The Reverie - Part 6

In all of Haliden, the place left with the most visible scars from the broken ties between realms was Redmoor.

Cobblestone streets and quaint brick homes were weathered and crumbling. Soldiers walked in groups throughout the streets, while guards kept watch from the tops of the stone walls surrounding the city. Old and new blended as cars drove in and out of the medieval gates.

In the center of the fortified capital stood the formidable castle, its black flags marked with a red dragon atop each towering spire.

The afternoon sun beat down on the castle courtyard as crowds began to trickle through the gates.

A notice had been posted in the city square announcing the scheduled trial of a traitor. While the message was written as a public notice, citizens knew otherwise. Every resident of Haliden was ordered to witness the execution of those found to possess magical abilities or those who supported Asherath. It was meant as an example to keep Haliden from rebelling against the crown and from ever hoping to unite with the realm beyond the stone walls.

Unbeknownst to the guards on watch throughout the grounds, a grate in the darkened corner of the castle wall hung slightly ajar.

The enormous courtyard of the castle was crammed with citizens of all ages, while a set of giant gallows stood in the center, waiting for the trial to take place. The people looked around grimly, wondering what victims would be brought forth by the volatile king.

Drums echoed in the air, hushing the crowd as the procession of the king arrived with great pomp and pageantry to stand on the dais erected against the castle wall. The citizens clapped when directed by the guards’ commands, adding to the happy façade of a united kingdom.

The low hood around Valora’s face did nothing to quell her nerves that she might be recognized by some of the guards who had dragged Caleb away. She stood beside Galien, one hand gripping the knife beneath her cloak.

“I never thought I’d stand in Haliden this close to the king himself,” she whispered, watching him smile and wave at his unhappy people. “Was he always like this?”

Galien leaned closer to whisper, “No. From what I’ve heard, there was once a strong alliance between him and the queen. It was the thirst for power that changed him.” He took her by the elbow and moved them closer to the gallows. “Now his only loyalty is to himself and the creatures that do his bidding.”

Valora scanned the crowd to see how the others were moving into position around the courtyard, ready to attack the guards at Berold’s signal.

The swiftguard couldn’t help but notice the faces of Redmoor’s people—families holding each other close, eyes wary of the soldiers surrounding the courtyard. She recognized the grief in them. She had felt it when her father was killed, and again when her mother’s heartache took her life shortly after. These people had seen friends and family slain, helpless to stop a tyrannical ruler. Determination flared inside her—not just to save Caleb, but to save the realms from more pain and grief. She hoped her parents would be proud of her—small as she felt—but standing with others to change the course of history.

The king held up his arms for silence before speaking loudly. “Bring the traitor forth!”

He sat on his throne with a smirk, watching as guards shoved Caleb through the crowd and up the steps of the gallows, where he stumbled and landed with a grunt.

Valora grimaced at the sight of his bruised face and bound hands. She would have faced the same fate if he hadn’t sacrificed himself, though he had only just met her.

“You have been found guilty of sympathizing with Asherath, a known enemy of our realm,” the king began. “Tell me where the reverie is, and I will show you leniency.”

The soldiers around Caleb hauled him from the ground to face the pompous king, but he lifted his chin and refused to speak.

With a wave of his hand, one of the guards punched Caleb in the side, sending him crashing to the ground. The king laughed. “Your stubbornness will only prove painful. I will have the location of the reverie before the sun goes down. You may as well give them up.”

“No.”

King Torvius leaned forward. “What did you say to me?”

Caleb pushed himself up to look him in the eye. “I said no.” He stood defiantly, though he was weak from the beating. “How many lives will be taken to satisfy your hunger for power? Women, children—it doesn’t matter to you. You’re a worthless ruler who’s afraid of anything good. I don’t care what you do to me! I will not surrender another life to your hands!”

When Torvius smiled again, it was with barely contained rage. “Then I will place my judgment.”

“Let him go!”

Torvius looked across the crowd. “Who said that?”

Another voice shouted, “He’s done nothing wrong!”

“Free him!”

The king sprang from his throne. “Quiet!”

The crowd shouted louder, openly defying his order.

“Stop this! I say what happens to traitors!” His face turned red with fury.

The shouts continued. “We stand with Asherath!”

Torvius paced from one end of the dais to the other, pointing at the rebels. “You think the queen will save you? Where are your friends from the other realm now?”

An arrow shot over the people and struck the center of the throne. When everyone turned to see where it came from, Berold leapt onto an idle wagon and tossed his cloak aside, revealing the colors of Asherath.

“The queen sends her regards.”

The king’s eyes widened. “Guards! Seize him!”

Valora and Galien tossed aside their cloaks, and guards all over the courtyard did the same.

