Love Or Crown

The blaze of the sun wrung pops of sweat from Emperor Morpheus brow, yet he cupped his hands around the bowl of hot liquid potion given to him by the kingdom physician; Sabrina. He could not shake the premonition. It clang to his back like chill wet leaves. His days were numbered. Age was no longer on his side and he will soon be giving up the throne of Estoria to the Silans.

The Kasanje and Silla Kingdom has always been at war for the throne of Estoria, using all sort of magic to achieve their aim. Lives were lost at the expense of this in both kingdoms. Hence a peace treaty was finally enacted and the submission of their magic to ensure peace between both kingdoms. To rule on the throne of Estoria, both kingdoms will take turns. He was the first Emperor after the treaty, and has ruled both kingdoms for fifty seven years.

As the painstaking ritual came to an end, Emperor Morpheus sighs deeply and looks up at Sabrina. "We're only delaying the inevitable. My time has come". He says with a gruff voice.

"I bet the Silans are rejoicing over your ailment". She replies between gritted teeth.

"They've waited so long to have the throne of Estoria to themselves". He tells, and coughs lightly.

"But you can never know what they will do once they ascend the throne". She says spitefully.

"They won't do anything that would bring war between the two kingdoms". He says reassuringly.

"How can you be so sure your highness, especially when they know the whereabouts of the sword". She cuts in.

He looks at her quickly. "The sword of Enchancia?"

Sabrina nods."The rumors are true your highness".

"Send for my son". He says quickly, and coughs in between.

King Markevius walks into his father's chambers, and greets him immediately. "You sent for me Father".

No answer.

"Is something wrong?" He asked with concern. His father has not replied to his greeting or said a word to him since he entered his chambers.

No answer.

"Father?" He calls out, raising his voice this time.

The Emperor still appeared not to hear, absorbed in his thoughts. What Sabrina had told him earlier, worried him. After a moment he looks up at his son, and sends a questioning look at him. Had he said something?

"My time is near". He finally murmurs.

At the door, his son stood and stared at his father with worry in his eyes. "My heart has a wish, Father: that you would not go". He says softly.

"I need you to make me a promise". The Emperor continues slowly.

"Anything you want Father". He replies and moves closer to meet his father.

"Don't let the Silans ascend the throne of Estoria". He says shortly.

"How do you mean father? It's their turn to ascend the throne". He asked, confused.

"They know where the sword is. You need to be a step ahead of them to protect the Kasanje kingdom".

"How am I supposed to go about this father?" He asked exasperated. This was more like an impossible task his father was asking of him.

"Do whatever it takes. Even if means getting your hands soaked in blood". He says coldly, looking his son deep in the eyes.

Barely a week later, Emperor Morpheus takes a bow.

King Markevius sits sad at his throne as he replays his last conversation with his father in his mind.

"King Mackintosh and his royal entourage are here to pay their respects". His wife interrupts his thoughts.

"More like to claim the throne of Estoria". He replies spitefully.

"Well, if that be the case, it's actually their right to claim". She says.

King Markevius looks at his wife sharply, anger clearly written on his face. "Not if I have something to do about it". He says and gets up from his seat abruptly.

"Do not start a war, it won't end well for both kingdoms". She pleads.

"I won't let go of the Estoria throne. I promised my father, and I will keep to it". He says with a smirk on his face. "Follow me, let's go welcome the Silans". He heads for the door and his wife follows behind him, with worry on her face.

"Our condolences on the emperor's demise". King Mackintosh Of the Silla Kingdom says once he had exchanged greetings with King Markevius.

"Thank you".

"We the Silans would like to contribute towards the preparation of his funeral". King Mackintosh offers.

"Talking about funeral already?" King Markevius replies with a scowl on his face.

"Only when he is buried can we have a new emperor". King Mackintosh continued.

"I can see you can't wait to be emperor?" King Markevius sends a devilish smirk at him.

"We can't leave the realm ungoverned for too long, the quicker the funeral preparations the better". King Mackintosh replies.

"Don't worry King Mackintosh, the burial will be done in a fortnight, and then you can start plans on your coronation".

"Not me. My son". King Mackintosh reveals, and taps his son who sat beside him lightly on the back.

