The Greccoas kingdom of the FOFAF empire has been struggling to recover from the great disaster that crippled the empire ages before. The Grec Council has enjoyed the benifits of royal favor and the people are breaking under the pressure to survive and to make the tribute demands. Here is where the story begins ...
Chapter 1: Heart Break
“An evil man is bent only on rebellion; a merciless official will be sent against him.”
Proverbs 17:11
The attack was swift and ruthless, with no regard to age or gender. The body guards lay still where they had stood seconds before. Young princes and princesses sprawled on the floor in a horrified shock. Even the queen and king were extinguished on their thrones. The queen had survived illnesses, plagues, and famines. The king had survived wars, rebellions, and traitors. Now, the royal family was dead by the hands of a few well organized assassins and rebels. Just as quickly, before any of them could boast, their ends were met by the soldiers who poured into the throne room like a flood. The rebels were punished by the ultimate means for their cowardly attack. They had no chance for acquittal. Nor was there an opportunity for a trial. None had a moment to defend his or herself. Then Nariz Tha’naka entered the scene, still cloaked in her long flowing robe. She was the Chief Elder of the Great Council of Elders for the Grec.
“It is a dark day for the Grec,” she said solemnly, “Tell the common folk and the peasants to prepare an appropriate funeral for the royal family. Send for the elite. I wish to speak with them. There is a slim chance that there may be some members of the royal line that are not here, though I recognize all of these faces and there are not any missing that I can tell. Commander, where is the rebel leader from?”
“Rayula, Madam Elder,” he saluted smartly after inspecting the corpses of the rebels.
“Drag the bodies of the rebels through that area and make and example of the rebels’ families. Spare nobody,” she commanded in an icy tone.
“B-but, Madam Elder,” the young commander protested with widened eyes and horror.
“Do it!!!” she snapped, “Unless you wish to spend the rest of your days in Sharp Sword’s dungeon, I suggest that you do it.”
“Yes, Madam Elder,” he saluted and carried out her orders.
He obeyed her but with an exception; he refused to kill the children. Those, he sent to the shrines as orphans. The young commander was sick with what he and his force did and he did his very best to hide his deception from Nariz. It was to no avail, however and she did discover his disobedience. Fortunately for the children, the shrines did not have to answer to the Council and they hid them away well. Many would later become shrine keepers as well and others would find a new identity and new life.
When she cast him into the dungeon he was not tormented by Sharp Sword but was greeted warmly. You see, Sharp Sword loved justice and hated to punish an innocent man. She could make him keep him there but could not force him to do any more than that. As Sharp Sword explained to the young guard, “Nobody on the Council holds my leash. I will only obey the royal family. Unfortunately, since I myself am not free, I must remain here until summoned by a member of the royal line.”
And so it was. The young commander became Sharp Sword’s lieutenant and performed guard duty while Sharp Sword slept. But outside of the prison things got worse. Nariz grabbed hold of her absolute power as Chief Elder and Regent for eight weeks. The people could not have suffered more. She ruled with an iron fist and punished “rebels” at a whim. The people were restless and preparing to lay siege on the Royal City when the elite scout arrived with news.
“Madam Elder,” she said breathlessly, “I have good news! We have discovered a remaining branch of the royal line in ally territory.”
“Oh, that is good,” Nariz said, quite pleased, “Are there any children amongst them?”
“Yes, madam, there were two that we could find. One is a toddler and the other is seven years old,” she replied.
“Good, bring me one of them.”
“Madam, they are the children of the Floris king! We will have war on our heads!”
“Not if you do it right, soldier,” she said irritably, “The elite force is supposed to be able to get what ever they are sent after. Do it however you can. Just bring me the youngster. I will take care of the rest.”
The two little ones were on their morning walk with their bodyguards when the elite of the Grec arrived to take one of them away. The bodyguards challenged their request and were answered with an explanation.
“Your king’s kin in Grec territory have been slaughtered. We need to restart the royal line and give our people hope. Please, allow us to take them peacefully so that we do not have to shed the blood of an ally. Your king will understand.”
“Our king will have our heads on a platter if we give you one of the princes. We can’t just hand them over. Why not ask the king himself?”
“He will not believe us! Besides, there is no time. We must do this to save the Grec.”
