CHAPTER 2. MAN ON THE THRONE

An uncanny silence seemed to inhabit the court room in that instant. The silence was broken with a mentally agonizing wail.

" No, my lord. My brother and I have not defied any law. It was the man with the scar that attempted to pester me. My brother's actions were directed towards preserving my honour", squealed the meager figure emerging from Arsenio's back.

In the lady's defence, a parson named Trinidan asserted, "The lady is telling the truth my lord. I saw it all transpiring with my own eyes".

The petite lady stood beside her brother. Although, she was conversing with the man on the throne, her sight was fixated on the floor.

Consequently, the man directed his gaze on her.

Enamoured by her beauty and a sense of familiarity, he glared at her scrutinizingly. After taking into consideration the testimony of the parson, he ordered his minister to relieve them of the charges, but instructed them to provide their services to the king. Arsenio was delegated as the Commander of the royal guards, and Eiddwen was chosen to serve as the lady in waiting of princess Ilana.

Before parting for their respective chambers, Arsenio assured Eiddwen that he would look for a way for their return. Thereafter, Eiddwen was taken away by two maidens that grabbed her by her arm. She was settled in a room.

"Where is your luggage, dear?", said an old woman with tender eyes.

"Some goons plundered our baggage while returning from the pilgrimage", asserted Eiddwen.

Then, she tugged the sleeve of the old woman and inquired about the name of the king. The old woman looked at her with the expression of utter disbelief. Then, she exclaimed," He is Lord Vernados Nigelle, the direct descendant of Almenor Nigelle. Under his rule, the army of Estailux stays undefeated. His competence is the cause of distress for many other kingdoms".

Meanwhile in the court room, Chief councilor Osiris informed Vernados about the arrangements made for the feast which was supposed to take place in the evening. The great feast took place every year during the spring in order to honour the fallen ancestors of the crown. Subsequently, a man appeared panting on the court, and apprised the king about an approaching enemy from the west. The man was a local spy of the minister. Vernados instructed his chief councilor to send messengers and ravens, and call for allliances from the other kingdoms. Then, he commanded his Chief commander of Royal guards to send guards towards the borders. All the knights and men worthy of valor were instructed to prepare for the battle.

The word soon reached to Arsenio. He sat on the corner of the room and wondered about the happenings that preceeded earlier. While ruminating, he stumbled on the thought that how did he beat a skilled swordsman earlier. He had never even held a sword in his whole life, yet he was confident about his swordsmanship when he faught. He was mostly troubled because of their transmission to another world. Abruptly, an anomaly in the form of ball of light appeared in front of him. He tried to catch it and felt a tingling sensation on his hand. Soon after, the light deviated backwards and started expanding.

The light semmed to expand and a man emerged out of it.

" I am Edor, I am the one who conjured thee into this world", said tha man cracking up like a demented being.

His eyes were as dark as futurity, beard as gray as the soft creeping twilight ; His body was enrapped in a long beige gown, with elongated sleeves, and a grey scarf was fastened with a golden broach. The man's dark brown eyes were glistening as bright as the first sunlight of the day.

Out of Disbelief, Arsion rubbed his eyes and gaped at the conjurer with an open mouth.

After regaining his senses, he opened his mouth and inquired, " Why did you bring us here? Send us back this instant !!"

Striding backwards out of fear, Edor uttered softly with gleaming eyes, " Kick the habit this instant ! You're no longer a monarch. Just a meek human".

Arsenio came towards him and nabbed him by his neck and inquired furiously, " What do you mean by 'Monarch' ?"

Edor stood still and didn't move. He averted his sight towards the ceiling and began to crackle. Just when Arsenio removed his gaze from the man, Edor poofed into thin air.

While cursing his fate, he sat back in order to plan an escape from that place.

In the intervening time, Eiddwen went to attend Princess Ilana. She entered the broad room which was filled with finest artifacts and the bed was enrapped in the peerless satin. There were huge paintings of princess on the wall, and baroque furniture. Then, she glanced at the princess. She was sitting on her dressing table.

Hazel eyes with alluring lips curled into a smile, and bewitching voluminous dark curls with mocha coloured skin and beautifully placed freckles on her nose made her resemble a goddess. While Eiddwen stood awstrucked by her refinement, Ilana stood and approached her. She held both of her hands in hers and asked, "What is your age, dear Eiddwen? ", and remarked while glaring at her petite face, "You look quite young for the job you've been handed".

Eiddwen shifted her sight to the ground out of uneasiness and whispered shyly, "seventeen, my lady". Ilana smiled at the innocent petite woman who stood in front of her. Thereafter, she directed her to do her bidding and aid her in getting ready for the celebration. She even gave Eiddwen a dress to wear for the same.

