((The Finale of the Chataigne Chronicles, enjoy!))
The Inquisitor
Damocles soon knew the meaning of the empty wooden shelters around the Jagatai Khanate's capital of Ulkhan. It was named in honour of the first Khan to establish a permanent settlement, Ulhar the Cunning. He created such a settlement as the focal rallying point of his forces whenever the need arose. No different than from ages ago, a horde had assembled around the city. At the helm of all this was funnily enough, the now most powerful little girl in the world. Looking down the line, Damocles mused about the woe that would befall any foolish young man to break her heart. That may never happen of course. His charge, Princess Chataigne de Gavaroche was revealing more about her that he never knew day by day and even with only the events taken place so far he was able to piece together the puzzle that eluded him ever since Po had told him that his charge was to rule the world. That was all he could think about ever since they left for home.
Home for his charge and he was the Kingdom of Gavaroche, ruled by an unpopular regent in the dying king's stead. Gavaroche was a relatively small kingdom nestled in the central mountain range of the continent. Though it was poorly situated between two great neighbours who would love nothing more than to slit each other's throats, the rich seams of the mountains more than made up for it. It was also impractical from an invader's point of view as well. The Khanate relied on mobility, which was severely hampered but the small mountain pathways and valleys, whereas the Lexmadan were renowned for their well coordinated creeping advances and were hampered by the Gavaroche countrymen themselves, who, at home in their territory disrupted logistics and communication that supported any Lexmadan advances. Incursions were common but no sovereign had ever held any territory in the regions that was considered Gavaroche save the royal line of Gavaroche itself. Another benefit of being a buffer state was the trade and diplomatic neutrality offered by both sides of the continental conflict. With such prosperity saw the rise of new technologies which Damocles often likened to a impudent youth who had just learned to swing a sword. A kingdom outgrowing the traditions of old and with that thought, had Damocles silently winced in pain. Nostalgic perhaps for when chivalry was seeing better days, Damocles still had to admit that some of the new technologies had made life a bit comfortable, if only for some more than others.
Perhaps this was what driving his charge, perhaps not, but regardless, they were going home, and Princess Chataigne had written in advance. He even got a chance to read it, not by any dubious means of course, but what puzzled him was why the princess was withholding facts like her ascension to the ruler of a Khanate. Seeing her pass by, he took the opportunity to ask her. Her reply was thus,
"We have a traitor in our midsts."
"That may be so but if you were to keep secrets, would rumours not spread about your Excellency?"
"Damocles, I say it once more, you may only address me as milady. You are a knight, not a court official," she snapped quickly before calming down to answer his question, "Besides, who would you rather listen to, the idle gossiper of the town or a letter from the Princess herself?"
"That must mean he, or she, is rather well hidden," Damocles concluded.
"And that is why we must be careful," his charge added.
"Of course, milady."
Knowing enough of the political power plays involved in a royal court, Damocles left his charge to survey what lay ahead. He could see the border from where he stood on the moving sand ship. The very same he had taken from the Kingdom of Lexmada to Ulkhan. It was only recently that he learned that the name of this red and green steel beetle was Lady Bug though it sounded more fearsome when pronounced in the ancient Khanate tongue. It would only be a day to Gavaroche's capital Caiyou.
Having rumbled to a halt in front of the
"Your Highness, we thought you taken from us forever!" the Regent exclaimed.
As if breaking free from Damocles' invisible grip of vigilance, the Princess ran forth, almost jumping in to the Regent's arms. Damocles only smiled, if only the Regent knew what the Princess was really like. It was then that Lady Po reminded the Regent of why the reunion was possible.
"You have received our letter I presume," she said as she was glared at by every citizen of Gavaroche but she continued without change in disposition, "Her highness now belongs to the Khan, I would appreciate it if you thanked his Excellency for permitting this visit to take place."
"Do you understand what you are saying Mistress of the Summer Blaze?" the Regent replied with the Princess' arms still around his waist, "My kingdom will never yield to the likes of you barbarian kidnappers."
"Your kingdom? I do not recall you becoming king, Regent," Damocles remarked.
"Surely you would protect this beautiful kingdom of ours Knight-Commander," the Regent replied now without a smile.
"I only serve my lord the King, not you, former High Inquisitor Salem Methusaleh," Damocles answered coldly.
