Royalty and the Beast CH65

Royalty and the Beast CH65

Evan watched as his unconscious father was dragged away and tied up to the post with the horses. This all still seemed like a dream. He turned around, finally having a moment to speak to Joel. “what are you doing here?” he asked, walking up to the other man.
“a few days after you had left, your father had returned in search of you. He demanded that I join his army, and though I have a lot of command- even I cant refuse a direct order from a king. Plus I knew there was little chance you would be home anytime soon. I figured perhaps I would get a chance to see you on the road, though even I didn’t predict this.”
Evan had to laugh. He pulled his helmet off, looking around. The nagas were mostly still a good distance away, but just their presence was enough to make the humans uncomfortable. Evan motioned to Joel, walking away. “Come, there are others I would like you to meet.”
Joel followed, standing just as tall as Evan. “You fought very well. I must admit that when I saw you challenge him with a broken arm, I nearly had a heart attack. It takes a lot of skill to do what you had done.”
“I was trained by the best,” Evan shrugged.
“Yes, you were.”
Xeon and Vasson were just a ways ahead, speaking to each other. When Evan drew closer, they both turned their attention to face Evan. “Xeon, you remember Joel,” Evan gestured.
“I do, and I must say it is a relief to see such a familiar face once again.”
“I have to agree, though I am not quite as comfortable with the army behind you.”
“Vasson, this is Joel. He is my blade master. He has been teaching me weapons for many years.”
Vasson nodded. “Your little human has quite some skill. It is something you should be very proud of.”
“coming from you, that is an honor,” Joel dipped his head. "I have only briefly had the chance to see Xeon spar with evan. You nagas have a skill I have never seen before."
"We are given a sword at our first breath," Vasson crossed his arms. "I understand things are different for you humans."
"very," Joel agreed.
"well, even with this handicap, Evan seems to hold a blade fairly well. I can only assume that you are the reason for that."
"He is very thick headed," Joel explained. "it was not an easy job." Vassons lips twitched in response. Joel had almost gotten Vasson to smile. Almost. Joel turned back to Evan. “So what is going on? What are you doing here?”
“I will explain in a bit. I must speak to the Generals as well. Who are they?”
“I will have them summoned to the tent,” Joel nodded.
“Not the tent. There isn’t enough room. Have them meet me at the field over there,” Evan pointed behind him.
“Right away King Evan,” Joel gave a smug smile and bowed his head.
King Evan. That was going to take time to get use to.
Evan had the large table in his fathers tent hauled out into the field. Vasson called his generals over and all of Evans showed up as well. Evan knew a few of their names, but not all. He was going to have to change that. Slowly the two races filled around the table, all of them quite uncomfortable. Evan rolled out the map that had been drawn on, pushing it down so the humans could look at it.
“No one is here to cause harm,” Evan started, looking at both the humans and nagas. “The nagas came to help. you can trust them. Now, nearly a week ago, Vasson and Xeon had captured one of Howards men,” Evan started, looking at each of them. “They used him to get me out of danger. After that, he traded his freedom for information.” Evan leaned to the sheet, running his finger over a worn line. “From what I understand, my father was having you follow this path, is that correct?”
The men all leaned down and one looked at Evan and nodded. “Yes sir. Through the forgotten trails we had found.”
“those trails were not forgotten,” Xeon shook his head. “Howard was making a path for you to follow.”
“you were picking at his trail of crumbs,” Vasson crossed his arms.
“Howard would have led you through here, following the path up to the edge of the canyons,” Evan showed them all. “Because of the gases there, you would have followed this trail, leading you into this canyon where you would have been killed with rocks and debris.”
“I see,” a gruff man muttered. “we wouldn’t have known about a damn thing if you hadn’t come around.”
“so now that the kings have changed and we share the grounds with snakes, what is our next move? Do we go home and play games with the children?”
Evan glared at the large man. “The nagas are loaning their support. King Xeon and warlord Vasson have taken great lengths to give us the help we need. Tomorrow, after everyone else is settled and has a job, Vasson will talk half of the nagas and head in the direction that you all should have. He already has a small group around Howards men. When Vasson arrives they will surround them and force a surrender.”
“a surrender?” one demanded. “You have an army of nagas. Just kill the bastards.”
“all of that army consists of humans who were drafted,” Xeon explained. “They are farmers, bakers, leather workers. None of them have any skill for battle. If we show up, they will give in and we can avoid any unnecessary bloodshed.”
“you know, for heartless monsters that kidnap and kill children, you nagas are shocking reasonable.”
“Give us a few days,” Vasson muttered, looking at the map. “we will go back to pillaging your cities and eating your women.”