Soon, the hour of the gala arrived. It began with a hymn sung by a group of choir, followed by a captivating play. The whole fortress was filled with joy, and celebration. Soon it was replaced by a cold wave of stillness. With his each stride, fear penetrated the hearts of the masses. Although it was supposed to be a celebration, people stood quiet like they witnessed bedlam. Vernados sat on his throne, and joined the festivities.

While searching for Eiddwen, Arsion spotted her standing beside the princess. In order to capture her attention, he threw a pea-sized pebble towards her. After noticing Arsion's presence, she excused herself and appeared at the abandoned side of the fortress. She held Arsion in her arms and spoke in a low voice ," Did you find something? Can we leave?"

Arsion glared at the sky and uttered, " No, I just know that the man who got us here introduced himself as Edor earlier to me, and by inquiring I'll find that sneaky bastard and make him pay for his misdeed".

Their predicament was as hopeless as looking for needle in a haystack. Eiddwen stood their with hopeless eyes, stairing at the moon and reminiscing her time with her parents and friends. Soon, Arsion spotted a knight approaching the place. He told Eiddwen to escape. In haste, Eiddwen ran to an unknown direction. she lost her way and somehow ended up in front of a room. Later, she was thrusted with a violent push inside the room. The moment she fell on the floor, she felt an audible 'click' coming from the door. Someone locked her inside the room. She made efforts to push the door open in order to confirm if the door was actually locked. Her endeavors turned into failure.With keen eyes she observed the room, It consisted inestimable artifacts and furniture. It undeniably belonged to a man of huge status, most probably, a Lord. Petrified by the prevailing circumstance, she decided to hide beneath the bed.

After half an hour, the door was opened. A strong scent of ale dominated the room. Three men entered the room. Since she was hiding beneath the bed, she could not see their faces. Still hiding beneath the bed, She could feel the creak sound of the bed when the man laid on it. Out of fear, she started taking heavy breaths. While the man tossed and turned on the bed, She held her mouth with her hands. She waited there for an hour, and when she sensed no movement, she emerged out of it. She opened the door with gentle force, and strolled the corridors to find the chamber of maidens. After entering, she took small strides carefully and went to sleep. Horrified by the events of the day, she closed her eyes in haste.

The next day, King Valentinian Daw of Brahamingam kingdom and king William Visconti of Florance kingdom came to pay their allegiance to king Vernados Nigelle for the war. King Valentinian Daw was an amiable man who held a huge fondness for animals. Valentinian Daw was a 5'8 in height, had emerald colourwd eyes and a huge scar on his left cheek. William Visconti was a brutal man. He was best known for being a remarkable hunter and adultery. He was 6'1 in height, had dark amber coloured eyes with sharp features. Brutality was quite inherent in his nature. Aloof, barbarous and resentful, William was not a man to be befriended. His admiration was ony served to men with power.

King Willaim walks in huge strides in his leather boots, flaired his veil and bowed in front of Vernados. After him, king Valentinian walked towards Vernados in soft strides and bowed his head to honour the king. After getting done with greeting ceremonies, the kings went to the chamber of lords with their ministers and courtiers to discuss their strategies for the battle.

Just when the men began, a loud thud sound was heard from the court room. After that followed the loud wail of a woman crying out in pain. Vernados ordained the men to stay seated in the room while he went ahead to get a clear explanation about the ruckus being made. Just when he got out of the room, he saw Eiddwen lying on the floor, bleeding heavily from her mouth. Her hairs were clutched by a lord in his twenties. The man was the brother of king, Grigor Nigelle. He gathered all the lords and ministers to the court room. He looked at his brother and claimed that the woman tried to intrude in his room the other night. The whole crowd began murmurings and curses came along with it. Eiddwen sobbed and pleaded from the king for justice. She told the happenings of the other day. She asserted she was thrusted in the room by an anonymous person. The whole crowd expressed their amusement at her clarification.

Grigor came near her and held her jaw in his hand. His menacing glare threw a chill down her spine and she quivered in fear. He stared deeply in her hazel eyes and condemned her with being an enchantress and seductress. She denied all the claims and pleaded for justice.

After returning back from the training, Arsenio saw the terrible scenario and pleaded to the king to relieve her of these dreadful accusations. While Eiddwen wheeped, Arsenio pleaded and Grigor asked for justice, Vernados beheld the mere scenario with extreme meticulousness.

His decision would being forth the justice ; The query that resided in the minds of the people was whether he would behold his blood relation, or justice?