Dawn of the War King

8/14/2019 Dawn of the War King

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Dawn of the War KingBased on the Soloran Facette by Clifford E. Morton

by Solomon777

The crystal waters of a lazy stream wound their way through the rocks of theonce violent Straight of Hozedd, and emptied into the massive Pool of

Regents in a calm swirl. The ripples from the glacier pool ebbed against the

sandy shoreline that marked the favored fishing spot of an aged-lookingHuman man and his young son.

The older man was kind of eyes, and stern of brow, and his glossy black hair

was flecked with streaks of white. None-the-less he appeared far youngerthan his true years. His deep brown eyes watched the boy beside him with a

smile ready to form on his sun-baked lips. The mature man was dressed inclothing not unlike that of the people of the vast Land in which they lived. He

wore breeches of leather and a tunic of the same. He held his clothingtogether with a wide belt of hammered bronze sewn with sinew cord; a

kerchief of dark blue, signifying his allegiance to the Beast King tied at thehip. His breeches were tucked into knee high riding boots of the softest,black leather. The only signature of his true station was an ornate ringdepicting a crown of antlers thus a noble lord. It circled the first finger of his

right hand. A riding cloak laid spread along the ground where he and his son

sat. A long, finely crafted broadsword leaned against the nearby shade tree,telling those who came near that the Land were still wild within the Kingdom.

The man's name was Solor, the God-King of the Beasts that walked thisLand, and would-be High King of the Human.

The boy at his side was the very image of Solor, but blond hair and green

eyes hinted of the boy's mother. The boy was dressed in leathers with a richblue kerchief tied on his bronze belt. However, a jade necklace lay around his

neck, the sign of the Prince. Rastal was the young ones name and Solor, as

his father's, was to be his last. Thus making him, Rastal o'Solor, and heir tothe Lands of Solor of where they now lay encamped. The young boy looked

out into the slow moving waters of River Wyld and watched the end of hiselegantly crafted fishing rod twitched and he smiled happily. Looking to his

father he cheered, "Papa, I got one!"

Solor smiled and replied in his own deep voice, "Well good fishing, indeedboy, bring it to shore so that we may feast before we head for home." Solor

laughed at his son's excited jumping, and set to work helping Rastal bring

the fish in to where they sat. The two of them had been set out on anexpedition whence Solor vowed to do for every year afterward with his

children. Thus far, Rastal was the only child born to Solor and Rhiae, Solor'swife from the northern shores of his Kingdom, called Uolisq.

The two traveled with no guardsmen save Aedunn, the forestmaster of the

Beast King, Solor's official title. Aedunn was nowhere to be seen and shewould not be seen unless called upon, but the Beast King rarely needed her


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help. For it is from him that she gained power over the forest and the beasts.Rastal laughed aloud as a child of ten winters does, and Solor couldn't help

but smile widely and laugh as well. The two of them pulled the thin sinewstring of fishing line winding it several times, around a block of wood carved

to resemble a fish, until a large green-scaled river-cod broke the surface ofthe pool. Rastal grinned and cheered and forgot the carved block dropping it

to the sandy bank. Energized, young Rastal pulled the fish closer to him by

hand and he took it up, and held it high as a conqueror would his fallenenemy's sword.

Solor grinned holding his hands up as well. "Hail the hero, Prince Rastal!"

Rastal only smiled, triumphant.

Shortly the sun arched higher in the day bringing the noon heat with it. Solor

looked around and smelled the air as his acute hearing picked out the soundsof thousands of animals walking and rummaging the forest around them. The

fish had made a nice breakfast and Solor told the young Prince so. Now, boththe woodsmen-nobles readied to take to the trail and reach home, the Palaceof Solora, by nightfall.

"We shall see the halls of Solora this night, and you'll be sleeping under your

own covers when the Sand Peddler takes you away Little One." Solor pattedRastal on the back as he finished securing the boys hiking pack in place."Your mother will be relieved to see that you had not fallen to any of the

forest denizens on your first trip into the dangerous wood."

"Mama has nothing to worry about Papa; you are the king of all the beasts of

your Kingdom. They listen to you as if you were their own brother." Rastalreplied. Rastal was not a stupid child. It was true, Solor was indeed themaster of all the beasts of the Kingdom and the power to be such wasgranted him by the most magical of races, the Fae. Solor was revered in his

Kingdom by all creatures, and the very ground was treated as sacred by the

Beasts of Solor. Rastal knew who his father was, but it bothered him to thinkabout the stories of his father's past. "Papa?"