When Berold charged toward the gallows, the entire courtyard erupted in shouts and fighting between the soldiers of Haliden and Asherath.

Leaping up the stairs, Valora and Galien helped push back the soldiers and cut the binds from Caleb.

Caleb nodded in appreciation. “I need a weapon.”

Galien’s eyebrows rose. “You fight?”

“It’s been a while, but I’m sure it’ll come back to me.”

Galien laughed and passed him a short sword from his back. “We’re all fighters in the face of death.”

Valora, Galien, and Caleb fought back-to-back against the soldiers of Haliden while Berold battled a unit protecting the king.

As the battle raged on, more soldiers were subdued by the warriors of Asherath, men and creatures of many different races fighting alongside the citizens long kept in bondage within the walls of Redmoor.

Overwhelmed by the crowd of angry people, the soldiers of Haliden surrendered and laid down their weapons. Even those protecting the king realized they were no match for those fighting for freedom.

Considering how quickly their surrender came, Valora couldn’t help but wonder if they, too, longed for freedom from their wrathful king.

When the last of the guards around Valora had thrown down their weapons, she watched in surprise as the king fled the dais, shoving people aside to escape.

Berold shouted for his guards to follow him as he chased after Torvius.

The king forced his way out of the courtyard, yelling for archers to fire upon the soldiers of Asherath.

Though the archers raised their bows, no arrows flew.

Berold shouted up to them, “If you wish for freedom, join us! Haliden and Asherath do not have to live as enemies!”

The remaining soldiers and archers lowered their weapons and allowed them to pass, charging after the mad king.

Valora and the others stopped beside Berold, who stood a short distance from an exasperated Torvius—now resigned to his fate. Though he knew there was no overcoming them, he drew his sword and pointed it at Berold.

“You’ve ruined everything!” Torvius screamed.

Valora stared at the man, noticing his crazed smile and reddened eyes.

“I should be the one to hold the power of the reverie! I’m the king!” He shook his head and laughed maniacally. “It should only be me!”

Valora stood with her mouth agape, stunned by the king’s descent into madness.

Pacing the street like a caged animal, Torvius continued his tirade. “Everything I’ve done, everything I’ve built, will be weakened in an alliance with Asherath. Don’t you understand what the power of the reveries can really do? They have the power to make an entire realm invincible! That’s why Agrath wants them.”

Berold replied, “An alliance would strengthen, not weaken, Torvius. The only weakness is your hunger for power. Unlike you, the queen has no desire for invincibility; she desires unity.”

Torvius scoffed. “You’ve deluded yourself if you believe that! I will never be allies with her. I’ve sought alliances of my own, sacrificing many of my best warriors to reach the Isle of Chaos. I’ve even worked with that idiotic beast!”

A low growl rumbled from the shadows of an alley behind the king. He whirled around just in time to see Kroor stalking slowly out of the darkness.

“Kroor, my friend!” Torvius laughed nervously. “Pay no attention to what I said. I didn’t mean it—it was just nonsense.”

The hound continued forward, baring its massive fangs in reply.

When the king realized he could not deter Kroor’s attack, he looked at Berold. “Do something! You can’t allow a ruler of the realm to be struck down by a stupid hound!”

Kroor snarled and swiped his paw at Torvius, sending him hurtling to the ground.

Valora watched, thinking it resembled a cat toying with a mouse.

Berold only shook his head. “This is your own doing. Asherath will wash its hands of you—as will the citizens of Haliden who seek a better life, a life you have denied them.”

With that, the warrior of Asherath turned and walked away, Valora and the others following close behind.

It was when Valora glanced over her shoulder that she saw the screaming king lock eyes with Kroor, transforming into nothing more than a disgraced statue of ice forever frozen in cowardice and rage.

“The king was foolish for thinking a beast from the Isle was stupid,” Galien said. “Those monsters are the most cunning and brutal of all the realms. They would never have honored an alliance. Even without us, he was doomed to fail.”

The hound disappeared once more into the shadows, back to the dreaded Isle of Chaos, where Valora hoped he would remain.

A cry overhead drew her attention to the sky, where she recognized the brilliant golden feathers of Kirro soaring toward the castle.

She arrived just in time to see Abby, Ben, and Danielle dismount from the great eagle’s back and run to embrace Caleb.

“You’re all alright?” Caleb took a moment to hold each one of them, relief washing over his face when he saw they were unharmed.

Valora stood still, watching the family, grateful to have played a part in saving them.

“You did it,” Galien said beside her.

Her eyes found his, and she couldn’t help but smile. “We did it.”

He grinned and pulled her toward the others standing beside Kirro.

Before Valora could even speak, Abby pulled her into a bone-crushing hug. For the first time since her parents had passed, Valora felt hope and a kinship that reached beyond the village of Swiftguards, forming friendships that would last for years to come.