The Ghanral council

The king of Ghanral looked out across his city, known as Ghal. He was in the tallest tower of the city, the structures and building could easily be seen from this height.

He was a tall man, with a broad physique, his thick dark brown hair reached at his shoulders, a trimmed beard adorned his chiseled and pointed face. He had trained his body and mind over the past years, his ascendancy to his throne happened twelve years ago, and he had prepared himself in all arts of war, strength and intellect as best he could. Now, at the age of forty-one, he had thought it best for his forces to strike the neighbouring kingdom of Steelton, to obtain their resources and craftsmanship.

The Steelton blacksmiths were artisans in this wide area, and the king of Ghanral needed that advantage to continue his reign, and to advance his kingdom to new heights.

The tower was home for his counsel meetings, and he was early. He admired the view of his holdings, how his people and soldiers were dutifully bound to him, and his goal of establishing his kingdom as the greatest in the land. The doors opened and one of his guards entered, he wore iron breastplate, greaves and a helmet. A halberd was securely held in his hand as he addressed him.

“King Atlus.” The guard said. “Your council members have arrived and await for your permission to enter.”

The guard was a young man called Theo, Altus trusted him with his life as the he was indebted to the king. King Atlus demanded respect of his privacy and to listen to orders, no one was allowed to enter until he gave the go ahead. The only one who could enter without the express permission of king Atlus, was his guard, Theo. Altus had appointed him as his personal guard at all the doors that the king was behind. Theo would give his life to protect the king, and Atlus granted him more leniency due to his undying loyalty. King Atlus never had to worry about an **** attempt from Theo, unlike others in his court that craved the king’s power.

King Atlus nodded his head to Theo, giving him the unspoken instructions that his council members could enter. As Theo left to pass on his orders, Atlus sat at the head of the long oak table that was situated in the centre of the room.

The doors opened again and in came in his court, the ones her valued for his kingdom, their wisdom and tenacity to accomplish goals for the Ghanral kingdom was second to none.

There was his steward, Abbot. He was a portly man who had a knack for securing coin and wisely investing in it to gain more income.

Henders, his marshal and commander of his army, he was in charge with training the king’s soldiers and securing the control and peace in his lands. He was a strong looking man, with neatly trimmed hair and clean shaven face. Presentation and correct impressions were like an unbreakable law in his morals.

Benjamin, his chancellor, he dealt with things of all letters involving diplomacy and integrations of titles. He was a thin man, greying and receding hair.

Aconite, a woman renowned to be a witch of the oak woods. She had wild dark hair, pretty facial features, and a sadistic smile that always seemed to be a permanent standard of her. She wore a tattered black dress with not much material as it showed much of her skin. The hemline stopped at the top of her thighs, if she bent over, you would be able to see her underwear. She was also endowed with a very shapely and large rear end, which many men seemed transfixed by. The dress also showed a generous amount of her full cleavage, and on her chest was a red painted, five point star, which symbolised that she dabbled in witchcraft. She was short in stature, but she made up for it in her fiery and confrontational personality. Her feet were completely bare, she had never been seen wearing shoes before, always without any sort of clothing to cover her feet. The soles of them were slightly dirty from the days events of walking on dusty floorings.

She was followed by her mentor, Caine. A strange and mysterious man. He had a gaunt looking face and an elongated body. He had pale as porcelain skin that almost made him look like a corpse, he was deprived of any hair, being completely bald, including his eye brows. And in the centre of his forehead was a black cross, that always made king Atlus unsettled. It was rumoured he was a powerful sorcerer, and his penchant was in the darker arts, mainly around necromancy. Atlus cared nought for superstitions of collaborating with people in his field. The king only cares for the progress and expansion of his kingdom, by any means necessary. Caine acted as an advisor of sorts, as he had seen much of the world here, and beyond the sapphire coasts to the west. He needed this man’s knowledge and experience, and he had proved usual of late.

Everyone sat down in their allocated seats, his steward and chancellor looked at Caine and his apprentice, Aconite nervously. They never seemed to be fully comfortable around them, unlike his marshal, who was as stoic and determined as ever.

“How goes the efforts for my seizing the lands of Steelton?” He asked his council.

“The organisation and assembly of your forces are going as planned, your grace.” Said Henders in his rough and gravelly voice.

“Good.” Said Atlus. “How long until you are ready to deploy my army?”

“Within the fortnight, a show of **** has been made to Steelton.”

“That’s not the only show of **** made.” Said Caine almost in a whisper, but his words were easily heard within the company of the king’s council.

