Immediately his eyes turned blood red and a red, intense ring glowed around him. An ineffable power exerted from him so powerful that it could be felt from 200 km away. He stretched his left arm towards the king and a red light flashed. When the light faded, Palesa saw only the skeleton remains of the king. His skeleton looked very dry like he had been exposed to the sun for a decade. The red light had consumed his skin, muscles and organs and even melted the golden crown he was wearing.
Palesa and her family were safe. They were unharmed by the wine. The bracelet saved her together with her bloodline and everyone who traversed with them from Botswania. But now the hall was on fire and it was rapidly spreading. Flavia had set it on fire the moment most of them fell dead to the ground.
As she was still holding the head of Brayan, not believing he had died, she weeped vociferously.
“Please wake up, please wake up.” She whimpered bitterly, struggling to come to terms with the sad reality.
She knew very well that he was dead but she just couldn’t let go. However the fire was not slowing down for her to moan the dead. It was intensifying by the second to cremate the dead. Her family rushed towards her to escort her out the hall but she held on tight to Brayan. He had just made a promise that after days, weeks, months and years to come he would still love her the same. And now before even one day had passed, he had already left her.
A cold chill clothed them as Alexis strutted towards them. They were a long way from home and they were outnumbered. They only came for a wedding celebration not war. Alexis saw the fear glinting in their eyes and assured them that he won’t hurt them.
“It’s a shame this happened on your wedding.” Alexis said.
“I’m Alexis, the rightful heir to the Adonisian throne.”
“Your husband and his father, stole my birthright. I’m only taking back what is mine.”
“They didn’t want to give it back willingly so I had to resort to violence.”
“Take your dead and head towards the south eastern gate because there is an army outside.”
“Soon as this hall is engulfed in flames, they will surge into the city.”
The Botswanian man took Brayan’s body and they dashed out the burning hall. Duncan led them to the south eastern gate. Outside the hall was total chaos. About a thousand had fell dead from the poison. The other thousand were in panic, running in all directions. They were lucky enough to not have been served the wine though they were complaining about the slow services of the servants.
The poison had killed the royal family, all the nobles, all the top officials and the high ranked shinobi mages. Flavia, Ahuiliz and Yahto made their way to the north western gate. They stealthy crept in the cover of darkness and killed the unsuspecting night watchmen one after the other. Sneaking up behind them and slitting their throats. Flavia then opened the gates wide. After a short while the hall was fully engulfed in flames. A dark smoke cloud billowed up the sky and the army surged into the city like a tsunami, destroying everyone in their path. There was little resilience to stop the hunger motivated Onisian army led by Luis.
The city was captured quickly without much bloodshed. The plan went so well that there were only a few casualties of civilians and warriors who were not at the wedding. Flavia was incensed by the lack of resilience. He wanted to kill atleast two hundred. However Alexis didn’t want to be king of ruins and surely didn’t want innocent people to die. Before the war he gave everyone a stern warning to not partake in needless bloodshed.
After so many years of no sense of belonging, alexis managed to take back his father’s king. The victory was bittersweet. He had finally killed his uncle but the celebratory feeling was not there. Kings are made with bloodshed, that’s how it has been in all of history. But sitting on a bloodstained throne was something he couldn’t digest with ease. He sped climbed up one of the six tall towers and set atop it looking down the city. There were dark clouds billowing from across the city.
He sat there reflecting about everything that led him to that moment in time. From the day his father died, to the day he was appointed as a diplomat to Onisia, the day he met Rosa, the day he married her, the kids, and his very dead uncle Loannis. Life has its own twists and turns. It doesn’t go smoothly but through those twists she met Rosa, the love of his life and fathered the most beautiful kids. Her love with Rosa not only gave him immunity, it also helped him reach the highest primary rank in magic. This power gave him the confidence to attack Adonis and save his family. Everything happens for a reason. He had a rough life but it didn’t destroy him, instead it made him stronger and he became an unlikely hero for Onisia.
As he was soul searching, Omiros, the commander appeared and sat next to him. After a short silence he said.
“It’s not an easy thing to kill people who were close to you.”
“It had to be done.”
“Find comfort my brother.”
“You did this to save your family and a whole kingdom.”
“We will forever be indebted to you.”
“Yea it had to be done, and I will do it all over again to save my family.” Alexis responded and the two climbed down the tower and joined the celebrations. Flavia saw them from a distance and shouted loudly.
“A toast to the new king of Adonisia, king Alexis, the poison king.”
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And the crowd chanted loudly, “King Alexis, the poison king.”
The poison king is a nickname they used to call him at Onis after he poisoned himself with the O toxin to gain immunity. And it was quite ironic that the very same poison won him the kingdom.
They feasted through out the night and drank their fill of wine and beer. They could barely move because of they ate to excess. The way a python sleeps after a big meal of a gazelle is exactly how one would describe them. They had not had that much food in over four years. If an army of dwarfs could’ve attacked them that night, they could’ve taken the city in record time.
In the morning as the sun rose, it revealed the horrors of the night before. There were still some clouds of smoke across the city and the hall had burned to ashes, together with everyone who was inside. Most of the city was not damaged though. Alexis sent many carriages of grain, wheat, corn, barley and barrels of wine to King Amon. He also invited him to come to Adonis together with Rosa and the royal family.
