Sword of Kings
Chapter 7 – An Evening of Discoveries and Revelations

by Bill W

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Legal Notice:
The following story contains descriptions of graphic sexual acts. 
The story is a work of fiction and has no basis in reality.
Don’t read this story if:
**You’re not 18 or over,    
**If it is illegal to read this type of material where you live,
**Or if you don’t want to read about gay/bi people in love or having sex.

The author retains copyright to this story.  Placing this story on a website or reproducing this story for distribution without the author’s permission is a violation of that copyright.  Legal action will be taken against violators.

I wish to extend my thank you to Emoe57 for his editorial assistance with this chapter.

E-mail responses to the stories, story suggestions, or other ‘constructive’ comments or advice may be sent to: bwstories8@aol.com.

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Kieren took his friends in tow and raced off to find the wizard. The trio rushed past the remaining shops and the servants’ quarters, but they never slowed down to investigate. Next, they flew past the larger, more richly decorated buildings, which housed the lesser officials of the court, before they reached their destination. Finally, the boys located Beraut, who was talking to King Dylan, General Daveel, and a man Kieren didn’t recognize. They were all standing in front of the huge secular building, with the fourth man talking excitedly. The stranger was a plump, rather short, balding man dressed in fine silks, and Kieren inferred he must be one of the city officials, as he rushed toward his guardian.

The official was very animated during his conversation, doing a lot of bowing and making many gestures with his arms as he talked, which made Kieren associate his actions with that of an excited child. No matter how distracting and annoying this man’s movements were, they did not prevent Beraut from spying the trio as they approached. Without waiting for the fourth man to finish what he was saying, the mage summoned the lad to him. “Kieren, come here, please. I have someone I’d like for you to meet.”

Kieren hesitantly walked over to the enchanter, but he didn’t really want to meet anyone at this moment. Instead, he wanted to talk to the wizard about the boots, but he did as he was told. “Kieren, This is Nathar, Steward of Leander.” Nathar bowed at the waist, making a big deal of sweeping his arm in front of him as he did so, and then he swept the same arm back again as he rose.

“Pleased to meet you,” he addressed Kieren. “Any friend of Beraut is most definitely a friend of mine. Welcome to Leander.”

“Thank you, sir, and I am pleased to meet you too.” At this point Kieren looked toward the wizard, hoping he could discuss the boots with him, but Beraut thought Kieren’s expression was just his way of questioning who the man was.

“Kieren,” Beraut began, in explanation, “since the end of the royal line, the Stewards have ruled Tarolia in the king’s place, and they will continue to do so until a new king is crowned. That means, for the time being, they are in charge of enforcing the laws and handing out punishments.”

Kieren listened politely, but he was still intent on asking Beraut if he could borrow enough money to buy the boots he had seen. However, he nodded and smiled at their host, and even extended his hand to shake. He had no idea why he had been singled out, as Beraut did not introduce Garreth and Romaric to this man, but now that the formalities had been completed, he tried to get the mage’s attention again.

Beraut went back to talking with Nathar and the others after the introductions, but he could see Kieren continually moving about, flashing him hand signals and other gestures, trying to let Beraut know there was something he wished to discuss with him. The magician was becoming annoyed with the young man’s shenanigans, so he interrupted his discussion to determine the purpose of Kieren’s rude antics.

“Did you sit on an ant hill or is there something you desire?” he questioned.

“Yes, I need to ask you a favor,” the boy replied, meekly.

“Speak up. What is it that you wish?” There was a definite gruffness in the mage’s voice.

“Ah,” Kieren began timidly, “I just found the most wonderful pair of boots, and I wondered if you would loan me the money to buy them. I promise I will get the money from my parents and pay you back when I return home.” Even though the wizard was eying him disapprovingly, Kieren went on to describe, in detail, the fine merits of the boots, even adding the fact that he thought ‘the boots were so soft that he could walk forever and never get a blister from them.’

Before the young man had finished relaying his tale, the enchanter began to scowl and finally cut him off. “This is not the time nor the place for such frivolity,” he snapped. “We have much business to attend to this evening, and do not have the luxury of worrying about purchasing an item of negligible worth. It is time you realized your individual desires will have to be ignored for the time being, as there are much more important issues to be dealt with.”

Crushed by this harsh admonition in front of the gathering, Kieren slunk into the background, as the elders continued their conversation. Eventually, the Steward led the party to the western side of the main building, and he informed them this was where high officials and other important guests stayed when they were in Leander.

