08-07-2017, 11:04 AM
Zi was stunned, and visibly so. He took an instinctual step away from the king, as if the old man's words were poisoned laced daggers. "I... I'm just a Smithson... I'm not qualified to... to..."
Again, the king silenced Ziyadah with a raise of his hand. "My daughter has pointed as much out. You are ignorant to the finer laws of Yorheim, and you lack the strict manner most Nobles generally possess..."
"I sense a but coming..." While in this case it would lead to his better qualities, Zi was hoping they were not very good. At least not good for this situation.
"But... You are very noble by nature, and in the old sense of the word. You gave up a great portion of freedom so that your parents and their parents could live the life of nobles. Your grandfather and I play chess twice a week because of the metaphoric shackles you wear." Meloth made that sound so much better than Zi originally thought. And shackles? "You care for the sanctity of life, and in the many occassions where you could have taken power, you seem to actively deny it. He who wants power is easily corrupted by it. He who fears power, knows to respect it." That sounds like a quite, Zi thought.
Still, the man hesitated. "So I love my family? That doesn't make a man a great king."
"Doesn't it?" The King crossed his arms, a smirk forming beneath his mustache. "While you are King, and married to my daughter, I expect an heir for the Red Kingdom. One, perhaps, that might inherit your combination of Arcane power and benevolent heart."
"So... you just want me for my children?"
"That is one reason, a raindrop among a downpour." Zi was beginning to feel self conscious. The Cabal of wizards were now watching, their Homunculi slowing and becoming sloppy. "You yourself are a powerful Sorcerer, my daughter would be in no safer hands than yours."
"A body guard then?"
"Why must you try to simplify everything? ... A Clockwork Horse is a magnificent creature, but if broken down it is naught but simple gears. If you look at one piece at a time, yes, it looks simple." The King was growing a bit heated. He wanted Zi to say yes, and it was clear he too had put great thought into this. "Faylinn chose you. She has envied you for years, adored you even. She is a beautiful young woman, and I believe she will make a wonderful wife." This hit him hard. The King was pulling at every heart string. "Do this, and I will no longer have the authority to order you anymore. You will never have to poison a living soul."
No more warfare? "Can I go out in public?"
"I do. Pumpkin Picking isn't a rumor." Zi's brow furrowed. At least that is confirmed. Creepy though, the King addressing a past wondering thought.
"But that's once a year..."
"The Red Kingdom is smaller, and you will have Faylinn... Just say yes, Ziyadah. You have the soul of a king. Have you ever heard of Rajha, the Peasant King?"
It took a moment of thought.... but eventually he recalls the general detail. "The king who lived a double life to walk among the commoners?"
Meloth nodded. "However, he was without magic and unable to defend himself. He had need to hide, you do not. Faylinn can lead. You treat my daughter well, and treat the people well, your name will be remembered as a great king."
"You are just buttering me up..."
"Yes. Yes I am. I told Faylinn I would do all I good, short of a royal decree..."
That earned a little chuckle. "Thank you for that..."
King Meloth took a deep breath. With the exhale, he regained his regal posture and persona. "I will give you until tomorrow morning. Join me for breakfast. If you deny my request, know that nothing changes. I will not punish you, you have my word." King's word was powerful.
Following suit, Zi regained a semblance of whatever it was everyone seemed to expect of a peasant standing before his King. "Very well. I will have an answer tomorrow..."
In a show of great respect, the King himself walked side by side with Zi towards the courtroom door. Meloth pushed open the door. "On another note, your homunculus was scheduled to arrive this morning. If you decide a walk will help you think you should visit the docks. Cheka will be happy to see you."
"Yea... it's been a while... I hope there are no hard feelings..." That last bit was mumbled as Zi more or less aimlessly wondered out of the royal court. It was almost aimless in the way his bare feet drag along the blood stained stone floor.
Again, the king silenced Ziyadah with a raise of his hand. "My daughter has pointed as much out. You are ignorant to the finer laws of Yorheim, and you lack the strict manner most Nobles generally possess..."
"I sense a but coming..." While in this case it would lead to his better qualities, Zi was hoping they were not very good. At least not good for this situation.
"But... You are very noble by nature, and in the old sense of the word. You gave up a great portion of freedom so that your parents and their parents could live the life of nobles. Your grandfather and I play chess twice a week because of the metaphoric shackles you wear." Meloth made that sound so much better than Zi originally thought. And shackles? "You care for the sanctity of life, and in the many occassions where you could have taken power, you seem to actively deny it. He who wants power is easily corrupted by it. He who fears power, knows to respect it." That sounds like a quite, Zi thought.
Still, the man hesitated. "So I love my family? That doesn't make a man a great king."
"Doesn't it?" The King crossed his arms, a smirk forming beneath his mustache. "While you are King, and married to my daughter, I expect an heir for the Red Kingdom. One, perhaps, that might inherit your combination of Arcane power and benevolent heart."
"So... you just want me for my children?"
"That is one reason, a raindrop among a downpour." Zi was beginning to feel self conscious. The Cabal of wizards were now watching, their Homunculi slowing and becoming sloppy. "You yourself are a powerful Sorcerer, my daughter would be in no safer hands than yours."
"A body guard then?"
"Why must you try to simplify everything? ... A Clockwork Horse is a magnificent creature, but if broken down it is naught but simple gears. If you look at one piece at a time, yes, it looks simple." The King was growing a bit heated. He wanted Zi to say yes, and it was clear he too had put great thought into this. "Faylinn chose you. She has envied you for years, adored you even. She is a beautiful young woman, and I believe she will make a wonderful wife." This hit him hard. The King was pulling at every heart string. "Do this, and I will no longer have the authority to order you anymore. You will never have to poison a living soul."
No more warfare? "Can I go out in public?"
"I do. Pumpkin Picking isn't a rumor." Zi's brow furrowed. At least that is confirmed. Creepy though, the King addressing a past wondering thought.
"But that's once a year..."
"The Red Kingdom is smaller, and you will have Faylinn... Just say yes, Ziyadah. You have the soul of a king. Have you ever heard of Rajha, the Peasant King?"
It took a moment of thought.... but eventually he recalls the general detail. "The king who lived a double life to walk among the commoners?"
Meloth nodded. "However, he was without magic and unable to defend himself. He had need to hide, you do not. Faylinn can lead. You treat my daughter well, and treat the people well, your name will be remembered as a great king."
"You are just buttering me up..."
"Yes. Yes I am. I told Faylinn I would do all I good, short of a royal decree..."
That earned a little chuckle. "Thank you for that..."
King Meloth took a deep breath. With the exhale, he regained his regal posture and persona. "I will give you until tomorrow morning. Join me for breakfast. If you deny my request, know that nothing changes. I will not punish you, you have my word." King's word was powerful.
Following suit, Zi regained a semblance of whatever it was everyone seemed to expect of a peasant standing before his King. "Very well. I will have an answer tomorrow..."
In a show of great respect, the King himself walked side by side with Zi towards the courtroom door. Meloth pushed open the door. "On another note, your homunculus was scheduled to arrive this morning. If you decide a walk will help you think you should visit the docks. Cheka will be happy to see you."
"Yea... it's been a while... I hope there are no hard feelings..." That last bit was mumbled as Zi more or less aimlessly wondered out of the royal court. It was almost aimless in the way his bare feet drag along the blood stained stone floor.