Chapter Thirty Five: Respect

Well, I have to say, that went slightly better than expected.

The four of them were staring at me with wide eyes, shocked and numb to the idea of me being the King that they had spent their whole lives hearing stories about. Lor was the only one of the four who seemed to have any form of coherence, his eyes wide and bright, filled with satisfaction at having discovered the truth. If I looked closer I could also see relief within them as well. It seems that he had half expected for this mess not to work out. He looked to be rather thankful that he was right.

I turned my gaze to each of them in turn, Dran couldn't meet my gaze, his instead fell to the ground at my feet. Kara was just staring forwards, her eyes staring at nothing and her mouth hanging open slightly, as if she was trying to make sense of what I just said.

I saved Mahalis for last. I had never gotten a proper look of him before in Ellai, mainly because The Angelis had recognised me and decided to flee. But his closely cropped hair, silver armour and blue eyes looked just like his mothers, while his jawline reminded me of his father.

I decided not to focus on that fact.

I smiled at the elven prince, hoping to put him at ease. But his face grew pale at the sight. I wasn't surprised that he was afraid, Cinder had nearly killed him and insulted his mother, he didn't have a fucking clue what was going on. To add to that, someone had just appeared out of nowhere and claimed to be an ancient dead king who was the ruler of the order that he belonged to.

“I know this will be a lot for you all to accept, but have no fears, I do not plan to harm you. Cinder will not hurt you either, Mahalis. You have no reason to fear her. Just make sure not to talk or look at her anytime soon. She is in pain, she is angry. She wants to hurt your mother.”

“Yes! We should just kill him and send him back to Callai in pieces. Marwen would get the message.”

I chuckled, I couldn't help myself. When Cin spoke like this I couldn't help but laugh, perhaps it was because of how childish she sounded sometimes. Some things never changed.

Unfortunately, I seemed to forget that I was the only one currently standing inside this room who was comfortable with Cin raving about killing someone. If Mahalis' face could get any whiter, it did at that moment, his gaze returning to the ground, his whole body shaking with fear.

“Cin, we're not having this discussion again. I won't blame a child for the misdeeds of their parents. It would be like someone blaming you for something I did. How would that make you feel?” I asked, realising how stupid that question was as it left my lips. I knew what her answer would be.

Cinder shrugged “I wouldn't mind, I'd deal with it as it happened.”

I sighed “Of course you would.”

“Excuse me. But I have to ask what the fuck is going on here?” Kara shouted, her composure that I had admired in Ellai was gone now, her eyes were wide and seemed to have a slightly crazy edge to them. I just hoped that she wouldn't have a breakdown.

“Well you see, Kara, my Father has decided to grace you all with his presence, despite the fact that it was not required or, indeed, recommended. He was afraid I would kill Mahalis, which is a very valid concern. I wasn't really going to kill him. Maybe take an arm, or a leg.” Cinder chimed in before I got the chance and I found myself sighing again.

“I understand, your Majesty. It's just... Well, sir. I don't believe you are The Rebel King. You may have the mask and the sword, but that changes nothing. You are far too young to be Corus. The stories told by great-grandfather stated very clearly that Corus appeared to be in his forties when he died, despite being much older. You don't any older than twenty!”

“I too am sceptical. You are powerful, but you are not The Rebel King.” Dran grumbled, rising from his kneeling position on the ground to stand next to Kara.

“Well, I believe you are! You guys just don't understand. Do you know how much power it would take to control a sword like Xolumbrandir? No one else but the King could! Even the Knight's would fall short in the face of such a task. Believe me, I know. I spend fucking months studying that weapon in mother's library.” Lor said, gesturing at the black blade on my belt.

I raised an eyebrow but said nothing. It seems that Lor was quite the scholar on Xolumbrandir, but he was wrong in saying that I am the only person with the power to link with it. Cinder had done it once before, in order to save my life. A long story, but it was one of the reasons why the sword was so fond of my daughter.

“May I... may I speak?” The whisper came from the lips of Mahalis, as he furtively looked up from his place on the floor, his gaze kept firmly on me and not even drifting towards the Vampire Queen that stood behind me.

I nodded “Of course you can, Mahalis.”

“Em, yes. I don't know if you are telling the truth or not. But I have to ask... why does Knight Cinder hate my mother?”

“And your father! It's really a tie between the two. I don't know which one I'd rather cause pain to.”

I smiled at the young elf “You need not concern yourself with this, Mahalis. I would hate to put you in a position that compromised your loyalties. Cinder and I need to have a talk with Marwenna and Valant. It will not be a brief conversation, but hopefully no one will die at the end of it.”