Kieren halfheartedly followed his host, still sulking over Beraut’s rebuke. As always, Garreth and Romaric walked by his side, futilely trying to share their mate’s misery and ease his shame. Being unsuccessful in their attempt, the boys finally parted company, as they were shown to their temporary quarters. Quietly, they each slipped inside their rooms to examine the new wonders that awaited them within.

The room Kieren was given was located on the second floor, between the room designated for Beraut and the room shared by Garreth and Romaric. On the other side of Beraut’s room was King Dylan’s suite and then, farther down the hall, was General Daveel’s chamber. The remainder of the party had been housed on the other side of the hallway, in rooms on the outer wall. Those rooms were considered less desirable and, therefore, not fit for the more honored guests.

Still smarting from Beraut’s stinging scolding, Kieren slid through the entranceway to examine his temporary lodgings. Instantly, the young man forgot about the unpleasant confrontation he had experienced and turned all of his attention to the wondrous accommodations before him. He felt honored that such a luxurious place had been set aside for his use and he wondered if his companions’ rooms were as nice. This was surely the most wonderful chamber the young man had ever seen, maybe even finer than King Dylan’s sitting room, where he had first been advised he was to come on this trip. In the middle of the room was a huge canopy bed, complete with feather mattress. As he sat down on it and made himself comfortable, Kieren realized it was as fine or finer than the one he had used when he stayed with the elfin king.

On either side of the bed was a set of double windows, which he strode over to, carefully examining the splendid view of the well-manicured Inner Courtyard. As his gaze lifted upward, the lad was also able to behold the magnificent stained glass windows that lined the exterior of the Cathedral. Even in the dim light, Kieren could still appreciate the beauty of this marvelous place and he couldn’t seem to release his gaze from the wonderfully landscaped quadrangle or the colorful panes of glass, which shone in the fading light. The walled in garden was filled with well-trimmed hedges, brightly colored flowers, recently pruned trees, and a freshly mown lawn. It was a remarkable contrast to the steel gray color of the exterior of the two buildings, but it could not compare with those magnificent windows. Even from this distance, Kieren could tell the colored panes depicted images of some of the gods who were worshipped there and they seemed to add to the awesome nature of the deities.

Looking back toward the wall that contained the door leading out into the corridor, the young man spied a finely woven tapestry. It was an exquisite scene of an archer taking aim at a proud, well-proportioned stag, which was grazing at the edge of the woods. He was sure this finely made work of art was priceless, and it only enhanced the status of the room even more. What a wonderful exhilaration this brought to Kieren.

As he stood by the windows on the far side of the room, finishing his inspection of the opposite wall, Kieren heard a disturbance in the corridor. He heard voices, doors opening, and people moving about, so he strode quickly toward the doorway, to see what was going on. When he got there, there was a man about thirty-years old lying motionless on the floor, with Beraut and a couple of elfin soldiers standing over his still form. Garreth and Romaric were also coming out of their room, to see what was happening.

“Take him to my chambers, so I might question him when he comes to,” Beraut told the warriors.

“What’s going on?” Kieren asked the mage. “Who is he?”

“I don’t know much more than you do, my boy. I thought I heard a noise, so I opened my door to look out, and that’s when I saw him. I hung back in the shadows, to see what he was up to, and I watched him move from door to door.”

“That doesn’t sound very serious,” Kieren told the wizard.

“No, but it looked like he was trying to listen in to what was going on inside each room.”

“Why would he do that?”

“That’s what I intend to find out, as soon as he recovers from my stunning spell,” he told the boy, before turning to one of the other troopers.

“Please inform General Daveel that I want a guard posted at either end of this hallway from now until we leave,” he instructed him, sharply. The warrior nodded and then moved off to do as he had been ordered.

“Do you think he works for Madumda then?” Garreth asked the enchanter, but he did not get the answer he was looking for.

“There is nothing more for me to tell you, so go back to your rooms,” he told them, gently pushing them in that direction.

Stunned and confused over what had happened and what it meant, the boys reluctantly went back to their rooms. Kieren spent the next several minutes alone, considering what all of this might mean, and wondering if this incident was related to the mercenary who had been following him earlier in the day. He began to question if he had done the right thing, by not telling Beraut about that situation, but it was obviously too late to do anything about that now. Or was it? As Kieren began to debate whether he should still tell Beraut, just to be on the safe side, he eventually decided against it. He concluded Beraut would be furious at him for not mentioning it in the first place, instead of those stupid boots, and he didn’t want another confrontation with an angry wizard.

