The Elementalist (The Kothian Chronicles Book 1) (18 page)

Chapter 17.

Oran, King of Kothia sat with his two advisors. In another couple of hours, he would have to stand and address his government, amidst rumours that were now rife of his affiliation with magicians. Now he had to decide to either admit to the matter in question or lie, and deny all knowledge of any such thing.

The two men sat with him in his private study, were as far as he knew, both trustworthy. Although, he could not even afford to let them know of his decision, or indeed the plans he had. However, he sought their opinions, more to know the situation in government, than to actually take any advice from them.

He sat and listened, as the man to his left explained the latest news. Several of his government officials were now calling for the king to relinquish all powers and hand total control of the country to them. If the king was indeed, as accused, breaking his own laws, then he was not a man to be trusted. Oran nodded, thanking the man for his honesty, before asking the second man.

Apparently, there were still a number of officials who gave their support to the king, but that number was diminishing daily. There were already groups of officials who were allegedly planning meetings, in a bid to remove the king. This, Oran thought was an interesting development. "Do you know the officials responsible?" he asked the man. "Yes Sire, I will write their names down for you. They are not hiding the fact they are intending to have you stand down, by force if necessary," the man replied.

Oran tapped his finger on his chin, this indeed was food for thought. He thanked the two men, and asked them to leave. He tried to think how he might just be able to make this work to his own advantage. Even talk of suggesting the removal of the king, was paramount to treason, as he afforded himself a small smile of satisfaction, as he decided on his next course of action.

With a renewed sense of purpose, he firstly headed to see his officer in charge. A loyal a man as he knew, and one of only a handful he trusted explicitly. Despite the king technically being in command of all the armed forces, Oran was certain there would be those amongst them that were under the influence of the government. Just as he knew, that there were elements of his army totally dedicated to him. One such force he could rely upon was his company of Elite Royal guardsman. Not only were these men true to him, but also the cream of the crop as far as soldiers went.

He found the man he sought, strolling across the yard of the royal residence, and after walking alongside him, he gestured they find somewhere quiet to talk. His commander nodded understanding the need for urgency. Denny Porter had been in Oran's service for as long as he could remember. A tall, well-built man in his forties, with short dark hair, clean-shaven and with a well-defined face, he was the man Oran needed to rely on.

Once inside his office, the commander poured two glasses of brandy, and after handing one to the king, they both sat at his desk. Oran took a sip, before explaining his dilemma. It was clear his commander was outraged at the thought there were people in positions of power that sought to overthrow his king. "I will have them arrested and charged," the man stood to leave and do so immediately, but Oran calmed him down and told him they needed to be a little more careful.

He explained to his commander of just how tenuous his rule was. With every passing week, the government officials seemed to pushing him that little further, he feared it would only be a matter of time before they deemed him surplus to requirements, and tried removing him completely. However, he told his friend, if they thought for one minute, he planned to sit idly by and let them do it, then they were in for a shock.

Together the two men planned ahead. Oran needed to know just how much of his army was actually loyal to him, and which part to the government; as commander, it would be Denny Porter's job to discreetly find out. Moreover, Oran now wanted his family to have extra protection from the royal guards. If there was a concern for safety, Oran thought they were probably more at risk than he was.

Oran left the final part until the end. After suggesting the two had another brandy, he sat his commander back down. He explained the entire story. Firstly, of the man that he had seen the nation's future. As a result, Oran had been left to decide its fate. "I have been hiding magicians away," he said waiting for Denny to comprehend what he was being told. "So the rumours are true," the man said. Oran nodded, "In part yes. When the time comes, I need Kothia to be able to fight back."

Oran told his commander everything. He wanted no secrets left. If this man was to fight at his side when the time came, he needed to do so knowing the truth. Denny actually thanked the king for trusting him with such information. He swore he would never betray him, and do everything in his own power, to make sure Oran remained the rightful ruler of Kothia.

Once that was sorted, they then needed to discuss the raids on the nation's borders. Naturally, Denny assumed them to be the work of bandits, although their ferocity and frequency had made him consider they were something more. Oran told him that his sources had revealed they were indeed something else. They were soldiers from Bosaria, intent on disrupting the Kothian morale and army. "I need you Denny, to make sure those troops who may be loyal to the government, are sent to the border. Spread them out as far as they will go." His commander smiled, clearly understanding the kings thinking.

For now, he only wanted the government officials who were openly rebelling watched. That was all but one man, as it was clear that one official in particular was pushing things farther than any other. Oran could not think of any reason why the man seemed intent and stirring up trouble, but he was. "I need you to find something on this man, anything so that he can be arrested and removed from the equation." Denny nodded, "I'll have him watched like a hawk, the traitorous git."

With his meetings not yet over, it was then time for Oran to face his accusers. With the hope that the government officials might themselves feel under pressure, he braced himself for what he knew would be a difficult next hour.

The government building looked more opulent than his own residence. With elaborate ornate stonework on the facade, and wide stone steps leading up to finely decorated doors. Two guards stood either side of the doorway, and as he approached with his own bodyguard aside of him, it was clear who they were loyal too. Quite clearly, these men were in the pocket of the government. Neither guard so much as acknowledged his presence as he walked inside. That in itself, once would have caused an outrage, as Oran thought, it just proved how far the monarchy had fallen.

