Prologue

Prologue

The Great hall’s door opened and a skinny, dirty man was led to the throne by two knights. They stopped him in front at the bottom of the King’s platform, and instructed him to kneel; which he did.

A tall, mighty man, known as Lord Galliphar, the King’s right hand man, stood forward and introduced the ashamed prisoner.

“Yannek is a poor man from the northern wastelands. He was lazy when the planting season came and didn’t plant enough to feed his family. When the winter came he and his family ran out of food. To save his family, he travelled to faraway provinces in search of work. He could not find any work because his fellow men did not have any work for him to do, so he went to the Rich Dwarven Province of Gliliand.”

“He hid himself from the dwarves and made plans to break in to their treasure caves. After a week of scouting the area he broke in at the dead of night. He stole five gold nuggets, two diamonds, and three silver bracelets, and then he ran. The dwarves had discovered that their treasure was missing and had soldiers on the lookout for Yannek. Not long after he escaped he travelled to a nearby village to sell these items. When Yannek tried to sell these items the dwarves caught him and then brought him here so that you may judge him.”

There was a few seconds of silence and then the King spoke. “Why did they bring him here? Can they not judge their own affairs?”

“We knew you, Lord King, will judge fairly.” A richly clad dwarf said meekly. “Yannek was trying to help his family. We didn’t know what a fair judgement would be in such circumstances.”

“You were wise in coming here then, Master Dwarf.” The King said kindly. “I will judge him now.”

Yannek’s face clouded with a fear. He knew he had done wrong. He should have come here, to the King’s palace, in the first place. Asked the King to help his family. But alas, he was a too proud a man to admit he had been lazy. And now he would have to pay the price. If only there was some way he could still help his family.

“You do not need to worry, Yannek.” The King said softly. “Your family will be taken care of. I know you were only trying to help them, though your way of helping was not correct. You must be punished for that.”

Yannek’s eyes filled with tears. How could this King have known what he was thinking? The King should have been angry at him for making such bad choices. Instead He was speaking to him as a father might speak with his son.

The King rose from his throne to Judge. Everyone in the room became silent. “My Judgement is as follows. Because Mr. Yannek was trying to help his family he will not receive the usual punishment for this crime. Because Mr. Yannek’s crime was committed in Gliliand he is go to your prison for one year. After that year you are to release him so that he may go back to his homeland so that he may care for his family. Is that agreeable to you Master Dwarf?”

The dwarf nodded his head.

“I object!” One of the King’s trusted Lords, Malvik was his name, said rising from his chair. All eyes turned to him. “This Judgement is not fair to the dwarves!”

Everyone in the room gasped. How dare Lord Malvik say the King was not fair?

The King turned around to face Lord Malvik and commanded. “Sit down!”

Malvik quickly sat down, as though realizing he had just questioned the King. He stared at the floor, but his face showed he did not agree with the King.

The King stared at Malvik for a few moments. His face showed sadness. He returned to judging. “This is my judgement, and if it if fair to you, Master Dwarf, then this is as it is to be.”

The dwarf looked nervous, for Lord Malvik’s objection had made him question the King’s fairness. But he quickly composed himself again and replied. “Your judgement is always fair, Lord King.”

Malvik glared at him disapprovingly. He had thought for a second that the dwarf might agree with him.

“Very well then! This is as it is to be!” The King said.

---X---

After the Judgement hour was over Lord Malvik was left alone in the throne room. He was seething.

The King had been giving unfair sentences these past few weeks.

And how dare the King give Yannek such a light sentence? People like Yannek needed to suffer for their laziness. Not only was Yannek the cause of his own hunger, he was also the cause of his family’s suffering.

The King was weak, and far too merciful.

The throne room’s large wooden door opened and Lord Galliphar entered. He was worried about his friend. These past few weeks Malvik had been acting rather strange. He was quiet, didn’t interact with the other Lords the way he used to. He had also been more argumentative. It seemed that nothing satisfied him anymore. He was constantly in a dark mood. And then today, today he disagreed with the King! No one dared question the King. No one dared to accuse him of being unfair.

“What is wrong with you, Malvik?” Galliphar asked. Malvik glared up. “What is wrong with me? What is wrong with me?” Malvik said. “You should be asking what is wrong with you; with the King. How can you ask me what is wrong with me?”

“What are you talking about?” Galliphar asked, confused at Malvik’s strange behaviour.

“The King is giving unfair judgments. Yannek deserved a much worse sentence.” Malvik said rising from his chair.

“How dare you question the King?” Galliphar said angrily. “The King is always fair. Even if it doesn’t make sense to us.”

“If I were king everything would make sense!” Malvik shouted.

Galliphar’s face clouded in anger. “You will never be king!” He yelled.

 Malvik rushed toward Lord Galliphar and knocked him down. Galliphar struggled to regain his balance. Malvik drew his sword and pushed Galliphar further back.

“What are you doing?” Lord Galliphar asked ducking Malvik’s series of mad blows. He drew his sword and the throne room was filled with the sound of clanking metal. Malvik dealt his blows like a mad man, overcome with rage. Galliphar tried to get away but it was no use. Malvik was by far the strongest man. Finally Malvik hit Galliphar hard enough to make him fall.

“Don’t you dare tell me I can’t be king!” Malvik screamed. He took his sword and lowered it to Lord Galliphar’s body.

Galliphar’s frightened face filled with pain as Malvik brought the sword down. He stared at Malvik for a few absolutely silent seconds and then relaxed. Malvik screamed and brought the sword down one last time. Lord Galliphar exhaled a last breath and then grew completely still. Lifeless........