As the young man paced around the room, trying to decide what would be the best course of action, he discovered a pile of neatly folded, freshly laundered garments on a small table on the far side of the bed. Just to the other side of that, Kieren discovered a tub of water, which seemed to summon him. This would certainly take his mind off of things. Noting the steam rising from it, it was obvious it must have been prepared just before he entered the room, and Kieren was anxious to enjoy this simple luxury. Slowly, the lad peeled off the layers of clothing from his body, layers coated with the dust and debris accumulated during his travels. Having shed all of his garments, he glided across the cold stone floor and eased himself into the warm embrace of the freshly filled tub. The bathwater felt soothing, gently draining the soreness from the various parts of his body, especially the parts that were unaccustomed to bouncing up and down on a horse.

As he began to wash his body, Kieren realized he had other needs that should be tended to. Slowly he started rubbing his genitals beneath the surface of the water, and he quickly became aroused. Skillfully, he wrapped his fingers around his rigid shaft and, slowly, he began to slide it up and down. The water made his hand glide more easily than if it was dry, and Kieren was beginning to admit how much he needed this release. He began to quicken his pace now, as his body craved that pinnacle of pleasure, and there were waves radiating outward in the tub, as his hand audibly slapped in and out of the water. He was beginning to breath harder and faster now, approaching that moment when his brain would become filled with blinking stars, and he could sense his testicles being pulled closer to his body. He could feel his blood begin to boil and his juices starting to rise up his shaft, so he arched his back, stroked himself even faster, and soon the jets of creamy love juice began to erupt onto his belly and chest. He continued to flog his meat, until he had milked himself dry, and then he collapsed into the tub, until he had completely recovered. After cleaning the remains of his semen from his body, he just let his body relax in the tub, as he continued to enjoy the lingering sensations he had just produced.

The youth continued to indulge himself until the water began to cool and he began to feel chilled. That’s when he decided it was time to get out of the tub, dry his body, and dress himself in the garments that had been provided for his use. Before putting them on, however, the youth inspected these fine articles of clothing. He studied the quality and texture of the fabric and he examined the delicate stitching that connected the various pieces together. When his curiosity was satisfied, he began to dress. The outfit consisted of a royal blue pair of breeches with a matching vest, a pearl colored silk shirt, a pair of snow-white stockings, and the appropriate undergarments. As he donned the various items, he slowly uncovered a pair of deerskin boots, hidden beneath the pile of clothing. These boots were of much finer quality and construction than the pair he had examined earlier at the cobbler’s booth, and he realized now all of this had been prepared long in advance of his unfortunate altercation with Beraut. Feeling a little guilty concerning this discovery, the lad clothed himself quickly and waited, as patiently as he could, to be summoned to dinner.

Kieren tried hard to think up interesting ways to pass the time, as he began to get bored. Try as he might to find ways to ease his boredom, he was gradually losing his battle and becoming anxious, finding it hard to control his desire to see the fabled Great Hall. Suddenly, Kieren’s thoughts were interrupted, as Garreth and Romaric burst into his room, sending his heart leaping into his throat.

“Kieren, come quick,” Garreth insisted. “You’ve got to see this. They have a privy inside this building.”

“We found it at the end of the hall,” added Romaric, “when we went out to look around. I’ve never even heard of anything like this.”

Slowly Kieren began to regain his composure, and his heart began to slow back to its normal rate. “Do you think it’s safe to go off like that now, after Beraut caught that intruder in the hall?”

“Oh, don’t be silly,” Garreth told him. “There are guards at both ends of the hallway now, so we’re safe.”

Yeah, come on,” urged Romaric.

Not giving their friend any longer to calm back down, Romaric and Garreth grabbed Kieren’s arms and pulled him toward the threshold, before dragging him down the corridor. When they reached the end of the hall, the two elves directed their mate to nudge open the door to a corner room. Hesitantly, Kieren reached out and began to put pressure on the wooden barrier, until it began to glide slowly backward, exposing this new curiosity. As the door slid open, it allowed him to see the interior of this miniature compartment, and the only fixture there was one isolated stone bench. This was not a typical stone bench, however, for there was something odd about its construction. Right in the middle of the seat, where a person would sit, was hewn an elliptical opening, the purpose of which was immediately recognized by the boys.

