The Runic Eye
By Richard LeBlanc
Act ten: last stand
In an army camp near the front lines - Prince Gregory was with several of Gwenyth's surviving generals. Ever since the fighting had begun - he had been with the rest of the soldiers and by his side - was Syn.
"Our spies say that Frederick is hurting from his last retreat. He might be willing to negotiate peace," one general began. Gregory leaned over and stared at the general that had suggested that option.
"Negotiate? Do you have any idea - the kind of strain this has caused on our people? Perhaps I am wrong - tell me, as you are more knowledgeable in such matters. You have known Frederick a great deal longer than I. We let him walk away from this - will it end?" Gregory asked seriously.
"Doubtful. As this option has failed him - and cost him much," he replied.
"I thought so. Even if - he chose not to try such a foolish siege again. He would just belly ache about arbitration - and if that didn't work - I think - he would just try to come back again. Am I wrong?" he asked curiously.
"Actually - no," he replied.
"I do not relish the idea - of making this matter personal. Had I my way - I would love nothing more than to end this civilly - and let these tiered - overworked soldiers go home to their families. But - he won't give us that option," he began as a soldier hurried into the tent and knelt before the prince.
"What? What are you doing here? You are supposed to be back at," the prince began.
"The queen is dead," the soldier interrupted. All color drained from Gregory's face. He walked away from the table with the maps and plans on them and lifted the soldier up by his cloak.
"Do not toy with me," he began.
"I would never do that sire," he replied.
"When - how?" he asked seriously.
"I do not know the exact time - but it happened last night," he began.
"How? Was the person responsible found?" he demanded.
"It was poison - they found traces of it in her goblet," he began.
"Who did it," the prince shouted.
"We don't know - the person wasn't found," he replied as the prince dropped him.
"Everyone - leave," Gregory muttered. The others nodded and filtered out - leaving only the new king and Syn. "Looks like you were wrong. My sister - wasn't behind it after all. That - fool Frederick - he must have had someone snooping around the abbey. He must have found out about the weapons from them," he quietly cursed.
"I wish I hadn't spoken ill of her," she replied softly.
"Then don't - and don't do so again. It had to be him," he muttered.
"W-who?" she asked.
"Frederick. It had to be. Who else would stoop to such a low?" he asked lowly.
"He - hopes to cause confusion?" she asked.
"I will show him - just how confused we are," he retorted as he stormed out of the tent. "Soldier - sound the alarm!" he shouted out. A trumpet began to resound throughout the camp.
"Orders sir?" a soldier asked.
"As assassin fell our queen - and my sister! The fool Frederick has wasted our time and my patience long enough! I want every able bodied soldier - from squire - to knight ready within the minute!" he relayed. The soldier gave a special signal with his trumpet. Gregory watched as soldiers frantically hurried to ready themselves.
"Will be charging their camp?" a soldier asked.
"We will do more than that - we are taking this all the way to Frederick. He wanted to play - he wanted to anger the sleeping bear in Eversky - I will show him what that means," Gregory hissed.
* * *
Half a day later - in the neighboring kingdom - an anxious King Frederick was reading the reports of another failed advance. If the war continued as it was - he would loose more than he could ever hope to regain.
"This is no good," he muttered.
"What can we do?" one of his soldiers asked.
"Withdraw our forces. We will seek arbitration in this issue," he replied.
"What - if they rule against you?" an advisor asked.
"How can they? The boy threatened me openly. His own people would attest to that. And their queen - huh - as noble and as well intentioned as she may be - is still a little girl," he rationalized.
"Fair enough - but what then? There will still be tension between our kingdoms?" the advisor asked. Frederick smirked and sat down on his thrown.
"Once the artifacts are safely in my possession - I am sure that we will be able to - properly negotiate - a fair - relationship between our peoples," he added smugly. Just then a soldier hurried in - staggered and fell before his king.
"My god what happened?" the advisor asked.
"We were attacked," the badly wounded soldier strained.