The two guards talked it over and looked at the frightened little boys who didn’t understand a word of what was said. The smallest one crawled into a rabbit hole and peeped out. The oldest one was peering from a tree branch above.
“Beat us up and you can take Prince Elon. If you can’t, then you are on your own,” answered one guard, knowing full well he was no match for a creature that could easily lift 800 lbs and send a wave of electricity that could start a thunder storm.
“Don’t take the baby, Prince Webster, it would kill his mother to loose her baby after he’d been so sick for so long,” said the other guard, as he prepared for a hopeless fight. The fight only lasted for a few minutes and the elite soldiers left with the screaming seven year old prince.
His parents were saddened by the news. King Calvin trusted the guards and honored the ashamed men for their bravery in managing to save the youngest one. They told him that a band of masked kidnappers took him away when they were defeated. Calvin would go on many a wild goose chase for years, before giving up and mourning his son’s death.
The elite delivered the boy, unharmed but scared. They tried their best to comfort him on their way, but his Grec was not so good. Nariz smiled to him gently and spoke in Floris.
“Your highness,” she soothed the sobbing boy, “We had to save you. Your family in Grec territory was killed and so we want to protect you from further attacks.”
“I want my daddy! When can I go home?” he sobbed.
“It is not safe yet, my lord. You could be next if we don’t keep you safe.”
“The soldiers attacked my bodyguard. If they were protecting me, why did they attack?”
“I am so sorry,” she said, as though she didn’t command it, “I will speak with them, my lord. Come now, I have some wonderful news for you. I think that you’ll like it!”
“What is it?” he asked curiously as he stopped crying and began to get interested in what she has to say.
“You will become our king! You can whatever you desire and almost always have your way.”
“Really? So, if I wanted to have nothing but sweet drops for supper and as many as I want – I can?”
“You will likely get a stomach ache, but if you command it then you will have your wish.”
“Can I try having nothing but sweet drops for supper?”
“As you wish, my king. Get his majesty as much sweets as he desires. We will make him as comfortable as possible. Your majesty, I would like you to stay with me – so that you’ll be safe.”
“Ok! I’ll stay with you!” he said with wide eyes as a large tray of candy was laid in front of him. He stuffed his face and Nariz schemed. At first she preferred that the smaller of the two be taken, but this boy was promising to her. He had a stomach ache that night, just as she’d said and he decided that her advice was good so far. He was presented to the people a week later as King Grey Hawk and she began to teach him how to speak Grec like a king. Her hold on him was not complete though, for in his heart he remembered well the lessons his parents taught him. The people settled down and watched what their king was going to do. Grey Hawk was also a very clever boy and he did his best to make things the way they were back in Floris territory. The peasants and the common folk were beginning to relax for the first time in a long time.
“A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth works ruin.”
Proverbs 26:28
Chapter 2: Change
“Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of evil and cruel men.”
Psalm 71:4
“I hate the Council,” grumbled a Black Mane as he loaded a huge block of stone onto an awaiting cart. His mate gave him a cautioning glance and looked over to their little daughter. The youngster was chipping away at a stubborn stone and trying her best to get her job done in an acceptable period of time. He sighed and threw himself into his work. He knew that as long as the Council permitted slavery, he and his family would never be free. It was a hateful existence and it was about to get worse for several families that day. A coach pulled up to the quarry and a slender, feminine hand beckoned to the Quarry Master. She approached the coach and waited. A Brown Mane slipped down from the driver’s seat and opened the door to reveal Nariz Tha’naka.
“I want to purchase some of your Shadows. I want them too be young and unscarred.”
“Madam Elder, I can give you young ones, but scars are part of quarry life. The younger they are the less scarred they are.”
“Fine, I want the youngest you have here. Most of all I prefer females. They are not as strong in body as the males. That little cub over there – the female with the pick-axe - I want to see her. She looks as though she will be weak enough to tame. How old is she? Six, seven ….?”
“She is seven, Madam. She is small for her age and not very strong. Are you sure you want her? She’s slow and still much attached to her mother.”
“I don’t care about that. The little shadow can get used to it. They are hardly worth calling Grec. Why should we care what they think?”
“Shulta, Cari!” The Quarry Master yelled out.
