Chapter Twenty-One

The Right of the King

Onlya fool would sacrifice a perfect present in search of an overly ambitiousfuture

Aden

The Fifth Loop, Year 381, 20th January (5L/381/1/20)

"This is the only way to protect our world from an invasion," Samuel said concluding his address to the Council. "For the sake of God and Holy Angels, I urge you to take this step. There is no other option."

Olivier looked at his friend with a queer smile on his face. Samuel had done a great job of digging a hole for himself.

Daniel Donald, the minister of public affairs, stood up. "With all due respect Your Highness, first of all, it was you who decided to send a delegation to that world while many members of the council were against it. Now you want us to start a war with that world. If not for your ill-advised delegation no one in Tenebra would have known the route to this world and we would have lived in peace forever."

"When we will run out of fuel, that peace won't last for long. I did what I did to secure a better future for our coming generations."

"Only a fool would sacrifice a perfect present in search of an overly ambitious future."

"An intelligent minister would mind his tongue while talking to his king if he doesn't want it to be pulled out from his throat," Samuel shot back with a glare that made Daniel cower in his seat.

"I am sorry Your Highness, I didn't mean it that way." Daniel was almost trembling while apologizing to Samuel. "What I am trying to say is I am sure our able scientists will find out some alternative before our fuel reserves get exhausted."

"But I am not sure our enemies will wait till then. They will attack us and turn our world into a battlefield. We should strike them before they strike us."

"We can't allow bloodshed based on some speculations," Daniel's voice was still shaky but he stuck to his argument. "It is against our values."

"HighMinister Olivier was there." Olivier could sense the desperation in Malcolm Lewis's tone. The minister of resources didn't want the Star-Rocks to slip out of his hands. "I think we should ask for his opinion."

Olivier got up from his chair and bowed to the king. "After what little I have seen of them I must say that people of that world are unpredictable uncivilized savages," he began in his slow meticulous tone, putting just enough stress on words he wanted people to note. "They may attack us and they may not. At present, they don't have the weapons to match us, but they have brains and the guns left behind by us to copy from."

"That is my whole point. If we attack them before they can develop any weapons there will be no bloodshed. They will have no option but to surrender without a fight." Samuel was repeating, word by word, what Olivier had fed him during their meetings.

"And what if they don't surrender?" Daniel asked in a soft voice.

"They will, I assure you that. Once we have overpowered them, we will maintain an army base in Tenebra that will guard the entry point into our world and deter Tenebrians from planning any aggression against us in the future."

"What are your views HighMinister?" Malcolm again asked Olivier.

During their numerous closed-door meetings, Olivier had convinced Samuel that he must pretend to be neutral in front of the Council. If they both vehemently support the invasion many ministers might suspect some foul play and vote against it. So Olivier was to hold the high ground while Samuel did the dirty job for him.

Olivier quietly pointed to the heads of the martyrs which were placed on a nearby table."As I said they are unpredictable. They may fight or they may not, but these severed heads do tell us what they can do. Now we must decide whether we want to take resolute action to deter them from such monstrosities in the future or we want to wait for them to make a move. A move they may never make. But if they do, we might heavily regret our inaction." Olivier weaved the magic of his words. Without even using the words like war or army he instilled some fear and skillfully endorsed the plan of sending troops to Elisium.

Daniel shook his head. "Highminister, I heard your account of what happened in the meeting and I don't think they will attack us. They don't look that foolish to attack an enemy they have zero chance of winning against."

"What if they attack in the future, after developing some weapons." Malcolm countered him. "Why not just crush an egg before a monster is born out of it?"

"If they do come we can guard the entry point in our world and stop them right there. Building an army base in a deserted area of our world would be a lot simpler than attacking another world. We are reading too much into these severed heads. It is just a warning for us to stop trespassing in their world. If we don't bother them anymore there might never be a war."

Other ministers too chipped in with their opinions. The arguments just went on and on. Olivier knew Samuel was hoping for a unanimous decision but it was pretty clear that they were not going to reach an agreement. Any decision involving aggression or bloodshed would need a three-fourth majority and no way Samuel was going to get that, the severed heads didn't have the desired frightening effect.

