Victrix entered the council hall with his friends among the other chieftains at his side. The Royal Barracks might have burned down but other parts of the palace such as the the council hall were still intact.

He could already see the local High Priest named Brennar and a bunch of other city lords. The most notable were Lucius and Armax. One of them was a coward, the other one was a schemer. But maybe the two of them were both.

Lucius stood up and his perfectly combed hair hardly moved despite the sudden movement. "Ah, Victrix!", he exclaimed and then greeted the other chieftains by shaking their hands with a big smile on his face. "Our countryside heroes are finally here! Good to see you!"

Victrix couldn't help but actually feel a little bit put down by Lucius emphasizing the word "countryside". Obviously, he was trying to put Victrix in his place – Immediately. Lucius pointed at four chairs at the left-hand end of the half circle of chairs. With other word: The most unimportant chairs that could have been assigned were actually been given to them.

The next minutes Lucius started to cry about how terrible the sea-people were and how valiantly he and others had opposed them – of course secretly.

"You opposed them so secretly that nobody could have noticed your opposition even if they tried really hard", Victrix thought by himself. Yet he stayed silent.

Then Lucius began to talk about wow brave it was of the countryside chieftains to help them free the city. How the wonderful people of Alessina will recover under the guidance of somebody with ties to the royal family, which of course pointed to Lucius himself. Everybody knew about this royal connection, because Lucius usually was bragging quite openly about it. Some generations ago somebody of the royal household had been married into Lucius’ family. That seemed enough for Lucius to imagine himself on the throne and thus he continued with his spiel to promote himself as the next leader or even King of Alessina.

"Enough! Shut up, you cowardly piece of shit!", yelled Victrix.

Lucius stood there for a moment completely taken by surprise with his mouth wide open. Then he regained some of his composure: "What dare you say into my face!"

"I am saying that you are a coward and a liar. I have proof that you have protected your family by working together with the sea-people."

Not only had Victrix proof or at least knowledge that Lucius had done this but also Armax. Yet he only mentioned Lucius and looked – while he was bringing forward this allegation – straight into Armax’ eyes trying to make some kind of facial expression that would get the message across that he could have also included Armax in this allegation if he wanted to but did choose not to do so.

"That’s a lie! Nobody here will even..."

"We can’t dismiss this possibility. If there is a traitor among us, then we should...", started Armax.

"You dare turn on me, Armax!"

"All I am saying is..."

"I AM SAYING that he is a traitor and a liar, and I will not bend the knee for him!", yelled Victrix while rising from his seat seemingly angry. Then he added with a growling voice while several of his personal guards suddenly entered the council chamber armed to the teeth: "Nor will my men do so!"

"This is an invasion. You are like the sea-people simply trying to take us by force!", yelled Lucius then turning to the other countryside chieftains he said: "You can’t let him do this."

This moment was actually critical to Victrix. He had done everything he could in an attempt to secure the loyalty of his fellow chieftains. But when it came to the temptation of power nobody was immune to it. He stood there trying to see whether any of the other chieftains -which he could only see on left side from him in his peripheral view- would move. But he saw no signs of movement.

Victrix took his axe from his belt and moved towards Lucius. Lucius did become pale like the moon understanding Victrix intentions. One of the counselors jumped up and stepped between Victrix and Lucius. He was unarmed and of smaller stature then Victrix, yet the look in his eyes was fierce and determined.

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"Stop it! It is not right to continue the bloodshed among us Aermorikans. If Lucius had done something wrong, we should investigate it and punish him appropriately."

"I admire your bravery, to step in like this while being unarmed", said Victrix and put his hand on the shoulder of the middle-aged man. "If only all of us were more like you! But it is a fact that some here are neither brave nor patriotic enough to step up for anybody beside themselves, and those need to be removed."

The man didn’t move but Victrix simply moved and pushed him aside. Victrix was impressed by this man but he was wondering if he was brave or foolish. A brave man might oppose him and stand up for what he believes in but only fools would try to die for evil man and in his mind, Lucius was for sure not fit to become the next king of Alessina.

"You can’t do it!", yelled Lucius jumping backwards over his chair; a deed Victrix found not unimpressive. At least he was good at running away.

"I can and I will!", said Victrix, leaped forward and took a swing at Lucius that was too short to actually hit him. Lucius ran away circling around on the backside of the councilor chairs and running toward the exit he came close to the men Victrix had told to guard the exit. Victrix locked eyes with one of them who nodded shortly and then stabbed the running Lucius with his spear in the leg. Lucius did a full spin while falling down and landed on the floor near the exit screaming in pain.

"Take him out and get it over with!", said Victrix. His man grabbed Lucius and pulled him behind them leaving a bloody trail on the ground.