“while Vasson takes his nagas up to the cliffs,” Evan continued. “I am taking all of you and the remaining nagas straight into Howards city.”
“should we knock on the door before we enter?” one man demanded. “A frontal assault is the last thing you can do to a castle. They are built to stand against armies ten times the size of ours.”
“we know of a way under the city,” Xeon explained. “we can lead you though the sewers. We can get into the castle, seize hold of it all and kill Howard. Once he is dead, a message will be sent to all cities and this useless war will be over.”
“just like that?” one drummed his fingers. “Just lop the bastards head off and flowers start sprouting?”
“His humans fight because they believe they have to,” Vasson glanced around the table. “They all know he is mad. If you kill him then the shop keepers and farmers will lay down their swords. They are fighting a battle that they want no part in.”
“as comforting as it is to see that you do in fact have a plan, I have to ask; do you expect our two races to work side by side?”
Evan glared around at the table. He could see both human and naga were uncomfortable. He straightened and looked at each of them. “The nagas are not here to harm. They are here to support me. without them, you would have been dead by lunch tomorrow. I know it will not be easy. But I am proof that two races that are so different can in fact work alongside each other.”
“how do we tell all of them that?” one man jabbed his thumb over his shoulder.  
Evan drummed his fingers on the table. “You have been out here for a very long time. You are all tired and I know tension was already high. But I am not leading an army of toddlers. I am not yanking a pack of dogs across the country side. You are all grown men, adults. And if they truly can not see the benefits that the nagas bring, then they will have to face us as enemies.”
“you would throw them to the snakes?” one man hissed.
“we do not have time for bickering,” Evan snapped. “we are going to stop a war. If your soldiers are going to act like a flock of spoiled hens, then I am not spending my time or energy converting them. They follow beside us, or they stand against us.”
“how can we trust them?” one muttered under his breath.
“I am not asking you to trust them,” Evan glared. “I am asking you to work with them. You all do not have to be best friends, but without them this plan will not go as smoothly. I need every head I can count to take this castle.”
The human glanced at each other then one of the older men sighed. “we will follow your orders, your highness.
“Your father was apparently willing to walk us right into a trap,” another looked at Evan. “You and your snakes are the reason we are alive. We can not forget this.”
“it will not be an easy transition, but we will work with the nagas.”
Evan nodded, looking over at the nagas on the other side of the table. “do you have any concerns? Questions? Speak now, so that we may address everything.”
“So long as the humans do not cause problems, then neither shall we,” a naga flicked his tongue out to taste the air. “my concerns lie more on the weather. Tonight will be cold. we will have to have many fires so we may keep up our strength.”
“if it is fire you need, we can oblige,” the man next to Evan shifted on his feet. “but if you search for food, you will not find anything.”
“what do you mean?” Evan frowned. “are you unwilling to share rations?”
“our willingness has nothing to do with it,” the man turned to Evan. “we are physically unable. We don’t even have enough food for ourselves tonight. We are down to only stale bread and stagnant water.”
“did you not prepare well?” Vasson muttered.
“we were caught by the storms. They dragged us down and took us off the paths. We have been traveling much longer then we should have been.”
“your father promised us that there would be camps to raid in these woods. So far, we have seen none.”
Evan looked at Xeon. the naga in turn looked at Vasson. With a small jerk of his head, Xeon had his answer. He turned back to the table. “we will share our rations with you,” Xeon decided.
“what do you even eat?” one man pulled back his nose in disgust.
“we have meat,” Xeon explained patiently. “deer, rabbits, bird. We also have breads and clean water.”
“I will send others out as well to catch whatever they can,” Vasson muttered. “no man should have to go to war with an empty stomach.”
The humans seemed hesitant. “what are your concerns?” Evan finally snapped.
“I will be blunt,” one answered. “there is no point in speaking in whispers. How do we know that the nagas will not taint our food?”
Evan was beginning to feel the strain of annoyance bleed through, but Xeon was as calm as ever. “why would I bring my entire army out of hiding to protect you from a trap if we were just going to kill you with poisoned meat? If you want my opinion, that seems like a massive waste of resources and time.”
They humans glanced at each other and Evan could finally see their shield chipping away. “We will have large fires built and we will also send our hunters out.”
“You would be draining your energy for no reason,” Vasson shook his head. “you humans are all but useless in hunts.”
“we might not be snakes, but we can help hold our share,” the man answered back just as stubborn. “we will not sit in the warmth while you are gathering for us. If you work, so will we.”
Finally, Xeon gave a true smile. “that is all I ask. Then so be it. gather your humans, say what needs to be said, and let us prepare for the long day tomorrow.”
“Send all of your hunters to the east side of the camp,” Vasson instructed. “we will be waiting with ours for you.”