Solor hoisted his own pack, the antlered headdress called the Crown of

Beasts, sat atop the pack. Solor was granted the crown at the end of hisInvestiture as the High King of the Human. "Rastal, my son, how may the

Beast King help his favorite subject?"

"Why is it that the animals will not harm you?" Rastal asked.

Solor smiled at the question, Rastal asked the same thing every time they

were alone. "I was given the power to rule over the beasts of this Kingdom,which includes all of them, those that talk and those that roar. I am the Kingthat is why they won't harm me. They will not harm you either, for you are

my son, and an extension of the King. Do you understand lad."


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Rastal wasn't nearly done with his questions. "Yes Papa. Who was your

father, Papa?"

Solor had not really thought much of that question. Rastal had asked it oncebefore, three harvest seasons ago. Rastal found it odd that the other children

of the Royal Court had grandfathers, yet he did not.

Solor started down the path leading away from the Pool of Regents. "Comewith me son that sounds like a question best answered as we walk the roadhome." After a few steps and seeing Rastal follow along, Solor began. "I

don't remember my father, or my mother. I only remember being, and I

remember teachings from small Fae called Quicks. Of course, I remember mybrother as well." Solor didn't speak much of his brother, Xyll the God-King of

Magicks, and self-proclaimed emperor of the Human south of The Lands ofSolor.

Rastal was like other children his age and interested in almost anything that

wasn't at home. The Fae were a folk from far away, and stories of them weresurrounded in magic and mystery recorded in word-of-mouth legends fromthe old people. Rastal's eyes grew wide as he regarded his father. "Papa, youlived with the Fae? Were they all small? Can they really command magick?

Did they speak our tongue? Did they really steal children, as the stories go?

Do they really have pointed ears and blue blood?"

Solor began stepping across a small stream and laughed, "No, Rastal, they

are a very proud people, and a very old people. They have been alive since

the land itself breathed life. They are of many sizes and shapes and there areseveral types of Fae who do, indeed, command magic. The oldest are the

quick who command magic from all of the others. Some Fae commandmagics of the water; some command magics of fire; some command magicsof the earth, some command magics of the air; some even command magicsof life and death. But magick is a creation of Xyll, and an art known only by

the Human." Solor changed the subject to the next question from his eager

son, "The Essence of Nature created all of the Fae, the power of the lifewithin you, which fills these woods, and the lands all around the KnownWorld. This very Essence was said to have been the father and mother of

your uncle and I." Solor reached the other side of the stream and turned

watching Rastal cross.

Rastal was halfway when he ventured, "What about little children? What of

their blood and ears, Papa?"

Solor smiled seeing Rastal slip slightly and recover his footing, then make it

across the stream without a drop of water on his leathers. "My boy, they

don't steal Human children, and they certainly do not have blue blood. But,"he pointed both fingers up near his head, "they have ears as pointed and tallas steeples."


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Rastal laughed. "Papa, are the Fae really immortal?"

Solor continued down the trail and answered over his shoulder. "Yes, theyare that. They were created by the Essence to hold reign over the Known

World many ages ago, the Essence created the Fae immortal so that theywould rule forever. However, they had abused the power they had been

given, and the Essence limited their life-threads. From them the Essence

created the Human to rule in their place."

Rastal didn't hesitate with his next question, "Why don't they rule over us

Humans, Papa?"

Solor replied, "All of the Fae had power granted by the Essence, and it split

them into factions.The factions warred for centuries until a single, powerful Fae chief, the Fae

High King, had taken power from them. By that time, Nature suffered fortheir greed. The Essence created the human and gave them limits apart from

the Fae and their greed was hoped to have been abated." Solor's minddrifted to his brother again. "However, that seems to have failed as well."

Rastal asked as he trod up a small slop riddled with low ivy-bush, "Papa,

you're speaking of uncle, of Xyll, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"Papa, why do you and uncle hate each other?" The memories were not

pleasant to Solor, but he felt if Rastal was old enough to ask about them,then he was old enough to hear them. "Your uncle, Xyll was about the same

age as I when the Quick had taken us from the Human village of Urr, in theLandbridge. The quick took us to the High Council of the Fae for ruling and itwas commanded upon us that one of us was to become High King of theHuman." Solor stopped talking to step over a fallen tree trunk.

