The Black Sword Trilogy: The Poacher (40 page)

              When he reached the top of the steps, the two Generals dressed him in his armor like two servants.  When they were done, one General handed him a large scroll with the names of the first one thousand soldiers to join the Walechian army centuries before (in fact, it was a replica as the original document was far too fragile).  The other handed him a new and blank scroll.  There were two other soldiers standing with the Generals.  One was the oldest soldier in the army and the other the youngest.  He handed the “Scroll of the Original Thousand” to the youngest soldier and the blank scroll to the oldest.  After this, one of the generals held before him the Sword of Throst, believed to be the very first King of Walechia.  Melkur kissed the aged scabbard and then the soldiers turned away from the King and proceeded back into the headquarters building.

              Melkur descended to the bottom of the steps again and this time dropped a silver coin with his own image into the fountain.  He climbed to the top of the steps again and entered the Palace of Justice.

The halls were silent, but on each side of the corridor were all the men and women who had been invited to the coronation.  Judges, priests, members of congress, aristocrats and the mayors of all cities and towns bowed as the King passed them.  Only Erlot and Thillis were missing.

             
When the high priest came to the large doors of the throne room, one of the large men at the door announced, “None may enter as the King lies in his grave!”

The High Priest answered saying, “Behold the King lives!”

And then the two large me swung the doors open.  After the King entered, the special invitees were also allowed into the throne room.

              When the room was filled, the high priest turned and placed the pillow in Melkur’s hands.

“Do you Melkur, son of Philas and of the line of Handur swear to defend the rights and traditions of the people of Walechia?”

“I so swear.”

The High Priest raised the crown above Melkur’s head.

“To the north I proclaim!  Hail Melkur: King!”

He brought the crown down again.

“Do you Melkur, son of Philas and of the line of Handur swear to rule with justice and righteousness in the name of the Walechian people?”

“I so swear.”

Again, he raised the crown

“To the south I proclaim!  Hail Melkur: King!

             
“Do you Melkur, son of Philas and of the line of Handur swear to be humble before the Great Lady and her spirit servants?  Do you swear to seek their guidance and abide by their truths?”

“I so swear.”

“To the east I proclaim!  Hail Melkur: King!”

“Do you swear by your life that you will rule with the good of the people being first, last and always in your thoughts?”

“To the west I proclaim!  Hail Melkur: King!”

King Melkur then climbed the steps to the throne and sat.  When he did, all in the throne room went to one knee, including Kenner.  It’s only a tradition, he told himself.

“Arise my people!” King Melkur said grandly.  “Stand proudly in the eyes of your King.”

              For the next couple of hours, every man and woman in the throne room paid homage to King Melkur.  The judges, the members of Congress, the aristocrats and the mayors of every city and town all came forward, knelt before him and kissed his ring.  To most, the King simply smiled and thanked them; however, to a few he would speak a few words.  Melkur also bestowed favors and gave rewards.  He appointed two new judges, granted parcels of land and titles to two retiring army officers and also appointed others to offices within the government.  For Kenner, it was a slow and tedious process that he felt that he didn’t need to be a part of.  He simply wanted this ceremony to be over.

              And now,” The King said grandly, “we come to a moment in this ceremony that I have been particularly looking forward to.  For now, the crown pays homage and respect to the three heroes without whose courageous deeds this ancient rite may not have taken place.”

“Thank the lady,” Terri, who was standing next to Kenner said under her breath.  “My feet are killing me.”

Kenner tried not to laugh.

              “Captain Krall!” The King called.  “Come forth!”

Krall, holding the Silver Axe in his right hand approached the throne and knelt at the bottom of the marble stairs.  As Kenner watched, he saw Krall look up and the King nodded.  And then Kenner almost yelled out as he saw what Krall did next.  He climbed the steps, kissed the King’s ring and then placed the axe into the Kings hands.

“Has he completely lost his mind?” Terri said through her teeth.

Krall then went to stand at the bottom of the steps.

             
“The crown thanks you for your courage, your strength and your loyalty.  For thirty years, you have served your King and your people in war and in peace.”

One of the King’s guards then approached Krall with a folded piece of white linen.

“I charge you now,” The King continued, “to continue to serve me and to continue to lead soldiers into battle and give you this white cape as a badge of your new office.  Go forth, General Krall and serve me and the people of this great land.”

Krall took the cape, bowed to the King, turned and then returned to where he had been standing.  He and Kenner exchanged glances.  Kenner looked at him in shock and disbelief while Krall answered with a look that appeared to say, “Do not question me.”

             
“Captain Terri!” The King announced.  “Come forth!”

Terri climbed the steps, knelt before the King and kissed his ring.

“How does one reward such skill, cunning and courage such as yours?” The King spoke.  “How does one give honor to all that you have given and experienced in service to your King and your people?  Here, you stand before me a seasoned veteran who has risked her life for her nation.  Here you stand before your King having accomplished far more than most men twice your age and in so short a time.  Not only have you fought a war in your service, you have traveled to an ancient and mysterious land and come to be called friend by that nation’s sovereign.  And also you stand here bearing an ancient weapon of legend given to you by that nation.  What can the crown do to honor you?”

