by a northfolk tribe. Sylvester was tasked with protecting the people and took a battalion of troops to a Northern village across the border. It was said that Sylvester ordered the complete destruction of the village. He later told the king and queen it was not a village but a military outpost. Edward always suspected Sylvester was using the army to increase his wealth, and this was another one of these ventures. Others, including their friends and the royal general Baldric, suspected that Sylvester would spark military disputes as an excuse to plunder villages for loot. The king and queen could never prove it, but when they confronted Sylvester, things got hot, and they unofficially banished him to the Iron Mountain, the southernmost city of the kingdom.
Many said they should have done worse to Sylvester, but the king always had a soft spot for him since they were childhood friends. He was made governor of that province and was charged with overseeing the mining and production of iron materials. Sylvester never openly opposed the king again. However, seeds sewed may one day bear fruit, and many feared this leniency would lead to Sylvester’s attempt to regain what power he could.
As for Helewise, she certainly had the means to start her very own kingdom. The province and city of Mendale are overseen by her governorship. She was the wealthiest person in Hailgalad and possibly even the entire known world. Mendale had built its money from being the main hub of shipping ports for Hailgalad.
Her family had owned a majority of the docks and ships since before Hailgalad was a kingdom. It was the idea of her family, as she put it, building a legacy to rival even the greatest families, a sense of superiority over even the monarchs of the world. Edwin’s father and mother had always rolled their eyes at the hypocrisy of birthright versus inheritance and them being one in the same. Edwin knew that the king and queen were always careful to move tactfully around Helewise. She held grudges and was known to threaten to hold up shipments for the kingdom when she disagreed with the crown. The king and queen had always been able to use their power to bring her in check, but could Edwin? Would one of Hailgalad’s own seriously consider an attempt at the throne?
“Surely level heads will prevail,” Edwin protested as he shook off the uncertainties. “We must trust that Hailgalad’s people are willing to fight and to sacrifice for a united kingdom. If they are not, then there is no kingdom worth fighting for.”
“Whatever the future is, we ought to get up and moving.” Johanna cut in. “Your aunt Elizabeth is eager to discuss matters with you, and we have had a meal ready for when you wake.”
"Alright, you two, give your friend some space," a tired voice rang from behind Johanna. It was Rowena, a royal healer. She was shorter in stature with calming eyes. She had long dark hair that was tied back by a tan handkerchief.
"See you out there, Ed," Charles said as he closed his book, got up, and left the room, following Johanna down the corridor.
"How are you doing today, Edwin?" Rowena asked.
"My body is good. My mind will need some time with all that has happened,” Edwin said with a heavy sigh.
"Good, good, yes, we healers can do quite a bit, but time will be needed to mend your mind. We will all need a good deal of time with the tragedy that has stuck us." Rowena looked down and paused a moment. Then she continued, "I was there when they passed. They went peacefully, and I tried my best to ease their pain. Your parents were amazing people, and I will miss them dearly. I am sorry for your loss."
Edwin rubbed a tear from his face and forced a smile, "Thank you." Edwin paused a moment, then said, "I wish to see them."
"I am not sure that is a good idea. They were sick and may still carry it on them," countered Rowena.
"I am willing to risk it. I need to see them,” Edwin responded defiantly.
Rowena scanned Edwin and saw he was not going to take no for an answer. "Very well. They are laid in caskets in their bedroom. We laid a spell on them to preserve their bodies until they could be buried properly. Is there anything else you need from me?"
"Thank you, that will be all," Edwin said with a shaky voice.
"Yes, my lord," Rowena said with a bow.
***
After Rowena left, Edwin dressed himself and washed his face with the basin in his room. He took a moment to look around. His room was exactly how he left it. The warm feel of the birch wood walls and the stone fireplace that currently had a smoldering fire in it. A stack of papers on his desk that looked out of a large window. He had spent many hours sitting in that spot reading great tales and writing stories of his own. He remembered back to when he last left this room. Edwin had thought he would be returning a changed man who was ready to conquer the world. He did return changed, but it was an empty feeling.
