Hello, before we begin with this story of fantasy war, betrayal, death, sadness, fear, and politics. I want to begin by saying the first couple of chapters might not be what you want them to be, like the writing. But I do hope to actually finish this and get better, might even do a rewrite. Way too early to say so, read this story anyway, thank you, and enjoy.
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Chapter 1 "The Last Tyrannical Order"
In the pherawyn throne room, it was eerily quiet. The stone pillars towering over everyone as the banner of the house Pherawyn hung limp in the cold air.
The fabric is red and darker red at the edges. Hundreds of nobles stood quietly in two rows. No one dared shift their feet. Their eyes locked to the floor.
At the end of the throne room sat the king of the realm of Pherawyn, the iron kingdom. King Konner Wynfir, the ruler of all the land.
King Konner Wynfir sat bored in his throne, his head resting on his hand. The crown lay crooked on his head as he watched the guards bring in two prisoners and forcefully sat them down before him.
"My king, we have brought the prisoners," said a knight.
King Konner's face grew a wide smile as he rose from his throne and began to speak loudly.
"Yes. Thank you, Borus," the king said with a joyous tone, and he continued, "See why I brought all of you nobles into this meeting, to be entertained ."
The nobles' hands shook, and sweat poured from their brows as they knew what he was about to do.
King Konner continued once more, "Before me lay Bertom Pommel and Ichard Sarek, and they have been charged with treason and shall be put to death." King Konner began to laugh.
The laugh echoed through the throne room. And one of the nobles looked up and stared at Ichard Sarek, and Ichard stared back at the noble as well. Tears welled up in the noble's eyes.
"I find death entertaining, and I hope you to, so this is why I wanted you to see the beheading of the heirs to the Pommel and Sarek houses," King Konner said loudly, his smile growing bigger.
But everyone in the throne room knew the truth. They had committed no treason; their only crime was…for being the heirs of two of the strongest noble houses.
Konner's lips curled up even more.
"I tire of their heads still being attached," he said softly, "executioner. Amuse me."
Murmurs of nobles rippled through the room. That quickly stopped.
The executioner stepped forward, sword glinting.
Bertom whispered a prayer. Ichard stared forward as his jaw trembled in fear.
The sword was raised in the air, and several nobles flinched. The queen pressed a hand against her mouth. A royal guard closed his eyes, guilt gnawing at him.
Konner leaned forward in excitement, his eyes glowing with cruel anticipation.
The blade fell
Ichard Sarek's head rolled on the floor as blood poured out from his body.
Multiple gasps were heard.
Konner leaned even further as the blade was picked up in the air once again and swiftly cut off Bertom's head clean.
Even more gasps swept the throne room, but no one dared to scream, so as not to end up like them.
King Konner smiled as he jumped up in joy at looking at the headless bodies.
"Borus!" Konner yelled excitedly, "Bring me both of their heads, I want to see the fear in their eyes."
"Y…yes, my king," the royal knight Borus said as he grabbed both heads. Fear twisted his face as he brought the heads up to King Konner.
"You are all dismissed, I hope you were entertained," Konner said while waving his hand to the nobles lazily focused on the heads borus brang.
The nobles quickly left the throne room, and fear overcame all of them. The noble who stared at Ichard walked out of the throne room, enraged, veins popping from his forehead.
"I will avenge you, brother… even if it means my death," the noble said, gritting his teeth as he walked out of the king's palace.
News spread to the Pommel and Sarek houses of the death of their heirs. They were outraged that the rulers of their houses met up secretly.
Jonan Pommel entered the castle named Emberkeep, which is the home of the house of Sarek, in the city of Trapool. Jonan Pommel opened the door to the chamber of Rhanes Sarek, who is the head of the family.
Rhanes Sarek sat in a chair, his hands covering his face as his body trembled
Jonan Pommel, seeing the state of the head of the family of Sarek, said angrily, "Rhanes, we have to do something to avenge our sons!"
"I know," Rhanes said quietly, his voice full of sadness. "You look pathetic," Jonan said, staring at Rhanes. "You know the realm is unstable since the foolishness of Sephur and now his son, Konner."
The room went quiet only the sounds of the wind from the window were heard.