“This is amazing,” Kieren whispered aloud. “I have never heard of a privy that isn’t a separate little building of its own.”

“Well, this sure is more convenient when you need to use it,” Romaric interjected, having overheard his friend’s comments to himself. As the trio stood there inspecting this new oddity, they heard a familiar voice address them from behind.

“I see that you have discovered one of the unique features of the castle.” The boys turned to see the wizard’s smiling face.

“The architects who designed this fine building,” Beraut continued, “devised an ingenious way to dispose of bodily wastes. They sketched their ideas and presented them to the king. He immediately liked what he saw and he commanded them to include this design in the plans for his castle. It was King Ethelbert who first called this the ‘privy room’, to distinguish it from an ordinary privy.”

“But how does it work?” Kieren wanted to know. “How do they keep the smell from coming back into the castle?”

“It’s all taken care of in the design,” Beraut responded. “Let me explain. The privy room on each level is slightly offset from the one above it, so the wastes can drop freely into the sewage ditch that runs below the dungeons. This ditch empties in the river which passes by the castle, and the sewage is then carried into the sea beyond.”

“But how do they rid themselves of the smell?” Kieren wondered.

“That is the truly ingenious part,” the magician told him. “The roof of this building is sloped in two directions. Half of it slants toward the corner above this room, while the other half slants toward another room, located at the opposite end of the building. All of the gutters on this side of the building feed into an opening above and behind the upper level privy seat. When it rains, all of the rainwater is directed into this opening and cascades down the hollow gap between the inner and outer privy room walls. This action flushes the wastes to the lowest levels and into the sewage ditch.”

“But what do they do when it doesn’t rain for a long time?” Garreth wanted to know.

“That is a very good question, my young friend. For periods when there is little or no rainfall, they have come up with another unique plan to handle this problem. During these times, the staff empties the bathwater, used in the tubs in the rooms on that level, into buckets. Then, they dump those buckets down the openings of the privy seats, as another way of cleansing the fecal material from the building. It is because of this constant flushing of the system, aided by the perfumes that are used in the bathwater, that keeps the air somewhat sweetened.” The boys flashed a quick expression of understanding.

“Not all of the odor is eliminated by this flushing process, though,” Beraut continued. “That is why there are two small windows high up on the walls of each privy room. These openings allow fresh air in and the foul odors to drift out, but this is only one of the fascinating things that you will come to learn about this place. There are many other secrets that are contained within, secrets you will learn about with the passage of time.”

“You said earlier,” Kieren, wondered, “that part of the water goes to another room, at the opposite end of the building. Is there another stack of privy rooms there, too?”

“No. The water collected on that side of the building goes into a room where it is stored in a huge stone basin,” Beraut responded. “When bathwater is needed, the servants scoop water out of this collection area, put it in large metal kettles, and heat it over a roaring fire in the oversized fireplace. This means the servants don’t have to lug bath water up the multitude of stairs to the upper floor. There is a smaller but similar room on the floor below, and they can redirect some of the water there, for use on the middle floor.”

“Amazing,” commented Romaric. “I just can’t believe someone could think up such marvelous ideas.”

At this point, Kieren looked back at the area where the mage had stunned the interloper, and he began to wonder again if he should tell Beraut about what had happened earlier in the day. He didn’t want to elicit another wrathful scolding, but if it were important, he’d have to take that chance. Thinking about this more, he decided maybe it would be best if he learned more about the intruder first, before exposing himself to another verbal chastising.

“Beraut,” Kieren interrupted, changing the focus of the discussion, “who was that man you stunned in the hallway?” Beraut studied his young ward, trying to gauge the extent of the lad’s concern.

“We shall discuss this later,” he finally told him, “but there is nothing for you to be worried about. I have gleaned some information from the intruder, but for now, it is only a minor concern.”

The teenager was just about to question the wizard further, when a young page appeared. The boy looked a little nervous at first, but finally he summoned the courage to address the others. “My name is Seth,” he announced, “and I have been sent to show you to the hall where you will dine.”

Kieren carefully inspected the boy, who was probably a little more than half his own age. The youth had sandy hair, cut straight across his forehead, and the rest falling limply toward his billowy shirt, where it was trimmed evenly above his large, ruffled collar. He was also dressed in knee-high pants and long white stockings. After this visual examination, Kieren realized how grateful he was to see him. He was beginning to feel acute hunger pangs and the appearance of this lad meant they would be eating soon. “Yes, I’m more than ready to eat,” Kieren announced, with the others readily agreeing.

