The Gathering Storm

The sun crept over the shadows of the black forest, illuminating the ancient ground. Meanwhile the metallic clacks of Jerald’s pacing feet echoed from the throne room. His face showed no emotion, yet his eyes darted randomly. Sitting down, Jerald emitted a low sigh, which shook the foundation of his shabby beard.

Merlin entered the room, yet before he could respond Jerald’s booming voice pierced through the silence. “Merlin, what the hell is going on? The sun has crept over the great horizon and my scouts have not returned. I grow weary of this dim light, my friend.”

Shaking his head, Merlin spoke. “I see you caught little rest, my friend.”

“Sleep is overrated. Your rest plenty when your are dead.”

“Unless restlessness drives you to death, then you’d die restless.”

Jerald’s eyes shot up, his lips holding back a grimace. “I appreciate the support, my friend, yet now’s not the time. I have too much mental strife to force a laugh.”

Merlin shrugged, “Then I guess it will please you to know Kajob has returned.”

“Is he the only one?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Send him in”

Merlin hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “My lord, before I send him in, you must promise me something. You must promise not to kill him.”

Jearld’s eyes rolled, his voice emitting a rough rapture. “The bastard used magic, didn’t he?”
“It’s possible...”

“I figured as much, I could sense such naivety reverberating through his physic. And yet if he is the only scout to return, punishment is an inevitable pitfall. “

Shaking his head, Merlin interrupted the king. “My friend, I said don’t kill him. That doesn’t mean you can’t mess him up good.”

Chuckling, Jerald responded. “Although that does sound appealing, I would rather not take the chance of alienating our people with such
action. Kajob after all is a member of the devvort house, the same house that resisted my rule over Millennia ago. I do not, in any circumstance, wish to bring those differences to light.

“What is your plan then?”

“Keep my friends close, and my enemies closer. Send the bastard in.”

Moments later Kajob kneeled before the king, his eyes fixated on the ground beneath his own feat. Silence echoed in the dim room, until at last the King spoke. “So, Kajob, what is your report?”

Kajob glanced up. “I engaged the savages near the boarder of the forest, a dozen or so of the brutes where traveling together. I presume they themselves had formed a scouting party, yet when I engaged them they spoke not our native language. As such, hostilities where unavoidable. They encircled me, leaving no possible escape route. The aggressor’s blade reeked of foul poison, and I presumed it would have been fatal to the touch. As such, I decided to smite the savage then and there. The rest of the mob then fled into the thicket.”

Jerald’s ice-cold gaze continued to stare through Kajobs soul, waiting for him to continue, although no further sound came for Kajob. At last the King shook his head. “Anything else Kajob, anything at all?”

Silence followed the remark, as Kajob’s eyes refocused on the floor. Sensing no response, the king continued. “So you didn’t use magic to kill the savages?” Kajob shifted uncomfortably. “Answer me!”

“It was necessary”

“Bullshit. Your little stunt has forced me to show my hand, and since you didn’t slay all of the savages that witnessed your stunt, I now have to organize our military to finish your half-assed job. “

Kajob stood up, outraged. “My lord if I hadn’t used magic, I would have died.”

“Maybe so, yet we will never know now will we? Lucky for your sorry ass I believe in second chances. You will lead the mobilization effort and the raiding party. The same rules apply, and if you fuck up this time I will have your head on a platter. Do I make myself clear?”

Kajob studdered, dumfounded. “Yes my lord.”

“Good. Report back to me when the raiding party is ready to go. Now get the hell out of here before I change my mind.”

As Kajob scampered out of the room, Jerald’s voice rose one more time. “Merlin, get the hell in here. “ Merlin re-entered the room grinning wildely.

“Well that sounded productive.”

“Your sarcastic humor is not necessary at the moment, Merlin. I need you to summon Henrick.”

“For what reason?”

“It doesn’t concern you does it? Just do it.”

“You don’t have to be so touchy about…”

“Get the hell…”

“As you wish.”

Seconds later Henrick stood before the king, his head bowed in humbleness. “My lord, I meant not to cross you earlier… if that is why I stand before you know I apologize sincerely.”

Jerald shook his head, responding in kind. “Your prior actions are of no concern to me. Let me bring you up to speed. As you probably remember, I had assembled the scouts. Unfortunately only one of those scouts returned. I have decided to assemble a raiding party to deal a first strike in an attempt to drive the savages from our boarders.”

“My lord, although I apologize for disagreeing with you prior, I still stand by my previouse…”

“That’s is why I wish you to oversee the operation.”

“My lord, why would I agree to oversee an operation that I disagree with?”

“Because, Henrick, we both share the same goals, you and I: peace.

“How do you plan on supporting peace with blood?”

“With you. War is inevitable, yet it must be contained. Unfortunately, as you are aware, the current circumstances have given me no choice but to let Kajob oversee this movement. I need someone to keep him in line. I trust that someone is you.”

“My lord, you are asking for me to take a gamble, a chance I am not sure our people can afford to make.”

“And yet if you refuse to take it, our venture is already at a loss.”

Henrick nodded, “What do you ask of me?”

“Report to Kajob, tell him that your are to accompany him. Make sure this war doesn’t become an epidemic.”

“As you wish.” Henrick left the room without any further comment. As the steal door swung open, Merlin entered the room to take his place.

Sighing Jerald motioned for Merlin, “My friend, may I apologize for my harsh remarks previously. It has been quite the evening.”

“Quite.”

“Now we must let the seeds fall where they may.”

“My lord, my friend, I mean not to pry, yet do you think it wise to let Kajob lead these developments?”

“What other choice do I have? When news of Kajob’s encounter spreads, he shall be witnessed as a hero, making him nearly untouchable. “

“True, yet he disobeyed your orders. He can not be trusted.”

“And that is why I have appointed Henrick to oversee the operation from the shadows.”

“Yet do you think it wise to have two individuals from the same house working together?”

“Henrick is loyal to our people, not the house of devvon.”

“Yes, and that’s the problem. If war is inevitable, as you claim, we cannot afford inner strife and civil war. Your actions easily create the kindling for such conflict. “

“Yet what would you have me do in its stead? Any other actions would be greeted as an insult to both Kajob and my people.”

Shaking his head, Merlin responded. “Circumstances have set us up to fall. I only hope we can catch ourselves before that point of no return.”

“Hope is all we have, yet I fear hope itself is not enough.”

“Your fears are not alone, my king. You fears are not alone.”