King Markevius stares at him with shock.

"Prince Elian will be the next emperor". He confirms.

Prince Elian smiles subtly where he sat.

"As the Silans wish". King Markevius says after some time. "You have waited for years for this, we won't let you wait any longer".

King Mackintosh smiles and lifts up his goblet of wine towards King Markevius. "May peace continue to reign between both kingdoms".

King Markevius lifts his own goblet, "May the peace treaty continue to rule".

They cheer, and laugh out loud.

It was almost twilight, a shrill cry echoed so powerful in the mist. The echo was from a cave, which appears as a blur in the mist. Three hideous looking enchantress, dressed in black long flowing gowns, hair as dark as coal, surrounded by lit candles, are inside the cave performing a ritual. They each held a chalice with blood in hand. The oldest amongst them, their leader, begins chanting a spell, and the others reply after her in a shrill voice.

"Glador, hocus pocus alakazam Silans..." Sabrina the leader of the trio chants in a hiss.

"Hittite artharavade rigveda Silans..." the other two replies, and instantly a heavy wind gush from all directions, yet all candles stay lit. The hair of the enchantresses blow in same motion, their eyes shines blue, as they kept on murmuring the spell.

Sabrina raises her chalice up and speaks slowly, her voice resounding against the wind, "Their thoughts will be ours, their brains a tool for us to play with at our will, and their blood to quench our thirst..." Sabrina sips from her chalice and the rest follow suit. "Commezia ceazito..." She orders, and the wind stops and everything becomes still.

Then she cackles, and they join her. For a very long time, they all keep laughing.

King Markevius, the ruling king of Kasanje Kingdom, trudges unannounced into the cave impatiently with two guards by his side, interrupting them. He needed an answer. Tonight was the night that determined the future of the Kasanje Kingdom.

"Well?" King Markevius retorts demandingly.

Sabrina looks at him, her eyes like daggers. "With all due respect your highness, you do not interrupt a ritual". She hisses out.

"All I could hear were annoying laughters". King Markevius replies angrily. "The Silans will be here any moment from now".

Sabrina smirks at him, then sips more blood from her chalice as she steps out of the circle. The blood smears on the edge of her lips and she licks it swiftly with her tongue which were like that of a serpent. "We're prepared..." She answers shortly.

"I want to see for myself". He insists, unconvinced.

Sabrina smirks at him again. "Very well, but the use of dark magic requires a soul..."

"I have given you access to anything you need". King Markevius replies impatiently.

Sabrina does a slight curtsey, and then quickly she snaps her fingers at one of the guards that had followed the King, and he willing moves towards her, controlled by her magic. She gives him the chalice in her hand and asks him to drink from it. The guard duly obeys. Immediately he drops the chalice, his eyes turns bloodshot and he begins to speak uncontrollably, every secret he had, and knew of.

King Markevius laughs out loud in amusement.

"I told you we were prepared". Sabrina brags, enjoying the King Markevius's reaction.

"So the lips of Silla's royal family will be loose just like his". King Markevius chuckles, "Now more than ever I can't wait for tonight's banquet".

"There's nothing magic can't do", Sabrina says persuasively as she walks slyly towards King Markevius, "More reason why we need to find out where the sword of Enchancia is hidden". She adds in a whisper, so only he could hear.

King Markevius nods in agreement. "The Sillans will tell us tonight, and the Kasanje Kingdom will be the most powerful Kingdom in this realm".

"The Silans are rumored to know where the Great Enchancia Sword was hidden decades ago.." the enchanted servant whom they seemed to have ignored goes on talking, quickly getting the attention of everyone most especially the King "The Kasanjes feel threatened by this discovery, and aim to claim the throne of Estoria for themselves and go against the peace treaty signed decades ago..." he continues, "what the Silans don't know is that the banquet they have been invited to by the Kasanjes will be their last supper..."

King Markevius draws out the sword of the enchanted servant and lunges it into him. "That's enough!" he says in an outcry.

"How come he knows a lot about the plan?" Sabrina asks looking disappointed at King Markevius who looks nowhere else but at the lifeless body at his feet.

"He was one of my trusted guards". King Markevius replies oddly.