After stopping by General Daveel and King Dylan’s room, they all eagerly followed the page’s lead down a series of corridors. It seemed as though the route this young fellow was guiding them along was a constant maze of twists and turns. Without question, they continued to follow their pint-sized guide on this zigzag course, until they were standing beneath a mammoth arch of the double doorway that led into the fabled hall. They waited excitedly for the portal to be opened, so they could witness the splendor of the Great Hall for themselves. As the giant doors swung outward, Kieren and the others had to step back, before they were able to pass through the entranceway. The boys were barely able to breathe as they looked around the storied room. Suddenly, so many wonderful sights confronted them that they didn’t know which to study first.

There were displays of battleaxes, shields, and other armor hung on various sections of the wall. They were tastefully interspersed with several large, ornate tapestries and a multitude of fine paintings. When the boys had finished examining these displays, Kieren lifted his eyes to examine the vaulted ceiling, which loomed many feet above the floor. It crisscrossed the upper chamber with a plethora of elaborately carved beams, with various coats-of-arms attached at regular intervals. When he tired of looking at this, the young man let his gaze fall to the freshly waxed parquet floor, which shone like glass beneath his feet. Upon this fine floor stood three extremely large tables, set and ready for dinner. These tables were arranged in the shape of a large triangle, so the diners could see the various others in attendance.

Kieren continued to absorb the magnificence of this splendid room, until Beraut summoned him to be seated. His was placed at the head table, which he thought odd. His seat was located between those of Beraut and his two young friends. The other tables quickly filled with the other guests and soon an army of servants poured out of the kitchen. The first wave of domestics brought vast assortments of fresh fruits and vegetables and large pitchers of a deep red wine. Then came the next surge, ladling soup from large ceramic tureens carried by a caravan of teenage boys. The group was followed by a bevy of maidens, carrying a multitude of baskets filled with freshly baked bread and rolls. These were placed at various intervals along each of the tables.

Serving girls were also busily running back and forth, from table to table, refilling the diners’ goblets with wine. Without slowing down, they would continue this frantic ritual throughout the remainder of the meal.

The meats came next, carried out on large platters by big, broad-chested men. There was a roast boar, served with an apple in its mouth, fresh venison, roast duck, roast pheasant, and a large pile of beef. This came from a freshly slaughtered cow, specially raised and fed in the royal herd, and it had been cooked sparingly over an open fire, before it was left to soak in its own juices. There was so much food that Kieren soon found himself stuffed from just sampling the assortment and, when he thought he could hold no more, out popped more of the serving staff, carrying new delights.

This time the servants were bearing an assortment of pastries. There were cakes, pies, and a selection of sweet rolls; some filled or topped with jam, and this was the finishing touch to the formal banquet. As the last of the help offered their goods, a young man, just a few years older than Kieren, strode into the hall to entertain the guests.

Romaric and Garreth immediately recognized him and relayed the story of their meeting to Kieren. As Daimon began his first song, the guests hastily ended their conversations and began to enjoy the melodic voice and the soft sweet sounds of his instrument. The two young elves, who were excited by the thought they had met up with Daimon once again, waved coyly at the minstrel and tried to gain his attention. Unaware of their efforts, the troubadour continued to play song after song, some of which the duo had heard earlier in the day. Finally, Daimon caught sight of them at the head table and the surprise quickly registered on his face. Astounded at seeing the two elves in such distinguished company, Daimon regained his composure and continued to play on. He briefly wondered why they would be present at such an occasion, but quickly decided this gathering was probably to form a new craft guild. He concluded the boys were here to be accepted as novices into the trade, whatever it was, and that they were probably the sons of some influential elves. Once in a while, Daimon would give a special wink to them, but he never faltered in his performance. After completing each of his tunes, he would receive a hearty round of applause from the gathering, in recognition of his talent, but many of them would toss a coin or two in his direction as well. Occasionally, he would also be offered a drink from one of the guests, to give him an opportunity to moisten his throat and take a short breather before he moved on to his next set.