Olivier had foreseen this hurdle and had suggested Samuel a way to overcome it. An extreme measure.

Samuel stamped his foot and got up from his golden throne. He was never known for patience. "I think our opinions are very divided and we are never going to reach a decision. Thus I have no option left but to invoke—the Right of the King."

There was complete silence in the Great Hall. Now there was no room for any further discussion.

"You fully understand what you are doing? You know the consequences?" Daniel warned him.

"Yes, but I firmly believe that this is the best we can do for Aden."

Samuel raised his right hand towards the sky and said in a loud clear voice; "I King Samuel the Brave, by the powers vested in me by my forefathers, invoke the Right of the King. I hereby order all my ministers to put in their best efforts to raise, train, and equip an army to send to Tenebra during the next Crossing. I, the king, relieve this council of all the consequences borne out of this decision. Only I should be held accountable for any misfortunes that occur due to this order and I appoint the Almighty, the Divine Supremes, my revered forefathers, and the honorable members of this Council as witnesses in this regard. Everyone is obliged to support this order and anyone who opposes it must be treated as a traitor to the crown. May the Almighty guide us on the righteous path."

The Right of the King had never been invoked in the history of Aden. In his pursuit of greatness, Samuel had taken a desperate step.

Olivier started coughing to suppress his glee. He didn't think Samuel had the guts to go that far. He didn't just bite the forbidden fruit, he gulped it.

***

Aden

The Fifth Loop, Year 391, 1st January (5L/391/1/1)

The Days of Darkness were meant to be spent behind closed doors but Mel's riverfront was flooding with people today. It looked as if everyone in Aurae had poured out of their houses to bid farewell to their heroes. Ten thousand men were about to depart to the dark world to protect their beautiful Aden from the invasion of hideous monsters. The road to the Deck of the Nineteen Martyrs was jammed. The weather was gloomy but the spirits were high.

King Samuel, all the members of the Council, and every person of importance in Aden were present at this function. With the first rays of the rising sun, the Eye of Tenebra magically appeared below the deck.

How two mysterious whirlpools appearing exactly at the same time, created portals to connect the two worlds was beyond the realms of scientific theories. However, this wasn't a day to dwell in mystery but rather a day to become a part of history.

A huge stage had been erected near the deck. King Samuel and the members of the Council were seated on that stage. To begin the proceedings Olivier walked in front of his King and bowed his head. People raised their necks to look in anticipation.

Samuel turned to the crowd and addressed his people. "The monsters in that world massacred nineteen brave men but by God's grace, HighMinister Olivier survived. One must never ask a person to relive such horrors but since he is the only person to have seen that world, I had to request Olivier to lead our troops in that treacherous world. For the love of Aden, he readily agreed to head this mission. Holy Angels know that this world will always be indebted to him for his courage. I hereby appoint HighMinister Olivier Emmanuel the HighCommander of this mission and give him full authority to take any necessary decisions on behalf of the crown. Let us pray to the Supremes that he returns to us very soon, virtuous and victorious."

Amidst loud cheering, Samuel pinned a diamond-studded broach on Olivier's chest. "I have not only pinned the hopes of this world on you," Samuel whispered to Olivier, "but also my fate. I have risked everything I have trusting your judgement. Make sure that everything goes to plan."

"Don't worry my friend, I will make sure that everything exactly happens as I have planned," Olivier replied with an ambiguous smile.

Malcolm Lewis then came forward. Samuel pinned another broach on Malcolm's chest. "Our resource minister Malcolm has also volunteered to go on this mission. I appoint him as the deputy HighCommander."

Once the announcements were done, the first company of hundred soldiers came forward on the Deck of the Nineteen Martyrs. This deck was built exactly on the spot where the bridge of faith stood in Elisium. On the sound of cannon fire, the heavily armed soldiers leaped into the whirlpool. A loud cheer echoed around the shores of Mel. Amidst the loudest cheers of the day, Olivier and Malcolm jumped after twenty companies of soldiers had departed to Elisium.