Rhanes stood up, his grey beard moving with the wind. "I know what we must do: send messages to all the nobles you know who are unhappy about the king and wish to rebel." Rhanes Said, raising his voice with anger
After Jonan Pommel returned to his castle named Ironclad as he ordered messengers to go to the noble houses of Elaris, Nahlara, Morvain, Rowe, Vespera, Laurenia, Brythan, Brexley, Styne, and many other noble houses.
Horses galloped while riders carried the message, "Enough is enough, and we shall rebel if we do not, our fate will most likely end with our head not attached to our body."
As the messages were heard from the noble houses, many armies started to gather in the kingdom of Pherawyn. And this caught the attention of King Konner.
In the king's palace, many advisors and knights were in the throne room as one advisor brought news to the king.
"Your majesty," the advisor said with a worried tone, "nobles are starting to raise armies; it seems they are getting ready to rebel."
King Konner only smiled, "Let them rebel. I want to see their armies being destroyed, and when we win the rebellion. Arrest the lords of the houses and kill their children and wives in front of them," Konner said while laughing
"And then enslaving them to live their pathetic life," Konner continued.
"Let them see why I am king of all the land."
"But your majesty, we need to take this seriously. The nobles did not like you killing two he-" an advisor pleaded as he was cut off by King Konner "quit talking or your head will be on pyke" he said coldly.
Later in the city of Olkross.
A door creaked open. "My lord, your father wishes to see you," a knight said to a boy respectfully
"Is that so? Very well then, thank you for alerting me, Henry," the boy said, who looked to be around the age of 16.
The knight looked at the boy with respect and replied, "I am merely fulfilling my oath to your house."
The boy walked out of the room and went to find his father. As he walked down the stairs, he was greeted by the cool air touching his skin, as it was still early in the morning.
As he saw another knight, he greeted him and asked where his father might be. And the knight told him he was at the castle entrance, so Melo went to find him.
Seeing his father near the castle entrance, he walked up to him, but he also paid attention to how many soldiers were also at the castle
"Good morning, father," the boy said respectfully. "Good morning, Melo…I have called you to inform you to get ready to ride with me to battle." Melo's father, Heryd Brythan, said worriedly.
Melo had a confused expression on his face as he stared at his father. "What do you mean to ride with you to battle?"
Melo said as he stepped back and continued, "There hasn't been a war since the war of succession."
As father and son conversed, soldiers were packing their gear, and horses were neighing.
Heryd continued, "It's time…" he said in a heavy voice, "you've grown old enough, you're already 16, so you will fight within the frontlines." He said as his voice turned proud.
"And as for what I mean, it's because the nobles are rising and I answered the call to rebel against the tyranny of the king," Heryd said, his voice hung heavy.
"The king pushed too far with his tyranny; this was his last tyrannical order. We are no longer going to endure this." His tone was serious.
Melo could only stare at his father, lost in thought, thinking about his brothers and mother.
"B…but father, do we truly need to. What if we lose? We will be losing everything, and we will get killed for being traitors…" Melo said his face showed he was fearful as his hands trembled.
Heryd released a deep sigh. "I wish it didn't come to this…" Heryd continued, "Konner has pushed this realm too far; this is why we must join or die by his hands to be entertainment for him."
After Heryd finished talking to his son, a messenger called out, "Heryd Brythan!" Heryd turned to look at the messenger and walked up to him.
"Heryd, we must have your army go north to meet up with House Brexley's army." Heryd nodded, "I understand we move in three hours, so alert my men." The messenger nodded and walked away.
"Son, get your gear on and get ready, we shall move in three hours," Heryd said seriously
"I understand, Father," Melo said, bowing his head and going to search for his mother. As he walked up the steps of the stairs to the third floor, he came upon his three younger brothers.
"Brother, what happened? We saw you through the window talking to father," said the oldest of the three.
"Well, hello to you too, velor," smiled Melo to his brother and then turned his head and started speaking to the other two, "and good morning kell and Somir"
"Good morning, Melo," the three brothers said in unison. Melo could only muster a half smile on his face. "Father told me to get ready for battle and that…we are rebelling against the king."
The three brothers heard this, and Kell replied, "But isn't the king a tyrant? I've heard many stories from the servants saying that he murders anybody just to get entertained."
