It Rained Red Upon the Arena (19 page)

Nick and Jeffrey came closer to the steps. Jeffrey was standing in the second row and waited for an opportune moment to make a run at the stairs.

“Nick, stay back,” said Jeffrey. “This type of man can only be dealt with by me and the king’s man. Watch my back down here.”

Jeffrey bolted out of the crowd and made it up a few steps.

“Stop!” yelled Vicon. “Jeffrey, my friend, stop right there.”

Vicon flung out his hand and black waves came speeding down into the stairs just a few inches above Jeffrey’s feet.

He jumped backwards and landed back onto the flat courtyard.

“There will be no heroes here, Jeffrey,” said Vicon. “No one else needs to be harmed or put in harm’s way.”

Jeffrey looked his king in the eyes. There was nothing he could do from where he stood. He stepped back into the crowd and put his head down in disappointment.

“As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, as your leader I will not lie to you. Take off your gloves and throw them on the dirt. Those laws no longer apply in Hentrio.”

Men, women, and children Reza started to take off their gloves. The Rezas looked around in every direction to find what the others were doing. Some of them did not take them off, others nervously did, and some stood idle not knowing what to do.

“Those of you who put down your gloves now will be the first to learn of how a true Reza is supposed to live and feel,” said Vicon. “These Paplon and humans who are gathered here tonight, have no fear. Freedom comes with you all as well. I do not lie. You will be able to have as many weapons on you as you like for your safety, of course. And you will no longer be required to have your weapons sheathed in public. You might be thinking right now that the old rules were implemented for your safety. But it was not so. They were implemented so you would live a life of ignorance. You believed in false safety and many lived unprepared to defend themselves from the murderer who slipped off his gloves and incinerated a tavern. Or the man who walked into a motel late at night with two swords decapitating his victims.”

“They were there for our safety!” yelled a woman in the crowd.

“No! Like I said, the laws were there for a false sense of safety,” said Vicon. “In this new age safety comes with knowing you can be ready to defend yourself at all times. Those of you who wish to keep your white gloves on or keep your weapon sheathed, please do. By all means, stick to your old ways. There will be no laws punishing you for doing so. For those of you wishing to no longer live here, go to another city. We will be there in due time.”

“Don’t listen to him. He is a traitor and will lead you into oblivion,” said the king.

Vicon punched the king in the head. His body fell to the ground. Vicon swiftly pulled the bloody king up from the ground and set him back on his knees.

“I am your new leader, people of Hentrio,” said Vicon. “The Refect who served this man below me now serve me. If anyone has a problem with that fact there will be severe punishment served.”

He pulled down his hood so everyone could see what he looked like. He was a middle aged Reza. He was completely bald and had no facial hair. His eyes were sunken in and his lips were thin and barely noticeable.

Vicon let out a smirk and his dark yellow teeth showed.

“The Genold City arena will be closed for the time being. The inmates that were being held there have been released and given a second chance on life. They will live in this new free world as proper free citizens. That is all I will say tonight. The speech is over. For those who choose to defy or challenge me and my men, just remember: swift justice shall be served.”

Vicon took the blade that was held close to the king’s neck and quickly jerked it. He cut the king’s throat, then pushed his body down onto the ground.

The king squirmed and suffered in his final moments as his body fought to take in a breath of oxygen. He lay there in a pool of his blood as the light drove from his eyes.

The crowd screamed and panicked. They pushed one way, then another. Parents fought the crowds as they tried to keep their children safe.

Nick looked at Jeffrey in disbelief. They both looked back up at the balcony. Two more hooded men stood behind Vicon and a swarm of Refect dressed in white stood at the top of the stairs that led to Castle Teon.

Nick looked back at Jeffrey and asked, “Now what?”

“We must find the other king’s men. We must leave.”

“Leave? No, we must find them and fight back,” said Nick.

“We leave for now,” said Jeffrey.

The king was dead. The old Genold City had burned to the ground. A new sinister one had been birthed in its place. A fine line was drawn in the sand, and the people of Hentrio would have to choose one side or the other. The future was never more uncertain.

The End

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Glory Beyond Battle Series:

#1- “It Rained Red Upon The Arena”

#2 -
“They Were Born Upon Ashes,” click here to download it

#3 -
“Dragons Descended Upon The Wicked,” click here to download it