DNO’s Author Showcase: The Mosh – The Journey Untold Chapter 2

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Chapter 2

Warrik bore two children, Icus and Ezra. Ezra took after her father in ambition and tenacity. As her father these many years before, she outshined those around her. Icus on the other hand was quite similar to his uncle. They felt that knowledge is power and leaned towards being scholars and tacticians. Warrik was disappointed that Icus was the spitting image of his brother Tarcus in both ways and appearance. Warriks idea of a king was one who could lead men into battle and Icus was not that. Warrik tried to share the love between his children but there was clear favoritism to his daughter.

It had been less than a decade since Warrik had been crowned king. Many moons before, the two princes’ lives took a drastic and unexpected turn. Their Beloved king, and father, King Gaarik’s lifeless body was discovered. His lifeless body slumped over his bed covered in blood, his father’s throat had been cut from ear to ear. From that day their lives forever changed. Warrik had the responsibility of being king to a large nation, and his younger brother the burden of tending to their depressed mother.

He walked through the streets of Aramoore and headed to the training ground.  The sound of swords clanging could be heard, shouts, grunts, and snarls. Sweat poured down the trainees faces, each soldier trained viciously. Every single training session in Aramoore replicated real life situations and demanded precision and focus. Their soldiers were bred for war. Many did not have the gull needed to make it to the end of training. The lucky ones received only scars for their effort. The damned one, either in the land of the dead or missing limbs. They were the best in the land. The king approached in silence, no one noticed his presence. Warrik enjoyed battle, and the king’s lineage were proud men, and him being the proudest. He was a  man who demanded the most from the people of the Mosh, from soldiers, to farmers, to regular citizens. Ezra was sparring with Grimflag,with bold grins on their faces as they battled. Warrik closed his eyes for a moment, the sounds of  metal meeting metal intensified. His heart pounded, the sound of their boots crunching the sand beneath their feet crescendoed. His breathing quickened, tapping his foot constantly. He remembered the soft touch of Lillian, the warm embrace of his father when he was a kid, and the joyfulness of his brother. The eagerness of his son, the love and envy from his daughter. A smile creeped in. For that one moment, he found solitude. Suddenly,  the image of Dayton flashed. Then the image of his dead father. From solitude, to pain and anguish. Dead men now roamed his mind. The king shook himself violently, he broke out of the trance. Thank the gods that no one had seen him in this state.

Ezra was young and mobile;Grimflag, old and wise. These attributes clashed with each well, offering a spectacle of entertainment. The king’s guard was an honorable achievement in the kingdom of Aramore. The members gave long lives of solitude to their king.  Grimflag, leader of them, Sarah, the next in command, Rikir, brother to the deceased Dayton and now Ezra well on her way to becoming one. Warrik was impressed with what he had seen. “Father” blurted out Ezra, she only now realized his presence. “King,“ Grimflag said, almost feeling embarrassed that he had not noticed the king. The rest of the trainees all stood at attention in perfect unison to acknowledge the king.

“Come Grimflag, let’s have a walk. Ezra, please excuse us.”

“Yes father.“ .

Grimflag had noticed the king’s  recent demeanor. Over the past few weeks he looked extremely worried and pensive. His aura reeked of nervousness and fear. Grimflag knew the king for the entirety of his life, he knew when the king was troubled.

“Do you believe that evil exists in this world?“

“I believe that we are all capable of evil acts, but that does not mean we are evil by nature.” Grimflag had a confused look on his face now. The king continued.

“Do we all have just cause to kill? Is death a warranty to us all? Do past acts haunt us? Do dead men haunt us? ”

“These questions my king. They are awfully eerie, but to answer,  a man must do what he must to protect and serve, even if that means killing for those he loves. A king as much as a foot soldier. Death is a gift given to us. We know not how or when but it’s a fate we all must walk.”

“And you trust your king to that avail? You trust me to lead and serve the people?”

“We trust you sire, you’ve taken over for a great king. And in your stead you have followed in his footsteps. Our past is our past, it should not hurt us.”

“Dead man should hold no weight on the living.”  Warrik exhaled.

“May I ask the nature of these questions?” The king ignored the question.

“How is Ezra doing?”

“She is fairing well. In your likeness.”

The king waved a hand of thanks towards grimflag, and continued walking.

As he was walking back to his palace, the library of Aramoore was in sight. Icus usually spent his days there, it was where he found comfort. His knowledge was vast and his ability to retain information was brilliant. To the king, maybe one day Icus may be valuable to the kingdom, but as of now he needed a proper successor. Icus was not a soldier, and not fit to be a king. To Warrik, he was a failure. He pushed the doors open, the library was quiet. He walked around, picking up books and glancing at the covers as he moved from aisle to aisle. This place bore him. As he was about to leave, there he saw Icus. He almost forgot the reason he went into the library.

 “How are you son?”

“I am doing well father, but you, you look worried. Is something the matter?”

“How do you spend so many hours here everyday? The boredom kills me slowly.”

“It is what I loved, Tarcus would have loved what we have done with the place.”

“You are right my son but You should pick up a sword and learn to fight like your sister.”

“Not everybody is meant to be a fighter.”

“Said no king ever.”

The disappointment in his voice cut deep into Icus’s mind. The king loved both his children with all his heart, deep down he wanted Icus to be in his likeness. The king walked out the doors. The air was cold to the point that it sent shivers down his spine. Rays from the moon hit the streets. A shroud of mist hit the streets but the streets were still bustling with trade and sketchy activities. Torches lit, and candles could be seen from the many homes that were within the mighty walls of Aramoore. Something was different in Aramoore, in the Mosh by extension. He felt it.  As he walked through he thought of all the things he had done to keep his people safe. He tried to justify all his actions but they were horrendous deeds. He shook his head.

Lillian had been waiting for him. She smiled earnestly,  he held her close, and trailed his hands through her long golden hair. He put his head on her shoulder and for a few minutes all the thoughts of the day vanished. He raised his head slowly and stared into her eyes. He kissed her deeply, her beauty still amazing. He fell in love with her the first day he laid eyes on her, and still had deep passion for his queen. Lillian kissed back, her breaths heavy, releasing sighs. Her passion for her king had not changed. She pushed him onto the bed, he sat there staring at her body. She looked like pure perfection, her body was illuminated by the moonlight coming through the open balcony. She slowly climbed into bed, he watched in anticipation and melted away at her gentle touches.

He barely opened his eyes when he heard “Sire, Smag has come to you.” “Send him in.”

“My gud king.” It hissed.

“I has troubling news for yous. ”

“Out with it Smag!” Warrick snapped.

“Oss, yous a spicy one.” He cackled.

“There has been much talk of a cloaked figure going through the Mosh, ordering killings and capturing of your people. In the far regions, away from your nose, away from your vision. Blind you are.”

“Cloaked figure? There is no one who dares challenge my reign and threaten my people.”

“They call him the dark one.”

“And you know this how?”

“I see things, things see me, I hear the whispers.” He clicked his teeth together. Exposing his rotten teeth.

“And that’s not all, they say he is a spell user.”

“Spell user? What’s that?”

“It’s what I hear, I don’ts know.” he laughed uncontrollably.

“Be gone.”

“Your wish is my command, king.”