Chereads / Against Shadows And Steel / Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: King Of Kiltar

Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: King Of Kiltar

In the Western region of Kiltar, two young and short men were running towards Kiltar's castle.

Inside was seated a man on his throne, but the men were too scared to knock on the door.

A guard looked at them and said

"Be going!" He said harshly, in spite of knowing the reason for the mens' fear.

And that fear was of the man that sat on the throne.

King of Kiltar, Yartar.

They went in and knelt before the king, and one said

"Your majesty! Now all of Kiltar believes that prince—"

"Shut up! Timothy is no prince!" The king said while getting on his feet.

The man apologised and continued

"Now... All of Kiltar believes Timothy is the leader of The Rogues."

The king shrugged

"Lazy! You people could have spread those rumors sooner!" 

The other man spoke up and said

"Your Highness! This type of work takes time."

The king folded his arms enraged

"Takes time?! When I helped your families, did I take time?! Huh?!"

The men were speechless.

"Well, where is Timothy?"

One of them spoke and said

"We are not sure. All we know is that he's either hiding in Kiltar or Misk. 

The last place he was seen was at the border between Kiltar and Misk."

The king grew in bitterness.

"Guards!" he screamed with a thunderous tone.

Two large and heavily built men came in.

The king of Kiltar grinned at the spies

"I'll have you two decide what your punishment for laziness will be: Flogging or punching?"

The men were silent and profuse amounts of sweat were on their faces.

"Both then."

The king said without emotion.

The guards began to wipe and beat the men without stopping.

While Yarter went to the window to look outside and screams where going on behind him.

"I always loved how screams could be so loud" he said to himself closing his eyes.

Then opened them fiercely

"Timothy, wherever you are, I'll call you with the very screams of the people you try to 'save'"

While he was still thinking to himself, a man in a fine robe came and looked at the torment going on with grimace.

"King Yartar! I bring news for you."

"My adviser, Crunart, you know I hate suspense. What now?!"

"It has been confirmed. Our plan of kidnapping the daughter of Misk's North-eastern Duke is successful."

The king's heartbeat lept faster as his eyes opened with joy.

"Adviser of a great king! Splendid! 

Now that we have distracted the Duke of the region that contributes most of Misk's fighting power, then we can proceed."

The adviser gave a wicked smile.

"This crucial step has been completed. 

Misk will lose power due to the Duke is distracted."

The king's smile grew more wide and wicked as he said

"Which is a step closer to conquering Misk."

***

{10 years ago}

Timothy was reading scrolls outside and when his mother was passing, he stopped her and said

"Mother! W-why do I always have to read? Why can't I play like other kids?"

The mother's eyebrows furrowed while she smirked

"Well, you'll be Kiltar's king one day. And they'll need a wise ruler."

Timothy stopped talking and stared in the ground for a while and replied

"Then why do I have to do archery and sword training at night with father? 

While others kids get proper rest, I rest for a short time. Then train, then rest. Over and over—"

The mother interrupted him

"That's cause no one, not your father, myself or you knows what tomorrow will bring.

So, we need you to grow up wise and strong—"

A slim and tall man emerged. It was Kiltar's king at the time.

"Your mother's right! It's not easy now, but you'll see later how all you've been learning will pay off!"

He said enthusiastically, then his expression turned grave.

"Timothy, every generation had its struggles and your parents can't always be there." 

Timothy began to feel saddened.

The father patted his shoulder.

"Don't worry! Keep progressing in what you do, and people will be begging for your help!"

"Really?" Timothy wondered.

"Yes! Amd when that happens, you'll see that you never wasted a second of learning!"

Then his father challenged him

"Timothy, I went through this same experience and my father saw fit to let me rule from age 26!

How will you use your knowledge?"

{10 years later}

On the valley top of the North-eastern region of Misk, a man in a black cloak surveyed the land.

Thinking back to that day ten years ago, Tye said with his heart burning

"Indeed, all that knowledge will save our country."

After a few moments of silence, he went from a sad to angered expression.

He quickly turned back and sent a large pin towards a tree.

A man in a thick dark green robe fell to the ground.

Before he could get up, Tye's leg slammed his face, sending him back.

"Please!" The man said, begging for mercy.

Tye grimaced and asked annoyed

"Stop what?! Who?—"

Before he could finish his words, an arrow slit his elbow.

"Aahh!" Tye yelled, clutching his soldier.

The man got up and said

"Fool! You think I'd come alone?" He said with an evil smile.

While he was talking, an archer had his arrow pointed at Tye from a distance.

Tye grimaced at them

"This is annoying!..."

He thought to himself.

The man in front sent a dagger towards his neck.

And the dagger hit Tye's throat, releasing out blood and he fell to the ground.

The archer kept his bow and rushed towards them.

The assassin looked at the archer and said

"Now this is done, let our employer the noble know of this."

They left the body behind.

But in their front, was a tall figure in a black cloak standing firm.

The sight made the men pale and frozen.

"My turn." He said to them.