They got a loud reception on the other side as well. Gunfires, a lot of them. But not the ceremonial ones. Their troops were engaged in a heavy battle. Olivier had anticipated that. This wasn't such a bad start. More the blood the better for him.

Desmond, who had jumped a few minutes before Olivier, called out to him. "Swim to the right bank, Sir, we have secured some area on this side."

Gunshots echoed around the banks of Vinum. Olivier and Malcolm quickly swam to the safe spot. Desmond took them behind a tree. Henry, the army chief, was waiting for them there.

"Quickly brief me about the situation here," Olivier told Henry.

"They were expecting us but I guess they weren't anticipating a large army. Many soldiers from our first few companies got hit by their arrows. However, once our troops reached the banks and started firing they began to fall back. They are putting up a fight, but they neither have the numbers nor the weapons. It must not take long... Oh damn."

A couple of arrows pierced the bodies of two soldiers standing behind Henry. "Take cover," Henry shouted as more arrows flew in their direction. Olivier and Malcolm crouched to the ground.

"Desmond you look after the ministers and let me take care of these stinging insects," Henry ordered his subordinate and rushed in the direction of the arrows.

***

Tall bushes and trees provided a good cover to the Elisian fighters, but with thousands of Aden's soldiers now scanning the riverfront, there was no place left to hide. Some of them had gauged the situation and fled into the jungles, but those who stood their ground were now surrounded.

Henry was facing a company of around a hundred men who were skilled marksmen. Their arrows had finished off hundreds of Aden's soldiers in Mel before they could set foot on land.

Henry hid behind a tree and closely inspected the scenario. The opportunity to finish this battle stood right in front of him. He whispered something into the ears of one of his lieutenants who rushed to the riverbank and assembled the companies emerging from the river. Meanwhile, Henry and his men kept firing in the direction of the enemies and kept them engaged.

This looked like Tenebra's largest fighting unit. Henry surrounded these archers and blocked their movement to make them restless. He had them in shackles while his other companies hunted down the smaller units and finished them off. He waited for these warriors to make a desperate move. The longer it took the better for him because his surprise package needed a little time to get in position.

During these exchanges, Henry saw the enemy commander and his eyes lit up. That was a very familiar face. He smiled to himself contemplating the irony of destiny. In a last-ditch attempt to break free, Henry's counterpart asked his man to charge, but before they could do so they were hit by bullets from behind their backs. Henry had caught them with a lethal surprise.

Henry had seen a small mound right behind this enemy unit and had discreetly sent a few companies towards it. While his troops engaged with the Elisians from the front side, his other soldiers quietly took position on the hillock. Once they started shooting at the archers from behind, they panicked and ran, just to become easy targets for Henry's troops in front of them. Adeners shot down these Elisians from both directions, like a gang of hunters culling a pack of helpless beasts.

"Put down your arms and surrender. That is the only option left for you," Henry shouted.

His counterpart had seen that whether they fought or fled, a bullet was what they got. He gave a signal to his soldiers. They put down their bows and came out of the bushes with their hands raised above their heads. Henry's men swiftly put these Elisians under arrest. The first battle of Elisium ended in less than a couple of hours.

Elisians had prepared for some intrusions but they got a full-fledged invasion—and were about to pay a heavy price for this miscalculation.

***

"How many men did we lose?" Olivier asked Henry.

"More than four hundred and still counting. Some bodies have washed downstream and are yet to be retrieved."

"And how many did we kill?"

"About two hundred maybe. Haven't counted them all."

"So we lost more than we killed?" Olivier said in a disparaging tone. "Our king gave you full authority to recruit as many men you want, then spent ten years and truckloads of money to train them and arm them with the best weapons, and yet these people wielding bows and arrows killed double. Don't you think you must do better, at least while fighting your father's murderers?"

For Olivier, Henry the son of William the former army chief was the perfect asset. Driven by his desire for revenge he was a bomb ready to explode. Olivier just had to skillfully manipulate him.

