King Berubah remained in the council hall when all his lords and the women that had dined with them had left and he kept humming the melodious sounds that popped into his head as he stared at the empty chairs before him. He drank from the mug in his hand and when the mug returned to the stool beside him, he streamed through his beard and nodded. He hadn't had his fill of wine and he was known to never have his fill.
It was customary that he should be on his bed, resting his back but a lot was on his mind. He had prevailed against the orcs only to have his tactics set to another part of the war scheme and it was the probable war that might break loose based on his attack on the human realms. Particularly at the time when a truce was about to be in place between him and the human king.
"No. Not at this time. No war with allies, no war among in-laws," he said to himself and stood to his feet. As an afterthought, he turned to pick up his mug in his hand and walked through the length of the hall, still humming as he went.
When he reached the end of the hall, he turned to the direction wherein he came from and placed his hands on each other and then made them rest on the small of his back, even while he was holding on to the most precious mug of his.
As he was about to reach the position of his throne, footsteps approached and he paused. He worked his mind on the possible visitor that it might be and his mind could only pick out his son, Prince Alabin from the endless list of people that may visit him at the hour.
"Father," a voice came and it was just as he had thought of it. it was Alabin's voice and at the cognizance of it, he turned around and belched.
"Prince Alabin. The finest among the men. The fairest among my lords. The wit behind the flourish of my kingdom. My eyes and ears. What keeps you up at this hour? Tell me," Berubah asked.
"I am flattered by the commentaries. I feel honoured by them," Alabin said and raised his head.
"I am to ask, father, what keeps you up the moment. We are in a time where we should be merry and drink. It is another moment of peace, getting the orcs from our borders and the city is filled with the pride of victory, yet you are here, plotting another. May I know what it is?" Alabin asked.
"You shall reign after me. There is no controversy in the same way that there was one when I was about to take my father's throne. You have my mind, Alabin. I can't sleep because there is a fire on the mountain. You can't sleep because you have seen the fire too. Tell me, my son, what is the fire that you have seen? What is the fire that had kept you awake knowing that there is an impending danger?" Berubah asked.
"War with the human realm. Am I right? father," Alabin said.
"I have seen it too. It is what I want to stop but I don't know how. What is that in your hands?" Berubah asked when he saw the rolls of paper that were in Alabin's hands.
"I was told that you are in the court and I wanted to come and give you portions of peace for the night," Alabin answered with a smile.
"And how do you intend to do that?" Berubah asked and emptied the mug in his hand.
"the terror I have seen will eat up whatever peace you give me if it is not taken care of."
"When I speak about giving you peace, I mean peace in abundance and I mean it. Permit me to add more wine to your mug," Alabin asked and Berubah nodded as he puts his mug forward to Alabin who took it and walked close to the throne and got more wine from the barrel.
As he did, Berubah turned to face the throne and watched prince Alabin as he returned with the cup in his hands and smiled as he approached.
"Now tell me, what is the peace dose you want to prescribe?" King Berubah asked and Alabin took the submissive position of a messenger – he formed his hands behind him and bowed slightly.
"First, we have to deal with the uproar before we think of the upcoming ally with the humans. It is true that one of the bandits has been caught and there is a reason that he was kept alive – Merodah. She is one of the women who seems to bring the prophecy to fulfillment. Although we can't say most assuredly, for now, she is a force that cannot be taken with levity. Among the possible and potential queens that the human realm has produced, she holds the biggest shot at the throne to me. There are claims all about that there is a limit to the expectations of a rogue but we cannot deal foolishly. She will probe him and he will talk. In order to prevent that I have prepared a warrior as a sarcastic peddler. He will roam the street where Merodah rules and he will find the cell," Alabin said and paused.
"And then what?" Berubah asked.
"What will happen thereafter will depend on the turnout of the situation. If it is easy to break him out, he will break him out. If it is not possible, he will be killed and we will have the bandits to take care of. I guess it would be easier to take care of bandits than to deal with the world of men," Prince Alabin said.
"Nice. I am pleased with the style," Berubah said.
"Now, where is the peddler who will represent the sept?" King Berubah asked.
"Abah, son of Tubah," Alabin shouted and Berubah turned to see Abah as he walked into the hall. His beard grew outwards so much that it filled the space of his face and enclosed his features. He had a purse around his waist and there were pouches around it. He was known to be an undercover warrior, not in the army but was quite aware of the rules of engagements in battles and was in the secret squad of Prince Alabin. He knelt when he reached where king Berubah stood.
"Arise, Abah," King Berubah said and Abah rose to his feet.
"Go as you have been told."
Abah rose to his feet and bowed twice. One for the king and the other for his prince. Then he went out of the hall.
"Father. I have also gotten images of the princes from the human realm and here they are," Alabin said and unfolded the rolls of paper in his hands.
"There are four of them and they are all prominent men who also serve in the hall of their father. I am not sure of their names but all of them would stand in the place of your son-in-law," Alabin said.
"Let us await them, we will see who will be fit," Berubah said and allowed a smile to burst from the side of his lips.