Sheng Zung was the King of the Shadow realm. Belonging to the House of Warchild, he honored his house being known by far as the strongest warlord king in the world. Strong willed, imposing in stature, his only presence in silent would scream danger. His voice hit like thunders, grave and strong, people would fear it only to hear his sharp tone speaking. He was usually quiet and he did not need to say things twice. No one dared to speak before him and his palace was always on military alert.
He was the King. Yet he had no family, no wife, no heirs. He had killed his wife almost 8 years ago and since then he took no other. There were mistresses, but he would kill them too. He wanted no heirs or some say, he was defying the war council that would require him to obey the laws of the shadows. And that was really the first law: the duty of the king was to secure the bloodline. All he had to do was to provide an heir to the throne. Yet he had none, for some reason he was not doing his duty as a royal blood and the concil called an emergency meeting to ask him to consider obeying the first law, otherwize the entire House would be in danger.
The War Concil was formed of all his War Generals: the weapons, special tactics and strategy, informations and war funding, the army commander and the royal guard commander. He got bored in the instant he entered the war council room. The war council room was actually a cavelike room with ony three walls and an opening you could see the whole valley through it. The cold air would fill your nostrils and the current announced the coming of winter. The winter was hard here.
-My king, one of the generals bowed his head. Is it not the time to secure the blood line with all this war going on?
-Are you afraid your king would fall before his time General? his eyes fixed on the general with a cold and provocative look waiting for the answer. The general bowed his head avoiding the king's look and avoiding a straight answer.
-My king, another general tried to intervine, we are in war all the time. What we do if you ever get hurt? We need a heir to the throne. Secure the bloodline Your Highness. We beg you to consider it.
-Fine, i will consider it, the king rolled his eyes, Is this my war council or marriage proposals one, he dismissed them with a move of his hand growling. Leave now!
The generals left in a hurry pleased they kept their heads on their shoulders. As this was not a war he would only did not put much thought in it. He actually did not care, it was not important to him. Life skills were just not his thing. All he was living for was war. He would breathe it, dream it, plann it, live it. Everything else was nothing. So why would he bother now with all those words? Who said he has to take a bride? and why would he listen? What would they do, those ...unworthy impures... he could just crush them all if he would chose it that way. He was better than his father. The old kingwas weak. He did challenge him when he was only 18 and smashed his power in a blink of the eyes. Then he had killed his brothers, so he had no competition. Was that not the way of the kings? He did not have any competition now either. Was that not the right and safer way to rule? why would he need an heir now? to be killed when he would get weak and lose the throne to a child?? No. That would not happen to him. He was not weak as his father. Hmmm... he was all alone sitting on his throne, all alone in his thoughts... All alone... if he wanted, he could just take a woman. Anytime he needed, they would be more than avalable for him. He knew his looks, and they were all eagered. So that not being a problem, what would a wife do more for him? He could get a heir from a misstress too. An impure, true, with no claims to the throne, unless he would be challenged as the law of the shadows requierd. But he was not someone to be crossed... he made sure of it. He was not someone to be challenged. He made sure of it. He was The King no one dared to even look at. He made sure of it. So how were they even be thinking of asking for more than him? They were asking for his blood to continue the journey of life. How insolent! He decided that the next time he would hear anything about the subject he would kill the unfortunate soul. In great pain. Make it an example. Yes... he would have to make it an example so they have no other option left.
The days went by... just another day he was finding himself plotting the war when the council generals would watch him in silence. He thought they would be done by now. Did he forget to dismiss them? Oooooooo.... he felt their eyes gazing upon him.... here it comes... A smile lifted the left corner of his lips. His eyes turned playful and he looked amused. The generals missinterpretated his attitude and one spoke courageusly.
-Your Highnes... have you considered a bride yet? Would we hold a wedding party anytime soon?
He looked at the King to glimpse a respons in his attitude. He seems relaxed so another continued:
-Yes Your Highness... My lady cant wait to dance again at a party.
-Dont they all want to get a party at the castle? the King stated looking at them .
Generals in the Council started to feel more comfortable and smile talking in slow voice with each other, thinking the King is considering a royal weading. He was really looking relaxed and his looks would not betray anything dangerous. He was even smiling, which they have not seen in a long time. Maybe he was dreaming of a wife?
