Reign of Madness (Revised Edition) (69 page)

Dark Tidings raised a hand, and the room fell quiet once
again. “The dukes and all members of their Houses have been convicted of
treason, and they are all sequestered on their lands preparing for battle.
Caydean did not just send the army to collect foreigners at the tournament or
to capture me. He sent the army to deal with Ytrevius, just as he is doing with
Darning, Wellinven, and Atressian. Ytrevius was merely the first and least
prepared, since most of his forces were wrapped up with the tournament or
patrolling the peninsula.”

“What of our families?” asked Malcius. He had the look of a
man who would break under another blow.

Dark Tidings lowered his head before looking up again and
said, “As I have said, anyone standing against Caydean was deemed a traitor.
House Jebai was among them. Your mother and father have been imprisoned pending
execution. The army had orders to collect you as well.” Shiela wailed at the
news, and Malcius took the young woman in his arms as he angrily glared at the
bearer of the ill tidings.

Turning his attention to the Jebai House Guards, Dark
Tidings said, “I am sorry to inform you that most of your comrades are dead,
and those who are not are in the wind. The families of missing guards are being
rounded up for use as leverage. Caydean has promised that if you turn
yourselves in, he will release your families. I am told that in all such
instances, the promise was not kept. Boys of age thirteen or older are being
forced into the army, while women, girls, and young boys are being given to
those loyal to Caydean or sent to the slave markets.”

“But, slavery is illegal in Ashai!” exclaimed Guent, one of
the Jebai House Guards.

“Not so under Caydean’s rule,” Dark Tidings replied.

“What of my family?” Brandt eagerly questioned.

“House Gerrand has declared loyalty to Caydean,” Dark
Tidings replied. “You are ordered to return immediately.”

A mixture of disgust and relief flooded Brandt’s face. “But,
I do not understand. My House has always been loyal to Jebai.”

“I would say the decision has more to do with survival than
loyalty. Your parents remain unharmed,” Dark Tidings explained. “Those who are
loyal to Caydean were required to make certain…sacrifices, however. In most
cases, family members have been taken hostage and sent to live indefinitely in
the Houses of those who are more strongly under Caydean’s control. Your younger
brother now resides in House Carinen.” Brandt blanched as Dark Tidings turned
his attention to the baron.

“Lord Nasque, your loyalty is yet undeclared. You, as well
as all other undeclared nobles attending the tournament, were to be detained in
Skutton and questioned. You may return at the first opportunity, of course, but
I am afraid that any who saw you escape in my company will accuse you of
treason.”

The baron sighed and nodded knowingly. “I am afraid my son
made his decision long before this night. My wife passed many years ago, and we
have no other family at home, but I do worry for our retainers.” To his guards
he said, “I am sorry. You are, of course, released to see to your families when
we make landfall, if it is not already too late.” The four guards shifted
nervously.

“I am afraid we will not be making landfall for some time,”
Dark Tidings stated. “We are pursued by the King’s Navy and will not be able to
make port again until we reach the Channerían
port city of Serret.”

“I don’t understand!” Frisha exclaimed. “How could Uncle
Marcum do this?”

“He did not,” Dark Tidings replied. “Lord Marcum is no
longer General of the Army of Ashai. He refused to carry out his orders. Somehow,
he escaped capture, and he and his household have fled Kaibain. I have no news
of his whereabouts.”

“Who is the new general?” asked Jimson.

“A man named Abrigan,” the warrior replied.

Jimson, Drascon and Millins all looked at each other in
confusion. “I have not heard of the man. What was his post?”

“He was not in the army. He is the youngest brother of
Marquis Petrivis,” Dark Tidings replied. “The marquis, by the way, has been
raised to Duke and is poised to claim Wellinven once it is
vacated
.”

“Um…y-your majesty,” Frisha ventured uncertainly. She knew
one was not supposed to question the king, but he did not seem to be offended
by questions thus far, and she had to know. “Where is Rezkin?”

Dark Tidings bowed his head. He knew this moment would come.
He really no longer had any need to hide. The only reason he had kept his
identity a secret was to protect those who traveled with him and make moving
about that much easier. Now, everyone he knew was marked for death, anyway.

Frisha gasped in the silence. “Please, don’t say he’s dead.”

Tam shifted uncomfortably and gripped the woman’s hand.

“No,” replied the disturbing voice of the wraith. The True
King reached up and removed the demonic mask to reveal startling, icy blue eyes
– eyes that belonged to Rezkin.

