Crest of Royals
Author's notes: I hope that you like this story as much as I do. I don't have much to say about this although it is in the fantasy world of Dargath. Hope that you like it because I am nervous as heck putting this one on.
Prologue: Immoral Elegies
The atmosphere buckled under the pressure of the room as the condescending glares around the rectangular table locked upon him. The gazes of several different hues were familiar scenery of blue, green, and violet. Everyone knew that would take the side of the children of Chaos. It should not have come as any surprised. King Ashgard wetted his lips and throat with wine that was hardly touched until that moment.
“If the princess wanted to do any harm,” Ashgard spoke richly. “She would have drowned the entire town within seconds with her waves.” Ashgard brought his eyes to view the expression of the council.
“It’s not the fact that she wouldn’t…” a man with dark skin. His eyes were the color of the violent portion of the regular scenery. “It is the fact that we stopped her.”
The person in question, a half dragon princess, entered into the sea town of K’allira. Her work was only to be a professional mediator between the uses of the sea. However, they couldn’t overlook the sheer fact that she was the Levia, one of four races within the Shoutu region. Being that as it may, the children of Goddess of Harmony looked down at her like she was nothing less than peasant. That happened too often for Ashgard’s taste. It would take his persuasion to release her from the prison. That’s the reason the council was held.
King Ashgard ran his large hands through his dark brown hair. He was actually surprised it hasn't lost its color by now. It was only slightly seasoned with gray here and there. He prepared himself to speak.
“I’m trying my hardest to mend the relationships between the people of Shoutu and people of Kaital continents. Please look at it my way,” Ashgard beckoned.
“If they ever walked in my territory,” Grikk, the Dwalven King, barked. “I would give them something that they would never forget.”
“You also have to see it our way,” Selina spoke. She was the High Elf queen and served as the mediator between both sides. She often toyed with her white hair when she spoke. “If we allow this to go any further, they might feel too comfortable in kingdoms. Deep setting scars doesn’t disappear easily, Ashgard.”
“I want that. I want them to live comfortably in our region and vice versa…” Ashgard sighed as he said that.
Ashgard dug his face into the palms of his dark skinned hands. He rubbed them against his face feeling the wrinkles underneath his purple colored eyes. He was getting older despite his stature being as meaty and tall as his youth. He could no longer do many of the things that he once done. Maybe persuasion was one of those skills dwindling down into nothingness.
“Why don’t we just kill them all,” Magnus shouted; it was very like him to shout things with so many consequences.
“What would that achieve?” Ashgard’s eyes darted towards him.
“That we are definitely better than that trash across the God Divide,” Magnus twirled hair of his deep black beard around his claw-like fingers. “I can always whip
up a Millennium Spell this occasion.”
“NO,” Ashgard shouted.
“That is ridiculously…” Selina agreed while her diamond colored eyes sharply gazed at Magnus.
“I’m for it,” Grikk mentioned matter-of-factly.
Ashgard wanted to scream at the top of his lungs while yanking both Grikk and Magnus from their seats. Why couldn’t they see those people across the canyon had lives just like they did? They just viewed them as trash between their feet. They couldn’t understand or they wouldn’t understand. He had bit of difficulty understanding which one applied.
“King Ashgard, may I say something?”
The King of Humans waved off to give his chancellor the chance to speak. Haul, Ashgard’s chancellor for forty years, was a wise man that always knew what to say and when to say. Aging hasn’t been kind to him. His long white hair with fragile blue eyes observed table as he staggered to weak his legs. He was dying—it was evident in his movements.
“King Ashgard,” a young knight approached the king before the chancellor could speak properly.
“It better be important,” Ashgard warned as he straightened his blue and gold robe. He gave another glance at the knight. He was the chancellor’s son as seen by the crackle in his voice and the length his hair. “What is it, Gareth?”
“There is a messenger in the main hall. Can you entertain them?” Gareth asked.
Ashgard heaved loudly before looking around. The three other royalties seemed not to mind the interruption so he silently asked for their request to momentarily leave. Pleased with the calm reactions of the other royalties, he arose from his chair. He exited soon after leaving the room quietly.
“I have news for all of you,” Haul spoke softly. He only proceeded when the king’s footstep matched the tone of his voice.
“We are listening…” Selina said brushing the locks of her hair from her pointed face. She pulled them around her pointed ears.
“I want all of you to be as calm as possible when I say this…” Haul warned.
“Depending on what the news is,” Grikk grumbled with his crimson beard moving up and down.
“King Ashgard…is going to die today…” Haul’s calm voice solidified. He was indeed serious.
The loss of air swept through the room like a wave on the beach. Selina brought her thumb to her mouth surprised dearly on the situation. Her already colorless face seemed to have lost any remaining hue left. She clutched her fingers tightly to her palm.
Grikk clutched the crimson braid of his hair as he waited for the chancellor to continue. His chubby finger rapped viciously against the wooden table. His skin had too flushed to a light tan instead of his normal darker tone. He clinched his teeth.
Magnus, however, seemed to be pleased. His already crooked smile, expanded like water into ice, cracking its original limits upon his dark skinned face. He had that look of “finally” on his face. He grinned as his placed his elbows on the table.
“It is known that King Ashgard is against the war of Sho’s children,” the chancellor smirked on what appeared to be stationary lips at first.
“This is sudden…” Selina’s voice lost its silkiness.
“It is happening as we speak, milady,” Haul bowed. “An assassin from the Faded Twilight is his messenger--a messenger of death,” Haul closed his eyes.
“I suppose this is for a more favorable king…?” Grikk questioned.
“His son—the eldest of three…” Haul realized the number only after he said it.
“Three?” Selina questioned. From memory, she couldn’t only remember two.
“Third is an illegitimate child for say. He is going to be our little fodder,” Haul eyes opened.
“That is very immoral….”
“What if I said it was half-orc,” Haul pondered.
The three royals turned to each other. They shared an expression. The last child—the middle child in the family—was a half-orc. That was clearly a taboo that couldn’t be ignored. Selina seemed to mind it the least while the other two appeared to be disgusted. They whispered amongst themselves before speaking again.
“Well that puts a new dimension on things…” Grikk said wincing.
“He was trying to make a better world for his son…” Selina whispered to herself.
“Ha. Sounds like a plan to me!” Magnus roared in a fit of happiness.
Silence dominated the room now and the tension seemed to be lifted to be replaced by the linger stench of remorse. There was no way to stop it now. King Leis von Ashgard the XIX will be dead before the sun reached its height. It was only a matter of waiting now. The sound of conflict erupted from the other end of the castle. It had started.

"To me, jumping out into the rainy sky on a mad night is nothing more than a bit of fun to go with a drink." -Kinzo