"We were judged by the Fae on our wisdom, and prowess as to who wouldreceive the Investiture of Fae power, and thus become High King of theHuman. I had won the right, and the Quick were to bring me up in the ways

of a noble and present upon me the power with which to rule the Human

people. Xyll, however, had gained powers of his own while we lived amongthe Fae. He learned magic or rather he stole the knowledge making a

deformed practice called magicks. Thus using that knowledge to cast the

Investiture upon himself, and painfully damaging our relationship with theFae."

Rastal leapt the tree trunk and continued down the path. "Couldn't you both

rule?"

"I suppose we could have but the power was too strong for Xyll, and he tried

taking the power within me by force." Solor talked calmly as he walked


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further down the trail. His mind fell further to depression at the thought ofhis brother's choice to ignore everything the Fae taught them. "However, I

think I have found a way to ruin his plans of ruling The Lands of Solor,forever.

"Papa?" Rastal stopped walking.

"C'mon boy, your mother will have the death of me if your not home thisnight." Solor waved Rastal on and walked down the path to the edge of thewoods. "Xyll gathered an army of humans with similar greed to him and

taught those fellows magicks, but would not make them as powerful as he.

Xyll grew jealous and fearful of others. I gathered an army as well andwaited for the self-made king to come to me. He did and I commanded the

animals and the people of Solor to war against my brother for something thatshould have never happened."

Rastal walked the trail for many minutes before asking, "Papa, what is the I-

inv-instisure?"

The Beast King Solor laughed at his son's attempt to pronounce the word."Rastal, the Investiture is a rite of passage to become High King. In the old

days, the Fae cast the Investiture with their magic. It grants upon the ruler,

or lord, the ability to work the magic of all the Fae people.The magic of all the beasts of the land, including the human beast, wasgranted to me and I had held that power soundly, and justly. The power also

grants those who receive it immortality. Until the time of Xyll and me, the

Investiture was completed in magical rites; however, as Xyll had learned theways of magic," Solor nodded to Rastal, "the Investiture now takes place by

taking the blood of the High King of the Fae. Blood is the most treasured fluidof life according to the Fae, and had become the same to our Humanancestors. The Fae do not share this power with others anymore. It has beenvowed that the blood is only exchanged to another Fae, and stays within that

magical race."

Rastal's young mind heard all the words, but only one stayed in his mind,"Papa, you're the Beast King..."

Solor looked at his son, "Yes, yes I am."

Rastal continued missing his father's chiding remark. "Are you immortal?"

Solora's heart ached as he spoke, "Son, I gave that up in order to have you."

Rastal stared at his father with his mouth agape.

Solor continued crouching down to look in his son's face, "The Human cannot become as the Fae and still have offspring. Remember, I told you the

Essence created the Human apart from the Fae. That is one of our


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differences." Solor leaned closer to Rastal and said jokingly with fingerspointed at the sky beside his head, "and pointed ears are the second

difference." Solor stood and turned to go down the trail further saying overhis shoulder, "We must choose to have a family or immortality. I chose to

have you and your mother."

Rastal hurried to catch up and asked, "Is uncle immortal?"

Solor's eye twitched when his son referred to Xyll as his uncle, but Solorwalked on pushing a branch out of his way. "The Emperor is indeed

immortal, he will not take a wife, nor have children. It is his choice."

"Why did you choose a family?" Rastal said and Solor stopped walking and

turned to once again look upon the boy who would one day become BeastKing.

"Rastal, you mean more to me than any of the rivers that cross my great

land. The Quick had told me of love so deep and rich that it equaled a vein ofthe purest adamantine metal; that to possess such I would need to surrendermy full power. I willing made that sacrifice to your mother, and she broughtme a most beautiful child. Now I have been rewarded by the love that the

quick had spoken of, and mine own heart sings every morning with the vision

of your mother and you, Rastal. I truly feel far more rich and powerful than Iever have before."

Rastal blushed and looked away as he walked farther down the trail. "Papa, if

you aren't immortal, then you can..." Rastal was afraid to say the word hewas thinking.

