The grand hall of the castle brimmed with the air of intrigue, as it always did when the king held court. The twilight sky beyond the towering windows cast the chamber in a silver glow, a perfect match for the ethereal yet ruthless energy within the room. Lords and ladies, both high and low, lined the walls, each holding their own ambitions, secrets, and desires in check. They all waited, calculating their next words, their next moves, knowing that one misstep could spell disaster.
Asher sat at the center of it all, lounging in his throne, a figure of cold, unyielding power. His grey eyes held the room in a grip that silenced even the boldest. His dark hair, disheveled yet regal, framed his sharp features, and his posture spoke of a man who had seen and endured far more than anyone dared to comprehend. He was not just a king—he was a force of nature, and no one forgot it.
"Bring forth the next matter," Asher commanded, his voice a smooth, dangerous melody.
Lady Lyssandra, a lower lady from the outer villages, stepped forward with a humble bow, her request for more provisions in the winter months. Asher waved a hand, and Hadrien nodded in agreement. "Your village will receive the aid. Ensure your people are prepared before the snow falls."
She bowed deeply, relief evident in her eyes. As she stepped back, a new presence filled the center of the hall.
Lord Gaius, one of the high lords and the overseer of a prosperous province near the borders of Elyndor, moved with an air of self-importance. The court watched him carefully, though some shifted uncomfortably. Gaius had long been whispered about—a man of ambition, one who desired not just power but the throne itself. He had been sneaking around for months, causing trouble here and there but the fae were a tricky race. Ambition fueled them, second to ruthlessness and it was no secret that he had been tiptoing around, poking where he did not belong.
"My king," Gaius began, his voice falsely reverent, "I come with concerns for the stability of the realm."
Asher's expression remained still, his fingers tapping lightly against the arm of his throne. "What concerns could you possibly have, Lord Gaius?"
"The people whisper, Your Majesty," Gaius said, voice lowering conspiratorially. "They speak of dark things... of how the king came to power after the untimely death of his parents. Some believe, perhaps, that it was not the sorcerer who claimed their lives, but another."
The court was silent. All eyes shifted to the king, waiting for his reaction. No one breathed. Gaius stood there, his words hanging in the air like venom.
Asher didn't flinch. His grey eyes locked onto Gaius with an intensity that made the air grow thick. "And what are these whispers, Gaius?" His voice was deadly calm, a tone that sent shivers down the spines of the gathered lords and ladies.
Gaius, emboldened by his own ambition, pressed on. "That it was not the sorcerer, but the king himself who took his parents' lives... to claim the crown."
The court gasped softly. Even those accustomed to deception and plotting looked shocked at the brazenness of the accusation. But Asher's expression remained unreadable, a mask of indifference.
"Is that what you believe, Gaius?" Asher asked, his voice dangerously soft.
Gaius stood straighter, emboldened. "I only repeat what I have heard, my king. It seems the people are losing faith—perhaps they feel that a new ruler, one untainted by such accusations, would serve Thalorwen better." He smirked.
Gasps rang throughout the room, the nobles murmuring amongst themselves. It was true that that day was dark and suspicious, especially the king suddenly killing the sorcerer and gaining control but no one dared say anything.
Asher tilted his head and gave a chilling smile. "And who would be better suited to rule Thalorwen, Lord Gaius?"
The court tensed. It was so silent that you could hear a pin drop as everyone held their breaths.
Gaius straitened and dusted his coat. "Tharlowen would be better off being ruled by a fae that hasn't been touched by dark sorcery. Perhaps even gods-cursed. Creatures like that were banished millenia ago."
Asher rose slowly from his throne, his presence filling the room like a storm brewing on the horizon. Hadrien's jaw tightened, while Damon watched with a grin, knowing what was to come. The air crackled with the king's power, a dark and dangerous magic that made the court's collective breath catch.
Asher's eyes darkened. "You have spread lies, deceitful rumors intended to destabilize my rule, to steal the crown for yourself."
Gaius swallowed hard but tried to maintain his composure. "I—"
"You dare to challenge me?" Asher's voice was a thunderous whisper, filled with a fury that no one in the room had ever heard before. "You dare to test my rule?"
Before Gaius could respond, Asher's hand flicked, and the court felt the surge of magic, dark and cold, suffocating the air. In an instant, Gaius's body froze, his eyes wide with terror as the magic constricted around him. He began to claw at his neck as red mist sprayed in the air. The sky outside darkened until only lightning cracked. The power surged through him, suffocating, controlling, until with a single gesture, he exploded in a shower of blood, bone and meat, coating everyone in the hall.
The silence was deafening as Asher smiled evily.
The court stood frozen. No one moved. No one dared speak.
Asher's eyes scanned the room, the power still radiating off him. "Let this be a reminder," he said, his voice echoing through the hall, "that any who question my rule will meet the same fate. I will not be tested."
The high lords and ladies remained silent, fearlessly plotting their next moves, but with a renewed sense of caution. They did not fear for their lives as lesser beings might, but they would tread carefully. Thalorwen was a kingdom of power, ambition, and cunning—and Asher had made it clear that he was the most dangerous of them all.
"Next case." Asher waved his hands boredly. A man in the front row stood up and walked towards the throne, bowing as he stopped near it.
"Your Highness, such a delicious display of power," he licked his finger and grinned. "I'm glad our fae brethren are still ruthless."
"Lord Erwin, you've come a long way from Elyndor. To what do I owe this visit?" Asher remarked boredly.
Lord Erwin shrugged. "Seeing as I was in the kingdom for trade, I brought you a message from Queen Seraphine." He pulled out a scroll and handed to Hadrien who handed it to Asher.
Reading the contents of the scroll, Asher smirked. "A ball?"
"Not just any ball Your Highness. A diplomatic ball between the five kingdoms in Eldranor." Erwin smirked equally.
"Interesting. And what would I gain in hosting some of my greatest enemies?"
"Peace." Erwin replied.
Hadrien whispered inAsher's ear. "We could use this to our advantage. Discover secrets, exploit weaknesses and crush oppositions Your Majesty."
Asher didn't respond immediately, his eyes still burning with the remnants of his anger. He glanced at Damon, then back at the court and Erwin. "A ball," he repeated, his tone carrying a hint of dark amusement. "Yes, let the court dance while they plot their next moves. It will be entertaining to see who dares test me next."
"Your Magesty." Erwin bowed as the court was dismissed.