The Books of the Shadows

FROZEN SKY - 3 -

***** just a day before…

The War Council was formed of all his War Generals: the weapons, special tactics and strategy, information and war funding, the army commander, and the commander of the royal guard.

He got bored in the middle of the information exchange and also in the instant he entered the war council room.

The war council room was actually a cave-like room with only three walls and an opening through which you could see the whole valley. The cold air would fill your nostrils and the current announced the coming of winter.

The winter was hard here.

-My king, one of the generals bowed his head. Is it not the time to secure the bloodline with all this war going on?

-Are you afraid your king would fall before his time, General? his eyes fixed on the general with a cold and provocative look waiting for the answer.

The general bowed his head avoiding the king's look and avoiding a straight answer.

-My king, another general tried to intervene, we are at war all the time. We do not complain, but... What will we do if you ever get hurt? We need an heir to the throne. Secure the bloodline, Your Highness. We beg you to consider it.

-Yes, My King, we beg you to consider it. For the safety of our kingdom, just in case, secure the bloodline, My king, the ministers started to plead with him, please secure the bloodline, and they were bowing over and over again.

-Fine, I will consider it, the king rolled his eyes. Is this my war council or marriage proposals one, he dismissed them with a move of his hand growling. Leave now!

The generals left in a hurry pleased they kept their heads on their shoulders.

Since this was not a war, he would not put much thought into it. He actually did not care, it was not important to him.

Life skills were just not his thing. All he was living for, was war.

He would breathe it, dream it, plan it, live it.

Everything else was nothing.

The King decided that the next time he would hear anything about the subject he would kill the unfortunate soul. In great pain. Make it an example. Yes... he would have to make it an example so they have no other option left.

Sheng Zung was the King of the Shadow Realm. Belonging to the House of Warchild, and he honored his house being known by far as the strongest warlord king in the world. Strong-willed, and imposing in stature, his only presence in silence would scream danger. His voice struck like thunders, grave and strong, people would fear it only to hear his sharp tone speaking. He was usually quiet, and he did not need to say things twice.

No one dared to speak before him, and his palace was always on military alert.

He was the King.

Yet he had no family, no wife, no heirs.

He had killed his fiancee almost 8 years ago and since then he took no other.

He did not even have an heir.

There were mistresses, but he would kill them too.

He wanted no heirs or some say he was defying the war council that would require him to obey the laws of the shadows.

He ended up being the king after he managed to kill his brothers one by one, as martial law stated, the heir to the throne is only one. In the end, he challenged his father for the throne, who knew he was still in pain and wounded in the war, but it did not matter to him much. He just got what he wanted. As always.

The old king was weak. Sheng Zung did challenge him when he was only 18 and smashed his power in a blink of an eye.

Was that not the way of the kings?

With his father gone, and uncensored, he took the crown and the war has become a part of everyday life. Year after year, he conquered the neighboring fortresses, crossing the mountains and subjugating the territories uncharted. The trade started to flourish as he was securing the roads and creating key bastions.

He was very smart and would take advantage of any situation that would bring him any benefit. If cities could not pay with gold, they could pay with goods. If they could not pay with goods, then they would have their labor to pay with, and with their own natural resources. His army was his most important asset, so his own city was a military fortress.

No woman was allowed to smitten his men unless they were assassins enrolled in his army. He only had soldiers serving him, not even a maid in the castle. As if the maids were a danger and he would consider them such a danger.

His soldiers would always hear him say: "The deadliest assassin is the one who have you disarmed in mind, spirit, and body."

And who can disarm a man better than a woman or a child?

He did not have any competition now either. Was that not the right and safer way to rule?

Why would he need an heir now? to be killed when he would get weak and lose the throne to a child??

No. That would not happen to him. He was not weak as his father.

Hmmm... he was all alone sitting on his throne, all alone in his thoughts...

All alone... if he wanted, he could just take a woman.

Whenever he needed them, they would be more than available for him.

He knew his looks, and they were all eager. So that not being a problem, what more would a wife do for him?

He could get an heir from a mistress too.

An impure, true, with no claims to the throne unless he would be challenged as the law of the shadows required.

But he was not someone to be crossed... he made sure of it.

He was not someone to be challenged. He made sure of it.

He was The King no one dared to even look at. He made sure of it.

So how were they even thinking of asking for more than him? They were asking for his blood to continue the journey of life.

How insolent!

So why would he bother now with all those words? Who said he has to take a bride?

And why would he listen? What would they do, those ... unworthy impure ones... he could just crush them all if he would choose it that way?

He was better than his father.

Just the other day he was finding himself plotting the war when the council generals would watch him in silence.

He thought they would be done by now. Did he forget to dismiss them?

Oooooooo.... he felt their eyes gazing upon him.... here it comes...

A smile lifted the left corner of his lips. His eyes turned playful, and he looked amused. The generals misinterpreted his attitude and one spoke courageously.

-Your Highness... have you considered a bride yet? Would we hold a wedding party anytime soon?

He looked at the King to glimpse a response in his attitude.

He seemed relaxed, so another continued:

-Yes Your Highness... My lady can’t wait to dance again at a party!

-Don't they all want to get a party at the castle? The King started looking at them.

Generals in the Council started to feel more comfortable and smile talking in a slow voice with each other, thinking the King is considering a royal wedding. He was really looking relaxed and his looks would not betray anything dangerous. He was even smiling, which they have not seen in a long time. Maybe he was dreaming of a wife?

-And who would that be? one dared to ask. What House would have the honor, my King?

The room was waiting for an answer in silence.

The King's eyes changed, slowly... slowly... his attitude screamed danger to everyone, and the generals without exception began to feel chills on their backs. He looked like a predator, gazing at the prey. The prey was.... all of them.

-You are about to meet her... right .... now.... and a contemptuous smile lifted the left corner of his mouth.

They heard the heavy doors locking behind them and looking back at them; they saw the Berseker squad which made everyone gasp in fear. The Berserker had signaled rotating one of the swords once, making an invisible circle in the air, then a second time, and the order fell like a lightning in silence:

-Kill them all!

Within seconds, with inhuman speed, inhuman strength, and agility, all the generals were killed. Not even one of them had time to take his sword out of its scabbard.

They were not only killed but slaughtered.

The Berseker were the elite squad of the royal guard, and only under the King's command.

They were feared as people thought they were demons from hell.

And they really were the fastest, the strongest, the better of the entire army detachments.

One alone could kill 10 people within seconds, even if those 10 people were skilled fighters.

Their faces were always masked so they would not be recognized as they had no weakness, that would be the only one.

People say they turn into demons the moment they touch their swords.

At the King's command, they become the Berserker and they go into a trance that allows them to feel no pain if they are hurt, no hunger or other human feelings and needs.

They also say that the Berserkers will remain in that trance as long as they need to complete their mission.

And now the mission was to kill the entire War Council.

The King did warn them... if they did one more time...

Looking over the dead corps, he dismissed the Death.