The clean-up crews were now removing the last of the leftovers and dirty dishes from the tables as Garreth and Romaric disclosed the details of their previous meeting with the musician to Beraut. Then they offered to introduce Kieren to him, as soon as they found an opportunity. Everyone in the hall flung themselves back into their well-cushioned chairs to relax, unable to hold another morsel, and they continued to listen to the fine music. As they allowed their food to digest and the servants set about straightening the hall, many of the men were lighting up pipes, enjoying an after dinner smoke. The room fell into a trance-like stupor, caused by the combination of good food, good song, and good drink. The only noise that could be heard was that of the musical bard and the movement of the work crews shuffling across the floor. Kieren took this opportunity to glance over the assemblage and observe the order in which they had been seated.

Beraut and his three young wards sat at the table located near the front wall, and were joined by the Elf King and General Daveel. At the table to Kieren’s right sat the dwarf representatives, and at the table to the left sat an assortment of men representing the various segments of Tarolian population. As Kieren sat thinking about the different races and the many differences that separated them, he couldn’t help but wonder how so many dissimilar groups could become united in such a venture. Madumda’s threat, he conjectured, must be even mightier than he first supposed, to force such alliances, as could be found in this arena.

When the musician had rendered his last arrangement, the boys became aware that the bustle within the room had also ceased. The servants had finished their jobs long ago but the music had concealed their activities. When he was done, Daimon quickly retrieved his compensation, the coins which were scattered about the floor, and left, but not before bowing one last time to his audience. After the musician made his exit, Kieren noticed all of the doors leading into the room were being closed. Finally, the dinner guests found themselves alone in the Great Hall. Pushing his chair back from the head table, Beraut rose and began to address those still remaining.

“My dear friends and fellow countrymen,” he began, “I believe you all realize why we are met in this hallowed place. I will only briefly explain some of the information that you may be lacking. As you know, the old fox, Madumda, is gathering his armies at Treblanc, readying them for an attack on our collective forces. His armies, however, are straggling to his stronghold and do not seem to deem the need for haste. This, therefore, is providing us with dearly needed time to make our preparations. We have, though you may not know it, two plans to prepare. The first plan will be for the combining of our forces before we march northward to encounter our adversary. The second plan is for a mission of great secrecy. It is into this latter plan that we will delve first.”

Kieren noticed the expressions on many of the other guests’ faces change, as they seemed to be confused about this secret mission. They were obviously aware of the potential battle, but anything beyond that seemed new to them. Expectantly, they gave their attention back to the wizard, so he could clear up their confusion. However, before he could begin, the door to the kitchens burst open again, but this time an elfin warrior strode through it, followed by two others, each with their sword pointing into the side of one of the burly serving men who had carried some of the meats in earlier.

“Excuse the interruption, Master Beraut,” the first soldier began, “but your precautions were justified. We just caught this man trying to listen to your conversation through the serving door, after the others had left.”

Beraut gave the man a very intense look, as if he was trying to read his mind, but then he looked at the elfin guard. “Have him taken to my quarters, with the other man, and I will question him further when I return.” After that, Beraut turned to speak to Nathar. “My dear Steward, may I have King Dylan’s troopers inform your men that I want a guard posted two meters in front of each door leading into this hall?”

Nathar was quite flustered by this breech in his security, and began to stutter. “B...b…b…but of c…c…course,” he managed to get out, so the wizard nodded toward the elves and sent them on their way.

After the elves had left, it took a while for things to quiet back down. People were whispering to one another, about everything that had just taken place, trying to share information and making conjectures about what the serving man was up to. Giving them time to get this out of their systems, the enchanter began to signal everyone to be seated and quiet down. Once this was accomplished, he continued.

“There is now a mission to be undertaken, and I would like to give you the details of that now. With the destruction of King Orthilue and his family, Madumda’s commander, Moustapha, captured our talisman and took it back to his master. Once the Dark Lord had this within the walls of Treblanc, he felt he was safe and he did everything within his power to make sure our talisman couldn’t be used against him any longer.

“Although all of you have been told, at one time or another, about the prophecy concerning Madumda’s eventual destruction, none of you, except for King Dylan of the Elves and myself, has known of the missing piece of the puzzle. An heir of Ethelbert has survived and eluded Madumda’s bloody sword, and it is time for this heir, leading a small party of warriors, to go and recover that long lost talisman.”

There were multiple gasps heard around the room and the guests began to stir, then everything went deathly silent again. After things quieted, Beraut continued his address. “This heir has grown up, under cover of the Woods of Wildoness and under the protection of the elfin people.”