“Is this because you loved her, sir?” Mahalis blurted out the statement before he could even think of retracting it. I could feel Cinder's smouldering eyes aimed at the young prince and I felt my control slip for but the briefest of seconds. It was only a moment but my aura was on full display and each of the Knight Descendants fell to their knee's, their faces filled with pain as my aura accidentally interacted with theirs.

I took a deep breath and pulled back my power, returning it to my body.

“I did love your mother. Long, long ago. But, unfortunately, that time has passed. If you are afraid that I would come between your mother and father, do not be.”

I am unsure whether Mahalis heard me or not because he was breathing heavily along with the rest of his companions. Obviously feeling my aura had a traumatic effect on them. I would need to learn how to control myself better. This body was interfering with things.

“I apologise for that. My aura is... different from others. I try to keep it contained but sometimes I slip up and let it out.”

Cinder laughed “I know how they feel. I don't think you realise how powerful your aura is, Father.”

I smiled at my daughter even as Lor pulled himself to his feet.

“You see? That's bigger than anything any of our parents could call on. This is him. This is The Rebel King!”

It was then that an idea hit me, I was foolish not to think of it before.

“Kara, would you be so kind as to go and retrieve Furela. I think I can prove that I am who I say I am. Of course, that is dependent on whether you trust Heilvol's blade.”

“Why?” Kara asked suspiciously

“Believe me, it will help. Now retrieve it.” I commanded, the tone of my voice strongly implying that she should not ask questions.

Kara's face clammed up and she paled slightly before turning and making her way out of the throne room's open door.

“Mahalis, I don't think it would be wise for you to retrieve The Angelis. It is still linked to your Mother's emotions. That was why it behaved the way it did in Ellai. It overwhelmed you with fear. It is the same reaction that Marwenna would feel upon seeing me again.”

“But... but why? Why did the sword act like that? She talks of you-I mean, she talks of The Rebel King often and always fondly. Why would she be afraid?”

I looked gravely at the young prince “Because of what she believed I did.”

“I don't... I don't understand.”

“You don't need too, little prince.”

I sighed “Although Cinder is rather patronizing, she's right. You don't need to know. I don't want to involve Marwenna's child in this.”

Mahalis looked like he wanted to say something, his face burning with indecision. Instead he looked down, releasing an angry breath.

“Sir! If it's ok, I'd like to ask you some questions before Kara returns?” Lor asked impatiently, almost hopping from foot to foot with excitement. His attitude reminded quite a bit of his mother's. She too was always ready and eager for something new and different.

I smiled at the young man “Of course, Lor. Ask any question you'd like.”

“Yes, sir, thank you, sir. I was really just wondering if it was true that you really beat my mother in combat? You see, sir, my mother has a tournament every year that every famous warrior comes to. It only features the greatest weapon wielding combatants in the world and magic isn't allowed. Anyway, my mother wins it every year without fail. She's been challenged by the best in the continent and she's still at the top. I was wondering if it was true that you were her better in combat or if it was an exaggeration... my mother exaggerates a lot.” Lor finished in what seemed like one breath, looking decidedly sheepish at the end as he described his mothers need to make stories bigger than they actually were.

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I chuckled “Yes, I did beat your mother, many times. She never beat me but she came very, very close. The closest, in fact. It was always a pleasure to spar with her and I learned a lot from her techniques. I noticed that you employed such a technique. The Song of the Seven Swords?”

Lor flushed with excitement as I said the words, his grin growing bigger. “Yes, my King. Mine is not as good as my mothers, but it's something at least. I can't control my aura like she can, it's almost like she can manipulate it as well as mana.”

I nodded “ Don't worry about aura. Focus on increasing your mastery of magic and mastery of aura will come with time. Although, I'm sure your mother already taught you that?”

“Yes, she did. But I've always been rather impatient. As soon as I could move my aura an inch I just began to focus on that. I've been making progress, but it's slow.”

“You have to be broad when it comes to combat, Lor. Magic will make you a better swordsman, believe me, I know. How is your mother? I have not seen her in... well, four hundred years.”

Lor beamed “She is well, my King. Running the Isles keeps her busy and my father as well. Oh! You haven't met my father! Mother always said she would have liked for you to meet him one day. Would you come with me to the Isles, my King? She would be overjoyed to see you, I know she would.”

“Knowing your mother, I'd have to prove who I am. There would be only one way she would know for sure and that would be by the sword. She'd probably demand it even if she knew-”

“Enough!” Dran shouted “I'm sick and tired of this. What are you doing, Lor? You can't seriously believe that this is the King of the Rebel Court. It's been four hundred years, why here? Why now? It makes no fucking sense!”

We were all silent for a second as we stared at the dwarf, who turned his back on all of us and walked away, his hands pressed into his eyes and his face scrunched up. Suddenly, he turned.