Solor leaned down to his son, and placed his hands atop Rastal's slendershoulders. "Rastal, someday I will die. Someday we will all die, even theimmortal Emperor Xyll.

When that happens, the kingdom will be in your hands and the hands of your

mother. I knew this was the result of my want for family, my need to feellove, but that need to have you meant far more than risking my death."

Rastal's eyes watered at the thought of losing his father. But he sniffled and

wiped the tear away. Solor smiled softly, "Son, don't be sad. It is the way ofNature and if I am to command the beasts of the land, then I am to follow

the laws of the land. Now, come quickly we must be making our way home."

Solor patted his son on the head and walked down the trail out into theforest clearing. "The Land will change and my ideals and methods willbecome old. You hold the future of this great Kingdom, and your beautiful

mother gave me the way to make it so. It is my legacy, as we shall call it."

The two travelers marched across the vast Valley of the Nurn, and made theraging waters of the River of Titans. Beyond the rivers shores, and across the

Plains of Extarta, sat the large Palace of Solora; a mere five hours further by


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foot. The two suns, Ilumos and Solon, raised high in the azure sky and not acloud sat in view, as Solor had known the day was going to be. This day

marked the longest day of the sunny months, and the harvest was soon tofollow. Solor and Rastal now walked among the low vegetation of the river-

shore and the birds sang as they slowed their hike to a stroll.

Solor and Rastal stopped to enjoy the scenery and eat a morsel of the fish

captured earlier that day. The fish had been lightly salted, to keep the meatfresh for eating. A slight rustle in the bushes alerted Solor, Rastal looked onwithout notice. Solor found the pommel of his broadsword in his hands,

ready to draw. A slight movement among the brush and Aedunn, the Beast

King's royal advisor, stepped out as if a ghost from the leaves. Rastalflinched at her arrival and Solor stood to challenge, but sat back calmly once

noticing her sleek form.

Aedunn was one of three Beasts of Solor. She was of auburn hair and brightgreen eyes, as many of the women of the Lands of Solor were. She had been

given power over the forests, yet she would never rule the Land. Her powercame from Solor as his power was to be passed on when he chose to haveoffspring. Aedunn was Solor's most treasured forester, and she had beenchosen for her status and loyalty. She wore simple clothes of a forester, and

carried bow and quiver and long sword at her hip.

Aedunn smiled upon seeing her King alert. "My King, My Prince...she greetedthem both. I have news of goings on within the forest. A goings on of which

you should be knowledgeable." Solor did not like hearing his advisors warn of

things awry in his lands. Rastal hung on her every word. "My King, smallforces of Xyll militia have been spotted beyond the Southern Border. The

word among the farmers is that a march on Solora is imminent."

Solor eased his hand and rested it upon the swords pommel, "Aedunn, hasthere been any sighting of a large body of Xyll militia?" Rastal's eyes did not

wander from Aedunn; she was a woman of extreme beauty, and equally

extreme passions.Aedunn shook her auburn head subtly, "No my King," Aedunn pointed to thesouth with her bow. "Only small bands of soldiers moving in formation have

been sighted. The rumors come from my friends in the forest. They have

spied on the rogue squadrons over the last two nights."

"How many?" Solor asked.

"At least five." Aedunn answered.

Solor asked Aedunn, "Where are my league of foresters now? Are they

alert?"

Aedunn answered quickly, "They are close, my King, within a ride by

nightfall. They have been ready since the leaves began speaking of the


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coming strife."

Rastal said, star struck, "The leaves spoke to you?" No one answered

Aedunn smiled and nodded, "Yes, my Prince, I can speak to all of the thingsof the forest. I can hear the whispering of the foliage and understand the

growls of the creatures within as easily as talking to any person."

Solor nodded and looked at his son, "Rastal, you know of our time of war,and you know of the talks between your mother and I." Agents loyal to Solor

have been in place within the court of the Emperor for many harvest

seasons. The coming threats of war were well prepared for. Solor had themilitary, but Xyll had military and magick, and the victor would surely rule

the human people for many generations to come.

Rastal snapped, "Papa, you and mother do not talk of war, you argue aboutit."

Solor knew better than to attempt to fool his son, "Okay, our...discussionsabout the coming war are coming true in the very Lands we walk in. I mustride to join my foresters and you will ride with Aedunn back to the Palace.

