Winds of Revolution

“Thank you for bringing me out here, Luscious. I grow weary of meandering through the halls and corridors of the palace at times. Fresh air and a chance to survey one’s kingdom does a soul good.” King Adder said, punctuating his remark with a deep breath and a steady exhale. “Of course, your majesty and what a kingdom it is. It has surely thrived under your reign.” Luscious added. King Adder nodded as he puffed out his chest and raised his chin. “Indeed, it has. Far better than when my father was King.” Luscious took a small step forward, closing the small gap between the two of them. “Though a great ruler in his own right… none quite compares to you.” King Adder grins as Luscious praised, beaming with pride as his eyes stay affixed on his kingdom and birthright before him. The late summer breeze pushed the tops of ancient oaks and carried with it the sound of revelry in the taverns below. “My father was a soft man.” King Adder said with a chortle. “Too soft. As a young man I knew my reign would not be such. He would prattle on about harmony and the love of his people…” a scoff slipped from the King’s lips as if the very notion of such was comical at best. Lucious listened, quietly taking in every word as King Adder continued. “Power is what’s important. Ruling with fear and an iron fist. That’s what a kingdom makes and as you can see…” the King said as his large chubby hand gestured before him. “I have done just that.”

Luscious narrowed his eyes as he glanced between the King and the kingdom below. Luscious’ hands were clasped behind his back, clenching at those outright lies that dripped from the King’s tongue like venom from a snake. As King Adder stood at the top of the cliffside that overlooked his land, the people below suffered. The revelry heard from those taverns below made from the watchmen that bullied, battered, and abused their control under the King’s behest. “Not just one snake. An entire nest of them.” Luscious thought to himself. Besides the ever-present threat of falling prey to one of the King’s men, the threat of starvation from being taxed into poverty was close behind. The King also had a strong dislike toward those born with the gift of magic. Too many poor souls who’s only crime was being born special had seen violence and torture until the mercy of death had been given. But even as Luscious stood at his King’s side, the winds of change were blowing. A current of revolution was working its way through the realm. Luscious knew that most likely he would not live to see the world he so desperately wanted for his kinsman. He had made his peace with that long ago but was more than honored to make what sacrifices he had to for those that came after him.

“I think you’re wrong, your majesty.” Luscious said, suddenly breaking the King from his reverie. King Adder turned his head as an incredulous look replaced the smug smile that had once been there. “Oh? What am I wrong about, Luscious?” A tense stare was shared between the two men as Luscious gathered his thoughts. “About ruling with fear. With an iron fist. I suppose a flourishing kingdom looks differently for everyone if you think your kingdom is doing just that.” The King was taken aback by Luscious’ words. “Is that so? And what would you know of being a ruler? Of being a King?” King Adder turned his body a bit more, his thick and heavy frame almost obscene given how frail the common man was below. “I have never ruled. That much is true but any fool can see that what is going on here isn’t right. This is no kingdom… you have created a hell on earth and your people suffer greatly for it.” Luscious’ words were passionate and a rallying cry for all. King Adder’s face turned red as he became awash with anger. “I certainly don’t need criticism from a fool who has never been where I am. The very idea the word of a nobody would ever carry any weight with me is preposterous.” He spat out. “Why I should have you whipped for such insolence.” The king added as his broad chest heaved with heavy breaths.

Luscious stood unwavering at the King’s threats. If plans were to come to fruition, such a request would never be carried out. “That is the difference between you and the King’s before you. Instead of ruling with humility and grace you rule your people as if you were a wrathful God.” Luscious paused. “And you are anything but a God, father.” With those words, Luscious’ left hand took ahold of his father’s shoulder and rammed the dagger he had pulled out as he spoke into his father’s heart to the hilt. Luscious stared, peered into the eyes of his father and his King. King Adder’s eyes were wide and wild as his hands clawed and tore at his son’s cape that carried the royal symbol. Luscious and King Adder slowly went to their knees as the sound of battle cries mixed with the sound of steel meeting steel sounded from below. “Why?” King Adder choked out as blood started to pour from his chest and pool at the corners of his mouth. Luscious took notice of how the blood trickled into his father’s snow-white beard. “The well-being of the kingdom comes first. That’s what grandfather told both of us. I guess out of the two of us… I was the only one that listened.” King Adder’s grip started to loosen as his body grew weaker. Luscious jerked back, pulling that dagger from his father’s chest before making his way to his feet. With both hands, Luscious dragged his father’s body that was still clinging to life toward the edge of the cliff. King Adder’s eyes met his son’s as Luscious stood over him, his cape fluttering in that late summer breeze. “Please understand. You left me no choice but to kill the monster you created. I had to set things right. This was the only way.” King Adder weakly reached to no avail as Luscious gave his father’s body a shove with his boot. Luscious chose not to watch as his father reached the rocks below. The noise had been evidence enough that the monster that haunted and laid waste to his kingdom was gone.

With a sigh of relief Luscious looked out over his kingdom as fires raged and the revolution he had been planning for the past several years finally unfolded before him. Perhaps his reign had started out monstrous with him committing an act so atrocious and perhaps in some way, that made him like his father. All Luscious knew was that he would never rule the way his father had. Luscious had decided that long ago…much as his father and his father before him.