The overseer in that area unlocked the little cub’s chain from its post and practically dragged her over to the coach.
“Ugh!” Nariz exclaimed with disgust, “She has scars even on her ears and face! Is that the best you have?”
“I am afraid so. It is very hard to get ones that are ready to work, with out scars. There is a local healer that is good at removing them.”
“Very well, I will take her and all of those her age and under. If they are weaned, I want them.”
And so a deal was struck and the children were ripped from their families. There was not a child who remained in the quarry from the age of two to the age of seven. This was not an abnormal event. The mothers screamed and wailed and the fathers fought their binding chains. The whole valley was filled with the cries and roars of the torn families. This was the way of slavery. It, in truth, can never be romanticized nor made light. It is the one true evil and injustice that stains entire peoples and marks the future generations with a deep scar.
The Solielites were the ruling class. The Red Manes and Gold Manes ruled a step below them. The Brown Manes were lucky if they could eek out an existence as servants and farmers. All other races were pushed to the side as outcastes, forced into hard labor, or could only get work doing jobs that nobody else would do. Solielite blood was infused with all kinds of Grec and nearly every kind of FOFAF from through out the empire. The current chaos of the Empire meant that the Grec were on their own for policies and determining justice and cruelty. There was no law governing or regulating the treatment of others. No equivalent to Nuremburg or the Bill of Rights. Those who ruled reigned absolute over the ones they outranked, intimidated, and outclassed.
Young Grey Hawk was unaware of this as he was spoiled beyond measure by Nariz. All he had to do was hint and it was given, groan and the offence would be ended. Sharp Sword watched with disgust and anger. The little king was being transformed into a little brat. Not wanting to see the Grec’s only chance for a good king go to pot, he waited for Grey Hawk to walk by his dungeon door. Before the boy passed by, Sharp Sword stepped inside and left the door open. The boy almost didn’t notice this, but Sharp Sword was not going to be hampered by the boy’s single track mind. He whistled out a lilting tune and the boy stopped where he was. Sharp Sword whistled the tune again and the boy approached the door. He did this until the young king was lured down into the dungeon. When he realized where he was his eyes went wide. Sharp Sword spoke from the shadows, “King Grey Hawk, you are destined to be a great king and mighty warrior, so it saddens me to see you behaving like a shameful little snot. You should be grasping your authority and not allowing your mind to be clouded by flattery. I can forgive your behavior only because you are young. Master Grey Hawk, you can be better and I know it. Nariz is poisoning you with all she does and says.”
“How … how dare you!” Grey Hawk exclaimed.
“No, sire, how dare you. You are living in undeserved pleasure while your people suffer. I know this is much for you to take in as you are still young, but these times are harsh and you must see the consequences for your actions and your permissiveness towards the Council. They are out of control and the balance of these scales is tipped to the breaking point. I will show you what your people are living like.”
The boy had not been on any kind of adventure so he agreed. He also agreed because he was curious as to what the strange man wanted to show him. As he disguised the boy he chided him for allowing himself to be lured by a stranger. The boy looked at him and wondered if he’d seen him before. Sharp Sword’s black mane and charcoal stripes were familiar to him. For the first time he looked at his reflection and saw that he too possessed a black mane and charcoal stripes, if a shade lighter. The boy also started to understand the world around him and he was dismayed. His parents would tan his hide if they knew how he’d been behaving. Sharp Sword blind folded and escorted him through a series of passages. He then picked the boy up and took him out of a secret exit to the outside of the palace.
When the blind fold was removed he was shocked at what he saw. There were scores of grimy, ragged people lining up to go into a shabby hut to leave with small tattered bags of food. He could smell the mold from where he stood. The damp ground was muddy and smelled of rotten earth. The people were in bad condition. This was describing the poor Red Manes and Gold Manes. The Brown Manes were begging for food and scraping an existence with food that was either tossed aside or spoiling. The lives of the free Black Manes were even worse and many had to sell themselves back into slavery to save their families from starvation. This was all because of the heavy taxes and tributes over the past three years that young Grey Hawk had ruled, explained Sharp Sword.
“I did this?” the boy pondered.
“Not alone, but you have been permissive with the Council’s decisions. You have accepted all of their requests with out thinking what it could do.”