"Well...", started Victrix assuming that he could speak now but was interrupted by Lucius voice once more "NO, PLEASE..." and then the screaming stopped.

"The death of a real coward", commented Bricius in a condescending voice which could be easily heard in the now very quiet hall.

Victrix wanted to say something but Malo talked first. "I think it is clear now that this city is in dire need for a decisive and strong leadership. I think we all know who the next King of Alessina should be! HAIL TO KING VICTRIX! THE NEW RULER OF ALESSINA!"

The other chieftains jumped up from their seats and started shouting: "HAIL! HAIL! HAIL!" Victrix locked eyes with Armax who seemed to be in thought for a moment but then also rose from his seat and started shouting, too. The moment Armax joined one or two councilors who were affiliated with him also jumped up and started shouting and soon more and more jumped up and started shouting to show their approval or at least understanding from which direction the wind was blowing. Even the High Priest rose though he wasn't shouting maybe considering this to be below his dignity.

Only one man wasn't standing and shouting. The middle-aged councilor which had opposed Victrix just a moment ago.

Victrix rose his hand. Everybody went silent. Victrix believed to have now a grasp on the personality of the man who was opposing him and made the decision to take a crooked gamble. Victrix said: "My dear friends. I am deeply moved by the trust you have shown me, but I feel unsure whether this humble old man can shoulder such a burden. Therefore, I think I have to decline your kind offer."

Then he stayed silent and thought, feigning a humble smile to the group: "HELL NO. I WILL be king of Alessina!"

"Noooo!", yelled Malo in nearly theatrical sounding way and Armax put on an obvious fake expression of concern. "Please, you should reconsider your honored grandfather", said Armax with even more fake warmth and concern in his voice.

Victrix knew it would not look good if he were not to refuse the kingship at least twice, but he felt that a good king would not let a moment serve a singular purpose. He would always pursue multiple goals at once. And that's what he now decided to do. "I feel I can only take on such a harsh burden knowing that the whole council will support me. But there is one who is opposing my ... elevation." Victrix avoided the word inauguration on purpose to look humble to friends and enemies alike.

All eyes turned in one direction. The middle-aged man who had looked like in deep thought until this point stood up slowly with his arms crossed in front of his chest and said with a loud clear voice seemingly making a choice right in this moment: "I am Chieftain Calix of Carmoor and I oppose tyranny. And how can the murder of Lucius and acquiring Kingship by force and without proper protocol be anything but tyranny!" The whole hall went silent. Even the drop of a needle could have been heard.

Victrix had zero regrets about killing Lucius but he knew that killing this man would make him for sure look like a violent tyrant. Also, he could see some veiled looks of sympathy for Calix from some of the other councillors who believed his death to be a sure thing as he might actually believe himself to die for sure. Calix was a brave man. But also a sting in the butt.

Victrix believed himself to be a strong man. And strong men can take the criticism of other strong men without feeling attacked or insulted. They don't have to agree with that specific criticism, but they don't need to act insulted or even get violent when being criticized. Victrix strode forward looking Calix straight into the eyes. In front of Calix he raised his axe. He saw Calix eyelids flinching for a second and his face looking solemn and at peace. Everybody else was holding his breath.

"Everybody here, you included, believes that I will split your skull with this axe!" Victrix then slowly lowered his axe. "But you are all wrong. All I did and will do is for Alessina and for the future of its children. I sure as hell didn't want a cowardly rat like Lucius to take command over Alessina but I don’t want to rule by force. I want to protect these lands from the abuse of invaders. I want our women and children to be save! Our sons to have fathers, to grow up and become fine men themselves!"

Victrix made a small pause for effect.

"Fine men like you, Calix, as you are for sure. If I tell you that I don’t want cowardly yes-men and appeaser and were to offer you a place on my council to advise me..." Victrix stretched out his hand for a warrior greeting. "...would you give me the pleasure and honor to join me on my journey to defend Alessina?"

Calix grabbed his hand and looked him in the eyes. "I will join you, still my heart aches. I wish for law and not for violence to determine leadership."

"Then how about I become regent of Alessina and prove to everybody first what kind of king I would be so that at a later time everybody can judge me on merit and not on the execution of a coward alone." Victrix made sure to brand the death of Lucius as something rightful and lawful.

Calix seemed surprised but approved: "I would like that a lot!"

Victrix let go of Calix’ hand and went to the central seat in the half circle of seats. Again, all eyes were on him.

"Then I shall – as Regent Victrix – with the approval of everybody here take seat and heed your wise council before making any decision."

"YES!", yelled the councillors in unison. As a matter of fact, their call seemed more honest and wholeheartedly then before. It seemed Victrix had managed to sway some of the hearts. Everything was going according to plan.