What was this palace without his parents in it? Yes, of course, he knew they’d pass one day, but at that point, he would have built a life of his own. He would have had a wife and children. He would have probably taken over most of the kingly responsibilities from his father, and the people of Hailgalad would have had the opportunity to see Edwin’s qualities. He thought he would have had more time with them.
“There is no time for what could have been, focus on what is happening now and what you can do about it,” he told himself out loud, rekindling that fire deep down. The young prince closed his eyes, took a deep inhale, and let it out as he stood tall.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.
Edwin left his room and turned right down the hall until he reached a spiral staircase. At the top would be his parent''s room. He remembered running up the stairs on mornings of festivals as a child, so ready to start the day. His parents would still be getting prepared as he clamored on their door. Edwin now stood at the doorway. His hand over the handle, unable to move. It shook with anticipation. After a deep breath, he opened the door and stepped into the room.
All was quiet, and the room was dimly lit by a few candles that burned low. Edwin saw two caskets in the middle of the darkness. He could make out the faces of his parents from a distance. His heart pounded, and his hands felt clammy as he approached. It was true; they were gone. There they lay in peaceful silence. His mother''s long dark hair draped past her shoulders. Her father''s short beard was finely groomed.
Edwin fell to his knees, and tears streamed out uncontrollably. He would never hear their voices again or feel their touch. Now, when he needed them most, they were both gone. He sat there for a long while. A part of him thought they would awake with the arrival of their only child, but it was not to be.
Finally, Edwin said aloud, "Mom, Dad, I know you are at peace with Areandel. May your spirits guide me. I will need any strength you can give me to weather this storm." He paused as tears streamed down his face. Edwin took deep, jaded breaths to calm himself. "I wish I could stay here with you, but our people need me. I love you both more than anything in this world."
With this, the prince rose and staggered out of the room. He took one more glance behind himself to see their faces. It would be the last time Edwin looked upon them in this life.
***
Edwin reluctantly left his parent''s room and continued down the hall. The right side had many grand windows in which the orange glow of a fading sun spilled through. Dispersed between the windows were paintings of great deeds and figures in Hailgalad’s history. One was of Ontellion, the first warden of the North, and his stalwart defense of the Frostwatch against the northfolk. They stretched on and held stories upon great stories. They filled Edwin with such pride before, but now they just made him feel small.
The corridor opened into the great hall. Far to the left, there was a grand fireplace that roared with vibrant snaps dancing light at all hours. Now, it laid dormant. Elizabeth, Johanna, Charles, Lars, and a few other nobles of the royal court were seated around a wooden table. The table was colored deep red and was made from King Eardred’s family home. He had it built to be a reminder of the empire''s roots to all who visited the palace''s great hall. Unfortunately, the palace was not finished until two years before his passing, so he did not enjoy the spoils of his victory for very long.
Lars spotted Edwin first, and immediately, everyone stood up, turned, and made a slight bow. “Everyone, please sit,” said Edwin uncomfortably. Tension seemed to hang in the air like the thick haze in the fields. He sat down at the head of the table and scanned the faces of everyone present. “Well, what are we talking about?”
“Potential pitches for you to run through on how to consolidate power and bring order, my lord,” said Elizabeth.
“My lord?” Edwin laughed. “That is hardly necessary.”
“My lord, it is imperative that you take this seriously, if you will pardon my bluntness. Even though the official coronation has not yet taken place, it is important for you to be recognized as our king,” replied Elizabeth.
“Yes, if you may remember Vaeloran history,” Charles started. “Ten generations of kings ago, Darmouth, son of Darmound, was made king after his father''s death. His mother had also passed some time before that, and he was quite young as well, so he was not ready for the kingship. He insisted the formalities be taken away. Some rivals saw this as a weakness, and a fifteen-year civil war broke out. After many lives were lost, Darmouth was slain and the kingdom started a new dynasty. While the formalities were not the sole reason for this downfall, it is just one example of why this is so important, my lord.” Charles gave a slight bow as he finished.
“Very well, in the meantime, we will stick to formalities and the status quo. I do plan to institute changes in the future, but I suppose the primary concern is the rebuilding of our capital. Now, what are these pitches for us to carry out over the next few days?” asked Edwin.