“I have been awful! But, how can I possibly make good decisions? I don’t know what is best!”
“That is where choosing a good advisor who does not take sides with you or the Council comes in. You want somebody who is wise, just and practical.”
“What about you?”
Sharp Sword laughed, “No, no – you do not want me! I think I am just but I would advise you on things that would benefit me and my kind. I don’t think that I would make a good advisor.”
“Well, you are modest and smart enough to see what the other brown nosing snobs in the palace don’t. I mean, don’t they care? Can’t they see what is going on out here? You are honest too! I want you to be my advisor.”
“I am your dungeon keeper and humble servant. I am a slave to the royal family. I am opinionated –“
“You are perfect!” the boy interrupted with excitement.
“My lord, how can you make a snap decision?”
“Da always said to follow my instincts. I haven’t been doing that with the Council. Come to think of it, I haven’t been doing anything that my parents taught me. You are the only one who had the courage to tell me I have been bad and I need your help. How do I become a good king?”
Sharp Sword looked at him, suppressed a smile, and considered the boy. He had managed to get through to him. He only regretted not doing it sooner. The Grec’s one hope was starting to shine brighter.
“Firstly, my king, you need to stand up for what is right, not what others want. Secondly, you need to make yourself knowledgeable of your people’s needs. Thirdly, you need to be a good boy. I mean for you to do all of this all at once. You are a smart boy. This is not flattery; I have watched you since you were born. I had no control, however, of your abduction. Next time Nariz or one of the others starts to spoil you, show some self control and pay close attention to what is going on. You will see signs that they have turned you into a puppet for their own purposes. You should watch the treats, too, your highness. You are getting to be of an unhealthy weight and it is unbecoming of a member of the royal line (or anybody else) to stuff one’s self with junk and sweets.”
Grey Hawk looked at his waist and saw that it was all but gone. Sharp Sword permitted himself to smile and lifted the boy over his shoulder and continued to speak to him. He slipped back into the palace by another secret entrance, which the palace was full of. He assured the boy that he would be nearby and that he would provide him for an out if he got uncomfortable.
Grey Hawk sat on his throne watching the jesters play their hearts out to make him laugh, but he was not in any mood for silliness. He did, however clap at their efforts. The whole palace threw in their efforts to cheer the melancholy monarch. He refused to touch his glazed fruit dumsin and he looked away when they offered him a new amusement. Nariz hurried to his side when she got the news of his mood. An unhappy boy king meant that her plans would get delayed. He sat with an irritable countenance and refused to look at anybody.
“My lord,” Nariz soothed, “What is bothering you?”
“I’m not in any mood for childish things, Nariz. I am ten and it is time I started growing up. I think that since I am no longer a cub, but a nerling, I will start acting like a boy my age should.”
“My king, I don’t think you have been acting immature,” Nariz said in a calming tone.
“Don’t try to placate me, Nariz!” Grey Hawk shouted and stood up, much to everybody’s surprise, “I am not a little child any more! I will not be treated like it either. I have been a lazy despot. I am no better than that rebellious brat, Marel. I am tired of having little to do with my people.”
“As – as you wish, your highness,” Nariz responded, startled, “I will see to it that the Council brings more issues before you. Shall I also step up your education?”
“Yes,” Grey Hawk said, “I want to be more than a good king. Good kings are forgotten. Bad kings are hated. Great kings will always be remembered. My father used to tell me that nobody became great without first learning all he needed to know and more. I want to learn our allies’ languages. I want to learn more about being a FOFAF. I also want to learn how to fight.”
That last one caused the people to be startled. It was true that the kings of the past were expected to be able to do basic defense moves, but the particular word he chose, in Grec – batru – means “to actively battle”.
“I also expect to be given all issues regarding my people, not some. I can take it. I will also choose proper advisors for myself. It is not the Council’s place to advise me. The first advisor I will choose is my faithful servant, Sharp Sword. He will also be my fighting instructor.”
Nobody could believe that he chose a slave and definitely never expected that the one he’d pick was the prison keeper. Nariz looked as though she’d just lost a strong argument, but she quickly regained her senses, bowed, stepped backwards a few steps, bowed again and left the room to send out his commands.