His own guard, wearing the tabard of the Royal Elite soldiers, stayed close to the man he was charged with protecting. Inside the elegant entrance hall, with its marble flooring and elaborate pictures, he headed to the left. Here were another massive set of doors, once more with two guards outside. He would be made to wait here, until the government officials inside the room decided to let him in.

Even a slight delay was a snub. The fact Oran was made to wait nearly twenty minutes was little short of a complete rebuke. Once he was finally admitted, he stepped inside. The room was unusually full, with most, if not all the governors being present, and this he knew was something extraordinary in itself. He could hear a few jeers as he made his way to the head of the room, where his seat was positioned opposite the bench.

The bench was not actually a bench, and was just called so in name. It was in fact a large desk, behind which, were positioned the leading government officials. Here sat the most powerful men in his country, and all were present. Oran immediately noticed something different. Casting his eye around the room, there were more soldiers than usual. Whereas normally just a couple of guards stood on duty beside the doors, there were also a dozen or so lined up along one wall. As to why they were there he was at first unsure.

Oran was beginning to think he had just walked into the lion's den, as all eyes focused upon him, he calmly poured himself a drink. His guard stood just behind him and off to his left, as he leaned over, "Get Commander Porter and the guard in here...now please," he said quietly. The guard nodded and quietly slipped away, leaving him on his own.

The room fell silent, as one of the men on the bench stood and raised his arms, as those on the seats reserved for lesser government members waited on. Oran knew one or two of them on a personal level, and had always deemed them reasonable men. The five most senior members of the bench however, he had no time for.

Only when the standing man was happy he had everyone's attention, he called for the guard to close the doors. This action was again unusual, and Oran was beginning to think he had misjudged just how far the situation had moved on. "Members of the Kothian Government," the man spoke in a loud and clear voice. The room had been designed in such a way that even the person sat furthest away, would hear someone talking the other end.

"We have been called to this meeting to address a most serious matter. My right Honourable gentleman will now explain," the man said before gesturing to another official sat beside him. Oran eyed the man who had spoken. He had not even acknowledged the presence of the king. This only confirmed his fears that these men were up to something. He looked towards the doors, hoping his commander would turn up with the guard very soon. The only thing that might bide him time, was the government officials own protocol, whereby certain members had to speak before others.

The second man stood and glowered Oran's direction, as if he were some terrible criminal. This was the man Oran had asked to be arrested, and it was he who had been at the forefront of all the accusations, but without his guard aside him, he was alone. Four of the five men on the bench, and the other forty-four government officials awaited the man standing to speak. It was clear Oran was there to be accused.

The man started by telling everybody who it was that actually ran the country of Kothia, and the royal family were nothing but a burden on the decent taxpaying people. Oran let the man have his say, still wondering how long it would be before his guards made an appearance. After waffling on for another minute, on how much of a waste it was having a monarchy, the man paused, "Now we learn that our king is responsible for breaking the very laws he is sworn to uphold." Although there were a few gasps of surprise there was not as many as Oran had thought there should have been. This of course meant that most of the men sitting in the room were already familiar with the accusation.

There was another pause, before the man concluded, "Oran, I see you leave us no option but to place you under arrest. Guards take him away." There was a lot of shouting amongst the men in the room, some clearly enjoying the king's demise, others shocked. Four of the guards that had been standing along the far wall made their way over to where Oran sat. He had not even been given a chance to rebuke the accusations.

Oran did not resist, as the four guards stepped up beside him, and one of the men took a hold of his arm and pulled for him to stand. As he was escorted back towards the door, he cast a glance back at the rather smug looking men sat at the bench. He turned back to see the doors in front burst open. His commander had not let him down.

The two government guards at the door were merely brushed aside as over thirty of the Elite Royal guard moved boldly into the room. The men on the bench called it an outrage that the soldiers of the king had burst into their domain. Oran felt a wave of relief as his own men surrounded him, and ushered him out. There was a standoff between his men and those guards within the room. Thankfully, neither side saw fit to actually engage the other. Oran hoped it remained so, but had the feeling a line had now been crossed, and one side had to now give.

In Pitford, Ramon had his soldiers keep a watchful eye on the local area. He had asked that scouting parties be sent out and look for any further signs that their position was under scrutiny. The guard on the gatehouse was doubled, and soldiers were now also asked to patrol those gaps in the outer wall. All magicians, both the younger members and older had strict instructions not to wander out of the grounds. He was certain that those who had attempted to grab Maxim, would likely do so again. As a seer, it was frustrating for him, that he could not predict when or how that might happen.

He next needed to sit down with the other senior magicians at Pitford, and discuss the best way forward. Trouble was stirring, just as he had predicted to the king several years earlier. The monarch had set him the task of creating a safe haven for those wielding magic, with a view to making an army of wizards capable of repelling a similar enemy. Ramon knew that time was approaching, now he needed to step up and deliver to the man who had kept faith, and risked so much by having him do so.