-And who would that be? one dared to ask. What House would have the honour, my King?
The room was waiting for an answer in silence. The King's eyes changed, slowly... slowly... his attitude screamed danger to everyone and the generals without exception began to feel chills on their backs. He looked like a predator, gazing at the prey. The prey was.... all of them.
-You are about to meet her... right .... now.... and a contemptuous smile lifted the left corner of his mouth.They heard the heavy doors locking behind them and looking back at them, they saw the Berseker's squad which made everyone gasp in fear. The Bersekers had signaled rotating one of the swords once, making an invisible circle in the air, then a second time and the order fell like a lightning in silence: Kill them all! Within seconds, inhuman speed, inhuman strength and agility, all the generals were killed. Not even one of them had time to take his sword out of its scabbard. They were not only killed, but slaughtered.
The Berseker were the elite squad of the royal guard, and only under the King's command. They were feared as people thought they were demons from hell. And they really were the fastest, the strongest, the better of the entire army detachments. One alone could kill 10 people within seconds, even if those 10 people were skilled fighters. Their faces were always masked so they would not be recognized as they had no weakness, that would be the only one. People say they turn into demons the moments they touch their swords, and when they become the Berseker they go into a trance that allows them to feel no pain if they are hurt, no hunger or other human feelings and needs, and they will remain in that trance as long as they need to complete their mission.
And now the mission was to kill the entire War Council. The King did warned them... if they one more time... Looking over the dead corps, he dismissed the Death. Left alone in his chambers, his Monk appeared behind him.
-My King. It was a mistake.
-I did not ask you.
The King was facing the window with no bars, that was only an opening in the wall towards outside. He was looking at the waterfall that would just caress the walls of the mountains surrounding the Shiran fortress. The fortress itself was carved into the mountnain's stone, with precision and was surrounded on three sides by the waters of the canyon which was uniting Shiran with the city of Lothar. The waters falling in front of his window it offered a soothing spectacle and with all the noise of the water carving the walls of the mountain, it occupied his tireless mind. This way only he would manage not to hear his own thoughts, and also the thoughts of the others. Because he could hear them as well as he could enter the thoughts of others.
He ended up being the king after he managed to kill his brothers one by one, as the martial low stated, the heir to the throne is only one. In the end, he challenged his father for the throne, who knew he was still in pain, wounded in the war, but it did not matter to him much. He just got what he wanted. As always. With his father gone, and uncensored, he took the crown and the wars has became a part of everyday life. Year after year, he conquered the neighboring fortresses, crossing the mountains and subjugating the territories uncharted. Trade started to florish as he was securing the roads and creating key bastions. He was very smart and would take advantage of any situation that would bring him any benefit. If cities could not pay in gold, they could pay in goods, and if they could not pay in goods, then they would have their labor to pay with, and with their own natural resources. His army was his most important asset, so his own city was a military fortress. No woman were allowed to smitten his man, unless they were assassins enrolled in his army. He only had soldiers serving him, not even a maid in the castle. As if the maids were a danger and he would consider them such a danger.
His soldiers would always hear him say: "the most deadly assassin is the one who has you disarmed in mind, spirit and body." And who can disarm a man better than a woman or a child?
Knock! knock! My king! he heard in the door. Amazed by the audacity, he returns to the door that opens. Two guards standing there looking at him with a wondering figure and instantly asking almost awkwardly:
-My king, you are summond to the Council Room...
-I am what? the king raised an eybrow. Unbelivable, he thought. What Peasants are summoning ME in the War Council???
The guards were already gave back to make room for him to pass and they were trembling loking down their feet.
-The Council My Lord? one of them asked with such a low voice that he thought he was going to faint.
-I did not appoint the Council yet... the King said thoughtfully.
-It is appointed by default, Your Highness, the Monk's voice came from behind. The king can not remain without the War Council, therefor, as i tried to tell you, they would be appointed by default if you do not appoint them rigth after you... execute them. The Monk searched for his words not to challenge the King.
-Hmmmm.... so who will be part of my new Council now then?