Eighteen Years Later

It is the morning of the second day of the second month of the eighteenth year after the death of king Silas II at the hands of his cruel younger brother who took over the throne of the kingdom of Esop by murdering his brother the rightful king of Esop. Prince Remus now called King Remus "The Just" has ruled over the kingdom of Esop for eighteen years and the people of Esop have enjoyed neither peace nor serenity all through the long years, people are dying from the heavy taxation laden on them by the king and his subjects, the farmers are neither having good nor bountiful harvest over the last two years due to the famine that has plague the kingdom and the king is not in the least bit concerned about the plight of his subjects.

Over the last few months there has been more heads on the pikes than foods on a family table, this is as a result of the king's anger because he feels the people are about to revolt against him, so before this happens, he his striking fear into the heart of the people so that they will shut up and know their places.

In the palace of king Remus the just all is not well, the palace is a gloomy place deserted of the happiness and freedom enjoyed during the reign of king Silas, the staffs mind the words of their mouth hence their heads on a pike, the chiefs and advisers only tell the king what they believe he wants to hear in other to keep not just their titles but their lives. It is a particularly gloomy day this morning as the chiefs wait in the throne room for the king as they were summoned to the palace urgently to discuss an important matter pertaining to national security, as the door to the throne room open and king Remus the just step in, all the chiefs and advisers stood up in reverence to the king, the king in his early fifties walked in looking elegant and handsome, his age fail to do justice to his appearance, as he sat down on his throne, his subject bow down to him in greeting and he signal for them to sit down.

The king looks around skeptically at his chiefs, his look conveys some meaning, and the look they have seen a lot of times over the years, a look that does not fail to give them the shivers, 

"You know, the king began looking from one face to the other, I am disappointed, disappointed in all of you seated here today, what have you all been doing"? Shouted the king, leaving his subject to flinch in fear at the tone of his voice, although by now one would have thought they should have gotten used to it by now, but the truth is that they still get scared because every day they go home to their families and they sleep and wake up the next day is a blessing to them but right now, everyone knows the king is in a very foul mood. "I have been getting some disturbing news from my spies all around the kingdom and our outlying villages, what they bring to me are so bad that I killed one of them in a fit of rage, I mean how can my subject hate me this much that they wish to see me dead? They are saying that am a bad king, they are saying I stole the kingdom from my brother, and I killed his family and that is why the kingdom is in this state, they are saying that the gods are angry at me, is that true? Do you think the gods are angry at me?" Everyone is silent, I mean who would talk and be the sacrificial lamb on this day, 

"I believe you have done nothing to warrant the ire of the gods your majesty," everyone is surprise and looks at the source where the voice came from and it's none other than the prime minister himself chief Kabil, a man known for his unscrupulous personality, a man who served diligently under the regime of the late king, many wonder how the man survived the coup that shook the kingdom to its core and how such man is now serving under the reign of this new monster they all call king, in one word 'survivor', that is the only explanation or conclusion worth reaching, the old man is just trying to survive whatever it takes, 

"What makes you say so or are you just mocking me like the rest of them?" 

"Your majesty I dare not insult you or your reign, the people are afraid of you because you handle them with an iron hand, a just hand, the people claim to hate you but deep inside they respect you and they fear you, right now you need them to fear you, and as for the growing tension in the kingdom I will advise his majesty to organize a tournament, that will keep them smiling for a while." 

The king heaved a sigh and nodded his head to his prime minister suggestion, "Ok that's a good suggestion, I'll like the prime minister to be in charge of organizing this tournament and I will want you to liaise with the other chiefs and make sure it is an interesting tourney," having said this, the king walked out of the throne room, the chieftains all sat down in a heap as if the executioner decided the day is not yet the day of their death, 

"Prime minister," said one of the chiefs the minister of information to be precise, chief Tantum, "how do you propose we go about this without spending much money?" 

"That's simple my friends, began the prime minister, we all know how meticulous the king is about the area of finance and how he does not joke with his money, and we all know the situation of the kingdom, how the youths are trying to bite the king's head off because of their claim of unavailability of work," 

"Well, that's not a lie we all know the truth of that said chief Uso the minister of works, I would know better in that aspect as it is my area," 

"Yes, we all know that said the prime minister but as you know our hands are tied as we are all just figure heads but as I was saying, instead of giving the victor of this tournament monetary reward, the warrior who wins will get a high position in the king's personal guards," 

"Wow" said all the chiefs in unison, "And who said you're not a wise man?" They all laughed, 

"I believe that's a very great idea" said chief Uso, "so all we need to do now is arrange how to go about the planning for the event." 

"Yes" said the prime minister, "we will convene at my house in a few days' time to discuss this further, I will send a messenger to your residence when it is time," 

"Ok" they all agreed, and all the chiefs filed out of the throne room.

..............................…

 The king sat on a chair by the table in his bedchamber resting his hands on the table with his head in his palms just then his general knocked, 

"Who is that?" said the king in annoyance at being disturbed almost knocking down the cup of wine beside him, 

"It is I Nemas your majesty." 

"Oh, come in general" the door to the king bedchamber opened and the king stepped in all clad in his army uniform looking grim, 

"You sent for me your majesty?" 

"Yes" said the king "sit and have a drink with me." 

"Am good your majesty." 

"Sit down" 

"Thank you sire" the king took a second cup and poured his general some wine 

"Thank you, your majesty," said Nemas as he took the wine cup from the king, Nemas on seeing the haunted look on king Remus face ventured to ask, "your majesty, what troubles you?" 

Hmm sighed the king, "I have been having some disturbing dreams over the last few months and my physician has been brewing me some potions but it's not working." 

"What sort of dream your majesty if I may ask." 

"I have been having these dreams of my brother's long-lost son coming back and taking this throne from me." 

"That cannot be true your majesty; we have reasons to believe both mother and son perished on that day, the warriors who chased after them told me they put some arrows in the back of the former queen, and they are sure she couldn't have survived that and the prince was too young to survive on his own.

"You know what still baffles me till today is why they couldn't make sure she and the prince are both dead before they came back to report"?

"Your majesty, you very well know that they were chased up until they entered into the kingdom of Dars, and you very well know the relationship between the late king and the king of Dars at the time so our soldiers couldn't go in chasing the queen and her son, so they had to turn back your majesty."

"Yes, I know, said the king, that old fool, I hate him, but we cannot attack his kingdom because their military strength is superior to ours, and I have heard of his two princes who are considered the pride of the kingdom and here I am with no heir, don't you see the irony of this situation? I have no heir to succeed the throne and there is the possibility that the late king's son is still out there biding his time, waiting before he comes back to claim my throne and I cannot have that" the king said in exasperation drinking the wine in his cup in one gulp.

"Your majesty, I would not let that happen, I will lay down my life before any ill touch you."

"I know where your loyalty lies and I appreciate it, you've been a loyal subject and a friend, I would like to be alone, I need to rest.''

"Ok your majesty, I will leave you to rest'' general Nemas stood up and pay is respect to the king before stepping out of the room. The king poured himself another cup of wine and continued his brooding.