Henry's jaw tightened. "We lost more because our first few companies were caught in the arrow storm of these spineless worms. They were shot in the water before they could even reach the banks. And I must admit that these insects are quite good with their ancient weapons," Henry added punching one of the detained archers in his face.

Olivier liked what he saw. Henry was already fuming. All he needed was a nudge in the right direction. "And how many of them have we captured alive?"

"Another two hundred. Now tell me what should I do with them?" Henry asked kicking a prisoner this time.

"What options do we have?"

"We keep them as prisoners," Desmond suggested.

Olivier curled his lips. "That is a good idea commander. We must stay here and construct a prison and postpone our mission till the next Crossing."

Malcolm chipped in with another idea. "We can take them with us."

Olivier took a deep breath. These fools were testing his patience. "Yes, we can carry the prisoners with us, feed them, take care of them, and spare a few hundred men to guard over them. Commander Henry, can we afford such a luxury?"

Henry shook his head accompanied by a death stare.

Desmond furrowed his brow. "But we can't just let them go."

Henry stroked his well-trimmed beard. "Yes, we just can't let them go. They are skilled fighters who have already killed hundreds of our men. They will go back, regroup, recruit more men, and strike back. Considering the circumstances I assume we don't have much of a choice."

That last sentence made Desmond recoil. "We can't do that. We don't want bloodshed."

Henry's face was flushed. He grabbed Desmond by his collar and pointed to the river. "Don't want bloodshed? This river is red with the blood of my men. Hundreds of them. If you haven't noticed bloodshed has already begun. And it wasn't us who started it—but we will surely finish it."

"But these men have surrendered and we can't slaughter unarmed men." Desmond didn't give up. "It will be an unforgivable sin."

"There are no virtues and sins in a war. They shot down hundreds of our men when they were in no position to fight back. Tell me is it morally correct to shoot at helpless drowning men?"

Desmond shook his head.

"These worms only surrendered when they had nowhere to go, in a last-ditch attempt to save their lives. They had no other option. I will not spare them because of some moral dilemma."

Desmond turned to Olivier. "HighMinister, you were tasked with the smooth completion of this mission. You must stop this madness."

Olivier took this as a perfect opportunity to clear his stand and get some witnesses on his side. He started to spin the web of his words. "I was never in favor of this mission. I, again and again, told King Samuel that the people of Tenebra could be very unpredictable. I always feared bloodshed but King Samuel was adamant. He forced me into this mission and we all can see what just happened."

Olivier put a hand on Desmond's shoulder. "Commander, don't you understand we have already failed? Hundreds of people have already been killed and we cannot reverse that. I am not skilled in war tactics. I don't know how many more soldiers will these Tenebrians kill if we let them go. Commander Henry understands these situations better than anyone and hence he has the king's full authority to take a final call in matters of war. I can't overrule him."

Olivier looked at Henry. "You do what you think is the best for Aden's interest."

Henry looked at the enemy commander—a face that he saw every day in the mirror. Kane, son of Richard from Elisium, was a doppleganger of Henry, son of William from Aden. Just like their fathers, they looked like identical twins. And just like their worlds, the interworld twins were now pitted against each other.

Despite their identical appearance, their journeys were symbolic of the fortunes of their worlds. While one was on a rapid rise, the other was on the edge of a deadly fall. While Henry was towering above everyone, Kane was down on his knees.

"So my dear duplicate, what shall I do with you and your men?" Henry asked with a snigger.

Kane looked Henry in his eyes. "I think you have already decided what you want to do. Mind my words, decisions made out of malice and hatred always come back to bite their perpetrator. This cursed decision will spell doom for you..."

A loud gunshot echoed around the riverbank. Kane fell to the ground as a bullet passed through his forehead.

"I am sorry but I don't have time for your long speech." Henry spat on Kane's face and turned to Olivier. "This is what I have decided. They massacred our delegates and slaughtered our soldiers in the river, it is time to return the favor."

Nearly two hundred unarmed men were cold-bloodedly killed on Henry's orders.

The mission had taken a horrible start for Aden, but for Olivier, this was a perfect beginning.