Dark and Wet

You can almost sense what it would have been like for the new King a week ago, waking up to sunshine, silk sheets, and not a care in the world. Here in the south, it is a far cry different. Your ears pick up the pelting rain outside and the hard crack of lightning. The sky is always dark gray around The Spire, and since your return you could count only three months of sun spread sporadically throughout the year. There are times when you miss the north, the soft comforts, the fresh fruits, the heat; but it's better this way.

The Spire is where you belong.

You open your eyes and behold the great hall of Doom's Keep. You sit upon the throne at the heart of the fortress, draped in the customary dark furs of your station. They are the same style that your father once wore, and his father before him, and his father before him. The room has few people besides yourself, but they are both trusted and important.

Lord Endwin stands near his customary seat at the base of your throne. He has been steward of the keep since the end of your grandfather's reign, a position he has filled both loyally and admirably. He was your father's closest friend, and you remember loving him like an uncle when you were younger; since your return that affection has only resurfaced. His age has begun to show however; his once thick and luxurious hair has thinned and grayed, his face once clean and handsome carries hard lines born of difficult decisions, and his figure once strong and firm now is hunched and requires support to move about. Yet despite his slowly failing body, his mind is as keen as ever; as is his grasp on your realms politics.

Just behind him, standing directly in front of you, is the tall and proud form of Sir Zachary Tobias, Frost Knight, and captain of the Ice Wolves. Ten years your senior, he is an accomplished swordsman and veteran of more than a dozen campaigns. He was at Riverain when your father was killed and after the **** of his liege, instead of ordering a retreat, rallied the men and led the charge that drove the goblins back to the mountains. His face is crossed with several scars which he bares as a badge of honor. Since your return home he has taken up to teaching you both the sword and military strategy, and you have found his tutelage to be invaluable.

Far to the left, standing in the dim light shining through one of the windows, is Lady Adrianna. A graduate mage from the Coven, she was sent to the Spire almost a year ago to complete your training; a task that has clearly frustrated her with its constant delays and interruptions. Under ideal circumstances, your education would take another five to ten years to complete; as it is you have no idea how long it will take now, if ever. She's young, scarcely five years older than you and passed her trials not a fortnight before being sent south. You wonder if this is some sort of punishment for her. Then again, perhaps it is a punishment for you. She is beautiful though with long, fiery red hair (a rarity in the south), and radiant green eyes. You often found yourself fantasizing about her, but as yet have done nothing about it.

The last, standing near Lord Endwin and Sir Zachary but not sure of her place, is Sister Cynthia a priestess of Itheria's dominant religious order and delegate of Father Landon who, due to health issues apparently, could not attend. You know little about her, having only met her once before, except that she's quite demure; something that could be explained by her shocking youth. You have no doubt that she could be one or two years younger than you are, and what brought her to the order in the first place you couldn't tell. But all of the priestess' robes in Itheria couldn't hide the fact that she is remarkably beautiful, and incredibly sweet.

You sigh as you notice that a particular person who should be here is absent yet again. Still, you've waited long enough.

"What vexes the minds of our most noble lords today?" Your words are slow and quiet, but your voice rumbles like distant thunder over the plains.

You scan the room and watch for everyone's reactions. Lord Endwin stifles a pleased grin while Sir Zachary steels himself as though he was to face a coming storm. Lady Adrianna's disapproving glare is expected; and you shove a hearty laugh down your throat before it escapes, as you behold the young priestess tremble and step back, terror on her face. Your father once told you, in your youth, that the Duke's vassals must never see him pleased in public. The Spire, and the lord who commands it, has a reputation of intimidation. In the past fourteen months you have struggled to be one worthy of it.

"Your Grace." Lord Endwin speaks up. "I bear troubling news. Evidence has reached my hand of Count Tannis' treachery to the crown, and you sire."

You knew this was coming, yet still you must resist the urge to leap for joy. Lord Tannis is a powerful southern noble whose family was granted Castle Hillgard generations ago for their military service to The Spire. Castle Hillgard lies on the eastern stretch of the Frostpeaks; it sits atop a large hill with a mountain to the south, the marshlands to the west, the Duchy of Opheal to the north, and open plains to the east. It guards the most direct route from the Citadel to the Spire and protects the south's only real arable land. As such, Castle Hillgard is the second most important fortification in the Frostpeak duchy behind only The Spire. While the family was once close friends of the Von Dooms, recent dealings have cooled the relationship and, under your father, become nearly hostile. Still sworn as your vassal, Lord Tannis has displayed delusions of grandeur. It became apparent to you not long after your return that he believed he should be Duke of Frostpeaks and has sought to undermine your authority at every step. However, without proof of wrongdoing, you were honor-bound to do nothing.

Now all of that can change.

"Show me." You command.

Lord Endwin reaches down and grabs a satchel placed beside his seat; he then makes to move up the steps to your throne when Sir Zachary stops him and offers to take the item instead. It's a kindness that you've come to expect of the Knight, and are glad when the old steward accepts. All pleasantness fades from your heart when you behold what's inside.

"What. Is. This?" You grumble.

You know what it is, the engraving on the hilt a dead giveaway as you pull the scepter from the sheath.

"It is your gift to King Bryce for his coronation." Lord Endwin states. "It was found in the hall at Castle Hillgard, amid a great celebration."

"He reported this stolen by bandits." You growl through clenched teeth.

"Indeed sire." With only the faintest hint of a smile the old steward adds, "It appears he is said bandit."

"This celebration," you question "We've sworn witnesses?"

Lord Endwin nods, "Several, Your Grace. They arrived just this morning."

You slam your fist down on the armrest with such **** that even Lady Adrianna jumped. "Sir Zachary!" you shout "Raise the war-banner! I want every able-bodied man ready to march."

The knight nods respectfully, "As you wish Your Grace."

Lord Endwin quickly interjects, "Your Grace, I have further news." The glare you give him lets the lord know you don't want to hear it, but he continues anyway. "An envoy of the King arrived yesterday, His Majesty requests a company of Frost Knights for his march."

"What march?"

Endwin shakes his head regretfully, "The envoy wouldn't say, only that the King commands."

You slump in your seat, and Sir Zachary delivers more bad news, "Your Grace, I hate to compound your troubles, but there have also been reports of a goblin nest found in the Frostpeaks, near Twin's Pass. By the estimates of their size I would say we'd need a legion to wipe them out."

"A legion?" You ask stunned, "A nest that size could threaten the whole of the south! How was it not spotted sooner?"

Sir Zachary swallows hard, "Your Grace, the area in question is supposed to be patrolled by the forces stationed at Castle Hillgard."

You roll your eyes in exasperation and let your hands fall beside you. "Of course."