Chapter 5: Chapter 5 – Reparations

As the knights sat around the rough-hewn wooden table in the dimly lit tavern, clinking their barrels of frothy ale in celebration of capturing the rebel leader, one of them exclaimed, "You should have seen him!" The aroma of sizzling steaks and the tantalizing smell of fox meat wafted through the air, adding to the festive atmosphere. Despite the many challenges that lay ahead, such as retaking the cities, Zarek couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment today.

"Great work everyone," Zarek exclaimed, "For the Fioren Kingdom!"

As the other knights erupted in wild applause, dancing and cheering in celebration of their victory, the bards struck up their instruments, filling the air with jubilant melodies. Regarded as the kingdom's finest, their deeds had quickly become the talk of the capital, and the atmosphere in the tavern was electric as the revelry continued into the night.

As Zarek peered at Maya sitting atone of the corners of the tavern, he asked, "What's wrong? Is your appetite sated?"

Maya smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes as she replied, "I was just thinking about tomorrow. I can't help feeling like a bystander, watching you single-handedly win the battle for us today. It's got me worried that I'm losing my touch."

Zarek reached out to give Maya's hand a reassuring queeze, saying, "There's nothing to worry about. We did well today, and there's no reason to think that you're losing your touch."

"I... I don't know," Maya said, shaking her head. "When I look at you, I realize how unprepared I am for the challenges that lie ahead. I feel like I have so much more to learn and so much further to go."

"You don't have to compare yourself to me," he said. "I'm somewhat of a special case. I was born to rule, and from the moment I was born, I didn't have a choice in it."

Maya was quiet for a moment, digesting this information. "I see," she said finally. "That must have been a lot of pressure for you to bear."

"Often so," Zarek nodded, a wistful expression crossing his face. "There have been many times when I've thought about retiring, about stepping down from my role as leader and letting someone else take the reins. But the more I've learned about the way the world truly works, the more I've come to realize that the problems of the world have a way of pulling you back in, no matter how much you try to distance yourself from them."

"Do you regret it?"

Zarek considered Maya's question for a moment before answering. "There are times when the burden of leadership can be overwhelming, and I do sometimes wonder what my life would be like if I had chosen a different path," he admitted. "But ultimately, I don't regret the choices I've made. I believe that I've made a positive impact, and that's a reward in and of itself. And who knows? Maybe one day I'll find a way to retire and enjoy a peaceful life, but until then, I'll continue to do my best to serve my people."

Maya's eyes opened in curiosity as she asked, "Where did you acquire such a formidable weapon?"

Zarek's lips curled into a proud smile as he replied, "I crafted it myself."

But Maya wasn't satisfied with that answer alone. She pressed on, asking, "How much magic did you use during that fight?"

Zarek hesitated before answering, "None."

Maya's brow furrowed in confusion. "But how did you manage to wield such power without magic?" she asked.

"It's simple," Zarek explained, "This weapon runs on an energy cell. I don't know if you're familiar with the term."

Maya shook her head, admitting, "I'm unfamiliar."

Zarek's eyes sparkled with mischief as he leaned in closer to Maya and whispered, "Would you like to know a secret, then?"

"Maya's eyes widened in surprise as she whispered, "Am I allowed to know this secret? I don't want to pry if it's something important."

Zarek nodded, his lips curving into a reassuring smile. "Of course, you're allowed to know," he said. 'I've told many people that I'm a traveler from a distant land, and it's true. But what I haven't told anyone is that in my homeland, we have made incredible technological advances instead of cultivating magic like you do here. In fact, our technology is far beyond what you would consider 'the norm'."

Maya's mind was racing with curiosity. "I've never heard of a kingdom with such advanced technologies," she said.

"That's the secret," Zarek replied, his voice lowering to a conspiratorial whisper. "I don't come from a kingdom on this planet. I come from a different planet altogether."

Maya's eyes widened even further. "You're an... otherworlder?" she gasped.

He nodded, confirming Maya's suspicions.

"So that's why you wanted to become king..." she said thoughtfully. "You're hoping to find a way back to your own world?"

Zarek smiled, impressed by Maya's perceptiveness. "You're exactly right," he said. "When I first arrived on this planet, my goal was to use my knowledge and resources to advance the technological capabilities of this kingdom, in the hopes of finding a way back to my homeworld. But as time has passed, I've grown to enjoy my life here. I'm not sure if I would want to leave, even if I had the opportunity."

