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| Lord_Levente
Posts: 63 Status: Knight Karma: 0 [+1] [-1]   |
Subject: Short Story "The Rightful King" | |||||
| The Rightful King ONE It was a cold and bleak winter where a woman was to give birth. The woman was a Princess who was to marry a King from the land of Afran. She was a woman of Nobel birth, her father once ruled a land over the ocean but fell victim to other neighboring countries and lost his land. He fled across the sea to this land of Afran. A land of mystical forest and the Shade people. The land of Afran has been at war with its neighbor country Afrenden. These two have fought multiple battles over many years. Both countries winning and losing key battles. On this particular cold and bleak winter day, there was a fierce battle happening. The King left her wife back at the castle and went to battle with the prince and only heir to the throne. The brother of the king was a religious man seeking power. He warned the King that the prince was a sufficient leader to lead this campaign and that he should stay back with his wife during birth. The King ignored his brother and rode off the war. As the King was in the mist of battle the child was born. The mother didn’t live through the child birth and died minutes after naming her future prince, Alastor. Just hours after the new prince was born both the King and Prince were cut down in battle. The royal protect of the royal family, known as Squashed Fly heard about the devastating news of the King and Prince and decided that it would not be good if the Child be raised by his uncle who will no doubt take over as leader until new King, Alastor, would be old enough. As Squashed Fly was taking the child he heard guards loyal to his the Kings brother running up the steps. Squashed fly took the kid out the secret entrance and fled to his undisclosed location to the Kings brother with his wife and new born. He decided he should take care of Alastor and raise him. Half the army returned battered and bruised to find that the gates to the fortress were closed to them. A new captain in the army got on top of the wall and told the men to swear allegiance to the Kings brother and now “New King” Jasper. The soldiers were confused cause it was rumored that the New King would be the King’s new born son. Some stood and wanted answers and when the gates open they were slaughter where they stood. The men who were able to escape were the youngest ones of the army and the ones in the back of the formation. They fled on foot and the and with cavalry were able to escape. They rode and march together and in formation. Little did they know they were being watched by a few men from the woods. A single horseman stood in the middle of the road and shouted “Who do you pledge your allegiance to?” One brave soldier stood up and said “The baby King! If he lives that is.” A dozen archers lined both sides of the rode where the battered and betrayed soldiers were. The single man on the horse lowered his hand down to the archers and they lowered they’re bows. “How have you heard of this ‘New baby King’ birth?” the lone man on his horse asked. “It is rumored that the hour our King and Prince were slain, the New baby King was born… Now I will ask a question sir. Who are you? And do you know any news of the New baby King’s birth? For we are soldiers from the battle and have been betrayed by the King’s brother Jasper.” The brave soldier of the batter and beaten army answered. “I am Squashed Fly of the New baby King’s royal guard. If you pelage allegiance to me and your new and rightful King, I asked you to help me build a new settlement and help to build an army to protect our rightful King, King Alastor.” The men on the road all dropped to one knee and in one big voice yelled “Hail King Alastor! Hail King Alastor! Hail King Alastor!” The man on the horse removed his face plate and dropped from his horse and embraced the battered and beaten soldiers. He did not know them for they were just common soldiers, low rank officers scattered among them and new warriors. TWO Sixteen long dark day years pass and this King Alastor is now strong and way ahead of his years in battle. He has participated in multiple encounters with beasts and rouges of the surrounding countries. Unfortunately for the settle of New Afran to be able to have enough food and supplies to survive they had to raid other small villages and towns. Squashed Fly became New Afran’s leader in this time and order the raiders to not kill any of the villagers and town folk. If any did get aggressive use blunt objects and not fatal hits. Over the sixteen years they had only one death of a soldier during combat when a farmer had a blunt sword and cut a wound into a soldiers side. He didn’t die by the cut but died from the infection which led to the fever. As far as town folk and villagers deaths they only had to kill a few dozen men who wouldn’t lay down there weapons and some accidental hits that killed. One farmer ran in front of the hoses as they were riding away and was trampled to death. At the age of 13 Alastor fought in his first skirmish against some clans men out of the Dark Forest. He was on patrol with 4 other men from New Afran. They were patrolling the out skirts of the settlement and came upon a 3 hunters from the one of the clans that live in the Dark Forest. At the age of 13 Alastor was the size of a typical soldier that would have been 17. He was built very strong, arms like trunks of trees and chest was broad. He was able to lift well more than his weight. He was already growing a reputation that he would be the greatest king in all the history of Afran. Some where saying that he would be even