Chapter 21 King Martin

As Martin settled into the throne, the weight of the crown still heavy in his mind, he knew that his first act as king could not be to sit in silence. The people needed to hear his voice, to feel the assurance that they had not traded one tyrant for another. He stood once more, the throne behind him, and raised his hand to signal for quiet.

The murmurs of the guards and onlookers hushed, and a tense stillness fell over the room. Outside, the square began to fill again as word spread that Martin, now King Martin, would speak.

He looked out through the grand windows at the gathering crowd, his voice powerful and unwavering. "People of Frosthaven! People of Obelia! Today marks the dawn of a new era. No longer will your voices go unheard, no longer will your lives be ruled by fear and oppression. I stand before you, not as a king who demands your obedience, but as a servant of the people, sworn to uphold your rights and honor your needs."

His words resonated, carried by the wind to every ear, igniting the embers of hope that had long been buried beneath the ashes of despair.

"I promise you this," he continued, his tone imbued with a solemn vow, "As your king, I shall serve the interests of the people above all else. No longer will the throne be a symbol of tyranny. It will be a beacon of justice, fairness, and unity. Together, we will rebuild this kingdom. Together, we will forge a future where every man, woman, and child can live with dignity and pride."

He paused, allowing the gravity of his promise to settle. Then his expression hardened, his voice taking on a steely edge. "I must also address the matter of those who sought to undermine our future. The Snowveil family, along with other barons who gathered their forces in a bid to seize control, have been eradicated. Their 60,000 knights, who would have brought further strife and division, are no more. This is a clear message to anyone who dares to challenge my authority. Let it be known: any who rises against the throne will meet the same fate as those who came before them."

He took a step forward, his voice growing even colder. "As for the families of these lords, they are hereby branded as traitors to the realm—conspirators against the throne. A bounty is placed on their heads, and they will be hunted for their crimes. No one who defies this kingdom will go unpunished. Let their fates serve as a warning to all."

The declaration stunned the crowd into silence, the gravity of his words sinking in. The fear and awe in their eyes spoke of the harsh reality of his rule. Yet, the chant that followed was a powerful testament to their resolve. From the crowd, a single voice cried out, "Hail King Martin!"

The words rippled through the square like a wave, gathering strength as more and more voices joined in, until the air was filled with the triumphant chant: "Hail King Martin! Hail King Martin!"

The sound was deafening, a resounding affirmation of Martin's place on the throne. The people, once fractured and beaten down, now united in their belief that they had a king who would stand with them, who would fight for them.

Martin stood tall, the cheers of his people washing over him. This was not just a victory over Gregory and his sons; it was a victory for the people of Obelia. They had chosen him as their king, and he would dedicate every breath to earning the trust they had placed in him.

With a final nod to the crowd, King Martin turned back toward the palace, knowing that the real work was just beginning. But as he stepped away, the roar of "Hail King Martin!" continued to echo in the square, a promise from his people that they would stand by him, just as he had vowed to stand by them.

As the cheers of "Hail King Martin!" filled the air outside, two guards stationed at the palace gates exchanged uneasy glances. The noise from the square was overwhelming, a mix of jubilation and tension that neither of them had ever experienced before. One of the guards, a grizzled veteran with a scar in his eye, shook his head slowly, his eyes fixed on the distant throne room where Martin had made his proclamation.

"This family is truly cursed," he muttered under his breath, just loud enough for his companion to hear.

The younger guard, barely out of his teens and still wide-eyed from the night's events, looked over with a frown. "What do you mean?"

The older guard sighed, leaning on his spear as if the weight of the night had finally caught up with him. "First it was the old king, who drove this kingdom to the brink with his greed and cruelty. Then Lord Gregory took over, and things only got worse. Now, look at what's happened—Gregory and his sons, torn apart by the very people they ruled. And now, another sits on the throne, claiming to be our savior."

The younger guard shifted uneasily, glancing toward the palace. "But King Martin, he's different, isn't he? He's not like Lord Gregory or the others. He promises to serve the people."

The veteran guard gave a bitter chuckle. "Maybe he is different. Maybe he really does mean what he says. But the throne...it's cursed, I tell you. Every ruler who sits on it starts with good intentions, but it twists them, makes them into something else. It's like the throne itself is hungry for blood and power, and it doesn't care who it consumes, i mean he just slaughtered 60 000 people why didn't he just kill the lords...."

The younger guard looked down, the excitement of the crowd outside now tinged with a sense of foreboding. "You think King Martin will end up the same way?"

The older guard sighed again, his eyes clouded with memories of the past. "I don't know, lad. But I've been here long enough to see how power changes people. Let's just hope, for all our sakes, that King Martin can break the curse...and not become just another name on the list of fallen kings."

The two guards fell into a somber silence, the roar of the crowd outside a stark contrast to the dark thoughts swirling in their minds. As they stood there, keeping watch over a kingdom that had seen too much bloodshed, they couldn't help but wonder if the curse of the throne would claim yet another victim.