Female Man

Chapter Two – The end is near.

She was also the same age as his own Amelia and was about to get married to a Konia Prince. Sent out for marriage alliance just like her Aunt. Thanks to this development it won’t work out. The Konians had no ties with them anymore. Even the Shanks, which has been confirmed had made alliance with them. Latvian is once again a solemn kingdom, with all their resources owned by them.

Amelia begins leaving with Lillian. “Your father would be honored” the King whispers.

At Konia)

King Kamp of Konia Kingdom had locked up himself awaiting the news of the war. He had ordered his chamberlain to knock on his door twice if there was good news and many times if there was bad news. The General of the Konian army, General Stan, had arrived with news of their defeat.

The whole court was broken, he had quickly added that they had taken hostage the General of the Latvian army, that had elated the court. It wasn’t a complete defeat. They could use him for ransom. General Stan was well aware that a general can’t be used. They were to serve their country even till death, but he dare not make his people lose hope in him.

The chamberlain had intercepted the General and asked personally if there were more good news. “I’m afraid not, good man. The gods were not with us in this battle. We lost men yet lost a great alliance. We shouldn’t have gone with this war. I warned the King but his ego wouldn’t let him. We already had lots of alliances with Latvian. They were peaceful and had given us all we asked. This, they would never forgive us. We had showed them our bad part and they showed there were worse. I even think having this General is a bad omen to us” General Stan had said.

The chamberlain walked slowly to the King’s door. He didn’t want to be a bearer of such bad news. “Who is that knocking noisily like a mad man at my door?” the King shouted, totally forgetting his instructions to his chamberlain. “Well, your highness, General Stan has arrived” the chamberlain answered. The door swung open revealing the King's smiling face, “I’m sure there’s good news. With our magicians and Dhanks forces, Latvian is a wasted land already” he laughed.

He begins marching to his courts, the chamberlain followed him cautiously. Suddenly the King stops, “You had knocked many times, why?”. The chamberlain's face went straight, he swallowed a lump of saliva. “You said I should, your highness”. The King eyed him suspiciously “Is there any good news?”

The chamberlain swallowed another lump of saliva, “Yes, my good king, there is”. He met the King's gaze and diverted his eyes quickly. “Well, the good news is that General Stan had captured Latvian's General alive. Their General would be our host for a long while. He is being kept at the underground dungeon” the chamberlain forced a smile.

The King smiled back, “Bless our gods! That General Stan always surprises me” he continues his march towards the court. The chamberlain didn’t follow him so the King turns to him “What is the matter?”.

The chamberlain shakes his head repeatedly “This Kingdom has made lots of mistakes, your administration as King has been carried the worse of mistakes. If only you have swallowed your pride, if only we had swallowed our pride and accepted the Latvian’s peace alliance, our warriors, our sons', their blood wouldn’t be at that wasted battle ground” a tear dropped from the chamberlain’s eyes. The King stands surprised. Never has any of his workers ever dare to caution or speak like that to him.

His Queen rushes in from the court. “Oh King, chosen and blessed by the gods, we have failed. Our people would suffer, our children would suffer. All the international ports had gone and all our goods are being rechecked. The Dhanks just sent saying they cancel our alliances and would start a war. We are finished. The Konian gods are dead!” she wailed. The chamberlain looked down at the Queen who was now crying on the ground. “Even our Queen had seen the vision. Indeed our gods have abandoned us. The end of Konia is really near” he whispered.

“No!” the King shouted. “It is your end that is near, old chamberlain. It is your blood that would flow. Nonsense!”. The chamberlain begins shaking in fear, he was surprised the King had heard him. He had spoken out of thought.

The guards of the castle ran in as they heard their King shout. “Seize this man! He and our Latvian General would sing a duel for me this night” the King pointed at the chamberlain. His Queen looks surprised and tries stopping the guards. “My Queen, do you think I am incompetent too” her husband shouts at her.

She calms down and leaves with her maids. The King kept on boiling till night. He had refused the General and the chamberlain’s 'duet show' and dismissed everyone. No matter how he tries to deny it, the chamberlain was right. Even he could smell the corpse of people to die at Konia. But his pride still blocked his nostrils, and shielded his heart from feeling shame or the pain of his people.

(The next week, at Latvian)

The news of the disappearance and possible demise of the General had left the people sad. A burial was made for him and flowers were gifted everyday. To the people of Latvian, they had lost a son for the general had been kind to one and all. The older women of the Kingdom told stories of how he had called them mother and had visited them regularly till he became to busy to visit. Still he sent some food and money to them. Some had added how they had consoled him when his mother died.

His younger sister being married off to Konia had weakened him also, and now he, being killed by an allianced Kingdom. Pure betrayal.