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• IV: Sovereign of Blood

Raphael stood in silence as he watched the gathered men in front of him discourse over the table that they were gathered around. Some 9 men, all high ranking nobles and generals, were basically discussing the future of the land of Druen.. Where as the King stood at the head of the table in silence, listening to the men plan out campaigns, troop movements and other things using the map that was etched on the table before them, moving various tokens that represented the legions of men under their rule.

He couldn't help let out a bored sigh, his presence in the room was merely a formality. Being 18, soon to be 19, he was the youngest in the room, though why he was brought into these meeting he didn't know. Granted, despite his younger age, he was given command of his own squad of troops under the esteem Pathfinder’s guild. A special branch of the military with training to deal with Fey and other wild and mythical creatures. However, after the fall of the “Age of Heroes” some 20 years ago, such creatures were rare if not extinct, and often times the Pathfinders were called to take care of rouges and other dissidents that tried to capitalized on some of the weaker villagers fears of Feys.

A soft knocking drew him out of his thoughts as he watched an aid go to the meeting room's door. The aid talked in a hushed whisper with one of the guards and after receiving a piece of paper quietly closed the door. The aid quickly went to the table and tapped one of the General's shoulders, getting his attention away from the map. The General, Sir Bradley Colten, leaned over so that the aid could whisper in his ear and took the note that had just came in. Raphael watched as Sir Colten unfolded the note and noticed the grizzly man's eyebrows raise as he read it in silence. The man simply folded the paper back up and slipped it in a pocket as he went back to the conversation that barely noticed the small commotion.

All except one man.

King Tyrril raised his hand and the discussions quickly died down, leaving the room in an almost eerie silence. “So...” the King finally said “Tell me Lord Colten, what word did you just receive?” Sir Colten remained in a slight daze as he studied the map before him, only being brought out of it by the King barking at him “COLTEN!”

“Errr... Apologies my lord.” the old general said apologetically. “It was a report from one of our spies on the outskirts of the kingdom. Really, its more or less a minor issue that doesn't require any actual attention.”

“Yet... it was important enough to be brought to your attention during our meeting.” the King's voice remain calm, yet there was an underlining coldness with a hint of irritation in his voice that made Raphael shiver slightly.

“Ahhh... Yes...” the general's face grimaced slightly before he continued. “The report states that, ah...” Colten's voice trailed off for a moment as he tried to find the best way to tell the men around him. Clearing his throat, he continued. “A wolf has been sighted near the town of Den...”

“A WOLF? REALLY?...” One of the men balked

“What happen?” Another spoke up, “Did a big bad wolf steal one of their sheep?” a round of laughter erupted from all but 3 of the gathered men.”

“As a matter of fact...” Colten hesitantly stated “It apparently did...”

The same 6 men started to laugh their heads off.

“Oh how the mighty hunters has fallen.”

“Is this the type of Intel that the Pathfinder spies look for?”

“Oh be careful, the big bad wolf might steal more sheep.”

The men continued to laugh, chide, and just flat out make fun of both the message and Colton. They continued for quite a bit, failing to notice the sound of the steady growl coming from their king.

“ENOUGH!”

In one swift motion the King struck out, backhanding the nearest noble and send the man flying with surprising strength. “The next man who makes a sound with out being directly spoken to will find his head separated from his neck!” The King looked at each of the gathered nobles with a stern look. One, a large and pompous made a slight whimper of fear as the king stared them all down. In an instant, a flash of metal sliced through the air and soon after, the noble's body slumped to the floor, the head rolling away. Two of the sentries came in hearing their king's threat and the fall of the body. With out a word they grabbed the dead body out the door while a 3rd went after the head.

“Now...” the king said in an alarmingly calm voice, as if nothing had happened as he sheathed his sword. “Where were we? Ah... Yes, the report.” the king leaned into the table and looked over the carved out map of his kingdom. “Where did this happened? This village, this... Den?”

Colten looked at the table for a brief moment before pointing out a small carving of a hut. “Here sire.” The hut which represented the town was in what would be the north east of the kingdom. Near enough to several trade routs to both other villages and other neighboring kingdoms. It was close enough to the water that a small representation of a dock was there, perhaps a 30 walk by foot to get to the village. But despite its location to the trade routs, the town held no strategic value. It was too far north for any army to really bother with, then add the hills to the west and what could be cliffs to the north east with some of the winding trade routs going through both.

However, this wasn't what the King was looking at.

The king studied the map in silence. The remaining men stood still, not wanting to irritate their lord anymore than necessary. Raphael followed the king's gaze and spotted what the monarch was looking at. It was an expansive forest sitting to the southeast of the village model. The forest was one of the largest on the map, looking like someone dumped green ink on the table and failed to clean it up. It ran below the cliffs and water to the north and even stretched some below the village to the south. As it traveled east it grew in size and ended at the table, which meant that the forest continued well into the neighboring kingdom.