Maya was fascinated by this revelation. "What was life like on your planet?" she asked.

"I was an Emperor, but life there is much more advanced than it is here," Zarek said. "We have technologies that allow us to do things that would seem like magic to you. It's a fascinating place. "

Maya's heart raced as she asked, "Why are you telling me this? You're not going to kill me, right?"

Zarek looked at her in surprise. "Why would I do that?" he asked.

"I... I don't know," Maya said, frowning. Perhaps it was the sheer amount of power Zarek had displayed during the siege of the rebel camp that made her feel uneasy. She knew that if he were serious about her death, even her fire magic would be no match for him.

But Zarek reassured her with a gentle pat on the back. "Worry not," he said. "The reason I'm telling you this is because, before I was a ruler, I was a strong warrior. I have a certain level of respect for other skilled fighters, and that includes you. Female soldiers are few and far between, in any time period. Be proud of your efforts, because you're a fine warrior."

Maya felt a warm flush of gratitude and embarrassment as she replied, "Thank you."

Zarek went on, "Did you know that in my time, weapons were so advanced that using ranged weapons was practically unheard of? In a fight between two empires with similar technological capabilities, it was more common to use melee weapons. That's why using a sword comes naturally to me. If you're interested, I could teach you some of my skills in due time."

Maya bowed lightly, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "That would be nice," she said.

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Zarek sat up, a grin spreading across his face. "Lighten up and have a few drinks," he said. "Don't worry too much about tomorrow. I'm sure retaking the city will be smooth sailing."

"You're probably right," Maya laughed, relaxing a bit at Zarek's words. "I just can't shake off the feeling that something could go wrong. But I'm willing to learn from the best, so I'll take you up on your offer to teach me some of your sword skills."

Zarek chuckled. "I'm glad to hear it. We'll get anything you might feel worried about tomorrow. And as for tonight, let's just enjoy the celebration and the camaraderie of our fellow knights."

As Zarek quickly excused himself and left the tavern, Maya found herself feeling a mix of emotions as she watched him go. On the one hand, she couldn't help but feel a sense of awkwardness at the sudden pat on the back. On the other hand, his words of praise and encouragement had touched her heart, even if only a little.

All her life, she had been told that the world was a harsh and unwelcoming place, and her father had drilled into her the importance of becoming strong in order to survive. But when she had tried to enroll in knighthood, she had been met with disdain and rejection from the other knights. 'This is no place for a maiden,' they had told her. Zarek was the first person to truly acknowledge and commend her hard work and dedication to her training.

As she hoisted the frothy mug of ale high into the air, "Cheers." With a smile, she took a long, satisfying swig of the refreshing brew, letting the warm, heady feeling of celebration wash over her.

*****

Ironar struggled against the chains that held him tightly to the chair, his muscles straining as he tried to break free. Whoever had made these chains was a master of their craft, and he knew that he wouldn't be able to escape easily. In the past, he had managed to escape from imprisonment by using his strength and cunning, but this time, it seemed like his options were limited. He had already tried dislocating his shoulder and hand, but it hadn't worked. And attempting to use magic to work through the chains was proving to be a difficult task. It seemed like he was truly stuck this time.

"You can stop moving," A man said to him.

As Ironar looked up, he was met with the sight of a tall, handsome man standing before him. The stranger seemed to be in his mid-twenties, with short black hair, a chiseled physique that looked as if it had been sculpted by the gods themselves, and a face that was so beautiful it almost seemed unfair. It only took Ironar a moment to realize that this was the man who had captured him and given him a good punch to the face. The man's piercing gaze seemed to bore into Ironar's soul, leaving him feeling vulnerable and exposed.

As the stranger spoke, there was a deadly sharpness to it that left him feeling on edge. "Ironar, the Wild Commander," the man said, his lips curving into a sly smile. "First of his name, Commander to the Old King, and the Knight of Dawn. You are a man with many titles and accomplishments, but it seems that your luck has run out today."

Ironar glared up at the stranger, his gruff voice filled with determination. "Tell me what you want," he growled. "I won't sell out my other commanders. Your kingdom deserves to burn for what it's done." There was a fire in Ironar's eyes as he spoke, a fierce loyalty to his cause that couldn't be quenched. He knew that he was at a disadvantage, chained and captured, but he refused to give in to his captor's demands. He would rather die than betray the people he had vowed to serve.