Once there you will inform your mother that she is to make the Palace ready

to guard against any coming intruder."

Rastal shook his head and said, "I want to go with you Papa!"

Solor's eyes grew dark and stern. "No Rastal, do you understand what youare to do son?"

Rastal shook his head faster as if he could change his father's mind. "Papa..."

Solor said again, "No Rastal. You will go home. War is no place for a boy."

Solor changed his emphasis to Aedunn and ordered, "Aedunn, take my son

home and return to me. We will await your arrival before taking the fight tothe doorstep of a few rogue warriors from Xyll. This could be a ruse to lureour forces away from the Palace. Which direction are my foresters holding?"

Aedunn indicated with a nod and Solor nodded understanding.

Aedunn knelt down to the young boy, "My Prince..."

Rastal grew angrier at being ordered away as if he were a child. "No...you'renot to order me anywhere...I am the Prince..."

Aedunn said again, "My Prince, you must come with me, we must get you

home." Rastal turned to face Aedunn and tears flowed down his cheeks. Sheopened her arms to the boy and in a comforting voice, said, "Prince Rastal, Iknow you want to be with your father. I know you can offer your strong arm

in defense of the Land your father gave everything to build. But, you must


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High Tower watching the Southern Border." Aedunn smiled and winked at theyoung boy. The Advisor possessed many of the powers that the animals had,

keen eyesight was only one of them. "Come now, we can have you inside bythe time that dinner is served."

The young Prince peered again and shrugged. "Mistress Aedunn, what should

be my duties as the King while Papa is away?"

Aedunn walked stealthily through the low hedges and said over her shoulder,"Well, young Prince, you will be in charge of making sure the daily concerns

of your people are seen too."

"What about Xyll," he spat the name of the Emperor and Rastal's uncle to the

south; the very man-god who deceived everything his father and the Fae hadtried to accomplish.

Aedunn smiled, "My Prince. You should only concern yourself with runningthe village as it is now, and keep it running. It is a big task, worthy of a big

man; that is why your father ordered you back here to protect this valuablecity." Aedunn added to make young Rastal feel better about being left awayfrom the death and carnage of war.

The two travelers passed to the lower village gates and instantly the sentries

noticed the arrival of the Prince and made it known throughout the Palace.Under escort of thirty swordsmen, the Prince and Aedunn walked through theinner Palace gates and found the Beast Queen Rhiae waiting for any word of

the strife or her beloved family.

The Beast Queen knelt down, opening her arms to Rastal as he dropped his

own small bow and ran into her arms. Tears started anew as he hugged hismother tightly. "Papa left to fight uncle, Mama."

The Beast Queen said soothingly, "I know dear." She caressed her hand

down his head and neck and added, "Is my young woodsman safe?"

Rastal sucked in a ragged breath and rubbed one eye, "Yes, Mama." Hepulled back from his mother and tried to stand very still, "The Land is safe,

my Queen."

Rhiae's heart hurt to see the tears fighting past her son's stoic eyes. "That is

good, my young champion. Now get washed up and I will see you for

dinner." Rastal nodded and allowed two serving attendants to walk him to hishuge rooms within the Palace.

The Beast Queen Rhiae was a woman who looked to be of about fifty winters,

but her true age was not known. She was dressed in a full-length gown ofvarious shades of blue, denoting her loyalty to the crown. Her faded, blond-brown, hair was pulled back save a portion around the nape of her neck that

remains long. She was very strong of heart and mind. Rhiae came from a


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long line of mystics that the common people revered as Seers. Rhiae's fatherand mother were both Seers, and Rhiae, the only daughter, was rumored to

have tremendous power.

Rhiae held her hand, decorated with numerous brilliant ring, "Walk with meMistress Aedunn, and tell me where my husband is now."

Aedunn reported what she knew; "The Beast King Solor should now be withthe foresters and marking the advance of Xyll's expeditionary force. I intendto join them a soon as my Queen is through with me." Aedunn regarded the

Beast Queen highly. Powers of the mind are a driving force behind animalistic

traits such as instincts and presence.