Salem Methusaleh, youngest of the three Methusaleh brothers was a former Inquisitor. A Radical mage that hunted those corrupted by power, whether the cause was immaterial or not. He had such a reputation that he was soon elevated to the rank of High Inquisitor, an officially recognised embodiment of justice. It was something Damocles, the eldest of the brothers, was proud of, until Salem slowly became the monsters he hunted. He knew not when but since Salem had tasted that power, soon everything else but the acquisition of power started to become secondary. The Methusaleh name, being a family line historically known for loyalty and integrity, was besmirched. When confronted by their father an argument started. One thing led to another and Salem burnt the manor to the ground. Their father would soon die of the wounds from that blaze, and Salem fell out with his brothers, disappearing in to the world of politics, returning only once for his elder brother, David's, funeral, who had been apparently been magically assassinated. The killer was soon found dead due to a freak lightning strike and to this day David's death was still had some questions unanswered. Damocles had of course suspected Salem but he could not bring himself to admit it however and it was his mistrust that prevented any form of reconciliation.
"Why must brothers fight?" an elderly man's voice spoke up.
It was the King who had come out to see his daughter, hobbling wobbly with a cane in his hand. His charge released the Regent from her grip and embraced her father in turn. Falling over, the King got up slowly with a little laugh and genuine happiness. Raising his right index to her face, he spoke again,
"Have you carried out what I asked of you my daughter?"
"Yes, I have, father," she replied.
"Good, the pieces are in place, it is almost time to end this charade," his majesty spoke and got up, turning, still wobbly towards the Regent, “Former High Inquisitor and Regent of Gavaroche Salem Methusaleh, you are under arrest for treason and conspiracy against the throne!”
Everyone’s eyes widened, even the Regent’s.
“I couldn’t have possibly put all that poison in your food!” the Regent protested his innocence.
“You knew who was putting the poison in my food yet you did nothing. Your inaction is your crime. Guards, arrest him!” the King retorted.
A pair of Royal Guard came running up but then lightning in a cloudless sky lit them up. The stench of burning flesh wafted through the air.
“If only you did not force my hand in such a manner, your Majesty,”
“If only you realised it is 100 years too early for you to even think of overthrowing me,” the King replied, “Loyal until death, is that not what you swore? Then about your brother Sir David, did he get in your way too?”
“It matters not anymore as those who oppose me shall perish like my brother,”
The wand dropped to the floor, the forearm that held it as well. Salem only managed to see the unrestrained rage on his elder brother’s face as he snapped his head back before being hew down by a blow to his lower spine. As he fell he could only manage,
“Accursed fratricide.”
“That makes the two of us little brother,” Damocles replied as he pulled his axe out.
The remaining Royal Guard formed up on the King and escorted him inside. Summoned shortly thereafter, Damocles was led to the King’s bedchamber. A confrontation with a treacherous regent had not cured his illness. His Majesty was looking even worse for wear. Aside from himself, there were only two Royal Guards in the room guarding the door and Damocles curtly announced his presence in the room with a small cough. The King and the Princess turned to him, the former smiling.
“Lord Methusaleh I can not express enough gratitude,” the King started before coughing violently before the assembled, “If only for a little longer, I was able to see my daughter.”
“I am grateful your Majesty,” Damocles said and bowed.
“There is no need for this any more Lor-” the King was cut off with more of his coughing.
“Father please, you must rest, you will be alright in the morning,” the Princess said quickly.
“My fair daughter, I already know, please, let me go with your embrace,” the King replied.
She clasped him as he got up. Their arms were wrapped together and she whispered in to his ear so that no one else could hear.
“I was the one slowly poisoning you.”
“I know,” her father replied.
“I am the new Khan and will be Queen of Gavaroche and rule this world.”
“I know.”
Those were the last words the King spoke. To see someone die so serenely, so peacefully, it was a first for Damocles. There was no stopping the tears of a man moved by such. Even his charge, of whose words he had not heard, was silently shaking still clinging to her late father.
“Thank you father for teaching me the art of statecraft,” was what she muttered as though no one would hear her but they did.
Laying him down to a resting position, the Princess now Queen of Gavaroche turned to Damocles.
“Will you protect and serve as you always have?” she asked still wiping her left eye.
“He has not rescinded that order milady,” he replied having long wiped away his own tears.
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