Chapter 1

Chapter 1.

Shkar Lamton is a man who knows what he wants and takes it, whether by force, or voluntary. With a heart of stone he is able to distant himself from the horrors of what he is doing and claim the power that he so desires. Standing over his father who is lying peacefully in his bed completely unaware of his existence he feels nothing but disgust and hatred for this man who has become weak but yet will not die on his own. His father seems to be holding onto something, holding onto life hoping that he can have the last minute chance to change his son who has become a bitter disappointment. He looks so helpless, his body who was once strong, tall in stature, with hair the colour of dark chocolate, with eyes that could look into the depths of your soul and inspire you to do what he asks. Shkar looks at the knife that he is holding, he caresses it with the tips of fingers, feeling consumed by it totally aware that he holds the fate of his father within this knife that could slice through him in an one stroke. Has he raises his knife slowly and purposely in high above his head, a memory floods in his mind like unwanted plague that makes him pause and hesitates for a moment.

He is in his bedroom and he is five years old. It’s a glorious room, spacious, big enough for at least another ten beds. It boasts a beautiful arch window, which overlooks lake Gosham and magical oak trees that look as though they have come from a fairy tale. His father his sitting beside him on his bed telling him about how he found him and that he is their to protect him from any harm that may come to him.

“You know son, you were just a baby when I found you” says King Orlom. “You were so precious, so small and innocent. I felt drawn to you, like there was a strong force field pulling me towards you and I had no control over my actions. I picked you up. You were crying. You would not stop crying not matter what I did to try and console you. I encircled my arms around you to protect you from the cold and you very slowly started to stop crying. I fell instantly in love with this venerable child that I needed to take you home. Find out about you and keep you to myself. People thought that I was crazy. But I had no son, so it felt right”. King Orlom pauses for a moment, to catch his breath and look upon his son. “What happened to my parents?” says Shkar in a tiny meek voice as if afraid to speak, afraid to interrupt to the story or afraid to find out the truth. “Well, my son, we could never find out about your family. It is as though they had vanished from thin air, completely erased from the universe. I’m sorry I don’t have the information that you seek. But please know this. I love you so much, as if your were my own flesh and blood. You are my life. And nothing and no one will ever harm you. You have my word”. And with that he looks upon his son one last time, kisses him on the forehead and leaves the room.

Shkar falters for a brief moment as the memory fades and his body becomes aware of the present. He puts the sword down on the bed and stands there motionless. Its not that he doesn’t love his father, for he does, it just that this power has completely consumed him that he no longer holds himself responsible for his actions. He is now lost, that memory has touched him in a way that he never thought possible and he now feels a strange sensation running through his body as though life is restored. His father awakes suddenly and sees his son who is now lost control of his emotions and has collapsed on the side of the bed with his head in his son and shaking with tears streaming down his face. King Orlom sees the knife, which has been placed beside Shkar in the bed. “Son, look at me”, King Orlom attempts to bring his back to him, wanting to hold him and comfort him. “Son, what ever you are about to, think about it. This is not you, you are not this man who seeks this power that you so desire. Look into my eyes and remember who you once were”. He is certain that he can bring him back, he knows his son too well, it may take some convincing but if Shkar looks into his eyes that is when he will have him. But he can’t reach him, Shkar continues to break down, he is in fits now no longer listening to his consoling father. “Enough now son, life doesn’t have to be like this, it shouldn’t be this hard. You have everything you need, you have great potential to be a great king but there is still much to learn. Let me teach you. I will recover from this illness, I will not leave you like this with no certain future. Remember what I told you when you were a little boy. I love you too much son, you are more than my flesh and blood. Are love goes much deeper than that”. Slowly his son turns to face his father, he lets his arms drop lifeless by his body he can no longer lift them on his own. His father reaches out to him, touches his hand and holds him to transfer his own life into his son. They look into each others eyes, they hold onto each others stare for what seems a lifetime. Shkar hugs his father with such family passion that both men begin to break down. “I’m so sorry father, this power is so strong, it cannot be controlled”.

“It’s okay son, I can help you. We are in this together. I am here for you”. Both father and son talk throughout the night about the past, present and future. When Shkar eventually leaves at 2:00 in the morning he is in better spirits, there is fire in his soul again, there is life in his limbs and he no longer feels the need to kill his father. What was he thinking? He isn’t able to hurt the man who saved him from certain death as a child. His father is his life, without him, he is nothing. Now back in his room Shkar begins to shake uncontrollably, energy depleted he collapses onto his bed and falls asleep. Before he’s aware of what’s happening he feels strong arms grab him and throws him out of bed and onto the cold hard floor. “What in the name of…” he tries to shout out but his punched in the mouth before he is able to finish the sentence. This can’t be happening, he thinks to himself. Who on earth could possible treat him this way and for no reason at all? There are no answers to his question. Nobody speaks to him, their faces are covered with iron masks its also to dark to see how many there are. He tries to break free from the grasp they drag him out of his room but he cannot get away for they are too strong. He can tell that the men are getting annoyed from Shkar’s struggling so the give him one last punch to knock him out cold so that he can no longer any control of his senses. It fades to black, familiar sounds die down and he cannot feel anything.