As the stranger brought out the glowing orange weapon that Ironar recognized as the one used to kill all of his advisors and comrades within the camp, Ironar's heart began to pound in his chest. "That's good," Zarek said, his voice playful but serious. "I only ask you three questions. Answer truthfully, and you may leave unarmed. If you don't..." He let the sentence hang in the air.

Ironar glared at Zarek, his fists clenched in frustration. "And if I don't?" he growled.

"You'll have to figure that one out for yourself," Zarek replied with a hint of amusement in his voice.

As Zarek brought over a nearby chair for him to sit under, Ironar couldn't help but feel a sense of dread wash over him. "May I ask your name?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Want to know who I am?" The stranger raised his eyebrows, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Zarek," he said without missing a beat, "And now, let's get started on those questions."

He raised his hand and lifted to him a picture, "First question. How would you feel if I killed all these people?"

As Ironar looked more closely at the picture that Zarek had placed in front of him, he began to realize just how serious the man was about his threats. The picture was of his family - his wife and daughter, who were hidden away in the safest of places. The fact that Zarek knew their faces and their whereabouts meant that he was truly prepared to go to any lengths to achieve his goals, including killing the people that Ironar loved most. Ironar's heart pounded in his chest as he realized the gravity of the situation he was in.

"If you dare touch them..."

"Second question," Zarek interrupted, "Why did you want to start this rebellion?"

"Go die, filthy scum," Ironar spat out, struggling against the chains that held him to the chair. "Your kingdom has been killing us for years. You tax the commoners an exorbitant amount, we're basically like slaves. And where do we even turn to for help? We've been loyal to this kingdom for generations, but all you do is take from us. You have our houses, our food, our land on lock. I couldn't abandon my family, and the others felt the same way. Never mind the corruption in your system, it's rotten to the core. Your kingdom has been falling apart since the Old King died, and it's all because of your king's incompetence. He's a failure, and so are you." Ironar's voice was filled with anger and frustration as he spoke, his chest heaving with emotion.

"Well, well, well," Zarek leaned back in his chair, a sly smile spreading across his face. "It seems like you have quite a bit of anger towards the kingdom. I can understand why you would feel that way, but let me assure you that not everything is as it seems. There are larger forces at play here, and sometimes, the actions of a few can tarnish the reputation of the many."

"I don't believe your words," Ironar spat out, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You and your kind have been oppressing the common folk for years. You may try to justify your actions, but I see through your lies."

"The current king is dying," Zarek continued, "I will take his place as the ruler of this kingdom, and I will bring about the changes that are needed to make things right. "

As he spoke, Ironar couldn't help but wonder why Zarek was telling him all of this. What was the man's angle?

"Third question," Zarek said, lifting three fingers up. "If I solve all of your problems for you, would you consider becoming a commander in the kingdom once again? I'm sure we could work out a mutually beneficial arrangement."

Ironar paused for a moment, considering the offer. But in the end, his resolve was firm. "I would rather die than become a pawn in your game," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "The kingdom is best off in my hands. You're going to have to kill me before I tell my commanders to stop their siege on the kingdom."

Zarek stood up, ready to leave, a look of disappointment on his face. "I thought as much." 

"What will you do with me?" Ironar asked, fear beginning to creep into his voice.

Zarek gave him a sly smile. "You'll be my prisoner of war, for the time being," he said. "But even a pawn can rise to greatness when it reaches the other side of the board. Just sit back and watch. You'll see the potential I have once you see what I can do.

"How would you do so?" Ironar asked, a feeling of dread settling in the pit of his stomach.

"Since you were a commander, I knew your parents had a drawing within the kingdom," Zarek replied casually, "They wouldn't be so naive as to not know who exactly you were supporting. Even though the picture was rudimentary, it was all I needed to face-match your family to the drone I sent when I first discovered your camp. A commander wouldn't dare leave his family to where he couldn't reach them."

"Drone?" Ironar repeated, a look of confusion on his face.

"Imagine it as a hawk, but much more formidable," Zarek explained, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light. "The drone is able to stay airborne indefinitely because it generates more energy than it consumes. Once I locate your family, I can easily drop an explosive charge on them."

 

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