“You should have been here! If you are who you say you are, you should have been here to help my grand-father! Do you have any idea what he went through? He brought all twelve of the dwarven clans together and he died as a result. He cared for you, you were his King. But now you turn up four hundred years later and we're all supposed to be ok with this? It's fucking insane!”

For a moment there was silence as I stared at the dwarf. I had forgotten about that. Dwarves are very protective of family, they felt the passing of one of their clan very keenly. It was always fresh to them, because they constantly reminded themselves that it was the deed's of those that came before them that got them to where they were. For Dran, Drogna's deed's didn't just shape his life, but who he was as a person. He was reminded of it by his father and his fathers father, all the way back to the kind architect.

“Dran... I didn't leave Drogna on purpose. I didn't leave at all. I was taken and thrown forwards through time. I have no idea what happened to him after I left. He was family, as much as he is to you. I wouldn't have left if I had any choice in the matter.”

I walked up to the young dwarf and placed a hand on his shoulders. He tensed slightly but did not pull away.

“Drogna once said something that always stuck with me. It was just after we had finished building Ellai. Drogna's greatest work laid before us, we saw, for the first time, the masterpiece that it had become, a bastion of hope for those who fled from the church. He said 'I craft peace with these hands, but war I will make to protect this peace'”

Dran raised his eyes and looked at me for second, his shining “That is The Words of our Clan. An outsider should not know them... how?”

I smiled at the dwarf and squeezed his shoulder “Because Drogna was my friend. More than that, he was my brother. As you said, it should only be shared within your clan, your family. Drogna thought of me as I did him. He felt comfortable sharing them with me.”

“I have returned!” The words came from the door and I turned to see Kara walking towards us, Furela's light blade already drawn.

“Cinder, will you hold onto Xolumbrandir for me? As I remember it, Furela and my asshole sword don't like each other very much and it would be much easier if it wasn't in my hands.”

“Of course, Father.” Cin said, jumping from her throne and reaching out to take Xolumbrandir from my hands.

“Wait! Don't do that, your Majesty! The blade is said to kill any but it's master!” Lor shouted, his eyes wide open in panic.

I smiled at the panicking prince of the sea and handed Xolumbrandir to Cinder who raised an eyebrow at Lor before drawing and twirling the blade above her head, moving through a very basic form that I had taught her when she was still interested in swords. She slammed Xolumbrandir back into it's sheath and rested it on her shoulder.

“It's ok, Lor. Father is the one Xolumbrandir hates. It actually kind of likes me.”

As if to confirm that fact, the purring sound that the sword was so fond of filled the air.

“You shouldn't believe everything you read, Lor. The blade is not different from any other sentient weapon. It's just far older and much more powerful.” I said to the sea prince and turned to Kara.

“Ok, I'm here with the sword. What do you want me to do?”

I smiled at the young girl “I want you to attack me.”

A look of shock appeared on the woman's face. “You want me to... attack you?”

I nodded “Yes. Furela won't harm me. It knows who I am.”

I knew what I said was true. Furela had stopped when it had come in contact with my hand back in Ellai and I could feel the blades aura from here. It was much like Heilvol's, strong and disciplined. It seemed to be reaching out to me, almost as in greeting. I knew that the blade wouldn't allow her to strike me. Much like my Knight's, They were loyal to a fault. Of course, this didn't apply to The Angelis any more, considering it was the blade that removed my head from my shoulders.

“Do not be afraid, Kara. I promise that I will not retaliate. Attack with all your might, and go for the kill.”

Kara looked at me with hesitant eyes but nodded, gulping before she took a firm grip with the sword in both hands. I noticed they were shaking slightly. Obviously she didn't believe that she could take my word that I wouldn't harm her but I smiled at her and held my hands out by my side.

Raising the sword above her head, Kara let loose a battle cry and brought Furela down with all her strength, aiming for my forehead with deadly precision.

Less than an inch from my head was where it stopped. To Kara it must have felt like it was stuck fast in stone, unable to move it forward at all.

It was then that I grabbed the blade with both hands, wrapping them both tightly around it, unafraid of the sharp edge, and pulled it from her hands, twirling the blade around my body before flipping it into the air. It spun almost up to the ceiling and the Knight Descendants watched hypnotically before it fell. I caught it with practised ease by the hilt and held it slightly out to one side.

“Hello, old friend. It has been a long time. I'm sorry that I wasn't there for you and Heilvol at the end.”

The response to my statement received a low grumble that echoed out into the room, the source of which was undoubtedly Furela.

Kara looked on, stunned. “How...? Furela never does that. Even for my father it hasn't done that.”

I smiled at the First Daughter of Keltano “To be fair, I've known this sword a lot longer than most.” I looked back down at the blade “Don't worry, I kept the bastard sword away, I wouldn't want you two hurting each other.” The blade released another low grumble, like metal grinding on metal, before I passed it hilt first back to Kara, who took the blade with a renewed reverence. After a moment of staring at the blade with shining eyes she looked up at me “You are the Rebel King...”