“Has Den paid their Fey Tax?”

One of the other more portly men cleared his throat after a moment of silence. “I'm afraid at this moment, Lord Presley would of known the answer to that, but I'm afraid that he's no longer with us...”

“Then I'd suggest that you have his replacement find out soon or else there will be more joining him.”

“My lord, if I may...”

All eyes turned towards Raphael. the young man could see the mix of irritation, curiosity, and fear for him in the faces of the remaining men. If he could shrink and run away, he would of done it the instant everyone turned his way. Instead, he walked up to the table as he started to speak again.

“I have a suggestion that might solve both the short and long term problems.”

The king raised an eyebrow, “And that would be?”

“Send me and my unit.”

there was a collection of gasp, scoffs and groans at his answer. The king however, remain unfazed.

“And why would I send you?”

“Because,” Raphael said as he pulled out a token with his unit's crest engraved into the wooden surface. “For a number of reasons actually.” his thumb instinctively felt the engraving on the token. A bird with its wings expanded, holding a sword in its talons. The simple act gave him more courage to continue. “For one, my squad needs any experience it can get.” the young man place the token at the crossroads a little ways from the town. “My squad might be the rookies of the Pathfinder Guild's squads, but how can we garner experience when we're kept idle.”

“Another reason, we can find out if it truly was a wolf or something else entirely. If its jut bandits feeding off the fears of the village, or...” Raphael's words trailed off as he quickly considered his next words. “Or if its something completely different. We need to find out for certain what had or has happened. Sending an experience unit might draw up more questions than answers. Where sending my unit can easily be dismissed as a training exercise for us and can gain some information to ascertain what is going on there.”

The king stroke his chin in thought as the young man spoke. “And what if the village had failed to pay the tax for the service you're planing on providing?”

“Well...” Raphael thought quick to the kings question, personally he didn't care about such things but... “If they didn't keep up with their duties as loyal subjects of the kingdom...” He moved his token over top of the village. “Then they should be made examples of what happens when they neglect their duties to the kingdom.” He watched the other men in the room. Most of them visibly stiffen at his last words while Lord Colton glared at the young man. However, none of them was what had the Raphael's attention.

The king stood there contemplating what was said as he stoke his chin in thought. Finally after what felt like a long silence he started to nod and smiled at the young man. “Good. Then you shall make ready and leave tomorrow as soon as you are ready.” King Tyrril gave the other assembled men a passing glint. “If there's nothing else pressing,” everyone glanced at each other and shook their heads. “Then this meeting is adjourned.”

Most everyone quickly made their way and filtered out the door. Colten looked at Raphael with an expression that said that he wanted to say something to the boy, but apparently didn't dare to speak with the king still in the room. He turned away and made his leave of the remaining two in the room.

---

He sighed as he walked down the corridor of the castle. While the majority of the day hadn't been out of the ordinary for the young man, the meeting, as well as the events after, had taken its toll on him. Thankfully, his lieutenant was understanding and took most of the burden of getting his unit ready to march in the morning. While Lt. Dashiell was actually older than Raphael by several years, the two were good friends and got along extremely well with each other.

“Hey.”

Raphael stopped and turned around, looking at the source of the voice “Hey Leopold.”

Leopold walked up and draped his arm over Raphael and pulled him into a bear hug. “Raph, how many times do I have to say it? When its just us, just call me Leo.”

The younger boy just rolled his eyes, “Sorry, Leo, it was kind of a long day”

“Yeah, I heard. You certainly had a pair to speak up the way you did.”

“I had to do something. If it was up to the nobles, nothing would have been done.”

“Well...” the two started walking again “The 'high and mighty' nobles weren't what had me worried once I've heard. It was the King's reaction.”

Raphael was stunned, “The King's...? Leo, He's...”

Leo cut him off. “No he's not!” Leo stopped the two of them and turned to look Raphael eye to eye “Listen, you don't know him like I do. You and I are only worth the stations we hold. Should be obvious by how quickly the King cuts down anyone who crosses him.” He sighed. “At least you were sheltered some by Lord Colten. I didn't have that luxury so I know more of the truth than you do...”

“And what truth would that be Master Leopold?”

Leo looked up from his brother to see the aging general walking towards them. “The truth that he's lucky to have a mentor and a father figure like you, General Colten.” Leo pulled away from his younger brother, but not before messing up Raphael's hair first. “Listen Raph, be careful on your assignment. And I'll talk to you more the next time we're together.” Leopold straiten up and gave a quick salute to the general. “Please Lord Colten, keep my brother safe.”

“Its my plan since he became my charge.” Colten said as he returned the salute.