“First off, officially crowning you, king,” said Elizabeth. “The reason for tonight is twofold; one is that the capital will soon learn of the passing of the king and queen. At that time, we need a new king, Edwin, to step up and take control of this kingdom before it falls apart. Secondly, we are expected to receive Baldric, Sylvester, Helewise, and other prominent people from across the kingdom tomorrow morning. We need to be stable for their arrival, or they may try to sink their teeth into the throne.”
Lars cut in, “Yes, Baldric was recalled two days ago, so the royal army shall return, which will reestablish order. For the other two, we may agree they cannot be trusted outright, but they are people of Hailgalad, and they love this kingdom. More importantly, we need them to be unified with the crown, or these lands could be divided up for our rivals.”
“Excellent,” Edwin looked down at the table. “Gerrit, you were my father''s most trusted advisor. Have you any news from our borders? Was Baldric successful in the dispute with our neighbors to the West, and is there any news from the North?”
“Yes, my lord, Baldric was successful in his campaign against the Vaelorans. He routed their advance party and was able to establish a temporary truce. He is leaving a lieutenant and enough soldiers with horses to hold the line in case they try any tactics and break the treaty. The Kaboutians to our south have remained quiet, and trade continues to be strong with them. Upon hearing the news of Baldric, we sent emissaries to their capital of Kaboutia so they could assist us in brokering a treaty with Vaelora.”
Kaboutia was a mountainous region that Edwin''s people had war with a generation after the formation of Hailgalad. The Kaboutian people were much shorter in stature than the men of Hailgalad or Vaelora. They were hardy mountain folk who were great craftsmen. Unlike the Vaelorans and, to some extent, the people of Hailgalad, they did not have much desire for ‘regal’ customs and the expansion of their kingdoms. They primarily kept to themselves as they mined the vast, rugged region of Kaboutia to create their great works of metal and built their formidable cities. Those who have visited them even say that some of their cities were underground and stretched vast into the depths of caves that were carved thousands of years ago by their deity, Kobold.
The war between Hailgalad and the Kaboutians started over the Northern tip of the southern mountains. Hailgalad desired a stake in the iron deposits that lay there. It ended up being a long, drawn-out, twenty-year stalemate. Kaboutia could not contend with Hailgalad’s cavalry in the open field, but Hailgalad could not match the stout Kaboutian''s heavy infantry in the mountainous terrain. The two sides then agreed to establish that Hailgalad could control the northernmost mountain, Finrathud, which was later named the Iron Mountain. Finrathud was a solitary peak that Kaboutia had lost early in their war, and it was hard for them to maintain their defenses there. In addition to their war with Hailgalad, the Kaboutians had to turn their attention to other foes, such as raiding parties of humans, goblins, and trolls who also called the vast mountains their homes. It was a constant struggle for resources in those harsh lands.
“And what of the Frostwatch and our Northern border?”
“My lord, as you know, our standard is to send royal messengers to exchange information every fourteen days. Those riders missed their required check-in day by one day. This is highly irregular, but we have dispatched another rider to gain any news that they can,” replied Gerrit in an uncertain tone.
“This reminds me that Halgreth arrived not long ago with the supplies of our attackers near Riverbrook.” Lars gestured to the far end of the table at a heap of clothing and weapons. “Due to the sickness, they did not dare carry unknown bodies through the streets. Thinobrad and Galnar have also been recovered and are in the palace courtyard for burial.”
Edwin nodded solemnly and got up to inspect the gear. The clothes were weather-stained and heavy for winter conditions, not the lighter fall clothes the people of Hailgalad currently wore. The weapons were bulky and crudely made into either jagged edges or blunt club-like shapes. “This seems to confirm our suspicions that they were northfolk. Any clue of motive?”
“Well, my lord,” Lars started, “the only logical conclusion was it was a chance encounter. These men ventured far south in search of ripe plunder and happened upon us. After their journey, they were exhausted and thought we would be easy prey, but their gamble failed. We considered they came as soon as they heard about the sickness to take advantage, but if they truly came from the North, then they would have had to begin their journey at least two days before the sickness first showed up. There is another, more outlandish theory Charles is stuck on…”
“Charles,” Edwin shot a glance to his friend.
