Chapter 12 Deadly Choices

The night before.....

Small houses were being built for the people of Dawnville to settle in, but for now they lived in tents while some lived in the city hall. The injured were taken care of and everything seemed to be going well even the morale of the people improved a bit. Iris and captain Levi were exhausted from all the work and they decided to take a break. They walked through the streets of Curtis together looking for a tavern to get a drink and something to eat.

"The people must be terrified, with the increase in security and everything else, it's no wonder the city is lonely." Levi said to Iris as they walked down the street. They got to a tavern and walked inside, they looked around at the people here.

"I guess even the fear of death wouldn't stop a man's appetite for a little beer" levi said with a smile as he gave Iris a pat on the back. They walked to a table by a window and sat, not too long after a waitress came to them,

"What would you like to have ?" She asked

"Two cups of ale please" levi said "do a little something for the young lad here he can't handle the strong ones", the waitress nodded and went away.

"You've been awfully quiet Iris, are you thinking about anything in particular?" Levi asked with a concerned look,

"I have all this power and I can't do anything with it" Iris said,

"Aahhh it's all coming back to you now I see" levi responded "listen don't beat yourself up Iris you couldn't have done anything none of us could've…."

"Here's your ale" the waitress cut him short as she arrived with their drinks. 

"Two cups of ale for you and a little something for the young lad" the lady said with a smile and she left.

"If there was a way to, to learn how to use this gift I have.." Iris said "the king talked about my kind being rare, it means there are others, is there  a way to find them,"

"We have a duty to our king Iris"

"We no longer have a king" Iris retorted, a bit louder than he wanted to, "sorry it's just… there's nothing left for me here"

"You know Iris, there are schools for those touched by the gods" levi said to Iris

"Really, why haven't I heard of them?" Iris asked,

"That's because they aren't in the seven kingdoms," Levi responded, 

"Wait, you don't, mean…."

"Thats exactly what i mean, they are outside the seven kingdoms, that's why you haven't heard of them and that's why it's almost impossible to survive there if you're not strong enough." Levi said as he took a big gulp from his cup, while Iris drank slowly,

"Almost..." Iris said with a smile,

"Listen Iris the outside world is dangerous, probably even more dangerous than being at war with king Steven Blade" levi said with seriousness,

"How do you mean?"

"There are stronger people out there, and stronger monsters too and from what I've heard very expensive to live there." Levi said and drank from his cup again finishing the ale and took the second cup, while Iris listened intently. "The outside world is survival of the fittest Iris"

"Isn't that the same as here?" Iris said with a frown,

"Do you know what they call us Iris, they call us a back water continent, we are nothing in their eyes, going there with our strength is suicide"

"But going there means I can get stronger and that means I can …."

"Can what, ? Iris " levi asked with anger, "go on say it, you think this is a joke you want revenge against king Steven Blade of Kingsland. Hmph you must be mad" Iris clenched his fists and hit the table making some people look their way.

"I will leave, I have to, I need to" Iris picked up hi cup and Finnished his drink in one big gulp, he took out a copper coin put it on the table, then got up and left Levi staring into space.

Iris left Levi at the tavern and went back to the city hall to get some sleep.

The morning of the queen's return.

  It's morning and king James got up early, a little later than the time Queen Felicia returned. He came out to the city hall and outside he saw tents on the streets, he saw his people the atmosphere wasn't as gloomy as he expected, he saw children playing with each other, he saw people helping each other, even at a time like this he still saw a smile on their faces. It pained he that he could do nothing to save his city, he wanted to go to them as their king, he wanted to comfort them and show them that he was still there for them. But he couldn't he was ashamed, he turned around and saw a guard approaching him,

"The king has requested your presence it's urgent" the guard said 

"Oh is there an issue ?" King James asked 

"I can't say" 

"Very well then, lead the way." King said. The guard led him to the throne room.

King Festus was on his throne wearing a blue breastplate and and braces with matching boots, his sword was pointed down to the ground and both of his hands were on the hilt. Two guards were beside him in full blue armour set, one on his right and another on his left, two more were on both sides of the doors that led outside and two more were outside guarding it.

King James was led through the doors by the guard that called him. King James looked to the side of the throne room and saw his wife and daughter standing together with a guard standing behind them.

"Father ..."  King James' daughter exclaimed,

"Honey, what's going on.." his wife asked worried,

"It's alright dear" he answered, then he turned towards king Festus on the throne, 

"Festus" King James asked in an enraged tone "what is this, why have you held my family hostage?"

King Festus stretched his hand forward, there was a note in it, "here..."

"What is this ?" King James asked as he took it,

"Just read it James" Festus responded with an eerie calmness in his voice.

King James read the content of the letter and as he read on his expression changed until there was a frown disgusted frown on his face, one of anger.

"Festus " King James said as he looked up "explain" 

King Festus sighed "my wife and daughter went to the Crimson Sect and month ago. The army of Kingsland got there and ..." he sighed again, "one was worried I wondered if my wife and daughter had died, until I received a letter from Kingsland, from king Steven, a  weeks ago asking me to surrender."

"Oh God Festus..." King James exclaimed in fear.

"I didn't know if it was a lie to get me to give up my kingdom easily or if it was true. Until now." 

"What if it's a trap Festus, let's think about this for a second. .." King James said as he put his hand on Festus' shoulder, king Festus looked up at him,

"My wife returned early this morning with that letter in her hand" King James took his hand of king Festus' shoulder and took a few steps back, he looked round the room and then toward his family, he just realised that he is in big trouble and there's nothing he can do to get out of it.

King Festus stood up from the throne, he put his sword in its scabbard that was on his waist then he walked up to king James,

"I'm not saying this as a king, I'm telling you this as a brother and as a  friend. Surrender James"