"You tend to trust people a lot..."She probes further, her eyes settling on the other guard.

Scared, the guard speaks up in a jolt, "I swear I won't utter a word of this to any soul".

"The Sillans had brought the idea of the peace treaty, but yet kept the secret of the magic sword. I'm sure by now you should have learnt from your forefather's mistake". Sabrina taunted the King.

King Markevius growls in anger, and with the same sword, struck down the other servant.

Sabrina smiles devilishly, "I knew you're the savior of the Kasanjes, it's your destiny". She praises him.

King Markevius lifts the bloody sword and stares at it sternly. "Nothing is going to stop my plans of claiming the throne of Estoria for my people".

"The Sillans think they're smart but they won't know what hit them. Their blood will soak this ground". Sabrina adds with a smirk.

King Markevius and Sabrina hold each other's gaze for a while and then they begin to laugh.

"Father, the Sillans have arrived". Prince Davon announced as he runs into the cave, but stops in dead shock at the lifeless bodies lying on the floor.

"What are you doing here Davon?" King Markevius shouts, angry that his twenty years old son had to see the dead guards.

"I wanted to be the one to tell you, I know how impatiently you have been waiting for this day" Davon stuttered, still trying to get his composure.

King Markevius sighs and drops the sword. "Let's go". He says to his son then turns and looks at Sabrina in the eyes. "Everything must go as planned".

Sabrina nods at him with a smirk on her face. King Markevius leaves the cave with his son by his side.

"Dad who killed those guards?" Prince Davon asked once they were out of the cave.

King Markevius hesitantly replies, "Son, you're aware of what is going to happen tonight".

Prince Davon nods, "You're going to claim what is yours from the Sillans".

King Markevius shakes his head, "I'm not just doing it for me, but for you and the entire Kingdom".

Prince Davon smiles at his Father.

"You too one day will sit on the Throne of Estoria" King Markevius continued.

"And after me, Jamond will rule too". Prince Davon added happily.

King Markevius sighs, "I don't wish for your brother to rule".

Prince Davon looked confused at his Father. He knew his father has never been fond of his younger son, but not wanting him to rule took it all to another level.

"I'll rather your own son took after you. Hence why you must get married as soon as possible".

"Father, I'm too young to get married now."

"The younger the better, so your offsprings come quick, and grows fast to take over from you". King Markevius says and pats him on the back. Davon smiles at him.

As they reach the palace, they greet the Silla royal family, who had also come with an entourage, and ushered them into their palace.

A wave of nausea washed over Prince Elian Machingtosh as he clenched his head. His shirt was torn and soaked with blood. His hunting wounds from the previous day has opened again, seeping blood all over. He has just escaped death from an orchestrated ambush by the Kasanjes, the people of a neighboring kingdom. He watched his people spelled, slain and butchered. What was supposed to be a banquet in respect of a peace treaty made decades, ago turned into a massacre. Prince Elian drags his feet, as he walks towards the great physician tent in Silla Kingdom.

Silla Kingdom was his home, his birthright and same was the throne of Estoria, but both have been stolen from him in one night. The pounding in his head increased so much he thought his head will burst out. He quickened his pace.

"We were deceived..." he said the minute he walked into the tent.

Endora, the physician dressed in all white turned quickly towards him in shock.

"Everyone is dead..." He continued, breathing raspy.

"How did this happen?" She asked wearily.

"They laced our drinks and food. How I survived, I don't know". He explained as he plopped heavily on a chair in the tent.

Endora moved closer to Elian to examine his wounds.

"It must have been the elixir you took for your hunting wounds we have been tendering". She explained.

Elian sobs, not feeling the least grateful.

"I watched my parents and people butchered and did nothing." he moaned.

"The Kasanjes want to keep their reins on the throne of Estoria. I should have known that a King as greedy and ambitious as King Markevius would want the throne of Estoria for himself". She said bitterly as she leaves him, in search of an elixir to tend to his open wounds.

She walks back towards him, with a bowl in her hand containing the concoction she has prepared for his wounds. "The gods have saved you." She says, taking a closer look at his wounds. "With the King of Silla now dead, you're the next emperor to assume the throne of Estoria". She dips her other hand into the bowl, brings it out and places it on his wounds "They'll be furious you escaped".