"It's awesome you're going to fight against the tyrant," Valor said excitedly. "I wish I could go to battle for honor and glory and also help the people." Kell scowled.
"Well…I need to find my mother to tell her I will be gone," the three brothers said goodbye to Melo and ran off.
After Melo went up to his parents' room, he opened the door to find his mother, Melori, leaning by a window. Her hair was fluttering from the wind, her soft, pale skin radiating beauty.
"Mother…I have news," Melo said. "I will-" he was cut off. "I know you have to go to battle, your father already told me, don't worry I'll be fine, I'll pray to the gods for your father's safety."
Milo could only stare at her and clutch his fist. " I promise you I will come back alive after I end the tyrannical reign of the king." Melo said
But all his mother could do was smile, "Get your gear on so you are ready for battle, my Prince Charming." Melo's mother laughed, and Melo could only put on a scowl.
"Alright, mother, I'm off," said Melo as he went off to his room.
Melo walked outside with his armor and mounted on top of his horse as the soldiers just glanced at him and returned to packing their stuff.
Melo had on grey armor as he was next to his father, who was wearing black armor, also mounted on a horse. While the soldiers also wore grey armor, the knights, on the other hand, wore light blue armor.
And all of them had a crest of a blue seahorse and the top a knight's helmet with blue and white cloth shaping the crest.
Image:
The army had 30 knights and 1,500 soldiers. Heryld turned his horse to look at the army and started his speech.
"Men of House Brythan!
Today we ride not for glory… but for justice.
For years, we knelt for a king who knows nothing of honor, nothing about mercy. Tyrak the third was the last king who had honor, who truly cared about his people, who ruled the realm and brought prosperity.
But now Sephur and then his son Konner have brought destruction to the kingdom; they are tyrants who know nothing about caring for its people or its nobles.
But no more.
Today, we rise.
We ride to join the noble houses who refuse to bow any longer.
The realm calls for men with courage.
And courage…This is what stands before us now.
House Brythan forward!"
Soldiers raised their spears and swords, shouting the house words and cheering. While the knights slam their fists on their breast plates in unison.
Horses stamp the ground, and the formation tightens, men standing proudly and ready for battle.
The knight Henry shouted, "For house Brythan!" And many of the soldiers and knights repeated it, and they began their march north to meet up with the House Brexley's army.
The ground thrummed, as sharp lines of men and cavalry marched north. " Melo, you know why this rebellion is happening," Heryd said softly.
"I'm not quite sure, Father," Melo said to his father quietly. "It's a long story, I can tell you it to pass the time and to catch you up"
"Sure, go ahead, tell me, Father." Melo nodded.
"King Tyrak III, while he ruled the kingdom of Pherawyn, the realm was prosperous, there was peace, and he truly cared about the kingdom." He said with a gentle tone, and he continued.
"But after his death, a new successor came to the throne. King Sephur was a fool, a greedy man who stole and extorted from his subjects.
He even killed his two brothers to make sure he was not overthrown and to be the only legitimate king. The day he died, all the nobles and the people hoped the new heir would be a better king."
Heryd paused and shook his head. And he continued, "But some nobles knew what Konner was, some of them visited him and saw how he treated his servants, how he liked murdering and making his servants suffer."
"All that brought enjoyment to Konner, those specific nobles that visited him knew that Konner was a monster, a devil, and once he took the throne, he killed nobles left and right who opposed him. And the nobles still knelt to the tyrant, but the last straw was the unjust murder of the two heirs, and those two houses sparked the rebellion that we are fighting."
Melo, while mounted on his horse, could only listen to his father as he clenched his fist. "How could they just let the king do that?" he asked, "but that will end soon when the house of Wynfir is deposed from power."
"Yes, but it will be bloody remember war is ruthless"
Heryd said as he watched Melo as they continued to march in silence
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End of the chapter. I really hope you enjoyed it, and please point out any spelling mistakes. And thank you until the next chapter.
I also want to say that I haven't finished writing the plot nor even the noble houses the characters or even the map so I won't update this for maybe a month so I need to plan it.
So expect chapters to come out in a month or two forgive me I'm just a tiny high schooler so you going to have to wait until thanksgiving breeak🥺
(I know I'm tweaking)