I nodded “I would never lie about something as big as this.”

Kara suddenly drew in a sharp breath before she plunged to her knee's before me.

“My King, I, Kara, First Daughter of Keltano, do swear to serve you in war and peace-”

“Nope! We'll have none of that, I'm afraid.” I said rather sternly as I helped her to her feet. No more oaths, not from children.

“But-but why, my King! We have been training our whole lives for this!” Kara shouted, her face panicking

“I agree, our place is by your side, we will serve you until our deaths, my King. Please, let us swear the oaths!” Lor said, joining Kara.

“You know The Words of mine clan and I just saw the blade of Heilvol give way before you. You are my King and I shall serve you.” Dran declared, his face a picture of determination and sheer will.

“No. I will not accept your oaths. Not here, not now. I will speak to your parents and, if they are willing, then you may do so. I will do nothing without consulting Marwenna, Faral and your parents, Kara and Dran. I may be your King, but the path that I walk now is a dangerous one, one unsuited for you.”

“Why speak to my mother? If you plan on killing her anyway, what's the point?” The words came from the still kneeling prince who suddenly jumped to his feet and stared at me, meeting my eyes with his own steady gaze. I was quite impressed, really.

“I do not plan on killing your mother, Mahalis. She is still my Knight, and my friend, despite our past differences.”

Mahalis sneered “ You're jealous, aren't you? Father always said that you were. Jealous of how Mother felt about him, after he left the Church.”

I raised an eyebrow at the young man. It was noble of him to stand up for his mother, I would have done the same thing if someone had insulted someone I loved, but he picked one hell of a time to grow some fucking balls.

“You are mistaken, Mahalis. Your father never left the church.” I said simply.

Mahalis eyes widened for a split second before they filled with rage “How dare you! You claim to be The Rebel King, but you deny the history of The Court's greatest hero? Don't make me sick.”

“You should really shut the fuck up, little prince. My father has more patience than I, but that doesn't mean it is unending. You should remember to whom you fucking speak!” Cinder hissed, her red eyes returning but Mahalis was able to withstand the killing aura that was released.

“I speak to a man who spews pretty words and is able to stop a sword without touching it. All of it means nothing. This man in front of me is nothing but a petty pretender. Even if he is the real thing, he should never threaten to harm his most courageous Knight and the man who saved his entire order!”

“Mahalis, I understand that this has upset you, but you don't know the whole story. Perhaps you should calm down-”

“No! I have listened for long enough! I will no longer tolerate you or that bitch Cinder insulting my mother.”

Well, he shouldn't have said that.

My aura released in full, exploding out in all directions and the descendants were all blown backwards by the force of it's release. Cinder was pushed back against her throne as a savage wind appeared in the room and she held onto Bell, who had remained silent throughout this whole ordeal, lest she be blown away.

Lightning shimmered and ran across my body as fiery pillars rose up around me. Despite the flames the temperature in the room dropped below freezing and before long a thin layer of frost covered the ground.

“A bitch?”

The earth began to rumble, it could no doubt be felt around the entire castle as I took slow steps towards the elven prince, who was backing up in a panic, trying to draw in mana to defend himself but failing

“You called my daughter... A BITCH!”

The wind picked up savagely and threw Mahalis across the room, where he slammed into one of the great pillars. Before he could rise I was there and pulling him up by his throat, slamming his body back into the pillar where I held him, pinned.

“If you were not Marwenna's child you would already be dead, your ashes scattered to the winds!”

I pulled back and slammed him back into the pillar, the stone cracking. I was careful not to use my full strength lest I kill him, but it was hard to hold back.

“You know nothing, son of Valant. You shall respect Cinder or so help me I'll do as my daughter requests and send you back to your mother in pieces!”

With those words the winds suddenly died down, the magic and aura disappearing all at once. I released my hold on the Elven Prince and he fell to the ground, his body broken, his nose bleeding and his eye beginning to swell up from his many slams into the pillar.

I turned to find Cinder staring at me with wide eyes, Bell's face equally stunned. The Knight Descendants were on the ground still, staring up at me. Awe and fear etched onto every one of their faces.

After a second of looking around, I nodded gravely at the Descendants “Perhaps you think that was too harsh a punishment for such a simple word. But in that word he conveyed disrespect to a person that helped save this world from an evil you cannot begin to imagine. He, above everyone else, should understand this.”

I turned to look down at Mahalis “Take him to a healer and make sure he is seen too, then instruct him to come and see me. I would have more words with him. There are some things that perhaps he does need to know. In fact, all of you do.”

Without saying another word, I walked out of the doors of the Throne Room. The rest of the questions could wait.