Raphael watched his brother walk away in silence until he felt a hand cuff the back of his head, hard. “Ow... What was THAT For???”

“WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?!?” Colten barked at the boy. If Leopold or someone else heard the general, they must of decided against looking to finding out what the commotion was. The general pinched the bridge of his nose as he took several deep breaths before he started again. “During the meeting, what were you honestly thinking? You were paying attention when Lord Presley lost his head?”

“Yeah I was.” Raphael said meekly. “But I couldn't just simply stand there with my hands in my pocket while everyone was afraid to act.”

“One part brave, three parts foolish. You did do the right thing in my opinion.” The aging general let out a long sigh. “But still, it was a foolish thing you did,” He put a hand on Raphael's shoulder and gave a light squeeze. “I know you, and what you are probably thinking, you are like the son I never had. However, I can only do so much to protect you from the king's blood lust.”

“I know. You've been more of a father to me than my own ever had been.”

“So, tell me,” Colten started as the two walked down the hall. “What are your plans concerning Den? It seemed that you did managed to give things Some thought, both before and after you put your foot in your mouth.” Raphael was silent and Colten stopped them. “You do have something in mind. Right?”

Raph closed his eyes and took a deep breath “I'm going to do what should be done. Find out exactly what has cause trouble for the village and deal with it. Wither if its a feral wolf, or... something more.”

“And... If the village didn't pay their Fey tax?”

“one way or another, the village will have their taxes paid by the time we return home, I've given Dashiell specific instructions to take care of before we leave tomorrow.”

“ Dashiell?..” the general had to think for a moment “Ohhh... Titus Dashiell, Leopold's friend right?”

Raphael smiled as he let out a chuckle. “Yes, can't help but to feel like my brother is doing everything in his power to watch over me just like you are.”

“Yes. Though I think it might be something to do with your other older brother...”

“Other older brother?”

Alarm flashed across the general's face as he realized his mistake that he made. “Ahh... Errr... never mind. Just a rambling of an old war general. Forget that I said anything.”

“But...”

“I Said FOREGET ABOUT IT.”

Raphael jumped as his mentor snapped at him. Apparently, even Colten, a man he considered his father and would trust his life with was keeping something from him. He wanted to know what, but the glare the old man was giving him was enough of a warning that he dropped the subject.

It took a moment for realization to set in with Colten as he realized how he startled the young man. “I... I'm sorry Lord Raph...”

“Its okay, Colten,” Raphael waved his hand, trying to give the impression of dismissing the subject despite wanting to find out more. He knew that there was more going on in the walls of the castle, but everyone was trying their best to keep the secrets away from him and his younger siblings. There were whispers from the older servants that he over heard occasionally, but nothing he could confirm without snooping, a feat that was almost impossible with the supervision that he was under. As far as the boy knew, he was the forth child of 7 siblings and the second of two boys.

Colten gave Raphael a glance over, almost like he was reading the boy's mind. The old general sighed as he noticeably relaxed his posture. “Its late and you should get some rest. Den is at least a four day march...” Colten placed his hand on the boy's shoulder and squeezed lightly. “I just hope you know what you're doing.” he said as he gave a nod and walked away.

“So do I...” Raphael mumbled.

---

Earlier...

Raphael had moved to follow the General out of the meeting room when a hand stopped him in his tracks. Glancing over his shoulders he could see King Tyrril's hand rested on his shoulders as the others all filed out of the room. Soon, the room was empty except for the King, Raphael, and two guards who soon left when the king motioned with a nod of the head. Now alone with the king, Raphael couldn't help but to feel nervous.

“Now” King Tyrril spoke after an awkward silence. “Speak honestly to your king. Why did you volunteer?”

Raphael kept himself from swallowing hard as he thought quickly to respond to the question. “I thought I made my intentions known.”

“Perhaps, perhaps not. Why did YOU volunteer?”

“I volunteered because...” Raphael's mind raced. “Because I wanted to prove myself. That I can lead my men against an unknown enemy. I need to lead my men into the unknown, we need the experience. I need to show that I can lead my men, that I earned my commission on merit, not because of some ranking. I want to show the world what kind of leader I can be, not sit back and wait for more experience solders to do a task that they might think is beneath them and risk missing something due to overconfidence and their own experience.”

King Tyrril nodded as he stepped away from the boy. “Let me ask you this, What if you render aid to this village of Den, and what IF they failed to uphold their duty to the crown?”

Raphael looked at his king with a serious expression on his face. “If such a thing were to happen...” He moved his unit token over the image of the village. “Its sadly wouldn't be the first time word got out about a village that was ransacked by brigands or wiped out by an unsuspected Fey attack.”

The king gave Raphael a sinister grin as he stepped back to him. “Then go with my blessing.” He said as he placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and have it an affectionate squeeze. “Make me and our kingdom proud, my Son.”