There was more whispering now, as everyone scanned the room, to see if that individual might be present. When they failed to find anyone who they thought might be the one, they turned their attention back to the mage. “I believe this is the time to introduce this person to you.” Everyone began to look expectantly toward the wizard, as if they were waiting someone to come striding into the room. Instead, the mage turned to his right, held out his arm in Kieren’s direction, and spoke. “May I introduce to you Kieren, descendent of King Ethelbert and possibly the next to sit on his throne?”

As soon as this announcement was made, Kieren and his two friends reacted to the news. They were all amazed by what Beraut had just said, because he had never offered to explain why Kieren was needed on this mission, but now it all began to click into place. Still stunned by this pronouncement, the two elves just stared at their friend, with their mouths agape. Silently they each began to wonder how they could have known him all this time without realizing he might be a future king.

On the other hand, Kieren’s heart had nearly stopped beating and his head began to swim with all the questions this generated. ‘I’m an heir to Ethelbert and possibly the next to sit on the throne? Will I have to leave my family for good now? Is this why Beraut told me I would be needed here?’

Kieren’s breathing was rapid and shallow at this point, and his heart was pounding in his chest. His mind was continuing to fly through all the implications, when something else the enchanter said popped into his head. ‘Wait, did the mage also say I would have to go to Madumda’s stronghold to find something?’

During the time all of these thoughts were going through his head, the wizard had been trying to get the lad to rise, so everyone in the hall could see him. However, these attempts had been unsuccessful, until Beraut grasped the young man’s arm and began to pull him to his feet. Red-faced and trembling, Kieren finally managed to rise from his seat, only to be greeted by the tumultuous thunder of applause made by this small gathering. Unaccustomed to such attention, Kieren was embarrassed by his introduction and the ovation, and he felt the blood draining from his head. He was just about ready to sit down again, when his legs grew shaky, his knees began to buckle, and his head began to swoon, and then suddenly he collapsed. Beraut reached out in an effort to break his fall, but he was too slow to help the teen. Romaric, on the other hand, did manage to at least keep his friend’s head from smashing into the arm of his chair, and was able to support Kieren’s weight until the others could help him. Lovingly, he, Garreth, and Beraut then managed to place Kieren back into his seat, and then the wizard began to tend to the unconscious youth.

Though no one saw where he retrieved it from, Beraut produced a substance that he held under Kieren’s nose, and the boy shook his head in response, reacting to the pungent smell and working his way back to consciousness. Once the cobwebs in his mind had cleared, Beraut whispered something in his ear, before turning back to address those assembled.

“I hope you will forgive the lad. Until a few days ago, he didn’t even know he was coming here with us, but he seems to be fine now.”

While everyone else in the hall was murmuring, King Dylan nudged the wizard, seeking his attention. Once the enchanter acknowledged him, the King began to whisper his question. “Shouldn’t we send Kieren back to his room to rest.”

“No, I’m afraid recent events have proven this place is not as safe as I would have hoped, so I want him here, near me, until it is time for him and the others to depart.” The King nodded in understanding, while the enchanter turned backed to address the next item on his agenda.

Even though Kieren was able to listen to what the wizard said, his mind was somewhere else. His thoughts were consumed by other things, like why his parents hadn’t told him about any of this. Could it be they didn’t know either? No, they must have known. His mother had told him they knew this MIGHT happen, and Kieren realized she must have known all along! And what was it that his father began to tell him? Something about waiting until he had reached adulthood before they could tell him? And didn’t he also say Beraut and King Dylan had both asked he not to be told about his heritage? Kieren was growing angry at the mere thought of these things. Didn’t he have a right to know about this before now?

The more he thought about this, the more upset he became. The trouble was, his parents weren’t there for him to lash out at. They were the ones who had kept him in the dark and they were the ones treating him like a small child, and when he returned home, he was going to have it out with them. He wanted to scream out right then, but fortunately he remembered the enchanter was continuing his address, so he stifled this impulse. Although Kieren would only remember a little of what was to take place from this point on, he did try to listen. However, his preoccupation over having been left in the dark until now won out.

“We must now select from among you,” Beraut told the audience, “those who will accompany Kieren upon this journey. I have already granted permission for two young elves to be included in the group. It was not because of their strength or their skill as warriors that I have permitted their inclusion, but it was because of their love and devotion to Kieren. These qualities might well prove beneficial on this journey, so I would like for you to meet them. Romaric and Garreth, will you please rise?”