The Beast Queen smiled, "I knew he would rather deal with this problemhimself then lay the whole responsibility on his Advisors and battle

commanders." Rhiae was against violence, but understood when the needarose, that combat, is at times unavoidable. As the Beast King, Solor was in

the location demanded of his status. "Please, Mistress Aedunn, go attend tothe Beast King and bring him back to me safely."

Aedunn bowed her head and left the Beast Queen to walk alone with her

maids.

Two cold nights in which the moon, Nixx, shone brightly across the Landpassed before word came of the Beast King and his entourage.

The night watchman, walking the streets of Solora to keep trouble at bay,

looked up to find the silhouette of a hawk gliding past in the night. Theraptor held omens of ill fortune, according to the legends of the people. A

hawk flying after nightfall was not searching for food, as was said, it couldonly be carrying message from the Beast King.

The hawk was indeed a messenger sent from Solor. It flew a winding path

over the gate and through the arched passageways in search of the Beast

Queen, or her maids. Rhiae sat in the garden surrounded by her ladies andwas tending a nocturnal breed of plant called moonshade. The hawk flewover the mixture of trees and assorted foliage that decorated the vast Palace

Garden to land before the Beast Queen. The gathered women looked at the

hawk and Rhiae stood up. The Beast Queen had not slept well last night andin her dreams she saw red, everything around her, everything that she

looked at, including the face of her son, was covered in bright red light.

The hawk's body began to glow brilliant white. Like a fountain of stars theglow erupted to form a figure standing nearly seven feet tall. The white glow

died to leave a tall, thin man with a short, rust colored beard. The tall man

stood in robes of rustic red-brown and streaks of dark brown stains. Hebowed at the hip to the Rhiae, "My Queen."

"Sabediera, my favorite Advisor." Rhiae began walking to the Beast of Solor


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and speaking in a sarcastic tone. Rhiae was a woman of great mental powerand she could already tell the thoughts of everyone, including the magical

servants of her King. Sabediera's mind was clouded in shadows, warningRhiae of the bad news to come.

Sabediera's eyes did not waiver from the Beast Queen as he delivered his

words, "My Queen, the Beast King will be escorted through the gates on the

coming day. The force of Xyll is far larger than at first thought. A battleresulted and several of the people of Solor had been slaughtered. My Queen,the Beast King has been mortally wounded."

Rhiae dropped the hand full of moonshade petals that had just been prunedand her knees weakened. The Beast Queen was expecting similar news, but

to hear it spoken was a blow straight into the woman's heart. Sheremembered their first meeting. Rhiae had met Solor when she was a young

girl. Solor appeared to be a man of twenty winters and it was widely knownthat he was the God-King of Beasts, and immortal. He was visiting her village

looking for able soldiers and he found Rhiae. Her father treated the BeastKing with great respect and made several attempt for her to be noticed byhim. Solor was quite taken by Rhiae when she became fifteen, and he kepther by his side for some time afterward. When Rhiae reached the age of

seventeen winters, Solor asked her to become his queen. He told her of the

sacrifice that he made by taking her and starting a family. However, shethought the Beast King to be immortal none-the-less.

"Away," the Beast Queen waved off her maids with the hand now free of the

flowers, "I can hold my own."

Sabediera moved in and took hold of her at the elbow, "My Queen."

Rhiae looked up at his deep, dark eyes, "Master Advisor, how does he fare; ishe well enough for the road?"

"The Beast King's wound is grave, but he insisted on being escorted home.He spoke of untold secrets to you and the Prince." Sabediera said calmly andwalked the Queen to a nearby stone bench.

Rhiae thought of how much that sounded like her husband. Family was theonly thing to come before his nation. After a few minutes of silence and

wiping away the tears that streamed down from her eyes, she spoke, "What

happened, Sabediera?"

"The Beast King fought valiantly beside me. We were taken by an ambush.

Xyll's war parties were traveling the land in individual legions. The last known

sighting of these legions was before Legends Pass. We expected to lay inambush, but were beaten to the location. The battle was fierce and severalforesters were lost." Sabediera paused to sit beside her, looking at the

ground, "A blow that would have killed any man struck down the Beast King


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as a final attack from the forces of Xyll. Xyll was routed and we immediatelystarted for the Palace. Our armies are, at this moment, marching for the

Southern Borders to secure them."

"You must return to him, am I right?" the Beast Queen looked ahead out intothe surrounding vinery. "I want you to ensure that he is safely brought

home."