“Quiet, sorcerer! Speak when you are spoken to!” Henders shouted out to the pale, bald man. Aconite made a perverted giggle, seeming to enjoy the aggressive tension in the room.

King Atlus raised a hand at Henders, gesturing to be silent. “That’s enough, Henders. I wish to hear what Caine has to say.”

“I am sorry, your grace.” Henders apologised and bowed his head to his king, a quick glance of spite was made to Caine.

“Continue.” Said Atlus, addressing Caine.

The sorcerer smiled then cleared his throat.

“Thank you, your grace.” He said in the same whisper. “Wolvir warriors have been seen patrolling the borders with Steelton soldiers.”

Aconite’s eyes sparkled with mischief. The chancellor guffawed at the information shared. The steward shook his head in disbelief. Henders squeezed his fists tighter, his knuckles becoming white.

“Aren’t they difficult to fight, I’ve heard they are strong and ruthless.” Said Abbot, the steward.

“Wolvir are just savages, they have no real military strategy.” Said Henders. “We can easily out-manoeuvre them on the battlefield.”

“Not these ones.” Said Caine. “They are to be led by their king.”

“What of it, a wolvir king is just as savage and undisciplined as his warriors!” Bursted Henders.

King Atlus wanted to know more of what Caine spoke of, he turned to his marshal.

“Henders, this is a council meeting. I wish to hear the council of all my members. Please bite your tongue when others are speaking. If you cannot do this, then please leave.” He told Henders.

The commander of the Ghanral army looked shocked at what was said to him. He was undoubtedly loyal and served the best interest of the Ghanral kingdom, but he did not fully trust the sorcerer, and had a tendency to give in to his aggressions. Even though the sorcerer and his apprentice had been apart of the king’s council up to almost a year, he had proven to be useful, and offered sage advice.

“I apologise once more your grace, it will not happen again.” Confirmed Henders, Caine continued.

“You see, your grace. This wolvir king knows the art of war, I have seen his success during a war between another set of neighbouring kingdoms. It was his participation and tactics that ensured the victory of his patron.” Caine took a quick breather, then explained further. “He is known as king Fen, and with what my spies and scouts have gathered, he overthrew his old king to become the new one. He is more adept and cunning, showing great promise in securing victories in battle. He would be a formidable opponent to face.”

King Altus contemplated what was said to him, stroking his neatly trimmed facial hair.

“Do you have an idea on how to deal with this wolvir and his warriors, Caine?” Asked the king.

He smiled maniacally, Aconite followed suit in his actions, almost grinning from ear to ear, their eyes glinting a madness behind them.

“My plan, your grace, involves the wolvir king. You see, he has something of mine, and if I can procure it from him, then victory is all but assured for the Ghanral kingdom.” Caine told Atlus.

“What is it he has?” Said Atlus curiously.

“It is about what we discussed some time ago.”

The king understood immediately, the sorcerer had a plan for Ghanral to amass an army that would be decimate his enemies. An army that would put the fear of god into them, subjugating them into passive and easy targets. With what Caine discussed with him, was that some people had to die, but the advantage to that, was it could be his enemies that would suffer this fate.

Steelton had no idea what was about to happen to them.

“Very well, Caine. If you can get this item back, you have my permission to use it for the benefit of the Ghanral kingdom.”

“Thank you, your grace. Aconite and I will make the arrangements.”

“You will have full disposal of what you need.” Said the king. “This council is dismissed.”

Caine and Aconite were the first to rise, Caine bowed towards him. “You will be pleased with what is to come, your grace.”

Aconite curtsied with the short skirts she had in her dress, gripping it to reach over her wide hips, her black thong garments could easily be seen by all. If she knew of what she had done, she didn’t seem to care, in fact, she took a twisted joy of making the men uncomfortable at witnessing her panties.

“Thank you, your grace. An honour as always.” Her voice was sweet sounding, but the sadistic smile that was plastered on her face countered the warm feeling you would get from listening to her.

Caine walked down the long spiral staircase, Aconite followed in tow, her bare feet slapping against the cold stone floor steps.

When safely out of earshot, did Caine speak again, his words directed to his apprentice, Aconite.

“Soon my apprentice, we will have what we need.” Said Caine.

Aconite quickly came to his side, her hands clasped together at her chest.

“And then, they all die?” She asked in a giddy and deranged tone.

“Of course, they must all be dead for the ritual to take effect…even king Atlus and his kingdom.”

Caine found it difficult not to laugh, but he controlled himself to stifle it. Aconite had no such control, and she laughed a sweet sound, but she sported manic and demented eyes, that even surprised Caine.