Two young serving girls, their eyes wide with a mixture of fear and curiosity, giggled as they caught sight of Kragnir. Their laughter was quickly stifled as they realized the gravity of their situation. With a hurried curtsey, they bowed their heads, their bodies trembling slightly. Kragnir, amused by their childish antics, offered them a reassuring smile.
The oak door, heavy and imposing, stood as a barrier between the mundane world and the heart of power. With a confident push, Kragnir entered the room, his gaze sweeping across the long table where the kingdom's elite were gathered. At the head of the table sat King Ryker. His face, etched with lines of cruelty and brutality, was a roadmap of the kingdom's tumultuous history.
"Your Majesty," Kragnir greeted, his voice low and respectful. The king acknowledged his presence with a curt nod, his attention focused on the man addressing him.
The speaker, a man of imposing stature and stern countenance, was the king's right hand, a general with a reputation for ruthlessness. "Prince Cassius' madness grows with each passing day," he declared, his voice filled with a mixture of exasperation and fear. "To name him crown prince was a grave error."
Ryker's eyes flashed with anger. "My word is final," he growled, his voice a thunderous roar. "Cassius is my heir, and he will rule this kingdom."
Kragnir nodded, his expression impassive. His gaze shifted to the other members of the council. The Lord Commander, a grizzled veteran with a scar that ran from his eye to his mouth, regarded him with a mixture of respect and disdain. The Lord Admiral, a man with a keen understanding of the sea, nodded in acknowledgment. And finally, the Grand Maester, a wizened old man with a mind as sharp as a dagger, offered a subtle smile.
A servant, his face pale and drawn, pulled out a chair for Kragnir. The man's eyes held a flicker of fear, a silent plea for mercy. Kragnir, with a pang of sympathy, glanced at the man. These servants that served in the court room, were often the first victims of the kingdom's brutality. Many had lost their tongues to prevent them from revealing the secrets whispered within this hallowed walls.
"The chair is too high," Kragnir muttered, his voice barely audible. The servant, relieved by the distraction, quickly adjusted the chair to a more comfortable height.
The general's voice, laced with contempt, continued, "Cassius is not even your firstborn, Your Majesty. Prince Valtor is." The mention of the king's eldest son sent a ripple of grimace through the room. Valtor, a man of boundless ambition and equally boundless arrogance, was a constant thorn in the court's side. Ever bemoaning the title that was usurped from him.
Ryker, his face flushed with anger, waved a dismissive hand. "Cassius will prove to be a worthy ruler," he declared, his voice echoing in the chamber. His choice was clear, and no amount of dissent would change his mind.
Kragnir, ever the observer, watched the unfolding drama with a detached amusement. The rivalry between the two princes was a well-known fact, a source of endless intrigue and speculation. He wondered how the kingdom would fare under the rule of either man.
Kragnir, his voice dripping with sarcasm, addressed the king. "Ah, how delightful! Father would be thrilled to know he got to enjoy the company of the gods before you managed to make a mess of things, Your majesty. I'm sure he's sipping wine with them, laughing at the prospect of your...enlightened decision-making."
Ryker's face turned a shade of crimson as he glared at his brother. The council members exchanged nervous glances, their silence a testament to the tension in the room.
The general, undeterred, pressed his point. "Cassius' mind is addled," he said, his voice rising in pitch. "He is a danger to the kingdom."
A cold chill ran down the spines of those present as the doors to the chamber burst open.
"Perhaps I am insane," Cassius said, his voice low and menacing. They hadn't even noticed his presence. He continued "But at least I'm not unbridled." His gaze swept across the room, landing on each member of the council in turn. "And when I am king, you will find that madness is contagious."
"Speak of the devil," Kragnir muttered under his breath, his voice carrying just enough volume to be heard by those closest to him. He raised a hand, signaling to the servant not to fill his cup. He had no desire for wine in the company of such madness.
King Ryker's gaze fell upon his Cassius, his face a mask of disapproval. The bloodstains on Cassius' boots were a stark reminder of the horrors that had unfolded earlier that day. "The blood will get on the rug," he spoke, his voice low and menacing.
Cassius, unfazed by his father's displeasure, smiled. "Let us not pretend this rug has not soaked up far more blood than this," he replied. The king's face darkened, a silent acknowledgment of the countless lives that had been lost within these walls.
Cassius made his way to the table, his movements those of a predator stalking its prey. His gaze fell upon the goblet of wine placed before the general. With a swift movement, he snatched it up and drained its contents in one long draught.
The general opened his mouth to protest, but the sight of Cassius' cold, calculating eyes silenced him. He closed his lips and sat back in his chair, his body tense with unease.
Cassius continued, "You should know by now that I will be king. Well, once I make sure Father no longer breathes."
He settled into a chair opposite the general, his posture exuding an air of superiority. The council members exchanged nervous glances, their silence a testament to the fear that gripped them.
King Ryker, his face flushed with anger, slammed his fist on the table. "The Verdant South is failing," he roared, his voice echoing through the chamber. "Maric Keldran, that fool, is breeding children like rabbits while the region descends into chaos."
Kragnir, unable to resist a dig, muttered under his breath, "What did you expect when you put a cretin in charge of an entire region?" His words were lost on the king, but the other council members exchanged amused glances.
Ryker's anger intensified. "I want Maric Keldran gone," he declared, his voice filled with venom. "Him and his entire brood."
Ryker, his mind made up, continued to Cassius, "You and Xarenos will ride south in a fortnight, with your men at arms. Eliminate the Keldran brood." His voice was cold and calculated, devoid of any emotion.
Cassius, ever the showman, responded with a mock bow. "As you wish, Your Liege," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
The Lord Commander, his voice filled with doubt, spoke up. "Would this not raise questions?" he asked, his tone cautious.
Ryker's eyes flashed with anger. "Let them question," he retorted, his voice booming through the chamber. "I will deal with the consequences later."
The king rubbed his temples, his face etched with weariness. "I do not want the entire kingdom descending upon the castle," he said, his voice low. The prospect of a mass influx of nobles and their entourages appeared to be a nightmare he was desperate to avoid.
Kragnir raised an eyebrow, his skepticism evident. There was more to this than met the eye, he was certain. Cassius, as if sensing his uncle's thoughts, offered a cryptic smile. "Indeed," he said, his voice filled with a sense of foreboding.
"Let the court be adjourned," Ryker declared, his voice final. With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the council. As the members of the court began to rise from their seats, the tension in the room slowly dissipated, replaced by a sense of anticipation.
As the last of the council members departed, Kragnir glanced at Cassius, whose blank expression broke into a smirk. He had no stomach for Cassius' madness on this morrow.