greater than King Afran himself who came here from a land far far in the west where not many men have gone and came back. At the age of 13 he was learning to lead men and was the first one to spot the hunting clans men. He quickly dismounted off his horse and had his fellow warriors to do the same. He split up the men 3 were supposed to go into the woods a little more and stay covered. He and the last warrior would get seen by the clans men and lure them into the trap. The plan worked flawlessly, Alastor and Kirken (his best friend who was 19) where spotted by the clans men and quickly turned back the other way. As all clans men would, seeing they out numbered the other warriors, started to pursue. Alastor and Kirken led to the ambush and as they turned around to face the hunters the trap was sprung. The Hunting clans men really stood no chance against the Alastor and his 4 patrol men. Alastor took one by himself as the for other quickly took down the two others. Alastor dodge two strikes by the hunters axe and the quickly parried the third attack with his sword he called Ragnark. He sliced into the hunters leg and spun around and beheaded him with one swipe of Ragnark. This last just seconds as the clan tribes men were cut down and made examples to stay in the dark forest. Alastor and the men put the head of their victims on spears lining the dark forest as a warning to any other clans men who want to enter they’re land. Squashed Fly was very impressed by the report that Kirken and other soldiers told. He gave Alastor his own group of warriors at 14 to lead. He had 4 men total he was to lead. He went on patrols with him and trained with them daily. They also went on hunts for fun and for food. At the age of 14 Alastor went with his four soldiers Kreep, Asher, Boras and Luke to hunt for food. As Kreep, Asher and Boras were skinning one of the bores they caught and killed Luke scared another bore out of its hiding. This bore was no ordinary bore, he was a great bore. This bore had razor sharp tusk that could cut right through a man. He was close to 250 lbs and was probably the male of the group that had been sighted around the hunting area. Quicker than men on feet he rushed out of his hiding spot among the brush and charged right at Alastor. Luke yelled “Alastor!!! Watch out!!” Alastor seeing the bore rushing right at him pick up his spear and threw it at the bore sticking it in the back of the bore. The bore continued to charge ignoring the spear stuck into its back. As he closed onto Alastor’s position Alastor got into wrestling stance as if he was fighting with Kirken his best friend. The bore rushed and jerked up his head to ram Alastor with his tusk. Alastor quickly dodge the bore and jumped on the back of the beast. He knocked out the legs of the bore and stabbed the dagger he had into the muscles taking it down and killing the bore. Asher, Kreep, Luke, and Boras stood and stared in amazement as to what just happened. Usually it takes two or three men to take down a male bore. But Alastor took it down by himself. Alastor stood up and was laughing what just happened. “Hey Luke next time you decide to scare the male will you please scare it the other way and not straight at me please?” Alastor said chuckling. The other four men started to laugh as they saw Alastor was unharmed except for the few scratches he got from sliding on the ground as he wrestle the big bore down. They caught and killed 4 bores that day in hunting but the big story was how Alastor the “King Bore Killer” taught the male bore not to charge at him. Everyone in the settlement cheered after hearing the story and thought that he will be able to lead this army one day to take back his throne that was stolen from his uncle. Kirken walked up to Alastor and grab him from behind and started wrestling with him saying “Hey next time don’t go and try and get yourself killed out there hunting… We are going to need you when we take back your kingdom” Alastor spun around so that he was behind Kirken and then put him in a headlock and said, while looking straight at Luke, “Well I wouldn’t have had to deal with that little bore if Luke over there didn’t scare the shit out of if with is loud hunting skills.” They all up roared in a friendly and cheerful laugh. This was a great accomplishment cause the settlement was well fed and they’re King was acting and fighting like a king. The settlement was at its greatest moral yet, and maybe soon they would be able to take back the land they once held. The true King will be the lands leader and take the land for himself and warriors. At the age of 15 King Alastor was part of a raiding party to a clans hideout. The clans men kidnapped and killed young women and beheaded the boys. Alastor wouldn’t stand for a cruel act like that and pushed the idea of attacking them and getting rid of them once and for all. They would attack at dawn and run through all of them. They would avoid killing the children and women if possible. The clans men tribe only had about 45 soldiers but also about 50 women and children. They fought with few spears and swords but mostly battle axes or wood cutting axes. When the clans men took the women some rebelled cause they knew what would come. Others said not to kill the children but keep them for ransom and for the women they would sell them for more after they rapped them. But the leader of the clans men would not hear anything of the sort. For he wanted to send a message that he was not to be messed with. New Afran sent 40 men at night to travel and be in position to attack at sunrise. All the men that went had good armor and some even had superior armor. All had swords and shields. They first thought that they would