When Shkar comes back to his senses he has no idea where he is. He takes a good look around and from what he can tell he has been locked up in a prison cell, most likely Limmel prison, the place for extreme criminals. A place for traitors, betrayers, murderers and political activists who dare to challenge government. Did he kill his father without his awareness, he cannot remember doing it. He remembers leaving his father’s room, but after that everything is a blur. His in big trouble, once in Limmel prison there is no escape and from here you are generally sent to Mimco camp off the Karragal coast; a small island governed by the Acheans set up for political prisoners who are exiled, never to return again. He tries to sit up but regrets it immediately has his head begins to spin and he feels nauseous so he lies back down in fear for his life and cries out for his father. “What have I done?” He shouts this out a number of times, over and over again but in vain as no answers come to him. Eventually someone comes to him frustrated at all the disturbance he is causing. They open the door and storm in and shake him to the point where his head lolls back and forth almost about to snap off. They punch him a number of times, once in the stomach, once in the side of his head and once again in the same place to knock him out once again to get him to shut up. It works, his unconscious yet again they leave him there to suffer alone. A few hours later they are back, but this time they come with another man. Someone that Shkar knows and immediately he knows what is happening. For Vaughn is standing in front of him with this smugness that tells Shkar that Vaughn enjoying himself. “So young prince, you’ve gone and topped your father in a jealous rage have we? Can’t say that I blame you really. I would’ve done the same but I don’t like to get my hands dirty. I suppose I should thank you for saving me the trouble”. Vaughn is now when touching distance of Shkar, he can almost feel his hot foul breath on his face as he encloses him in. “Now what do I have planned for you. Well you did kill your father after all, which usually would get a prisoner the chop. But I think that that is too good for you. No I have something much better planned for you. Where sending you to Mimco camp where the Acheans can take of you and you’ll have plenty of time thinking about your precious father. Meanwhile I’ll take care of the fort here for you, I’m sure the people of Lingrel will welcome a new governor”. And with that Shkar was left alone wondering when he was going to be taken on his treacherous journey to Mimco.

The next day Vaughn calls a council meeting with his trusted comrades; Pontea, Trent, Lorgan and Norak. These five men have been together forever, they grew up together as boys with Orlom and they fought together as grown men when Orlom raged war on their neighbours. They are inseparable, they know what each other is feeling, no words need to be spoken to understand each other and they will do just about anything for one another. So with the King dying slowly in his bed with no more control of government, these five men have become power hungry; for no longer can they stand in the shadow of their king and under no circumstances will they allow this miscreant of a man to take over the throne, Shkar Lamton. So drastic times called for drastic measures a king needed to be murdered and a bastard of an heir needed to be framed, then all will be well in their world, nothing disturbed. “Is the deed done Vaughn?” Asks Pontea, with concern in his voice. “Of course, he is being transported as we speak, nothing will be traced back to us and we can reform a new government that the people will be happy with”, says Vaughn with excitement. “Good then we can get on with stage two. We need to hold a meeting with Emmerich, I worry that with our sudden lapse of king he will find a way to use us” exclaims Pontea. As he takes a good look around the room his sees four men who are getting too old and tired for this sort game, men who should be retired and enjoying the rest of their life with their families. Lorgan is the only one who has aged gracefully and doesn’t look a day older than 35 even though he is 52. The rest of the clan are nearing their 60’s, with greying and in some cases disappearing, bodies fraying and becoming limp and skin almost decaying and becoming colourless. But what sets these men against the rest of the world is their zest for life, their desire to fight for what they believe in and for looking out for one another. “Are you sure this going to work? I mean, absolutely the nothing will come back to us? I don’t want to be implicated for murder, even if I wasn’t actually involved”. Ah Trent, Pontea thinks to himself the one who is ever a questioning, worrying about something when he doesn’t need to. “Relax Vaughn, what could possibly go wrong, Shkar openly admitted to killing his father, we didn’t even need to push him. He was totally convinced that he was the one. I have to say Vaughn it was done well. I was not expecting it to be so easy” says Pontea. “Right well, if we are in agreement, I think that we shall depart and leave the rest with my gentlemen. I wish to deal with Emmerich alone”. They all node in agreement, knowing to well that Pontea as a score to settle with Emmerich and do not want to stand in his way, all thankful that they don’t  have to be the one do it.