"By - by whom?" the king asked hesitantly.
"Eversky - they charged our camp. Many tried to flee - but they cut us down. I rode as fast as I could to warn the other encampments," the soldier strained as pain shot across his face.
"They - left their territory? The queen - she wouldn't do that," Frederick said in a mild panic.
"It - was the prince. There was a fire in his eyes - it was equal only to the cold blooded gaze of a madman," the soldier muttered as he strained to get up - but due to the severe burns and cuts he had - he couldn't.
"The prince? He has stolen control of his sister's men?" he asked in disbelief.
"No sire - the queen - they say she is dead. Murdered - sire - he is coming for you," the soldier muttered as the last bit of life faded from him. Frederick stared at the dead soldier and then over at his advisor.
"This - does not bode well," the advisor muttered.
"That boy - he will not listen to reason," he stated.
"If he believes you had a hand in his sister's death - he will not stop until he has your head on a pike. I need to know - did you have her killed?" the advisor asked seriously.
"Why in god's name would I? Everything I was planning - it was vital that she be alive. Her unsuitability as the keeper of the runes was key to everything. We must away from this place," he began. Just then - they heard a whistle humming through the air.
"Get down!" the advisor shouted as he pushed the king aside. Just then a large rock smashed through the wall and crushed the advisor in his place. Hesitantly - Frederick looked over at the smoking hole in his castle wall and looked out. In the area before his castle - encamped - was the army led by Gregory.
"Soldier - good shot - next time - aim a little better," Gregory called out. He then rode out to the head of his army and looked up at the king that was cowering in his castle. "Sir - Frederick," he mockingly called out - his men laughed. "I know you are in there - I can smell your cowardice from here!" he shouted.
"I don't think he is willing to talk sire," a soldier commented.
"I don't think he is. Maybe - he is waiting for arbitration. After all - he isn't enough of a man to face me! Come to think of it - neither were your supposed men. We chased their cowardly asses all the way back to you," he stated as he hopped down from his horse. "But - I will give you an out. We will arbitrate this - but not with fat politicians and clergymen. We will settle this - you and me," he began.
"You have the Runic Thorn!" Frederic protested.
"You aren't listening. Drop another rock where you think the king is hiding - double pay if you hit him," Gregory stated. Another boulder soared through the air and smashed into the wall near the previous hole. When the smoke cleared they saw a nervous king looking back. "No double pay it seems. In case you haven't noticed Fred - you are in no position to bargain. We can stay here and reduce your castle - and all within it - to a cross between a ruin and a graveyard," Gregory stated as he hopped back onto his horse. "Oh - and don't wait too long. We will drop a rock on your castle for every minute you keep us waiting," he warned as he rode back to where his men were.
"You think he will listen - or try to run?" a soldier asked.
"Doesn't matter - if he leaves the castle - either way - he will be dead," the prince replied. Another stone soared and slammed into the castle. They all watched as the main gates to the castle slowly opened. They watched as King Frederick and several guards exited the castle. Gregory signaled for his men to stop the attack on the castle.
"You are nothing but a barbarian," Frederick said in disgust.
"And you are nothing but a useless politician," Gregory retorted as he hopped from his mount.
"They will hear of this," he began.
"Hear about what? How you started this war - over," he began as he displayed the Runic Thorn. "Over this? How many of your men died - because of your ambition highness? If you don't know - I will give you a hint. Everyone you sent - will not return," he added.
"Animal," Frederick muttered.
"More wit from the would be conqueror. So far - I am a boy - a barbarian - and now an animal. I do not know why you chose to start this - but it will end - here - and now," Gregory stated. Frederick slowly drew his weapon and tossed it to the ground.
"Go ahead - do it then," the king stated.
"What manner?" Gregory began.
"No trick. You may be nothing but a boy - but with the Runic Thorn - it would be no fight at all. It would be nothing more than a glorified execution!" he retorted. Gregory shook his head in disbelief.