The two young elves looked at each other and then at Beraut, before slowly rising to their feet. They had not changed their minds about accompanying their childhood friend on his mission, but both were a bit embarrassed by the attention they were now receiving. The young elves had no idea of the significance of the adventure they had previously volunteered for, and felt this time maybe they should have remained silent back in Aurelia. With what they knew now, each of them realized Kieren would have been better off with two mighty elfin warriors to protect him, instead of them, and they would never forgive themselves, if their inclusion caused the mission to fail or cost Kieren his life. Unfortunately, it was too late for these thoughts now, so they just sat back to observe the remaining selections to this little band.

At this point, Beraut began to solicit volunteers from among those assembled. The various representatives had been advised before they journeyed to Leander that their bravest warriors might be needed for a special project, so they had all come prepared. The first to volunteer was Alaric, a river elf. He was very large for his race, and obviously a very skilled warrior, and his impressive stature helped to allay Garreth and Romaric’s doubts about having volunteered their services previously.

After that, the dwarfs volunteered three of their own - Sedain, Quintain, and Doenilio. They were each a little over a meter tall, which is characteristic of their race, and had very rough and rugged appearances. They were also very powerfully built, seasoned in battle, and you could sense the ferociousness of their nature.

The next volunteers were gleaned from the independent northern city-states. There were three very distinct factions from amongst this area, and it was easy to distinguish each group from the others by the dissimilarity in their garb and by the different physical characteristics noticeable in their features. The first volunteer was Hadwin, from Nardin. He was a very pale-skinned, dark-haired warrior, dressed in pale earth tones, which gave him an almost ghost-like appearance. He was about average height, for a man, but he was very broadly built, not fat - but not skinny either, which was a common trait for Nardinians.

The next to join the group were two Mitikuans, Selvaggio and Turquinine. These were two giants among men, who stood at least two meters tall, and the reddish hue of their skin contrasted nicely to the black attire they almost always wore.

The last to become part of this special force was Rhys, from Akikta. He was very dark-skinned and dressed in light, flowing materials, which seemed to be a contradiction with his impressive stature. His height fell between that of the warriors from Nardin and Mitiku, but he was no less impressive as a fighter.

As the different members of this newly formed group examined each other, Beraut spoke again. “I will also join this company, but at a later date. When the preparations for battle have been completed, I will journey to Thorold with King Brolin and join Kieren and his companions on the second leg of the venture. While we are separated, you must heed my warnings. Remember, all of you, to always to be watchful and vigilant. Take nothing for granted and do not judge anything to be harmless. Above all else, you must protect Kieren. He alone remains our only hope of destroying my misguided brother. Never forget, Madumda has many spies abroad and the road is filled with other dangers not of his making. Therefore, you must remain attentive at all times and trust only in yourselves.”

With this, the party had been completed, twelve members in all. There were two wood elves and a river elf, four men from the three northern cities, and three dwarfs. There was also Kieren, who represented Leander and central Tarolia, and the mage, Beraut, who signified the occult and the good that remained of the Council of Wizards. The total group represented all of the major factions of Tarolian life, and the destiny of the land was intertwined with this small band’s ability to successfully carry out its mission.

“The future of the kingdom may depend on your success,” Beraut told the newly selected group, “so God’s speed and good fortune to you all.” The wizard now stepped toward Kieren and gave him a mighty hug, which sent up a thunderous round of cheers that swept through the Great Hall, as the gathering recognized the long-lost heir to the Tarolian throne.

When the excitement had finally died down, Beraut looked out upon his audience and smiled. “My friends, it is late and we must all get some rest. I suggest you all retire, straightaway. Fare-thee-well and pleasant dreams.”

Slowly the murmuring in the hall began again, as people pushed their chairs away from the various tables. Beraut told the boys to stay put, as he used this time to say a personal good night to some of the other guests. When he had finished making his rounds, Beraut made his way over to the trio and spoke to them. “I will walk you back to your chambers, but I would like for you,” he said, indicating Garreth and Romaric, “ to stay with Kieren until I am able to join you again later. I have other news to share with him, but first I have other matters to tend to.”

Kieren, Garreth, and Romaric nodded their understanding and agreement, before they got up and followed the wizard out of the hall and back to their rooms. Once they got to Kieren’s door, the three youths entered his room and bolted the door behind them, as they had been told to do.