The Seven Orbs

Chapter One

Heirs and Politics

2.

The King sat uneasy on his ancient throne, its sheen long gone, its glory but a memory. Now it was just his favorite chair. Already word of the birth of his male heir was news spreading throughout the three kingdoms, the Eastern Forest Realm, the Western River Realm, and his own, the Realm of the Hills, seated at the base of the Forlorn Mountains. The Chief Counsel entered the throne room and took his seat at the table, across from the King. "Congratulations on the birth of your male heir," he said with a slight bow.

"I believe the Queen was hoping for a girl, as our eldest son, Theo, has first claim to my title." He let the thought settled in his mind a second before bidding the Counsel to convey his news. He sighed, looked at the Counsel soberly, and nodded. The Counsel cleared his throat and began, "Governor Bosque of the East and Governor Aguell of the West are in the waiting chamber expecting to meet with you."

"Is it that time again, dear Georgie? How many times must they hear me dash their request?" The King didn't expect an answer to his questions, nor did The Counsel offer any. 

"And some bad news, I'm afraid. Before his death, The Wizard managed only seven orbs. Not exactly the hundred we expected." He sighed in frustration.

The King asked, "Has my son, Captain of the Guard, been informed to prepare his men?"

"A message was left with his second in command," he answered. 

"Too busy to receive his messages, eh?" The King laughed without humor. "He spends too much time with that wench."

"Perhaps we should avoid calling her a wench in front of the Eastern Governor," he advised sternly. 

"I know, I know," The King fretted. "She might well just be my daughter-in-law soon. Good for politics, but not for our bloodline."

"Indeed," agreed The Counsel.

"Well, they've waited long enough. Call in the Governors." He clapped once and his advisor left to welcome the visitors. 

Love and War

3

"Nearly twenty years ago, our kingdoms went to war rather than share our resources. After the loss of many lives, all in vain, did we agree to share our bounties and live in peace," The Governor of the East explained to those who knew all too well. 

The Governor of the West nodded in agreement and continued, "But even peace came at a price. Of the three Kings, one would remain King to keep the peace, and the other two Kings would become governors over their lands. An agreement, more a treaty of peace, was arranged and we all signed it. As I recall."

"You recall rightly, Aguess," said Bosque. "But as we all know here at this table, the agreement was temporary. We three only agreed that as long as we lived in peace, shared resources, and obeyed the rule of the one King, that one day we would be able to reclaim our lands as our own and resume the Three Kingdoms once more without war but with our current system of free trade. Well, it's been twenty years come Fall, and we do humbly request we weave a new agreement to live in peace as separate lands, each of us to govern their own kingdom."

The King and his counselor gave each other a knowing look. The Counsel stood to talk, but The King with a slap on the table made the advisor sit back down. It was The King who stood. "We are not children here, asking permission of one's parent to leave home. You do rule your own lands, but I rule the Kingdom that includes all our lands. We all share equally, we proper, and we have no war."

"Yet you have an army. We don't," said Bosque.

"As per the terms of the agreement," said The King calmly,  as if to a child.

Aguess didn't stand but spoke with a controlled anger. "Look here, Terria...".

Cutting him off, Terria said scoldingly, "That's King Terria."

Aguess stood angrily and stared back at the king's grim face. It was Bosque who broke the silence. "Then this day, we are still not free. We will waste no more words here. Aguess, we tried once more to reason with this impostor. The peace is no more. Ten days from now, we will reclaim our freedom on the field of battle."

Though it seemed he would say more, Aguess squeezed his shoulder as if to shush him. And Aguess understood. Without any further word, the two governors departed. 

"Just as you predicted, Georgie. War." The King shook his head sadly.

"But The Wizard failed us. All we have now are the seven orbs and one division of calvary and footmen." There was concern in his voice that even The King discerned. "And the governors? What do they have? Nothing. A kingdom of trees and a kingdom of water. Sticks and spit. Do not concern yourself, dear Georgie, for we'll make use of the orbs, and let's not forget, we have a dragon." 

The King did not notice that The Counsel smiled weakly at the mention of the dragon, and after he left the throne room, the advisor said to himself, "My God, what have we done?" 

 Coming soon...

Wisdom and Winsome

4

Captains and Lovers

5