Elian hisses in pain as she applies the concoction on his wounds. "I want vengeance." He finally says out.

Endora shakes her head at him, "Not like this, the Sillans are at their weakest right now. We can't go to war".

Elian pushes her hand away and gets up angrily, "So I should sit and do nothing or rather go into hiding since my life is in danger?" He shouts.

"Prince Elian..."She calls calmly, "how do you plan to go against the Kasanje kingdom with half of our army already dead?"

Elian breathes heavily in silence.

"I know you're upset, but you're the only surviving son of King Mackingtosh. The crowned prince of Silla..."

"And if I go into hiding, who takes care of Silla?" Elian cuts her off. "Who takes care of my little sisters?"

"Your widowed Aunt and her son can take care of the affairs here for the time you'll be away". Endora answers him as she keeps the bowl she was holding away. "If you have the interest of Silla in heart, you'll stay alive, and discard any drastic thought you've in mind because it will only lead to your death."

Elian exhales heavily. "I want them dead. I want to kill every soul in Kasanje Kingdom." He looks sharply at Endora, "I need to do it now that I am this angry, filled with vengeance and lust for blood". He walks to meet her where she stood, "and I know just how".

Endora looks deep into his eyes and reads his thoughts. She shakes her head at him. "No".

"Yes". He replies, "Magic!"

"You can't have magic". Endora rebukes.

"Rubbish! I am a magical being". Elian persists.

"Your forefathers submitted your magical powers long ago to ensure peace in the realm".

"Yes, isn't that how the peace treaty was enacted?" He said.

"Exactly". Endora answers.

"But the Kasanjes have breached the treaty...they employed magic" He shrugs, "I'll only be leveling the playing field".

"Magic isn't a joke". Endora warns.

"Neither is the death of my people". Elian retorts.

Endora shakes her head in refusal. They had to be another way other than magic.

"Why won't you help me?" He demands.

"It's too dangerous, and the power, too much for one man to wield." she explains.

"Worry less about me, just tell me what I need to do". He persists.

Endora sighs, and sits on the chair Elian had vacated. "You'll need to find the Sword of Enchancia". She says hesitantly.

"Where is it?" He asks anxiously.

"No one knows. But it holds the magical powers of both the Sillans and Kasanjes". She tells him.

"I need to find it." Elian says more to himself.

Endora looks at him with a grin, "You sound just like your great grandfather".

"You knew him?" Elian asks shocked. Endora was a young beautiful lady, how could she have met his great grandfather.

"I am 468 years old Prince Elian, of course I knew him". She answers smiling at his amazement.

"So you use magic to keep yourself looking young?" Elian enquired.

"It's different. I'm a physician, I prepare different potions". She explains.

"Did my Great grandpa look for the sword too?" Elian asked, not wanting to deviate from the topic.

Endora nods. "He never trusted the Kasanjes, and he thought it wise to find the location of the sword just in case his intuition about them one day becomes true".

"Was he able to?" Elian asked anxiously.

Endora hesitates. Prince Elian notices her silence, and walks to meet her.

"Talk to me Endora, Great grandpa's intuition is true. Silla is at the mercy of the Kasanjes" Prince Elian cajoles.

"I swore on his dying bed not to reveal the sword's whereabouts". She blurts out.

"Silla's redemption depends on the retrieval of this sword". He says with frustration.

"That sword will only bring destruction, it assures no victory". Endora replies stiffly.

"I need that sword, and you will tell me where to find it". He says adamantly.

Endora steps off the chair, moves about in different directions, keeping him waiting as she gives it serious thought. To find the sword of enchancia wasn't an easy feat at all. It could take years. They might not even survive in the search, but it sure seemed like the only way to save Silla.

Finally she stopped moving, her back against him. She takes a deep breath and says in a knowing chant "And so it shall be written, that two kingdoms created for the purpose of peace, would once again be destroyed by war..."

A devilish grin smears on Elian's face as he continues the chant with her "...cities would fall, blood will flow, and bodies would be countless, stretched for miles between kingdoms".

"What else are beings capable of but war?" Elian asked, the devilish grin still on his face.

"What about love? They're capable of love". A small voice answered.