"Yes my Queen." Sabediera stood and bowed low to the sitting woman. "Theroyal escort will arrive before the noon suns reach their apex."

The Beast Queen nodded.

Sabediera departed the garden as the glowing magic covered his body andthe hawk took flight into the night sky.

Rhiae knew not what to tell Rastal. The sun broke over the ramparts of the

Palace to find Rhiae sitting, unmoved, in the garden. Her maids saw to herevery need through the night, bringing her tea and cakes for breakfast. TheBeast Queen Rhiae stared at the small trail of moss-ants walking among thestone slabs of the garden floor. She noticed a single ant, with larger

mandibles than the rest running the length of the line; however, it never

carried a burden such as the other ants did. The creature's burden was ofkeeping the line in order. Rhiae saw the heart of the King within this ant.

Rastal's voice suddenly cut into her thoughts, "Mama?"

Rhiae's tears have long since dried on her face and the only tell-tale sign of

her having cried was the slight run of the face powder she used. Rastal was asmart child however, and knew she had been crying. She could read hisyoung features and saw that her young son became instantly concerned."Come here Rastal." Rhiae ordered holding her arms wide to embrace the

young Prince.

Rastal feared the worst and his young mind raced with the possibility that hisfather had been killed. He couldn't stop the tears from swelling in his eyes

and flowing down his cheeks. "Papa..." it was all he could say.

Rhiae nodded and Rastal fell into his mother's arms sobbing. "Mama, Papa

died didn't he. I know he did, I know it...I can feel it."

The Beast Queen lost her own resolve and sobbed deeply. The pain of herson's mind ebbing into her own conscious caused her usual steady emotion

to crack and the two of them held each other, mother and son, not Queen

and Prince.After a moment Rhiae pulled back and said softly into her son's ear. "TheBeast King will arrive within these walls by the noon-day. He is still alive

Rastal, and he is to present you with the power and title of the Beast King.


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You must be strong son, Rastal I know you hurt and your angry. Use thatpower to accomplish what your father started. Use that anger to rule your

people justly and freely."

She looked into his eyes and Rastal fought to clear them of tears. She smiledto him.

Rastal spoke, "The Beast King does not cry. Papa said so once." He sucked aragged breath in.

Rhiae nodded and answered, "Yes, the Beast King does not cry for anyone

but his people." Rhiae stood from the stone bench and walked to the Palacechambers. "We must prepare for your father to arrive." She motioned a

couple of her maids over to them and they walked with Rastal into thepalace. The Beast Queen turned to look up in the blue sky above. Closing her

eyes tightly she sobbed one last tear and departed the gardens to dress forthe return of the Beast King.

As was told by the Beast of Solor, Sabediera, the King's escort reached thePalace gates by the climax of the twin suns over the valley. The courtyardwas filled with guardsmen and servants of the Throne; all of them anxious to

see the Beast King; all somber in this moment of sorrow. Led by a scarred

Aedunn, the escort consisted of the remaining seven foresters who survivedthe ambush set by Xyll's legions. All of them carried wounds made by bladeand arrow however they all could walk well enough to carry the Beast King

on a sled of rough timbers. Aedunn's arm was damaged from a puncture

through her shoulder; blood had made the leather of her tunic crusty, anddark brown. A dagger, or sword had cut her cheek and she bore a bruise

above her left eye. Still, she walked proudly to the end of the Palace's frontcourtyard with the Beast King's wounded body in tow. She relinquished hersword as she approached and dropped to one knee before the Beast Queenand the Prince.

A keening cry of the hawk from high above brought notice to Sabediera'spresence.

Aedunn bowed, "My Queen, I bring you the Beast King...alive. He is not long

for this world, and it is his own will keeping him alive. I apologize for failingto secure the life of my King. I have failed."

Rhiae nodded, and Rastal only stared at the once untouched woman he hadseen in the forest.

The Beast King Solor's voice broke the silence of the courtyard as he weakly

raised a hand to take Rhiae's own. "Rhiae..." Rhiae went to his side in theroughly constructed sled. Rastal moved to follow but Aedunn intercepted thePrince and held his shoulders. "Rhiae." Solor smiled once he set his eyes

upon the woman he had wed and who bore him a child.


