Oxen found that he was no longer troubled by the death of the king. For a time, the memory had haunted him. It would often come alive once again in his dreams and when he would wake in the late king's bed a voice would whisper to him, You are not welcome here. King killer. The people had loved their king no doubt, but Oxen did not need their love. He had the love of his parents, Turen and Mare.
“Your Highness,” began Salkar. “The people are growing restless. We must do something about this.” The priest looked stressed. “Even with the might of the dark one at our back we are far from his domain here. His powers are only so strong as of now.”
The dark one. The one they call Slithzalien. It was a name that sounded strange on Oxen's tongue, but one he had heard. Whispered here and there in dark inns and places where the shadows creep. A foul creature from a time going back before his father's fathers, stretching even farther back perhaps than the time when King Oxen's ancestors walked the earth, King William and Queen Cecilia. William and Cecilia are but remnants of what they once were. The queen is become a witch and the king most likely buried with her. But my fate will not be the same as theirs. I am Oxen Mollish, ruler of the south.
“I fear you are right,” said King Oxen. “We must crack down our rule even further and expose the rebels, Salkar. Would that they would all burn for their treason against their king. I know that they do not love me as they loved Galfer. But they will hang if they do not do as I bid them.”
“I have another matter to discuss with you, your Highness,” said Salkar. “I fear that a boy named Ing Roan is going to be coming here soon with a companion of his. Her name is Alma Lifetree of the mountain people of Dharma in the northeast of Eclestia. I believe he seeks to put an end to your rule.”
It would not surprise me if he did. I've heard the name Roan before. “We will be prepared if he does,” said Oxen firmly. “It is only to be expected after what happened to his mother Selenia. Curse that fool, Horace Horn for killing the woman. If she were still alive then maybe her son would still be here within my clutches and I could have killed them both when the time was right.”
Salkar looked tired and withered. “This is only a guess, your Highness. I do not know for certain that Ing may come here and wrestle you for the throne. Many dangers may have beset him between here and the north. But if he does come I can only hope that it is not with his uncle, Erste Roan. The man was once a brave knight and my brother fought alongside him in the civil wars of old in Lableck. The man grew to hate my brother and no doubt hates me too for his deeds.”
Are we plagued by this many enemies? Oxen thought. The shadow of war is come upon Ganwin. Can I hold on to this town or is it too late? It may be that I should flee and leave this town behind along with the royal priest, Salkar. “It would seem the Roans are enemies to both of us.”
“We share the same enemies, my king,” replied Salkar. “Your enemies are my enemies, for better or worse. I did not want to trouble you further, but it must now be said that this war is soon going to erupt and its flames may consume all. I have received a letter from my master that the mountain people of Dharma have assailed his fortress in Akram.”
“And you thought to withhold this from me?” asked Oxen Mollish.
“Never, your Highness, I simply didn't want you to lose heart. Everything is not yet lost. General Soren drove back their forces and they were forced to flee back to their hiding place in the Horda Mountains.”
“My friend, Salkar,” said King Oxen, “you swore to me that this armor from the forges of Akram was not able to be pierced by any sword.”
“King Oxen,” Salkar responded, “has the black armor from the north that our knights wear not proven itself satisfactorily? Surely you cannot question the armor's strength. And can you doubt the help we have been given from the supplies of Spidree venom to soak their rods in? Both these things have proved an immense help in staving off the rebel scum that are plaguing our streets.”
“I do not doubt that,” said the king. “But I have seen a knight of mine die. How can that be if he wears impenetrable armor? The Spidree venom has helped, but how long will it last? Ruling this town, it would seem, is not as easy as either of us had bargained for, Salkar. It should have been easy enough. With the king out of the way, we had no one to stand in our way. Not a queen or a prince, no one.”
“Yes, but you know the rebels have found a leader,” said Salkar. “They are organized now and so they pose a bigger threat than they once did. But, I think good things are coming our way. Your father and mother—King Turen and Queen Mare—are heading for Ganwin. They bring a lady with them that they would see you wed. I think this will help to calm the people. It has been many a year since they had a queen. The last time was during the reign of King Garwen. I remember her face well.”
“And I hope my parents