The entire room was wrapped in a thick blanket of silence.
Aside from the initial jolt, no one even dared to move or breathe for a moment.
Strikers Shezar and Roark were stunned at Dark Tidings’ youth, and both wore
looks of confused recognition.

The normally quiet baron cleared his throat and muttered,
“Well, that was unexpected, although I cannot fathom why. It makes perfect
sense, now.”

“Rez? I…how can this be?” asked Frisha. She gripped Tam’s
hand so tightly he thought it might be crushed. “You…you
lied
to us?”

“No, I never lied,” came the response in Rezkin’s own
smooth, deep voice. “I mislead, misdirected, and allowed you to make your own
assumptions, but I never lied. Not to any of you.”

“It was
you
. It was
you
all along,” Malcius
accused. “All that time Palis spent searching and wondering, and you were right
there beside him,” he observed in defeat.

“Do not say that! Do not mention his name!” Shiela wailed as
she burst into tears anew.

“I will NOT forget him!” Malcius roared as he slammed a fist
on the table, inciting a traumatized squeal from the young woman. “I will not
stop talking about him EVER, you stupid, spoiled girl!” Silence, broken only by
sniffles and sobs, followed the outburst.

Finally, Frisha asked, “Rez, how can
you
be the True
King? Is that true?”

“It is. King Bordran bequeathed unto me unlimited authority
and autonomy. I believe it is my responsibility to claim the crown from
Caydean,” Rezkin replied.

“But, why
you
?” the young woman asked with tears in her
eyes.

“He is family,” said Tieran from beside her.

“What?” she exclaimed, and honest surprise was shared by all
who did not already know.

“It is true. Mage Wesson confirmed it. We believe Rezkin to
be my cousin,” Tieran replied.

Both of the strikers were nodding agreement. “It is obvious.
He looks just like them. Mage test or no, I doubt anyone would argue the
point.”

Frowning with furrowed brows, everyone really
looked
at Rezkin. It was as if a fog cleared and a lantern was lit when recognition
dawned.

“By the Maker, you look just like King Bordran in his
younger days,” exclaimed the baron. “How did I not see it before?”

“It was a spell,” Wesson interjected. “A spell lies over
Rezkin that enables him to keep his identity hidden. Now that you know the truth,
you are no longer affected by the spell.”

“How?” Brandt asked. His eyes bore into Rezkin with
determination.

Rezkin shrugged. “I do not know. As many of you know, I
never knew my family. I was unaware of the relationship until Wesson performed
his test. I am perhaps the bastard son of Bordran or his brother Deysius.”

“But why did he choose
you
? Why not Tieran or anyone
else?” Frisha pleaded. She was frightened and confused and absolutely certain
that the True King of Ashai would never marry someone of such low stature.

Rezkin looked at the young woman with hard, sad eyes. “Since
birth, I have done nothing but train. I studied history, economics, politics,
law, foreign relations and cultures, languages, healing and nearly any other
subject you can name. I have trained in every known manner of combat, mastered
every weapon available, mastered every
Skill
and learned to live by the
Rules
.
Bordran made sure I had every
Skill
and resource he could provide, not
the least of which was anonymity. Without that, I would surely have been killed
long before my training was complete. I was taught to survive. I was taught to
kill. I was taught to
lead
. Bordran did not choose someone who would
make a good king. He
made
someone who could overthrow a bad one.”

End
of Book Two

Rezkin
will return in
King’s Dark Tidings, Book Three

Characters

Rezkin
– A young warrior trained under
mysterious circumstances

Master Jaiardun
– Trainer at the mysterious
northern fortress

Master Peider
– Trainer at the mysterious northern
fortress

Striker Farson
– Striker at the northern
fortress who escaped the fortress battle