“Well, do you remember our discussion of magic?” Charles started excitedly. It was clear he was trying to tamper his tone but could not help himself. “My theory is that there could be a powerful conjurer that cast this plague on our capital to wipe out the crown and its people. At that same time, raiders were sent to pillage the lands, and they either purposely or by accident ran into us and tried to finish off those who looked to be of high rank based on our garb.”
“Gerrit, what say you?” Edwin asked.
“It is far-fetched, my lord. However, the circumstances of this illness are strange, to say the least. A group of attackers such as these have not been reported in these parts for many years. As for the sickness, we have tracked that, as of now, no other souls have died of the sickness since the passing of the king and queen. On top of that, we did pull records from our library that point to this type of magic being used a long while ago. It was an ancient time, so we cannot be sure of the accuracy or if that power still exists in this world.” He paused and looked down with uncertainty, “I dare say as the time passes and new revelations such as this party of attackers come to light, I am being more persuaded,” Gerrit replied.
“This still goes back to our fundamental understanding of magic,” Lars cut in. “As you have said, no one has been known to have that sort of power for generations.”
"With the plague seeming to end after the death of our late king and queen, as well as the houses of the royal court being disproportionately decimated, I would say the circumstances are hard to ignore. These have to be more than coincidences," Gerrit protested. Everyone fell silent in thought.
Edwin looked over to Elizabeth. She said, “Time may reveal more news yet. For now, we have a tragedy to report to the people and a king to crown. Gerrit, send word for all who are able to convene in the courtyard and down the main southern road. With the sickness gone, we should be clear to do so. I know it may seem crazy, but I believe it is important for Edwin to be crowned before the people to increase their faith and to be open with them. Do not tell them the reason, Edwin shall do that himself. We shall be ready shortly." Elizabeth looked over to Edwin and smiled."My lord Edwin, come with me, and I will help pick out some suitable clothes for you.”
***
The sun was half-set when the citizenry of the capital was convened. In Hailgalad, it is customary for new monarchs to be crowned at sunset as the mark of the sun setting on the previous ruler. The people would go back to their homes with the excitement of the new monarch and would wake up to the sunrise of a new regime.
Edwin stood in front of his people. His palms were clammy, and he tried to steady his breathing. A stage was put up in front of the palace doors, and citizens filled the courtyard shoulder to shoulder. They streamed out of the gates and down the Southern hills toward the larger city centers.
One of the royal orators stood beside Edwin. These orators were people who had learned the art of using magic to bolster their voices, and he was ready to repeat the future king''s words to the masses. “Thank you all for being here.” Edwin started, and there was an echo of the orator''s booming voice. “My heart is gladdened to see all your faces. I know many of you might be concerned about us bringing you all into this close area, but as you no doubt heard by all reports, the sickness has left our city. It is great news to us, but it also comes with great hurt. There is not a soul here that was not devastated by this terrible tragedy; myself included,” he paused and looked down to gather himself. The silence that lasted only a moment seemed to drag on for an eternity. “King Edward and Queen Melanie, my parents, have passed.”
Gasps and cries shot around the crowd after the orator announced this, and he was also shocked. “They passed just last night before I arrived at the palace from the academy. They were truly great people, and we will miss them dearly.” Edwin paused again to center himself and to fight back tears. “While the future always remains uncertain, I promise you here that I will fight to my last breath to protect this great kingdom and to protect you all! We will rebuild, and we will overcome because that is what we have done for time immemorial!"
Cheers erupted as Lars approached Edwin. It was typical for a high-ranking member of the academy to crown the future monarch to symbolize them receiving knowledge for a just and wise reign. Lars picked up the iron crown that was fashioned for his ancestor, the first King, Eardred I, and he placed it on Edwin’s head. The crown felt heavy, and he did not quite feel that it fit right, but Edwin raised his head and raised a hand to the exuberant crowd.
“May I present King Edwin,” Lars shouted, “Long live the king!” As he said this, the sun faded in the West. Edwin suddenly noticed that as the day came to a close, the heavy dread and haze that weighed the capital down not a day before was lifting. People wept and cheered for their new king as food and drink were passed out from the castle stores to the citizens.