Alexis gathered the people of Adonis. Multitudes gathered in the streets to hear what he had to say. He stood tall in the stage and with a loud voice he asked.
“Does anyone here know who I am?”
“Yes we do.” The crowd responded
“Who am I?” He asked.
“Alexis, the son of King Alfred, rightful heir to the Adonisian throne. Lucas shouted out loud.
His father was killed by the paranoid king for supporting Alexis’s claim to the throne as well as many other noble families.
“I’m Alexis, the rightful heir to the throne just as that man had confessed. The people who died yesterday had a hand in my exile but you were spared because you had nothing to do with it.”
“My uncle Loannis stole my throne because I was just a little boy when my father passed away.”
“Now I have taken back the throne and from now on, I will rule over you justly just as my father did. “
“Loannis, imposed heavy taxes on you but that has changed from now on.”
“The taxes will be lifted and you will only pay half what you have been paying.”
He still had more to say but the crowd deafened him with tumultuous applauses and clanking sounds. After a while of waiting the crowd toned down and he continued his speech.
“The men besides me are Onisian men, I have married an Onisian princess as you have heard.”
“Don’t be scared of them.”
“I am a living proof that their blood can be treated.”
“I have the antidote, so be rest assured that they will not harm you in any way.”
“I know some of you were stripped of your nobility and status by Loannis, come see me so that your status can be restored.”
After the meeting the nobles came to see the king and after confirming in the annals of Loannis and King Alfred, their houses were restored to noble status. A total of 11 houses were restored, some coming as far as Northumbria.
Before King Amon, Rosa and the royal family arrived at Adonis, a group of men came with crushing news from the east. They looked like they had not eaten or drank anything in a week. Their clothes were torn and worn out like were fighting each other along the way. They seeked an audience with King Loannis and Duncan took them to him at the throne room.
“Your servants are Adonisian by birth but we reside in one of the villages of Abalon. Their armies are marching here as we speak.” They said and the whole throne room gasped.
They were lost for words. They had not yet enjoyed the spoils of war and now an army was already coming after them.
After a while of processing the news, Alexis sighed heavily.
“What should we do Omiros? He inquired.
“The last thing we want is to fight them here.” Omiros said.
“I suggest we go out to meet them”
“Let’s make the king’s oath to destroy them all and enslave them.” Flavia added.
The king’s oath can not be broken. It has to be kept no matter what. The men agreed to make the oath. King Amon arrived the following day and was welcome by the troubling news. The two kings made the oath and mustered a combined army to meet the Abalonians.
After the oath, Alexis met up with Rosa and the kids at his father’s palace. He had missed them so much. He had never spent this much time away from them. They were delighted to see him and as expected Roseo ran towards him and jumped into his arms. Alecia followed behind and embraced him. She was so elated to see him after 2 long weeks. After a while, they let go and Alexis hugged Rosa, lifting her up from the ground. For the first time in a long time she felt safe. The worry of starvation had left and she knew her family would have a better life.
“You have successfully defeated your enemies.” Rosa said with a bright smile.
“I have my queen. All thanks to prayers.” Alexis responded.
“We are safe, not only did you save us, you saved the entire kingdom.” Rosa said.
“It’s by fate that you came to Onis and fell in love with me.”
“It was fated to happen. And I’m very grateful to have met you.” Alexis responded.
“Thank you for everything my love.” Rosa blushed.
“Anytime babe.” Alexis said softly. They had been married for eight years and they still loved each other like the very first day if not more.
After all the tears they shed and the pain they went through since the very beginning of their affair, they were finally safe. The looming threat of Abalonians was the only thing standing in their happily ever after.
A combined force marched towards Abalon while Alexis stayed behind with King Amon and Rosa. He was coronated as king and the people warmly welcomed Rosa, their new queen. She was an overnight sensation. They now knew why Alexis had to gain immunity. She was by far the most beautiful woman they had ever seen.
Omiros led the army and he sent a delegation ahead. After four days of marching, one of the men who was part of the delegation came running towards the Camp in bloodstained clothes. The terrified man was taken to Omiros by the scouts.
“What is the problem? What happened?” Omiros asked.
“The Abalonians had slain all our men. They spared me to deliver the message to you.” Borris quavered in a faltered voice and Omiros flared up.
“We should act swiftly.” Flavia interjected.
“So much for a wise king.” Omiros said bitterly.
“Ain’t he the one poets portray him as a wise man?”
“He will surely pay for the men he killed.”
The camp was enraged by the death of their comrades. They were burning in anger.
As they were preparing to march again Flavia went to see Borris.
“You did great.” Alexis said as he was handing him 20 gold coins.
“Thank you my lord.” Borris replied.
There was no Abalonian army that was marching to Adonis. It was all Flavia’s sinister schemes. He sent men to kill the delegation and they spared Borris who was also in the plot. Flavia wasn’t satisfied with the war at Adonis as he was under clear instructions to not kill anyone who didn’t pose any threat. So he devised a plan of his own to trick the two kingdoms into war with Abalon. Will his plan succeed? Yes it will.