Crouched beside the crack in the wall Nathaniel's breathing was still but his heart was beating a mile per minute. He was so excited to finally get the chance to witness it again he could barely contain himself. Nathaniel's position gave him a great vantage point to observe everything. He was crouching a foot above ground level from everyone else inside the wall. Inside the conference room were four people all of whom except one was standing. The first person Nathaniel saw was Lothar in all his slimy glory.

The next person was the nation's head of secret intelligence Eleanor Pascal. She was an old woman she wasn't as old as Lothar who out aged her by a couple thousand years but she was indeed an old woman about 120. Eleanora had long hair in a loose twisted knot on the back of her head. She wore a grey pants suit that went well with her hair, black no heal shoes, with no lipstick. Her eyes were a still emerald green they were the eyes of someone with hardened resolve a cold dead set obtained only after witnessing every dark secret the world contained. Nathaniel knew her he rarely but did work with her before. In his own opinion, Eleanora was a reasonable woman who was easy to get along with, she has a warm heart from what he could tell but her track record shows people that she's cold blooded.

Directly across from Eleanora was a man that nobody wanted knocking on their door at night. He was the physical embodiment of fear forever nobleman, politician, and overreaching criminal in the land. The name of this person who carries such overwhelming fear amongst the nation's most influential is Zephyr Mcbride also known as Zephyr The Unbroken Spear. Zephyr is not an ordinary man he is the nation's Black Hand. The Black Hand is a job title like any other, but it's probably the most dangerous and unwanted job in the world. The Black Hand's role is to protect the king from any and all threats which makes Zephyr the head of security, but the roles and abilities of the black hand don't stop there.

As acting Black Hand Zephyr has the full right to execute any and every person he sees as a threat to the king without trial. Regardless of rank, title, or law, a Black Hand can wipe out an entire bloodline with out consequence. This position also allows the person to move military troupes around as they see fit as if they were a general. The only person given the title Black Hand answers to is the king. Though people think it would be the position of Black Hand has stayed the least corrupt position in any department since its creation. Many attribute this point to the fact that the position of Black Hand is not something that needs to be filled it is only given to who the acting ruler views as the most loyal and trusting person in their court.

Zephyr stood 6 feet 5 inches tall his entire body from head to toe was hidden inside a tight leather suit that was strapped tight by a dozen black belts. His suit had 2 dozen metal T-shaped handles sticking out from it. They stuck out from his chest, arms, and legs. The grip of each handle was smooth and looked like each fit comfortably in each hand. Zephyr's face couldn't be seen his face was hidden behind a copper-gold mask that was shaped into a man's face. The mask had sharp edges that helped make out face design, on the sides of the mouth small gears were welded there as if to help open the mask for when he speaks though it never does. Zephyr's eyes couldn't be seen behind the mask only darkness showed which was the same color people viewed his soul.

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Zephyr stood silently and as still as a block of wood behind an old man. Though this old man was not like any other because he was the 19th King of Fedondria Edward S. Ferrise. Edward was old very old this year he is 192. His life story is a long one but in short, Edward is one of if not the greatest ruler in the history of Fedondria.

Edward the King of Fedondria had no crown on his head though he did have long grey hair that ran down his neck like a waterfall. Each strand was as smooth as spider silk and shimmed like silver. His unique eyes that seemed to judge everything they landed on were silver as well. The entire Ferrise bloodline has silver eyes this is a common occurrence because one gene dominates another and isn't special. There are many people with different color eyes than just brown, green, and blue.

Edward's old leathery body conveyed a different kind of strength than just physical. He may not appear physically outstanding but Edward's presence alone made you feel as if you were standing in front of a prideful beast. This feeling he gave off was obtained after years of overcoming insurmountable odds ever since he claimed the thrown at sixteen. During a time when the nation was on the edge of collapse because of old ineffective legislation that gave more power to the problem than solved it. But through it all, he rose to the occasion and cut out this cancer that was determined to spread.

Throughout each trial Edward has never placed the royal crown on his head since his inauguration. He has done this because like many of the rulers before him he has his pride and Edwards pride will not allow him to barrow his family name for power. When people bow he wants it to be done because they see his greatness, fear his power, and respect his ideals.

He faced off against threats both inside and outside his borders. Thwarted assassination attempts, peacefully ended wars before they started, all while building a new system of government that improved everything it touched, giving back to the people, provided opportunities to all, instead of continuing a cycle that destroys everything in sight. Because of him, no longer were nobles completely above another common man, no longer were the people suppressed from climbing the social ladder that they could only gawk at from afar.

Now a person's skill had an equal value if not more than a person's birthright. Edward Ferrise has done many things in his life that is strongly different from those before him. Yet, each change no matter how overreaching or impossible it seemed in the eyes of others Edward brought it to forwishen . His daring innovative leading through the years earned him the right to be known as The Wise Lion. A king not recognized for his bloodline, or the crown on his head, but respected, feared and remembered for what he has done.