Striker Adona
– Striker at the northern
fortress

Sheyalin
– a Master Swordsmith who lived and
died over two hundred years past

Frisha Souvain
– Rezkin’s Girl Friend, a.k.a.
Lady Frisha Marcum

Tamarin “Tam” Blackwater
– Young carpenter’s
apprentice; Frisha’s escort

Captain Jimson
– King’s Army officer; friend
and travel companion to Rezkin

King Caydean
– King of Ashai, First son of
King Bordran

Prince Thresson
– Prince of Ashai, Second son
of King Bordran that went missing

General Marcum Jebai
– General of the Army of
Ashai; Frisha’s uncle

Simeon Jebai
– Count of Glasbury; General
Marcum’s older brother

Reaylin de Voss
– Young female healer who
wants to be a warrior

Tieran Nirius
– Son of Duke Wellinven;
Involved in a confrontation at restaurant

S
ergeant Millins
– Army escort for Frisha and
the Jebais to Skutton

Second Lieutenant Drascon –
Army escort for
Frisha and the Jebais to Skutton

Malcius Jebai
– Heir to House Jebai, Frisha’s
cousin

Palis Jebai
– Second heir to House Jebai,
Frisha’s cousin

Brandt Gerrand
– Friend of the Jebais
accompanying them to Skutton

Shiela Jebai
– Simeon’s daughter, Frisha’s
cousin

Tami
– Shiela’s maid

Ferrel
– Jebai House Guardsman

Guent
– Jebai House Guardsman

Maris
– Jebai House Guardsman

Jeyet
– Jebai House Guardsman

Captain Crowleson
– captain of the Luna Mara

Colton
– Tieran’s manservant

Drom Nasque
– Baron of Fendendril

Waylen Nasque
– Baron Fendendril’s son

Journeyman Mage Wesson
– Journeyman mage
employed by Rezkin

Magistrate Jiruthis
– Magistrate of Teurning

Mayor Tanning Quey
– Mayor of Teurning

Zankai (Kai) Colguerun Tresdian
– tried for
the murder of Preson Quey in Teurning

Preson Quey
– killed in fight in Teurning,
Mayor Quey’s son

Queen Lecillia
– Bordan’s queen

King Golial
– the Mad King, 602-637

Duke Oerand
– Assumed the throne after
overthrowing King Golial

Lord Gresh Carinen
– a villainous lord who
supports Caydean

Dynen Carinen
– First son of Gresh Carinen,
Swordmaster

Rhesh Carinen
– Second son of Gresh Carinen,
Fire Mage

Duke Darning
– Third cousin of Lady Carinen,
fostered Rhesh Carinen

Hilith Gadderand
– Displaced Guildmaster of
the Razor Edge Guild in Kaibain

Duke Atressian
– Contender against Duke
Wellinven for the throne

Duke Ytrevius
– Lords over the southern isles
and western peninsula, has five daughters

Keskian
– Master Swordsmith that forged
Rezkin’s black blade

Lord Urterian
– Marquis of Shezeil, from the
Kingdom of Jerea

Aspion of Ludren
– Commoner blacksmith
competing in the Fifth Tier and Melee

Nanessy Threll
– Elemental mage, fire and
water affinity

Darius Vaughnright
– Saddler competing in the
Fifth Tier of the tournament

Holton of Skutton
– Farmer competing in the Fifth
Tier of the tournament

Yserria Rey
– Commoner woman competing in the
Fifth Tier of the tournament

Brendam LuDou
– Captain of the Royal Guard for
King Desbian of Torrel

Jeriah
– Stable hand for Duke Ytrevius

Master Grey
–Stable Master for Ytrevius

Guardsman Mrikson
– Member of Ytrevius House
Guard

Safrina
– 18 yrs, Duke Ytrevius’s eldest
daughter.

Geila
– 16 yrs, Duke Ytrevius’s second
daughter.

Hespion
– Youngest son of Duke Atressian

Fierdon
– Atressian’s eldest son

Deysius
– King Bordran’s brother who died
without an heir

King Trent
– King of Verril

Lady Chiselia
– Daughter of Baron Esceran,
having an affair with Duke Ytrevius.

Jespia
– Healer during the tournament who
investigates Malcius’s poisoning

LeukSergeant Yail Stratus
– Tournament official,
former Third Tier champion

Urius Sedt
– Captain of the Guard for Duke
Wellinven

Shivés Ruolt
– Count under the authority of
Duke Darning, Daggermaster

Parker Farmer
– commoner farmer from Skutton,
Stavemaster

Ethric Gurrell
– Chieftain of the Eastern Mountains
tribe at the tournament

Queen Deseria
– former queen of Lon Lerésh, her brother killed her

Marquis of Quenth
– (Ashai) second place
winner of Fifth Tier

Klent Wolton
– one of Caydean’s select
strikers

Shezar Olnag
– a loyal striker

Roark Genring
– a loyal striker

Merk Estadd
– Captain of the
Stargazer
,
the ship leaving Skutton