Prologue
King Odo sat upon his throne. He had barely left it in the past month. His appetite was gone, his strength drained. Many of his most loyal warriors had fallen, and his people were starving.
Surrounding him stood the Wise Men, a council of the kingdom’s eldest and most respected seers. Worry etched deep lines across their wrinkled faces, their long white beards swaying as they whispered among themselves.
“Your Majesty,” one of them finally spoke, voice low and grave. “The kingdom is in distress. If we continue this war, we will all perish. Perhaps... it is time to reconsider.”
“The Kingdom of Kalon has never surrendered,” Odo replied sharply.
“But the gods have spoken, my lord,” Neoh, the eldest of the Wise Men, said gently. “This war must be avoided, not conquered.”
King Odo closed his eyes. Deep down, he knew they were right. The gods had never been wrong. And proof of their wisdom lay in the toll the war had taken, on his army, on his people, on himself.
“Very well,” he said finally, his voice heavy with resignation. “Send a messenger to King James. Ride the fastest horse.”
He began to pace, hands clasped behind his back, fists clenched. The throne room, once a place of command, now felt like a prison. The next hour stretched painfully, longer than the month of suffering they had just endured.
Then, two firm knocks echoed through the chamber’s great wooden door.
“Come in,” King Odo barked.
A soldier entered, bowing low. “My lord, the messenger has returned. He brings correspondence from King James of Esparcia.” He handed the scroll to Neoh, who adjusted his spectacles and cleared his throat before reading aloud:
“It is with great hope and respect that I write this letter.
Our warriors are tired and wounded. To end this war seems the wisest course for both our kingdoms.
The Kingdom of Esparcia seeks an unlimited and uninterrupted supply of textiles and spices, resources that are plentiful in Kalon, and scarce in my own land.
The only assurance I will accept for the honoring of this treaty is the union of our heirs in marriage.
This alliance will secure lasting peace and prosperity for both our peoples.
From this union, a powerful heir shall rise, one fit to rule a united realm.
However, until their wedding vows are exchanged and they are declared husband and wife, the battlefield will remain active.
With due respect,
James, King of Esparcia.”
“Never!” King Odo roared, slamming both fists onto the table. His voice thundered down the hallway, shaking the very walls of the throne room.
