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The Runic Eye |
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By Richard LeBlanc |
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| Act five: diplomacy |
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| In the courtroom of the royal castle - where all stately matters were settled - the queen, Samson and her royal council sat and patiently waited. They waited for the arrival of King Frederick - the man who sent the messenger with the ultimatum. |
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| "Do you think they will come?" Gwenyth asked. |
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| "Frederick is a proud man but is no fool. He will see this invitation as either surrender or negotiation," Samson replied seriously. |
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| "He doesn't think I would go to war over this. He thinks I would just bend to whatever command he issued," she muttered indignantly. Samson looked over at her and saw the anger in her eyes. |
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| "Would you? Would you go to war over this?" he asked. |
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| "I know of Frederick. Even if I was to give him but one of the artifacts - he would demand the Runic Heart - the one that draws the others to it. He will not be content unless he has all. He will not negotiate. He is too pigheaded," she replied calmly. |
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| "I hope you are wrong about that. I do not enjoy the idea of going to war. I've seen how it can change people - and I wouldn't want that to happen to you," he began as the doors to the courtroom opened. Everyone present slowly stood up and watched as King Frederick and his council headed towards the table where the queen and her council waited. |
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| "You called this meeting Gwenyth?" the king asked curtly. |
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| "You are not in your domain right now - highness. Do remember that. While you are here - address me as Lady Gwenyth - or your majesty. I do believe that is the proper protocol," she replied calmly. The king shook his head. |
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| "You called this meeting - Lady - Gwenyth?" the king repeated. |
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| "I did," she replied. |
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| "Have you come to your senses?" he asked. |
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| "In what way?" she replied - her and her council sat down. The king motioned for his people to do the same. He reluctantly sat across from the calm looking queen and scowled at her. |
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| "Are you going to part with the weapons or no?" he asked. |
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| "Why - would I?" she asked. |
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| "You want the whole list?" he retorted. |
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| "Please," she replied calmly - the answer catching him off guard. |
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| "One - our kingdoms signed a treaty," he began. |
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| "We haven't violated it. We have respected your territory - and even overlooked numerous violations of your people poaching on our lands. If you feel that I am not honoring it - we can send for an arbitrator from," she began. |
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| "That - could take days," he interrupted. |
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| "Weeks actually," she pointed out. |
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| "Do you not believe I am willing to war over this?" he asked sternly. |
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| "I wouldn't say one way or the other - does that mean you don't want arbitration?" she asked curiously. The king shook his head in disbelief. |
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| "That would solve nothing," he replied. |
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| "You mean - they give you what you want - but by threatening me - a timid shy - helpless little girl - you might. Is that it?" she asked coolly. The king slowly rose to his feet - as did the queen. |
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| "Do not try my patience," he warned. |
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| "As you say - do not try mine. I am here to vie for peace. Neither of our lands will profit from war - and to war over - this - is pointless," she replied sternly as she sat down. "Was - the treaty my parents signed your only concern?" she asked. The king sat down and shook his head. |
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| "Not by a long shot. You are far too young and inexperienced to be in control of such a weapon - as any here - should see," he stated seriously. The queen sighed and looked over at the angry king. |
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| "I am young - but I have been in possession of the Runic weapons and artifacts - for over three years - and my parents for ten years before that. They told me all that needed to be known about them. Good - with the bad," she began. |
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| "Then you know why you can't have them all," the king interrupted. |
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| "I do. That is why I only have the Runic Heart - the one that belonged to my mother. My brother - has the Runic Thorn - the one that belonged to my aunt. The rest are in the secret care and protection of agents known only to me - Samson - and my brother," she replied. |
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| "And we are supposed to take this at face value?" the king asked. |
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| "You are doubting the word of a queen in her kingdom and calling her a liar?" she asked sternly. The king studied the faces of those in the presence of the queen and silently fumed. This was not going as planned. "Why don't you - just tell them the real reason - that we are here," she added. He looked over at her. |
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| "What are you talking about?" he asked seriously. |
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| "The Runic artifacts have been in the care and protection of Eversky - since the Witch Queen perished. Over twelve years of peace - you would erase - over this? There must be more," she began calmly. |
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| "I have no idea," he began. |
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| "Your messenger that you sent - with your rude ultimatum - said that you had a problem with a woman being their protector. Because we women are so weak willed and easily distracted and all," she added seriously - her eyes locking onto the king's. |
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| "He never said that," he replied. |
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| "It is what he meant - and we both know that - and we know where it came from - you. The thought of a woman - or worse yet - a young girl like myself - being in control of such devices - turns your stomach," she stated. |
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| "Is there a point to this?" he asked coldly. |
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| "As I said - I wish for there to be peace between our lands," she replied. |
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| "There is no compromise? You hold all - and we have none? Unacceptable," he replied seriously. The queen sighed and looked away from the king. |
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| "You have one in mind?" she asked. |
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| "The Runic Heart," he replied. |
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| "Ironically - the one that would call all of them to you," she replied. |
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| "The thought hadn't crossed my mind," he replied smugly. |
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| "I am so sure. I may be young - but I am not stupid. Give me some credit. The Runic artifacts were a gift from my family - to those of this world - to keep the world safe. For twelve years - they have been idle," she began. |
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| "As you say - they were a gift to the world - yet - you - on behalf of your family - have taken them all back," he interrupted. |
