Ezra was not having it. He fought his way through the guards stationed outside, shoving past their protests. His heart was pounding but his feet kept moving forward.
He had to do this. Even if it meant he was going to die trying.
The Grand Hall, where kingdom officials and elders gathered to discuss matters of state loomed ahead. Massive stone doors carved with symbols of all seven realms stood closed. Ezra didn't knock.
He slammed them open with both hand. The doors crashed inward with a deafening sound.
Bang!
One swung so hard it rebounded, and the sharp edge caught his shoulder, slicing through fabric and flesh. Blood trickled down his arm slowly. But he didn't care.
"No!" His voice echoed through the hall. "Don't go in the….Sir!"
Every single head in the room turned. The council members, chairmen and elders from each of the seven realms in their formal regalia stared at him in shock.
At the head of the table, seated on a throne of black crystal like stone, was the king. Ezra didn't stop. He marched forward, voice shaking with fury and fear.
"Your Majesty, this is totally unfair!" he yelled. "Our people have been nothing but loyal. We have given you our men, our resources and our lives time after time again. You majesty, have we not been loyal to this Kingdom?"
He took another step.
"You say we dishonor the gods by losing, but how can we win when you've taken every strong man of our land to protect the kingdom? You've bled us dry and now you blame us? for being weak?"
His voice cracked but he kept going when someone suddenly interrupted.
"Seize him!" The Chairman of the First Realm shot to his feet, face red with rage. "Now I say! Now!"
Soldiers grabbed Ezra by the arms, twisting them behind his back and slamming him to the ground. His knees hit stone before he fell down face first. Pain exploded through his entire body. Tears stung his eyes but he kept talking.
"Please! Please, Your Highness, just listen…I…my peopl…"
"Silence!" the chairman roared. "You dare speak to the king this way? Has your brain failed to think properly?"
The other chairmen joined in. "This is why the Glacial Throne is a disgrace! You are a disgrace to your people, Ezra. Disgrace!"
"No respect!" Someone snapped.
"The gods are right to abandon them!" Another added.
Ezra's vision blurred. His body shook with fear and pain. He had tried. He spoke his mind and whatever was going to happen, let it happe….
"Release him." A voice said calmly. It was the king.
Immediately, every sound stopped and the Chairmen and elders froze and slowly sat down. Everyone was shaken with fear.
The king stood. His flaming crown burned brighter, roaring above his head. His eyes usually blue-green turned deep, glowing red.
The soldiers released Ezra immediately and stepped back. Sweating.
The crown dimmed and the red colored eyes faded. The king adjusted his robes and walked toward the door.
"Walk with me. Ezra "
Ezra laid there, stunned. By the time he had fully processed what just happened and what the king said to him, the king was already at the doorway.
He scrambled up, bowed quickly to the council, and ran to catch up. Behind him, the chairmen erupted into frantic whispers wiping their sweaty faces.
***
Ezra fell into step beside the king. For a while, neither of them spoke as they walked.
And strangely, Ezra felt a calm and quiet presence as he walked beside the king. He almost felt….safe.
Maybe it was worth trying to voice his worries.
"Your Highness…" he started.
"You know," the king interrupted with a small smile, "I like you."
Ezra blinked. "Your….Highness?"
The king chuckled. "Those old goons are so boring. I was thinking of a way to get out of them as soon as possible. I like hanging out with you better. You're way more lively."
He stopped and turned to face Ezra fully. Reached out his hand and brushed some dust off Ezra's robe.
The touch lingered for a little bit….longer.
"The Blood Reaping," The king started. "....is not just a contest, Ezra. It is a covenant between the gods and Eryndor."
Ezra's heart pounded.
"Long ago, the old gods established this to determine who was worthy of ruling the throne. The strongest or smartest, the most cunning,"
The king's eyes gleamed. "..or the most handsome, like me." He caught Ezra eye and winked. His laugh was warm and wholesome. It almost, almost made Ezra blush.
He continued. "Ezra, the old gods are gone. The new gods are the ones watching now. They judge our every move and every operation. They expect nothing….but excellence."
He leaned closer.
"When your people fail year after year, it weakens all of Eryndor. In the eyes of our enemies and in the eyes of the gods. We look small and weak. It makes us a target. We can't afford that Ezra."
Ezra swallowed. The king placed a hand firmly on his shoulder.
Ezra's blood ran cold. This was the gesture. The one he'd seen multiple times made by the king before he sent someone off for executions.
'was he going to die now?' he thought. Since the king said he liked him…even if he fought hard to not remember those words, he was hoping the king would show him mercy. Even if just as little as spearing his life.
"Ezra." The king's voice jolted him back to the moment. It was soft. Almost tender. "I asked you a question. Are you okay?"
He placed a hand gently on Ezra's forehead to check if he was running temperature.
Ezra just wanted to disappear at this moment.
"You seem fine, Ezra." the king sighed. "You interrupted an important meeting today. You embarrassed me and I've been nothing but kind to you. Haven't I?"
Ezra's voice came out as a whisper. "Y-you have."
"Exactly." The king's grip tightened.
His thumb traced a slow circle on Ezra's shoulder.
"But I will give you one chance. One.. last chance. Because out of all the subjects in this kingdom..." He leaned in, voice dropping lower. "I like you the most."
Ezra's breath tightened.
The king's eyes held his. "You will repay this favor by not failing me. Am I clear?"
Ezra tried to speak but couldn't. The king sighed and let go.
"Your people will participate in this year's Reaping. If they reach the final level, I'll lift the ban."
He paused. "But if they fail... this will be your last."
Tears streamed down Ezra's face.
The king reached out. Wiped them away with his thumb. Gently.
"It's in a week, Ezra. Not time to weep. It's time to work."
Ezra nodded.
The king smiled. "You may go."
Ezra bowed and ran.
***
Once the footsteps faded, the king exhaled.
"Agatha. I can see you. What do you want?"
The witch shimmered into view, grinning. "Ooooh." She dragged out the sound, eyeing him jokingly.
"What." The king's tone was flat even though he was smiling.
"You know 'what,' Your Majesty." She smirked. "You're getting old. Shouldn't you think about settling down? You don't seem interested in any of your concubines."
The king rolled his eyes. "Please. Not today. I'm exhausted."
She giggled. "So you're really letting them participate?"
"Of course."
"Even knowing they'll fail?"
He shrugged. "You can't go from an A to a C overnight, Agatha. Nothing changes that drastically."
She raised an eyebrow. "Well, you never know. Plus, 'you' did."
"Shh." He shot her a look.
She giggled.
He sighed. "But I trust him. And I want his happiness so let's hope he doesn't disappoint me."
She bowed and he walked away.
***
Ezra finished his story. "That's what happened," he said.
Tabitha stared at him. Then grinned. "So... you're getting married?"
"What?! In all of this that's what you heard?"
"But that's what you just said."
Ezra groaned and smacked her shoulder. "You're a menace."
They both laughed.
"But you still haven't told me how you got that syst…"
"Ezra!" A voice screamed from outside. Tabitha clapped her hands and the Sealed Chamber dissolved.
They ran. Outside their home, a palace guard bent over, gasping.
"What's wrong?" Ezra rushed forward.
Tabitha followed. "What's happening?"
The guard looked up, eyes wide with panic.
"That... human... you spoke of..." He said trying to catch his breath. Ezra's stomach dropped, the moment of truth had come.
"He's in the palace." The guard said. "He's with the king."