Terri was about to say something dry and funny, but the King continued.

“Your skill and courage as a soldier and the sacred weapon you bear make your value as a soldier incalculable.  And your friendship with the Lady of the Woods makes you even more so.”

Melkur then presented her with a gold and ruby ring.

“I therefore charge you to serve this land and our great neighbor as my representative to the Lady of the Woods.  Arise, Captain Terri, soldier and ambassador to the Blackwoods.”

              She climbed down the steps and then stood next to Kenner again.

“Not bad for a degenerate, eh?” She whispered to Kenner.

“Finally!” The King said grinning.  “We come to a man whom it seems destiny has chosen to rise high above the station to which he was born.  I call forth the man who, perhaps more than any at this moment is the reason my kingdom remains intact.  Captain Kenner, come forth!”

              Kenner took a deep breath as he prepared himself to swallow his pride and perform a simple task that he hoped he’d never have to repeat.  He walked a few steps towards the throne, but then the King stopped him.

“I will spare you the indignity of kneeling before me, Captain as I believe it may be distasteful to you.” The King said.  There was something in the King’s voice and his eyes that made Kenner somewhat suspicious.  He looked and sounded devious, like a gambler with a trick.

“The crown and the people of Walechia thank you for your service and your strength.” The King continued.  “Truly, you have earned our deepest gratitude and respect.”

Several guards then approached carrying large wooden chests.  They laid the chests beside Kenner and opened them revealing them full of silver coins.

              “There are three ways in which the crown wishes to thank this most courageous of heroes.  First, by offering you this reward of twenty thousand in silver.  If you are wise and careful in spending them, they may give you many years of comfortable living.  Second, we recognize that you have served this nation as a foreigner and reward you by releasing you from our service.  No longer will we ask you to risk your life or your health by fighting for our cause.”

The spectators and guests all started murmuring.  This was unexpected and Kenner found himself confused.  What was the king doing?

             
“Finally,” The King said with more purpose.  “It is time you received justice in a matter nearly overlooked.”

The King then glared at Kenner, his eyes like arrows loosed at an enemy.

“Some time ago, you physically assaulted the royal person of the King, causing me injury I still feel to this day.  This is a crime for which you were not brought to account and I will now rectify that mistake.”

Kenner then noticed that at least twenty armed soldiers had entered the throne room and were standing at attention with their spears.

“Ordinarily,” The King continued.  “This offense carries the penalty of death; but as you have so loyally and bravely served this nation in a time of crisis, I have decided to show you mercy.  I hereby declare you, Kenner of the hills banished from this land forever.  Because I am merciful, I will give you two days to leave this nation and return to your village in the hills.  But from that point and forever more, should your face ever be seen in this nation again, you will be put to death and your head will adorn the Iron Gates of this city.”

             
The soldiers began to step forward towards Kenner, but the King shouted, “No!  As I am merciful and just, I will give this man the opportunity to leave my sight peacefully.”

Kenner was surprised, but thought to himself that he shouldn’t be.  This was the same man who had murdered his cousins showing his true form.  This was a King more similar to the one his father had described and this was the kind of justice he had learned from his father to expect from Walechia.  In a way, he preferred it this way.

             
“Will you be the man of peace and leave of your own accord?” The King hissed.  “Or will there be bloodshed in my sacred chamber?”

Kenner nodded and then turned to leave.

“That’s what I thought, poacher!” The King spat at him.

              After he turned, Kenner looked at Krall, whose face looked as if apologizing to him.  He looked at Terri who looked stunned and hurt.  “Don’t go,” her eyes looked as if saying.  He also looked at everyone in the chamber examining their faces.  Some were shocked and amazed, still others looked as though amused.  Then a thought occurred to him and a smile grew on his face.

              He turned and faced the King with his hand on the grip of his sword.

“Have you decided to fight, my dear poacher?” The King asked.

“Oh, I will leave, Your Majesty and I promise you will never see me again.  But before I go, I wanted to remind you of something.”

He stretched out his empty hand and then the Silver Axe flew into the air landing perfectly in Kenner’s outstretched fingers.  The spectators and guests of the coronation gasped.  Kenner looked to his friends, both of whom were smiling.  He brought the blade of the axe to his lips and whispered something to it.  He then plunged the Silver Axe into the marble floor of the throne room, turned, nodded at two soldiers to bring his chests of coins and, grinning and laughing left the White City, determined never to return.

The Silver Axe

             
After Kenner had plunged the axe into the marble floor of King Melkur’s throne room, the King tried, with all his might to pull the sword from the floor, but could not.  He called on several soldiers to pull the sword for him, but they could not.  He called on the giant guards of the throne room doors, but both failed as well.  No one was able to pry the mighty weapon from its resting place.

              The King sent word throughout the land for men and women to come to the White City and try to rest the sword from the floor.  The prize was gold and jewelry enough for a man or woman to live as rich for many lifetimes.  And as word spread past the borders of Walechia, thousands came from around the world to try to pull the axe from the floor.  None could lift it.