Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Growing Concerns
After the feast, Maxis went to speak with the King alone. By now it was sunset and Maxis climbed the staircase of the palace to the King's chamber which was in one of the tallest towers of the palace. He finally reached the door of the chambers and knocked, bowing his head as the king opened the door.
"My King."
"Ah, Maxis. What is it?"
"I've stayed here to speak with you about that new law."
"Go on…"
"While I fully support the law and what it stands for, it is not wise to start a war with the christian militias. If we start by wiping out so much as a single band of traveling christian militiamen, the Templars, Hospitallers, and Teutons are bound to start a war at the very least."
"I know, but… It's what is best for Middle Tahl."
"The templars will not hesitate to burn Middle Tahl to the ground."
"Then we won't let them."
"They'll still try, and even if they don't succeed they'll slaughter at least a thousand soldiers and two thousand civilians."
"That won't happen, Max, I promise."
"How do you know? You haven't seen what those men do to women and children, you haven't seen the mangled corpses of your family while your village burns to the ground."
"Maxis…Please, just- trust me. Things will work out just fine."
"-And if they don't?"
"They will. You have my word as King of Middle Tahl."
"How many words will be given before the suffering stops?"
The two paused for a moment, trying to think of something to say but ultimately failing.
"I'll be going," Maxis said, leaving the King's chamber and walking down the steps.
After Maxis left, the king sat on a chair in his room, his wife Elenor walking in.
"Was that Maxis?" she asked
"Yes… God, it's been so long since I've heard my real, actual name… nowadays it's either 'king', 'my liege', 'your highness', or 'lord'. It's so tiresome. I want to be a normal person again, tending the tavern we owned and seeing the common people every day rather than a collection of uptight barons and self-righteous holy men and nobles who would rather make love to their own faces than do something for the kingdom," He said with a laugh. "At least I have a beautiful wife to ease the stress,"
Elenor blushed and smiled at him. "I'll be going to bed now."
"Alright, love," He responded as Elenor walked over to the bed and layed down in it, covering herself with luxurious fur blankets as Bryce watched from his seat, the fireplace cackling as he looked out the window of his tower to the night sky. Then came another knock on his door. The King rose from his seat to open the door, revealing Wivven,
"Hello Wivven, it's a bit late don't you thi-"
"Don't care." the King was slightly shocked at this remark, stepping away from the door.
"Uhm…I can't talk right now.. My wife, she's trying to sleep."
"Oh, I'm sure she won't mind." Wivven said, walking through the door anyways and sitting in a chair across from the King
"What is it?" the King asked
"I'd like to speak to you about that new law," Wivven replied
"Go on," the King let out a sigh before speaking
"I think it's unwise. Everyone knows the lords holding land in the south will defend their religious right to kill, maim and destroy non-believers," Wivven said jokingly.
"You can tell me how bad it'll go all you want, I've already heard it from Maxis."
"Maxis, huh? What did he tell you?"
"He told me it's unwise. That if we attack a small militia then the crusaders will gather an army and march on Middle Tahl."
"And what did you tell him?"
"That it won't happen. I gave him my word as the King of Middle Tahl. He didn't budge."
"Ah well that's Maxis. He's more traditional. He likes to keep the peace as best as he can but when he has to fight he fights good, something he learned from growing up as the son of an Indian medicine man. He told me he learned what he knows about peace keeping from the Kiowa and all he learned about warfare and deception from his uncle's military academy here. Heh, it's funny isn't it? We call them the savages yet we teach our children how to cleave an enemy's head off with one stroke."
"Yes… that is odd."
"He's right though, this law won't be good for anything or anyone. Frostgrad is a religious city and I'm a religious man. I know you have good intentions but Bryce… This just ain't it."
"Well it's too late now, the law's already been passed and starting tomorrow the Faithful Virgils will start looking for Christian militias. Owaine has agreed to lead a regiment into the south and Sir Hetfield will lead a regiment into the west."
"Frostgrad lies to the west."
"I said to the west, not to Frostgrad," Bryce said as Wivven let out a sigh, and got up to walk towards the door.
"You're playing with fire here, Bry," He said, leaving without another word. The King sighed as he got up from his chair and layed down in his bed next to Elenor. He thought back to what Maxis and Wivven told him. "How many more words will be given… before the suffering stops," He thought to himself. "Maybe they're right. But there's nothing I can do now. The law has been passed and the troops are to be deployed tomorrow…" He looked over to his wife and moved over to her to wrap his arms around her, looking out the window again and falling asleep
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