"Well - since you said that - I will just toss my weapon aside. No. You know - it is funny that you bring up execution though. After all - how much of a chance did you give my sister?" he asked coldly. Frederick turned pale as Gregory slowly made his way towards the king.
"Me? I had no hand in that," he retorted.
"Tell me another one," Gregory muttered. Frederick fell to his knees before the angry young king.
"Why would I want her dead? I could reason with her! The whole basis of my dispute for arbitration was her incompetence - with her dead - where does that leave me?" he asked. Gregory towered over the all but cringing king.
"I would say - pretty much where you are now," he retorted as he arched his arm up to strike.
"Stop!" a familiar voice shouted out. Everyone looked over towards Gregory's men. The ranks slowly parted - all color drained from Gregory's face when he saw his sister - alive and heading his way.
"Gwenyth?" he asked in modest disbelief.
"This - all of this - must end," Gwenyth stated.
"Do not listen to her!" Syn warned as she hurried to Gregory's side. "That is not your sister - Your sister perished - died from poison - poison from his agents," she stated. Gregory returned his attention to the king kneeling before him.
"One of us is lying brother - but it isn't me," Gwenyth began as she took out the coin that she had been given by the golden dragon. Syn studied the coin and timidly moved behind Gregory. In the confusion - Frederick and his men hurried back into his castle. "Let the truth - come to light!" Gwenyth stated. The coin hovered from her hand. The rays of the sun hit the coin and almost immediately shot out at Syn. Gregory did his best to stop the ray - but nothing seemed to work. "See her for who she really is," Gwenyth added. When the light faded - the guise of Syn - was gone. Tamina hesitantly looked up at Gregory.
"So? She looks no different than she did a moment ago," he replied seriously.
"She doesn't?" Gwenyth asked.
"I - don't?" Tamina asked.
"No. Was this supposed to prove anything?" he asked as he helped Tamina up.
"Do you know who she is?" she asked in modest disbelief.
"Her name is Syn. Now what is the meaning of this?" he asked. Tamina slowly got up and held onto Gregory's arm.
"We are very much in love my lady - are you not happy for us?" she asked.
"Her - name - is Tamina. She is known as the Death Sage - the Witch Queen and probably many other names. Greg! She is the one that killed our mother and father!" she protested.
"But - your father killed Tamina - did he not?" Tamina asked curiously.
"Explain the scar on your belly then? It is the exact shape of the Runic Thorn," she pointed out.
"So - you would have me get stabbed with his weapon - to prove I am this long dead Witch Queen you speak of? I am not immortal dear. The scar was made by some mad worshipers of a rat god. They branded me with this and did things to me," Tamina began. Gregory raised his hand to interrupt the conversation.
"I happen to love her. This conversation is over. This matter with that coward Frederick - is settled. It is time we move on - all of us. You have been chasing shadows since mother and father died - it is time to stop," he stated seriously.
"She - killed them. I will not let her leave," she replied seriously.
"How many years - did you have Samson and countless others try to find proof of your suspicions - how many times - did they come back empty handed," he asked seriously. The queen looked over at a smug looking Tamina.
"I know she did it brother - I was there," she said confidently.
"That's absurd there was," Tamina began but stopped.
"How would you know?" Gwenyth asked.
"She is trying to confuse me. She wants to turn you against me to slay me," she muttered timidly.
"Enough! We are leaving," he interrupted.
"Soldiers - if she tries to leave," she began. Gregory turned and had the Runic Thorn drawn. The queen stopped and looked at the serious gaze that was staring back at her.
"You wish to divide the kingdom?" he warned.
"She - is not - leaving," she retorted. She held the coin in her hand and closed her eyes. "See my brother - see her for what she truly is," she added. The prince screamed out and fell to the ground holding his head. "Brother?" she muttered. Tamina stood over him and slowly looked up at the queen.
"You are nothing if not persistent . You are so like your mother," she stated as she stepped over the writhing prince.
"What have you done to him?" she demanded.