ride in on they’re cavalry but they didn’t want to risk any horses. They also thought about making a shield wall and attack that way but knew that the clans men would just flee at the sight of the shield wall. When New Afran fought with the shield wall they usually never got to fight cause the other army would just run in fear. Clans men didn’t want to have anything to do with the shield walls cause most of them didn’t have any shields themselves. The men of New Afran had set a half circle to attack the clans men. They waited until sunrise got closer. Alastor, Squashed Fly, Kirken and Nimoa (New Afran’s sorceress) approached the camp. Alastor wished to try and take back the woman and children without blood shed. He wanted to give the clans men a chance before they would decimate the whole clan. As they approached the rest of the army finish surrounding the whole clan, making sure they didn’t allow the scouts to report back or warn they killed them quickly. Most of them got arrows to the hearts or daggers slit to the neck. So New Afran’s small forced had the clan’s settlement surrounded without any of the clan even knowing what was happening. The three men Nimoa approached deeper into the clan settlement until one of the guards spotted them. He called to arms and two other guards appeared ready for battle. Alastor raised his right hand and announced “We would like to meet your leader!” The clans men looked around and weren’t quite sure what to do. They stood there until a large man with a big axe stepped out of the main tent. The clans men bowed as the Leader stepped out. With axe in hand the clan leader said “What would you like? You want to die here and now then I can arrange that, or have you come to beg for our might? Now who the hell are you!?” Alastor replied, “You do not have anything of yours we would like except what you have taken from us, you have children and women that you took. We would like them back or we will have to deal with you in our own way.” The clan leader looked furious and yelled “Have what is yours? We have only what we take and if we take its ours and no getting it back. And if you persist we will kill you here and now, then toss your bodies like we did with the women we rapped and the boys we killed.” With those words Alastor and the rest of the men drew they’re swords, Nimoa pulled out two large daggers almost short swords and all got into a battle stance. Alastor raised his voice and shouted “Come and take me on in a one on one battle and let me gut you like you should have been when you were born!” The clan leader laughed out loud and shouted back at Alastor “Don’t make me laugh little kid. You don’t have any facial hair you little boy.” The man shows off his arm full of war rings and continues “you have no war rings. AND YOU WANT TO TAKE ME ON? You are truly a foolish little boy.” The clan leader starts to walk towards Alastor and Squashed, Kirken and Nimoa give Alastor room as they fall back behind. Luke, Kreep and the rest of the men looked on keeping distance and cover as they still surrounded the clan. “I am Luggersaugh, the clan leader! You will be sorry for the words you spoke boy and your mother and father will be sonless and the raven will feast on your body boy!” As Luggersaugh walked forward he was swinging his giant axe around his body as if it weighed very light. Alsator drew Ragnark from his side and kissed the top of his blade. “I am King Alastor from New Afran, My mother is dead, My father is dead, and you will be dead on this day. For the pain and torture of the women and children you dishonored. You will now bear those sins and die!” Alastor lunged forward with sword over his head looking to chop down on Luggersaugh. Luggersaugh saw the attack coming so raised his axe to parry the attack of Alastor. As Alastor anticipated the parry response dropped his sword behind his back caught the hilt of the sword in one motion and spun slicing Luggersaugh right thigh. It wasn’t a deep cut but enough to slow him up a bit. At that moment Luggersaugh knew he was fighting someone very skillful. He attacked attacking down on Alastor. His giant axe swinging down at Alastor and Alastor was blocking the attack with his sword Ragnark. Every blow with the axe to Ragnark it seemed more powerful and pushing Alastor back almost dropping down to a knee. Alastor was just waiting for his moment to strike but the power of Luggersaugh was worrying him a bit. Alastor acted like he slipped after blocking one of Luggersaugh attacks. Luggersaugh saw this and raised his axe high to deliver the final blow that would finish off Alastor. As he drew his axe above his head Alastor drove his sword up into the chest of Luggersaugh, driving deep into the torso. Luggersaugh dopped his axe behind him and started to fall to his knees as Alastor pulled the sword out of the chest of the clan leader. Most of the clan men had watched the fight and when they saw they’re leader fall in combat pulled out there weapons and started to move on the small group. Squashed yelled at the sight of the clans men moving on them “New Afran arise!” Out of the forest the men of new Afran attacked. The clans men didn’t know what was happening. They were shocked and all died. Any man capable to wield a sword was beheaded and body piled on each other. The battle was one sided with New Afran losing one soldier and the clans men losing all the warriors. The children and women were taken and made as servants. Alastor made sure they were not slaves but servants who were compensated with food and living quarters for the work they did. The children were taught and learned the art of the sword and shield. |
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