The Black Sword Trilogy: The Poacher (39 page)

Chapter Forty Eight

              The next morning, the procession began to move along the road to Kallesh.  A special rider had been sent ahead to inform the Prince and the Congress that King had died.  His ring and sword were sent along as well as proof.

              Kenner walked beside the litter carrying Shela which was at the head of his own company.  He had asked Captain Krall to lead the army back to The White City.  He was lost in many thoughts; not the least of which were the questions still rattling around inside his head.  Why had the King banished his father?  In the last few days, he had begun to allow himself to think of the King as a decent person and not the tyrant his father described.  However, even the King had confessed to some wrong doing where his father was concerned.  What was it?

              Terri joined him when the army stopped to rest at midday. 

“So what now, hill boy?” She asked teasingly.

“I have no idea.  It’s still the better part of a year before I get leave and I fully anticipate the new King to give me the absolute worst posting in all of Walechia.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Let’s just say Melkur and I have some history.”

“History or not,” Captain Krall interrupted, stepping up to them.  “You deserve some time off after what you’ve been through and I mean to see that you get it.”

             
Both Terri and Kenner started to stand, but Krall stopped them.

“Oh no you don’t.” He said gruffly, but also smiling.  “It’s because of you two that the battle was won.  I’ll not have you bowing and scraping to me.  From now on, I never want to hear either one of you call me ‘Captain’ ever again.  As far as you’re concerned, my name is Krall and nothing more.”

“Yes sir!”

And then they all three laughed.

             
As the procession moved on into the night, people by the hundreds starting gathering on both sides of the road leading to Kallesh.  News had reached the towns, villages and farms along the Great Plain that the King had fallen and they came from miles around to pay their final respects.  Men and women of all ages and their children came to the road.  Most simply stood staring as the cart carrying the King’s body passed them by.  Some silently prayed; others sang.  Many brought tiny white flowers that had grown in the tall grass and placed them on the ground in front of the King’s cart.  Hundreds others, mostly children gave some of those same flowers to the weary soldiers as they passed along.

              As the sun began to set, the army made camp and Kenner’s company constructed a tent for him.  He tried to refuse it, but the men of the company; only seven of his original twenty had survived, protested by standing at attention until he laid himself down on the cot in the center of the tent.

              Terri entertained her soldiers with the stories of the battle at the fort, her adventures in the Blackwoods and of finding the Blackwood Bow.  But her soldiers asked more questions about Kenner than they seemed interested in her.  They asked where he was from; what kind of man he was and how did he find the Black Sword.  Terri told the stories as best as she could, but she had forgotten some of the details.  The men of her company began sharing these stories of both Terri and Kenner with soldiers from other companies and before the army slept, legends had begun to take shape.

              The next day, the procession moved again toward its goal.  It moved slowly, but steadily along the main road and still hundreds more lined the road for one last glimpse of their King.  Priests dressed in white robes threw bits of food onto the cart carrying Philas.  Some also gave bottles of wine or jugs of ale.

“What are they doing that for?” A young soldier asked a veteran.

“It’s for the journey,” the older soldier answered.

“What journey?”

“The journey we must all take; King and commoner alike.”

              At sundown, the procession stopped again; this time they could see Kallesh in the distance.  The new moon had passed and a silver slipper of a moon gave a shallow glow on the white stone walls. 

              Kenner insisted on helping his soldiers construct his tent this time.  As he sat on the cot talking to his men about his time in the mountains, Krall stepped up to him, carrying the axe in his right hand

“This is surprisingly light,” He said holding up the axe.  He could still barely believe it was in his own hands.

“I seem to remember that myself,” Kenner said smiling.

“May I have a word?” Krall asked Kenner.  He could tell that Krall wanted to talk to him in private.

“Gentlemen…” He began to say to his troops.

“We get the hint, sir.” His sergeant said and his men stepped away.

             
“Those are good men.” Kenner said.  “I seem to remember there were more of them a couple of days ago, though.”

“I’m sure a lot of commanders are thinking the same thing.” Krall agreed.

“So what’s on your mind?” Kenner asked Krall.  The old soldier had an expression on his face that seemed to speak of bad news.

“I just received word that Congress had a special session this morning and Melkur was confirmed as King.”

“Is this a surprise to you?”

“Not at all.”

“So why the long face?”

              Krall sighed and his face then looked tired.

“The coronation for the King will be in two days.  His Majesty has sent out messages to all he wants involved…”he paused for a moment.  “That includes you.”

“Me?” Kenner said surprised.  “What the hell does he want me to do?”

“I’m not sure, but his orders are for you to be in the throne room at the end of the ceremony.”

             
Kenner almost laughed.

“Like hell, I will.” He said trying to control his anger.

Krall sighed again.