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| "No - I didn't - my father - the late King Harmen - did. In his wisdom - he sent the artifacts out so that they couldn't be twisted by evil powers again. If you feel slighted that none from your kingdom have them - know that only two from mine - do," she stated. |
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| "You will not part with any of them?" the king asked. |
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| "If you desire a champion - of your choosing - to be bestowed with such an honor - send him to me. If he is deemed worthy - I will send a messenger out to courier the item to him. But such a person can not be you," she said calmly. |
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| "Why not?" he demanded - rising to his feet. Two guards slowly reached for their weapons. The queen raised her hand and motioned for her men to remain calm. She then looked over at the angry king. |
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| "There is anger in your heart - there is bloodlust in your eyes - and ambition in your mind that - I swear could rival the Witch Queen. I do not call you dark or evil - but you would use such devices and people - to your own ends. That - is not - what the Runes - are about," she replied calmly. Just then - the doors to the courtroom opened and the prince stepped in. all eyes turned to him. |
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| "So - the rumors - were true," Gregory began as he walked towards the glaring king. "When I got here - I had hoped that it was just the little people - their imaginations running amok - but here you are," the prince stated as he stood a foot away from the glaring king. |
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| "Mind your manners boy," he retorted. |
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| "Mind yours. You aren't at home," Gregory retorted. |
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| "Prince - please - be calm," Gwenyth requested sternly. |
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| "You would risk war - over - the Runic weapons?" the prince asked. |
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| "Gregory - please," she repeated. |
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| "They need to be in better hands," he replied. |
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| "Like yours?" the prince chided. |
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| "Any - would be better than their current holders," the king began. In a blur of motion Gregory had his blade out and had the king pinned to the table with the Runic Thorn to his neck. |
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| "I will say this once and once only. When the legions of the Witch Queen marched - Eversky sent men to keep your territory safe! What was the reward for that? A duke got run through - and his wife - she - she was never the same! Then you come in here making demands?" Gregory shouted. |
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| "That was long," the king began. The blade moved closer to his neck. |
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| "Finish it - and I will you. You think Eversky is weak? You think that Eversky will bend to your capricious whim? You - might forget - what the wrath of Eversky is - but god - protect me - push us - and you will be reminded!" he warned as he stepped away from the king and looked at those that had come with him. But with a flick of his blade - they all saw the Runic Thorn - and knew better than to try anything. |
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| "Frederick - I think you should go. There are internal matters here - that need to be dealt with," the queen said calmly. The king glared at the boy that had treated him like a commoner. |
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| "This is your answer - so answers the question," he replied as he and his made their way out from the courtroom. Once they had left - the queen placed a shaking hand on the table before her. |
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| "Everyone - please leave - now," she said calmly. Slowly the others began to filter out until only the queen and her brother were left. "What the hell were you thinking?" she asked sternly. |
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| "You might be willing to put up with his posturing - I'm not," he replied. |
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| "You - do not make the decisions here. I do. Do you have any idea what you have just done?" she asked sternly. Her brother remained silent. "If not - let me give you a hint. He was trying to prove that we weren't suitable protectors of the artifacts - and guess what - you proved him right," she stated - doing her best to keep her emotions in check. |
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| "You want to fight - or do you want to hear what I found out?" he asked. |
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| "It doesn't matter now. Hand it over," she replied seriously. |
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| "Hand what?" he asked. |
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| "The Runic Thorn. You used it against that king - because he insulted you," she replied seriously. Gregory slowly drew the Runic Thorn and held the blade before him. |
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| "You want it - you will have to kill me first," he stated coldly. |
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| "Don't do this - we can not cause this kind of confusion in the people at a time like this," she replied seriously. Gregory sheathed his blade and placed his hands on the table and stared his sister in the eye. |
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| "For three years - I have watched - you do things - I could never do. You were able to put aside the emotions - everything - and make everything run like a finely bred horse. But - he - you give to him - no," he replied seriously. |
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| "I never intended to give him the weapons - he knew that. Do you know - that if he chooses to go to have his complaint arbitrated - they might now rule in his favor?" she asked seriously. |
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| "He is too pigheaded to think that," he replied. |
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| "You know this? You still don't understand. Please - give me - The Runic Thorn and," she began - but Gregory shook his head and stepped away. |
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| "I know where this is going - and it isn't going to happen. I am not apologizing to that arrogant blowhard. Our people," he began - Gwenyth rose to her feet and slammed her fist against the table. |
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| "Since when are they your people? You were never here when the crops failed and there was barely enough food. You weren't here when the guilds went on strike and almost shut Eversky down. No! You are out playing hero - running around - playing like some - some grown up kid!" she retorted. "You have just sent - my people - to war. So like it or not - you will do as you are told. Return the Runic Thorn - and apologize to King Frederick - before he leaves my kingdom," she ordered. |
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| "You want the Thorn - you will have to take it from my dead hand - or call them together with the Runic Heart - but hey - that is what the good king is so worried about - isn't it? You just calling upon their power on a whim?" he began as he glared at his sister. "And - as for that other crap - they are my people. I was there when the crops failed. I was in the fields with them - trying to make the little stretch out into more while you and yours - dined like royalty. And I was there when the guilds went on strike. Who do you think - got them to back down?" he retorted seriously as he began to walk away. |
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| "We aren't done here," she stated. |
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| "Yes - we are. Frederick was going to war with us regardless. I may not know politics like you - but I do know people. You want to talk to me again - we will do so when this is over - not before," he concluded as he stormed out of the courtroom. |
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| To be continued... |
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