The Books of the Shadows

FROZEN SKY -2-

The King reached to sit on the throne placed in the back of the War Council room. His throne, a massive wooden chair, carved with two golden dragon bodies surrounding the back and rising up high as if protecting the man sitting on it.

He sits, and in silence gazes upon the young boys who would become the Lords of their houses now that their fathers were gone. The older was no more than in his latest twenties. The younger was maybe around 17 years old or close to that, he thought.

Children were easy to manipulate at his will, he thought. Good.

-You are to swear your allegiance to me, the King said. Then we can discuss changing to that stupid Old Law of yours, he said.

-The Old laws can not be changed, My King, the Monk behind him bowed his head and kneeled on the right side of the throne.

-Are you saying I am not the King, Monk? His eyes turned towards his monk and his voice stated the anger.

-I am saying the old law establishes the duty of the King to repair one bloodline of the houses, which is a good thing for our kingdom as this is the chance to secure your bloodline with an heir My King.

The Monk had spoken in a low, soft, and calm voice so he would not raise the anger of the king even more.

-Or I can just kill the New Council... the king mocked the audience that froze in the room. He could swear no one was even breathing in there, waiting for the silence to break.

-You could, My King, the monk said softly. But then again, the same law would be standing and you would just kill more of your pure Lords until there would be none left to rule.

The monk was stating the obvious, saving them all. Was he really telling the king there was no option he could grab now, no other choice but to marry??? That was unbelievable. No one alive would be willing to testify that Sheng Zung could ever be forced to do something he did not want to do and marriage was not ever what he would choose.

He did not need a woman, for any would be more than willing to satisfy him at the slightest glance or allusion thrown in their direction. But after the satisfaction, he needed nothing from them.

Little children were not his thing. Maybe, at some point, when he is old, and takes a woman to give him one, and of course she would take care of raising the brat. But he needed no wife because that was a liability and a weakness and he could not bear the thought of him being weak.

-I do not need a woman, Monk, and if I were to need one, I could choose it myself, he said.

-We know, My King, but the law is coming handing for the kingdom. Is not a woman demanding you to take, but only to grow the power of the king. It is a wife who would bear you a son.

-So are you saying that I should just choose a house to bring new blood in, instead? But I already have my house and when I take a wife, I will bring it in, the King tried to get away. Until then, you go find her!

-Your house was not wronged, My King, the monk said.

-Who is saying I have wronged you?? Any of you?? the king's voice thundered in the room looking at the frightened young Lords. Who??

None of them dared to look up at him, yet they were still standing there, demanding in silence for a right.

-See monk? No one. Or maybe you want to say something? An ironic smile lifted the corner of his mouth as he looked at the monk who was still standing with his head bowed at the right of his throne, right behind him.

-My king, he looked up towards the king's face, but he was careful not to look him in the eyes. You will benefit from new alliances like this, and you get the chance to win an heir too. The Old laws protect the kingdom and the kingdom is you, My King.

-Why do I need protection, monk? Is anyone threatening me?? the king was mocking him now.

-Sometimes, Your Highness, the King himself is becoming a threat, the monk bowed his head again, speaking calmer.

He knew he was the King's right hand and he would be the only one the King would really listen to.

But even so, he could not guarantee there was a reason for it, because he was thinking he had the trust of the royal blood, yet when it comes to proof, he had none.

The King really had trust issues.

It was justified to think that betrayal was the only thing that scared him as only that could lead to his death.

In battle, he had no match, and no equal in strategy either, so the only thing that could threaten his life was a betrayal.

Therefore, he could not trust anyone.

The King lost his patience as he got bored playing with the peasants.

-I chose the House of the Assassins. Get me the Lady Anaty.

Everybody looked up in confusion as they would have never expected him to actually accept the law and take the responsibility for his impulsive actions.

-My King, the monk started again, Lady Anaty is a child. She is maybe 14? not yet strong enough to bear your son?

-She is pure-blooded, is she not? He asked the entire council. He saw one of the young Lords looking at him and what he read in his eyes pleased him. You there! Answer me, as you seem to know the answer to my question!

-Yes, My King.

-Well, see monk? The King spoke to the monk but still looked at the impact of his words on the face of the young Lord. If she is pureblooded I can take her as my wife and put an heir in the Assassins bloodline now. Would that be what the Old Laws stated?

The young Lord was boiling in silence but his eyes would speak louder than his thoughts. Did he like the Lady? So that was his weakness... Good.

-So it is settled. Let the Houses know that the King is doing his duty and the Union will be prepared and done with it as soon as the House of Assassins sends the Council here and we decide the terms of it. And I expect the House of my wife to be well represented in my War Council.

Council dismissed! and Monk, with me!

The King got up and left the room walking fast, with the monk trying to keep up with him, going towards his room.

They got there, and The King got inside. He stopped in front of the opening serving as a window, and looked at the waterfall while clasping his hands behind his back.

-Well, are you coming in or sleeping in front of the door? he asked mockingly without even looking back at the monk's face who just entered the room and closed the door behind him.

-My King...? He did his bidding and now was waiting for him to break out angrily.

Would he lose his head tonight, at least he had done his duty, as the King would have finally accepted to secure the bloodline.

He could now embrace his death as he was ready.