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The Beast Queen was stricken as if by a physical blow. She felt her legs

quaked and she fell to her knees, uncaring about the soft gray gown of finesilks that she wore. Tears flooded her eyes as if a dam had broken. Rhiae

forced her tears to stop, but her emotions, the deep emotions of a true seer,could not be pushed away.

Solor was wrapped to his bare chest in a tightly wound cocoon of leather and

cloth. Blood, fresh, crimson and dried brown stains set in macabre patternsfor the bandage's length. Solor had taken a hellish strike to his chest, thismuch Rhiae was certain. She could see the edges of the dried and patched

injury at his right shoulder. The Beast King's body was broken in many more

places than her eyes could see, and she knew it.

"Rhiae...I was waiting to see you once more." The Beast King labored abreath and continued, "My dearest of heart, watch over the boy. He is the

future of this Kingdom. If not for you I would not have," Solor coughed, "Iwould not have had the chance to continue our reign." Solor moved his head

slightly and asked, "Where is the boy...my son?"

The Beast Queen waved Rastal closer and Aedunn let him go. "He is here mylove."

Solor grinned past the pain of his wounds and said, "Place my hand in his,Rhiae." She did so with Rastal emotionlessly starring at his father's crippledbody. "My blood is your blood, son. As will your blood be that of your

descendants for as long as our line walks this world." Solor coughed again

and swallowed back the bile in his throat. "Do you remember that Imentioned ensuring our ruler ship of these Lands forever?" Rastal shook his

head absently, not knowing or caring what was being said for the moment,only seeing the great pain that his father, a once great and powerfulimmortal, was now in. "Rastal, when I surrendered my power to receive you,I gave it among my closest allies. Sabediera and Aedunn, are but two of my

champions, and they will serve you for all time. The last of my champions is

Balleena, my voice among the waves. He, you will meet as Beast King. TheBeast King will rule as long as the Beasts of Solor walk the Known World."Solor strained another ragged breath, "Your time is now son. My hands are

full of the blood coursing with my remaining power, that power is now yours.

He smiled weakly and grimaced back pain from the chest wound, "Son,Rastal...do you accept the rite of the Beast King?"

Rastal did not speak but understood the words. His tongue was as if it werestiff from fright. His father, the God-King of Beasts was fading from hisgrasp...why? He wouldn't accept an answer within himself that did not

finalize his father's life. Someone must be responsible, but who. Xyll placed

him here; Xyll's own legions wounded and beat him; Xyll's own greed, as theBeast King had spoken of, Xyll's quest for that power has caused the death ofthe only man in Rastal's world.


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Solor coughed violently and he squeezed Rastal's hand, "Rastal, son, quicklyanswer me. Do you accept the rite as Beast King?"

"Yes father." Rastal whispered knowing it to be his father's last act.

Solor leaned back into the sled and released his grip from the boy's hand.

"The power that I have retained and passed to you, is power over the Beasts

of this domain. Your loyal subjects are many, but you must beware of Xylland his plight to gain the Lands for his own Empire.Son, the bloodline of Solor will continue from you. The power is yours to rule

with justice and morally straight." Solor grimaces against the pain and

coughs.

Rastal leans closer, "Papa...Papa?"

Solor smiles, "I am peaceful now. The Essence is taking me back, I am andwill forever be...the Land." Solor's words trail off as his body begins to

illuminate the same brilliant white that Sabedeira emitted when the Advisortransformed. Solor's body is soon engulfed in sparkling blinks of light thatseem to fall to the ground. Within only moments, the God-King of Beasts wasno more and only an empty sled remained.

The courtyard was silent as Rastal stood looking at the barren sled and felthis mother embrace him around his small shoulders. A call arose fromsomewhere in the courtyard, "Hail, The Beast King!" and the call was soon

taken up by others. Soon the call became a chant and the roar filled the very

air around the Palace.

Rastal cared not for the praise as he lifted the ring his father once wore;Solor was gone from the world of the living, and his heart hurt as if it nolonger pumped blood. His sorrow was deep and his chest burned ofvengeance against the one whom caused the pain...Xyll, Emperor and God-

King of Magicks. Rastal solemnly vowed to himself, that very moment, in the

courtyard, The Beast King would not rest until either Xyll or he lay dead.

fin

Dawn of the War King

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Transcript of Dawn of the War King