“just give us a few moments. We will also get the fires going strong.”
Xeon nodded, and the human did the same in return. They all turned to Evan, who crossed his arms. “if everything has been settled, then you may leave. Let me know how many men you are sending into the woods.”
“I will give you the final number when I can,” one agreed. He bowed deeply. “and let me be the first to welcome you back, king Evan. May your rule be long and prosperous.”
“I just wish to didn’t have to begin with bloodshed,” Evan smiled a bit.
“It didn’t,” the man said sternly. “be proud of that.”
Evan stepped back, allowing them to all pass him and head into the waiting soldiers in the camp. Vasson waved his hand and the nagas did the same, heading to the rim of the clearing. “that went better than I had expected,” Evan admitted.
“you had said it perfectly,” Xeon shrugged. “you are not talking to children. You were direct with them and told them exactly what you needed to say. You did not baby them and promise safety. They appreciated that.”
“there shouldn’t be too much of a problem,” Vasson muttered quietly. “they all seem very level headed. But I will keep a close watch.”
“when will you head to Howards camp?” Evan wondered.
“we will get your humans situated,” Vasson crossed his arms. “once everyone has a meal in their lap, we will leave.” He looked at Xeon, then Evan. “will you both be alright with that many of us missing?”
Xeon smiled. “are you perhaps worried for us Vasson?”
“I have a right to be concerned,” he snapped. “If seeing to Howards excuse for a trap wasn’t so important, I would be beside you.”
“we will be fine,” Evan assured him. “Xeon knows the way through the sewers. We will find our way through the castle.”
Vasson looked like he wanted to bicker and argue, but instead he only turned away, arms still crossed. He looked over the camp of humans, letting out a disgusted noise. “after all we have been through, we are now siding with the humans,” he shook his head. “all those years of taking such careful steps to hide away, and then we just go marching to join them.”
“It was long overdue,” Xeon moved next to him. his yellow eyes landed on one target. Evan looked over, feeling his stomach sink. Xeon was looking at Edward, who was still unconscious and tied to one of the posts. “what are you going to do with him?” he asked lowly.
Evan didn’t answer immediately. “I'm not sure.”
“you should have killed him,” Vasson hissed. “he would not have spared you. why give him that courtesy?”
Evan drummed his fingers on his arm, still looking at the unconscious man. “It wasn’t right.”
Vasson sighed, rolling his eyes. “he will return and stab you in the back. Mark my words.”
“You will have to figure out what you want done with him soon,” Xeon looked at Evan. “he can not linger here. It is a danger for both us and him.”
Evan nodded. “I will have something done.”
“good. Vasson, head to-“
“yeah, yeah,” Vasson waved him away. “I'm on it.” he started slithering to where the other nagas had left. Xeon and Evan stood alone together.
“do you think I did the right thing?” Evan asked quietly.
Xeon hesitated before answering. “I don’t exactly know what was running though your head when you made the decision, but your humans now know that you are not your father. Whether that is a good thing or a bad thing is yet to be decided.”
“what would you have done?”
“You are not me,” Xeon answered simply.
Evan grimaced. Xeon would have killed the former king. Evan felt a hard squeeze on his shoulder and he looked up, seeing Xeon grabbing him tightly. “but I am proud of you. you held your own when you were severely outweighed. I have not felt more pride in my whole life then I had when I watched you stand over him. I can not say this enough. I am so proud of you. you have impressed all of us once again.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you,” Evan shrugged. He looked at the camp. “any of this.”
“I believe you could have,” Xeon said in a matter of fact tone.
Evan leaned against the heavy table. He picked at a flaw in the wood, looking over the bodies moving around. “Xeon. I'm a king.”
“it has all moved almost too fast, hasn’t it?” Xeon agreed.
Evan crossed his arms. “I don’t know how to run a kingdom.”
“you are not alone. Don’t forget that.”
Evan looked at the tattoo on his hand and nodded. He let out a long breath. “what do we do once this is all done?”
Xeon didn’t answer. He leaned against the table as well, crossing his arms just like Evan. “I suppose that is when we will part. You will return to your home, and I will mine.”
“We just separate? just like that?”
“no,” Xeons lips pulled back in a tired smile. “I don’t suppose it will be that easy. but there is no sense in lingering on a goodbye that has not come. Lets instead go investigate just how terrible these humans food supply really is.”
“I have to admit,” Evan muttered lowly. “I am much more comfortable standing in a group of nagas then with a group of humans now.”
Xeon laughed, moving ahead with him. “our teeth and claws aren’t so intimidating, are they?”
“well,” Evan glanced to the side, seeing Vasson moving with a small herd of nagas. “not yours at least.”