“I was afraid you would react this way.”

“I’m not going anywhere near that ceremony.  In fact, I intend to go on that leave you promised me and be fishing in a pond in the woods while that ceremony is taking place.”

              Krall took a deep breath in order to prevent himself from yelling as well.

“It is an order from the King; your King, Captain.”

“Did you forget the part when that ‘King’ murdered my cousins?”

“No I haven’t,” Krall said, his voice slightly raised.  “And that is precisely why you need to be there.”

“Why, so I can cut his head off like he did my cousin?”

“Damn it Kenner!” Krall snapped.

             
“I know this is difficult for you, but whether you like it or not, Melkur is now your King and don’t argue with me on this point.  Your face needs to be in that crowd; if for no other reason than to remind our new King of injustices he’s committed.  In seeing your face, he will also see the faces of the two men he wronged.”

              “He didn’t just wrong them, Damn it!”

“I know that!  I was there!”

Krall then took Kenner’s arm.

“Please, it’ll be, at most one hour out of your life and then you go back to your village for thirty days.”

Kenner saw a pleading in Krall’s eyes and his attitude softened.

“I’ll do it for you.” He finally said.

             
By the afternoon of the next day, the procession finally entered the Iron Gates.  The city was silent, except for the tolling of a single bell coming from the Great Tower.  The cart carrying the King passed along the wide streets and around the fountain in the center of the city.  It entered the royal palace and then the King’s lifeless body was taken off of the cart and lifted by several of the King’s guards and carried away with King Melkur following slowly behind.  Kenner tried to follow but Captain Krall stopped him.

“This is not our journey.” Krall told him.

Chapter Forty Nine

              Kenner took an officer’s room in the Kallesh barracks.  He was barely able to get one as armies from other parts of Walechia had been summoned to Kallesh by the King’s order in case the army was defeated at Mobrey.  However, just as Kenner was about to take a room at the inn, he was informed that one of the rooms in the barracks had become open.  One of the armies that had come at the King’s orders was going to leave in the night.

              There was a lot of activity in the barracks that night.  It reminded Kenner of the night before leaving for Mobrey when the entire city seemed to be preparing to leave for battle.  Leaning on the wall next to the window and with a cup of ale in his hand, he felt a familiar presence in the room with him.

“Is that you, Shadow?”

“Yes, it is me.” She answered brightly.

Turning to look, he found her sitting on his bed with a proud and confident smile on her face.

             
“What’s that look for?” He asked her.

“Are you surprised to see me smiling?” She asked in return.

“I think you’re the only person in this entire city that’s smiling.”

“That’s understandable,” She continued.  “This city has seen many Kings
fall and just as many crowned.”

“Is it unusual for a new King to be crowned one day after the previous one’s funeral?  It seems a little rushed.”

“Some Kings have been crowned the same hour as the funeral.  On the other hand, King Dolem wasn’t crowned until a month after his father Arkhal was put to rest.  It depends on who is being made King.”

              Kenner took another thoughtful drink from his cup.

“So will I ever find out why my father was banished?” He asked sadly, but with a touch of anger.  “The only person who knew for sure what happened is dead and I doubt you’re going to tell me anything.”

Suddenly, Kenner felt her touch on his shoulder.  It was soothing and warm and its effect was almost like having all his resentment and ire taken away.

“King Philas wasn’t the only one who knew what happened.” She said in a comforting voice.  “The answers you want will find you soon.”

“How soon?” He asked facing her.

She then smiled.

“I think it’s safe to say that you will have your answers before this lifetime is over.”

              Kenner smiled and turned back to the window.

“So what happens now?” He asked, not looking at her.  There was no answer.  He looked to where she had been only a few seconds earlier and saw that she was gone.

Chapter Fifty

             
The coronation began in the Great Temple; which was part of the circle of buildings at the base of the Great Tower.  King Melkur walked in to the temple alone and, as per tradition wearing only simple clothing.  He approached to within of a few steps of the feet of the statue of The Great Lady, seated on a stone throne, holding a book in one hand and a flaming chalice in the other.  The priests and priestesses of the Temple always kept the flame lit.  He knelt before the statue and then appeared to pray silently.  After that, he rose to his feet.  The High Priest of the Great Temple then approached him holding the crown on a red pillow.  The priest turned around and, still holding the crown led Melkur out of the Temple.

              Next, he was escorted from the temple to the headquarters building of the Walechian Army; which was next to the temple.  He walked all the way down the stone steps to the street and then to the fountain.  There he dropped a silver coin with the image of King Philas into the fountain.  He then climbed the steps up to the top where two Generals and two other soldiers stood in between two large statues of Walechian soldiers.  It was a cloudy and gray day with a cold and steady breeze and the smell of rain was in the air.