After everybody left the room, only he and Sharp Sword were left. Sharp Sword stepped out from the shadows, of which he was well matched. Grey Hawk smiled at him and to Sharp Sword’s surprise, he hugged him.
“Sire, what was that for?” Sharp Sword asked as Grey Hawk flopped back onto his throne.
“You are like a big brother to me. You kept your promise to me and stayed. Thank you. As I promised, you are my advisor now. You were right. She backed right down when I stayed firm. Did you see the look on her face when I pointed out the facts? Ha! Maybe she will finally put that snobby Marel in her place.”
“Sire, if you don’t recall, you just admitted to having been as bad as Marel. Shall we punish you with her? Or have you forgotten you should not rejoice at others being punished?”
Grey Hawk, instead of being angered by this, thought about it with humble dejection and said, “You are right, Sharp Sword. I was as bad as her – spoiled, self centered, and not caring about others. Perhaps I have been mourning my separation from my parents too long.
I have wallowed in self pity for three years. I know that I can not go home again. I doubt it will be a good idea to even tell them who I am when they come. I shall stay bound to my Grec form. This will be the best thing for the Grec, even though it will break my heart, Sharp Sword.”
“It is very kind of you to protect the Council from just retribution, sire.”
“Oh, Sharp! Please, don’t give me that. I have a more creative way to set them straight. The Grec need me. I can’t just up and leave the Grec. If I do, Nariz will just turn right around and take some other cub from my family and I will not risk her getting my little brother, Webster. It is painful, but I have to behave like I don’t know them when they come for some diplomatic discussion.”
“You have been doing some thinking about this, haven’t you, sire? At first, I wasn’t sure what you meant by this, but your sacrifice to protect your family is admirable. I am sorry for questioning you.”
“Don’t be. You were right. I could have just as easily said that it was because I was afraid to go back. Besides, you are my advisor. I want you to be brutally honest with me.”
“Be careful of what you ask of me. I just might deliver.”
“Mother always told father ‘the stings of friendship are far kinder than the kisses of enemies’. She said that it means I should trust my friends’ criticism over the flattery of others.”
“Wise woman,” Sharp Sword observed.
“The fury of a king is like messengers of death, But a wise man will appease it...”
Proverbs 1:14
Chapter 3: Self Sacrifice
“I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.” Job 3:26
“Your home is very lovely King Grey Hawk,” commented Queen Anna of the Floris “Is that painting by Larasha Ra’Nanu?”
Grey Hawk looked at the painting and shrugged, only to agree quickly after seeing his faithful butler nod sharply. He was grateful for the time he had with his parents, even though he could not reveal to them his true identity as their lost son, Elon. Anna gently held his four year old brother up to the painting to give him a better look. King Calvin of the Floris also looked at the painting, but he occupied himself with talking with Grey Hawk.
“My oldest son would be your age now, King Grey Hawk,” he said out of nowhere. Grey Hawk felt his heart drop into his stomach as he stared at the painting. He attempted to hold his tears back as a wave of homesickness hit him hard. Grey Hawk lost all composure when his little brother said, “What was my big brother like?”
He ran out of the room with tears streaming down his cheeks and he cared not that his crown had fallen off and rolled away. He didn’t care what anybody thought. This visit was far too painful to handle at this point and he hated himself for not being able to do it.
His butler restrained himself from following him and stayed with the visitors. He approached and bowed politely.
“Your highnesses, please excuse my master … he is still traumatized by his family’s slaying three years ago. While he regains his composure I will be glad to guide you further on the tour, if you should like to continue,” he said.
“No, thank you. I think it will be best if we call it a day. We should be the ones apologizing,” said Queen Anna as she narrowed her lovely eyes at King Calvin, “it was wrong of us to bring up our loss when his loss is still so fresh to him. No harm was meant, it just is that he – even though he is in Grec form – looks so much like our son we lost.”
The butler bowed once again and said that he would speak with Grey Hawk later about it. Meanwhile, Grey Hawk was sobbing his guts out within the confines of his chambers. He had sent out any servants who were there and flung himself at his bed. Only one servant, a young maid who was a little younger than him remained, and that was because she did not hear the command. She was a sweet young thing and was actually Nariz’s servant, but Nariz had commanded her to do as Grey Hawk pleased, so at the moment he’d given his command she was deep in his closet cleaning it out. She stepped out of the closet and was startled to see him sitting on his bed, weeping as if he was given the worst possible news.
