King Maximus was on his deathbed. As much as he had dreaded it before. The loss of his son had made him take a different approach to it these days. He lay on his death bed more or less accepting his fate. Darticus sat alongside him as he listened to his fathers words. He and everyone there knew that those were going to be hos last words. King Maximus spoke a lot of words , some carried wisdom and some were words that had no meaning in itself. " I have seen a fair share of life in my time" he said to his son. Not all were good, and certainly not all were bad. But the worst and the best moments of my life had always been intertwined with my children. When I lost my son, it was the worst moment of my life. When I saw Atticus turn into an evil man, it was one of the worst moment of my life. And then when I saw you become the king, I had never been happier. No victories of war, these riches had given me that kind of happiness. Darticus was moved by his fathers words. I only want to do proud by you, my father, he said. His stepmother was there in the same room, she sat in the other corner of the room. As much as she despised Darticus become king, his rule and actions were slowly turning her into his side. Maybe he was the right choice to become king, she wondered.
Son, spoke Darticus. You will see a lot of wars in your lifetime. Some you will win, Some you will lose. More often that not you will encounter an enemy much more powerful that you are, said Maximus. I know father, That it is better to fight together than fight alone, said Darticus. Yes, said Maximus. I never fought alone and when I did, I lost everyone of the wars I fought in. And when Markus left us, he left such a hole in the kingdom. That hole was never fixed and I knew the day that he died, that hole would never be fixed. And after my friend was no more, I started to fail the people. I failed the kingdom, my people. My virtues was replaced with greed, said Maximus. When he spoke his words, his wife turned the other side, pretending she did not want to hear it. Darticus wanted to get up, but he could not leave as his father held his hands. I needed you to listen to that Son. When you come across the times that push you towards doing such deeds, I want you to think about what had happened to me. The failings of your father should burn bright at those times, said Maximus. I won't fail you father, replied Darticus. Hana had just entered the room and whisked Darticus away for a moment. I'm scared Darti, she said to him. It is alright darling, to be scared. But you must do, what must be done, he said to her. Those words were not comforting to Hana, but caused her more Distress. To my own father? she asked him. How can I do that? she looked at him with almost teary eyes. I need you to be strong darling, he said to her. To save the lives of many innocents , we must do things that is sometimes asked of us. He said to her as he slowly caressed her cheeks. It may be the person who gave birth to you dear, but it is certainly not your father now. That body is inhabited by a madman now, he said to her and removed his hands from her cheeks. She did not say anything after that, she walked away. Darticus looked at her as she left the corridor and into a building. And there leaped Beirod from the shadows again. When she is there in the mountains, I need you to kill Arakur. We shall put the blame on her, said Darticus. Even Beirod was shocked that the king would stoop to such a level. He did not want to take up the mission. But hesitating the king would prove to be fatal. Yes my lord, he said and moved back into the shadows. And Beirod , he said before he was completely invisible. Keep the knife under the pillow of Hana. The shadow nodded and disappeared! Darticus went back into his fathers room.