"I am - merely showing him the truth - that is what you wanted - isn't it?" she asked as she displayed the Runic Eye that was on her hand. Gwenyth scowled at her and slowly drew a sword from her pack. All color drained from Tamina's face when she saw the weapon with the Runic Heart.
"You showed him your truth," she muttered.
"You think calling the runes together will stop me?" she asked coldly.
"Probably not. You survived before," she replied. she closed her fist around the coin and held it up. Light engulfed her hand. When the light faded - a magical forging hammer was in her hand - with the rune on it.
"No!" another voice shouted out. Everyone looked over and saw the panther leap over to where Tamina and the queen were. "Do not do it!" the panther ordered. Tamina looked at the panther in disbelief.
"What is your problem?" she asked. The panther growled. Dark energy swirled around the panther. Everyone hurried away as the predatorial cat - changed into a dragon.
"Silence you fool! You - woman - queen known as Gwenyth - do not destroy the heart!" the dragon repeated. Gwenyth looked up at the dragon and over at the confused Tamina.
"Why should I?" she asked.
"I will let you have the woman - if you give me the hammer," he offered.
"Excuse me?" Tamina interjected. The eyes of the black dragon glowed. Tamina fell to the ground as an aura of dark power pulsed around her. the dragon then returned his attention to the queen.
"What makes you think I need you to get her?" she retorted.
"Do not do this!" the dragon began. He watched as the hammer went up. "No!" the dragon screamed as he lunged at her. Too late! The hammer hit the Runic Heart! A deafening clang resounded. A magical light exploded outward. The rune on the struck sword - began to rust. The weapon it was on turned to ash. Gwenyth looked up and saw the black dragon fading into a mist like form and vanish from sight.
Silence followed.
It was then that everyone looked down and saw Tamina shivering on the ground near Gregory. Gwenyth slowly walked over to where the woman was and kicked her away from her brother. She looked down and saw that the wound that was on her belly - was bleeding again.
"What - happening - to me?" she strained. She hesitantly looked up at the angry looking queen.
"Your link to the power of Black Fang - has been severed - and most of your power has been spent - keeping yourself alive. If your wound is bleeding that bad - your power must be all but gone," Gwenyth stated.
"Curse you - and your wretched line," Tamina strained. Her face contorted with pain as she fell over. Then - the look of pain seemed to fade. The Witch Queen - wasn't moving. A soldier walked over to where Gwenyth was standing.
"Is - is she dead?" Gwenyth asked. Just then - the body of Tamina began to turn to ash and blow away in a strong gust of wind. Moments later - Frederick and his men existed his castle - the humbled terrified look that was there - was once again replaced with one of smugness.
"Gwenyth! How dare you let this happen! This would have never come to pass were the Runic Weapons in my care! When I tell the arbitrator of this outrage," the king began. Gwenyth slowly turned and smiled that same smug smile back at him.
"The Runes - are no more - I just destroyed them," she stated coolly.
"Destroyed? You - you are bluffing," he muttered.
"Am I? Go ahead and call your arbitrator. When he arrives - I will tell him of your scheming and dealings. I will tell him of the monstrous cost of human life that was paid just so that you could get your hands - on items that no longer exist," she retorted as she walked over and helped her sobbing brother to his feet.
"You - didn't destroy them - you couldn't have," Frederick muttered. Gwenyth looked over her shoulder at the once again worried king. She then looked at the soldiers that were all but waiting for the order to lay siege to the castle.
"You have accomplished something Frederick. You desired the old treaty void - you got your wish. No longer will we trade with you - no longer will we aid you in times of pain - hunger - or attack. And rest assured - that I will make sure that everyone - is aware - of just how weak - you really are. Men! Move out. We're going home," she stated as she and her soldiers began to head away from the castle.
"You can't do this!" the king protested. But no one was listening. He merely watched as those with him did as the armies of Eversky left what was left of their kingdom. "They can't," he muttered weakly - thinking of all of the neighboring territories that might finish off - what Eversky - and his ambition - had started.
End
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