“Your highness,” she approached him boldly, “What ever is the matter?”
“Please, leave me, who ever you are,” he sobbed, “I desire to be left alone.”
“Forgive me sire, but you might feel better if you confide in somebody.”
“You couldn’t possibly understand what I am going through!”
“Try me, I won’t tell a soul.”
“I was taken away from my parents three years ago and the separation is terrible.”
“So was I, your highness. I was taken from my parents when I was young, too.”
Grey Hawk stopped crying and looked up at the girl in surprise. He studied her honest and compassionate face, thus deciding that she was not mocking him. He composed himself and hopped down off of his tall bed.
“Nariz took you from your parents? What ever for? How could she?”
“Your highness, it is nothing for a master to separate his or her servants or slaves from their children. It happens all the time, to just about all of us. I am just glad I am a servant and not a slave. This way I get my own bed, pay, and meals. She has to give me that much, but of course she can punish me as she pleases, especially since she is raising me.”
“I am appalled, and shocked. That is cruel! That is unjust! I will not stand for it! I …” Grey Hawk cried out and trailed off, “wish I knew how to approach the council with out coming across like a tyrant. What is your name?”
“I am Amethyst Jade Fraushine, but everybody calls me Jade Shine,” she bowed like a lady of the high court.
“Jade Shine,” Grey Hawk tried the name, “I am glad I met you. So you do understand what I am going through.”
“Well, not entirely … how is it that you can’t see your parents any more? I mean, that is to say if they aren’t dead … What I am really trying to ask is … if you are the king, can’t you just ask to see them?”
“You have a good point, but the thing is not whether I can see them … it is whether I can tell them I am alive and go back to them. I can’t go back … well, I could … that is … can you keep a secret?”
“Is that a command or a request?” Jade Shine smiled.
“A request … I kind of been rather snappy and inconsiderate lately … so please don’t tell what I am going to tell you,” Grey Hawk said walking over to the door and peering outside, “Guards, I am going to have a private conversation. See to it that nobody enters or listens in – that includes nobles and councilors.”
“Sir!” saluted the two bodyguards.
With that, Grey Hawk closed the door and motioned for Jade Shine to follow him to his couch. She hesitated a moment and followed. They sat there for a while and he divulged his deepest secrets and sorrows. She reached over and held his hand.
“You aren’t alone now, Sire,” she said, “You really should go back to your parents and entertain them. They really deserve that much, or at least explain why you ran off on them.”
“You are right,” said Grey Hawk, “I have been thinking of myself way too much, lately. Thank you for being a friend to me. I will always remember this. Tell Nariz that I am giving you the rest of the day off – you look tired. If she tries to argue otherwise, tell her she can bring it to me. If she punishes you and does not bring her grievance to me then tell me and I will talk to her.”
“Thank you!” she cheered and bowed several times. She must have been quite a sight to see, because Grey Hawk laughed. It was the first time in three years that he’d even had a genuine smile on his face, not since he was kidnapped. Jade Shine giggled and gathered her basket of cleaning items up then headed out into the hall. Grey Hawk gathered himself together and felt for his crown to straighten it and found that it was missing. He panicked and hunted through out his chambers. His faithful butler, Seyru, knocked on the door and entered with the crown.
“Your Highness, you dropped this. Are you alright? The Floris king and queen are concerned. What shall I say to them?” he asked.
“Thank you,” he said fitting it onto his head, “I had a bad memory from three years ago. I am better now. Please tell them I will be there shortly. I do not wish for them to leave with out my bidding farewell.”
The rest of the afternoon and evening went well and nothing was said of the afternoon’s upset. Grey Hawk swore to back the Floris kingdom during the next imperial meeting he attended. This would guarantee Floris freedom and full membership in the empire. It would take this as only the backing of the Grec, Gred or Fedison would be taken seriously. As they bid him farewell, Grey Hawk allowed a small tear to fall, out of sight of the others. This was a bittersweet time, but he treasured it in his heart and vowed to find a way to make things right. Still, this was all pain to him, to see what he could not have.
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12
