Rowan walked languidly down the hall of the royal palace, taking time to admire the expensive portraits of his ancestors. The paintings hung with care always made him yearn for the simpler times when the troubles of the world, his in particular, were rather minor in comparison. He’d finally arrived at the last of them, the majestic portrait of Alric, and nodded in reverence to it. He’d soon commission another to hang beside it, adding to the long line of Aganossis rulers.
“My lord,” Jorin said. “Are you feeling well?”
Rowan resumed walking down the red carpeted hallway, a slight smile on his face. “I am quite well, Jorin. It has been quite an exciting return home.”
Jorin nodded and then looked over to the masked monk, seeing the hints of scarring around the man’s face. “I’m not questioning your wisdom my lord, and I’d follow you to the abyss itself, but don’t you think we could use some more men?”
Talos gave the armored man a brief glance, but said nothing, opting to resume his methodical pacing. His black robes featuring the bursting red sun featured prominently on the chest and back, rustled with every step he took. He carried in his hands a thick book, bound in reddish leather. Jorin had never seen anything like it, and was curious as to what the purpose behind it was.
“You’d be excused for thinking so Jorin,” Rowan said, “but I believe Elnar is about to discover that he didn’t bring enough.”
Rowan smirked when he saw the man swallow nervously, but continue on without hesitation. It was good to see such dedicated loyalty from someone so young. He’d had some doubts about the man when Jorin first came to him, pledging his service and forsaking his own father. Still, if Jorin didn’t turn against him after this, then the man was obviously not going to betray him for less than a crown itself.
The two guards at the entrance stood smugly, waiting for the men to approach. They held their spears across each other in an X, indicating that entrance would not be allowed to the unwelcome visitors. Rowan, who’d spent so many years here, always recognized the men who worked for him. These two, though they now wore the uniform of the royal guards, were complete strangers though. It was obvious who employed them.
“Hold where you are,” said one. “Lord Perrin isn’t seeing visitors at the moment.”
Jorin started forward, but stopped when the sharp steel spear tip rested up against his throat. “I am his son, damn it all!”
The other guard let out a light chuckle. “Well he’s especially not wanting to see you, Jorin.”
Jorin began to utter out a foul curse upon the men when Rowan put a hand to his shoulder, easing him back away. The weapon's tip moved to rest lightly against his neck now, though he didn’t seem to mind in the slightest. Neither guard seemed to care that they were threatening the true lord of the realm.
They never had a chance to either.
With lightning quick speed, Rowan grabbed the wooden haft of the spear with his left hand, and with his right he freed his side sword, plunging it deeply into the skull of the other guard. The first guard, unable to defend himself properly, received an upward thrust of sharpened steel to the guts. It was a slower, and much more painful, death than his companion received.
“By the damned gods,” Joring remarked, taking a step back as he did so. “I barely saw you move.”
Rowan turned to him, an evil look of joy upon his face. “An old trick I picked up somewhere.”
Recovering from his shock, Jorin quickly stepped forward to open the doors to the throne room. Inside the modestly sized room, a large wooden throne sat against the wall and upon that throne sat a very upset looking Elnar Perrin. To either side of him were about a dozen lightly armored men with rather wicked looking spears in their hands. The many mirrored candle sconces burning along the wall illuminated them all in a spectacular fashion.
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“Rather presumptuous, you sitting there,” Rowan remarked dryly. “I’m not dead yet and I have an official heir to the throne as well now.”
“I see that you are still breathing,” The elder councilman remarked. “Was it because Halsey missed? That toxin he was supposed to use cost me a fortune. I’m also assuming that worthless fool beside you didn’t have the guts to do it himself.”
Jorin pulled his sword, the anger clearly showing upon his face. “Nothing I ever did was good enough for you, father. Lord Rowan has shown me more respect than you ever have. I’d rather die at his side than to see my half-brother get what rightfully should be mine.”
Elnar casually shrugged. “If that’s what you want, boy, then so be it.” He waved his hand, indicating the men to his side could go ahead and dispose of the unwanted guests
Rowan had no intention of letting his companions die so easily that day. “Talos. If you would.”
The monk stepped forward, tossing his book in front of him as he did so. It hovered there a moment and began to flip through its own pages, going nearly half way through itself. The men paused upon seeing the spectacle, as well as feeling the incredible power emanating off of it.
Talos began to chant in a strange language, while a bright white light began to surround both him and the book. Soon it took on an orange hue, mixing red and yellow beautifully as if they were now caught ablaze. The heat emanating from the masked mage was incredible, and both Rowan and Jorin had to step away from him lest they get burned. He then raised his hands into the air, transferring the cloaking flames into a large ball of pure fire that lit the entire room aglow.
“How is that possible!” Elnar shouted while cowering against the throne.
Talos flicked his hand forward, sending a magical bolt of flame from the sphere into the body of a soldier. The man screamed as he was knocked backwards, already being burned alive before he hit the ground. Several more fiery missiles shot out, each unerringly striking their intended target, consuming the unfortunate victims in an inextinguishable fire. They tried running for their lives from the mystical slaughter, but none made it very far before they were cut down as well. Soon the room was filled with dying screams and the stink of charred flesh.
The fiery ball faded out of existence, and Talos grabbed his book out of the air before stepping back to where he’d been standing. He showed no signs of rejoicing in the victory or any care for the men he’d just burned. To him it was a task as easy and inconsequential as swatting a bothersome fly.
Rowan walked to the closest soldier and deeply inhaled the scent of burning meat from the body. “I’ve always had a healthy fear of magic for this very reason, but you can’t help but love the effectiveness of it when it’s on your side.”
Elnar recovered from his shock and looked around at the destruction wrought by a single man. He realized then that the battle was over, and he had no chance of survival. “Damn you, Rowan, just be done with it already. I’ve no desire to continue living in a world where monsters like that roam free and bastards get glorified.”
“Nor will you,” Rowan laughed. “But I’ve no desire to kill you at the moment. We need you alive for tomorrow’s ceremony where I announce to the people the brighter future for the city and the country at large. Seeing as you murdered the rest of the judicial council, you’ll have to stand in as the architect of the recent calamities.”
Jorin went forward and yanked his father off the great wooden throne, sending the man hard to the ground. He rained fists and insults down upon the old man, releasing the pent up aggression he’d stored within him for quite some time. Rowan debated on stepping in to break it up, but the younger man finally stopped himself before he succeeded in beating Elnar to death.
“Remember Jorin, I need him both alive and conscious.” Rowan stepped closer to inspect the former councilman. “I believe he’ll do in the state he is currently, but no more. Get him downstairs and lock him up now. I’ve got some other guests to see about finding.”
He watched his accomplice force walk the former councilman out of the room and nodded in satisfaction. Everything was coming together well enough, though somewhat messily. Just a few more loose ends to tie up and they’d start ushering in the new age.
He turned to his companion. “Impressive as always, Talos. How are you feeling after that amazing display of power?”
Talos took a moment to look around the room, some of the bodies still burning, then shrugged his shoulders. “I’m not spent. Let us be about it if there is more to do.”
“Let’s go then,” Rowan said, a smile upon his face. “We’ve a home to retake and then wine to drink.”