Ascendants of Ancients Sovereign - By Phillip Jones Page 0,228

teranay!”

Justin’s body began to shake as the magic tried to force the essence beyond his tongue to make him swallow it, but it did not work. The general’s tongue was too large. It was so swollen that it defeated Shalee’s magic.

The horror in Sam’s eyes served as his reaction.

Shalee dropped to the sand and landed on her knees. Her guilt was epic as she lifted Justin’s head onto her lap. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t strong enough.”

The general’s ears did not hear Shalee’s apology as the king rushed across the sand and dropped down next to his friend. Keldwin was not diplomatic in his actions as he shoved Shalee aside to take the general’s head upon his lap.

The king recognized that his moments with his beloved friend were short. He leaned over to whisper in Justin’s ear, not realizing his voice could not be heard. “You’ll always be my champion, my friend. You’ll be remembered in the pages of old. Pass well, mighty Graywind. I shall be with you in Mosley’s Heaven soon enough.”

The general’s last moment on Grayham would not be peaceful. His powerful hand reached up and grabbed the collar of Keldwin’s armor as his body convulsed.

The king’s eyes were filled with sorrow as the last bit of life abandoned the general’s body, and his eyes closed forever. The mighty Graywind’s grip relaxed, his arm went limp, and his powerful hand dropped to the sand.

A long series of moments passed as the arena sat in silence, but Keldwin’s mind was churning. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. You deserved a noble end. As the silence continued, the king began to question. How could you pass when no one touched you? The king’s eyes captured a glimpse of the blood that was smeared on the side of Justin’s neck. Have you been betrayed?

The king took a closer look. He slowly rolled Justin to his side and noticed the welt that had been left behind by the dart. The king rubbed his finger across the back of his friend’s neck. As he did, he became convinced that the reason for his friend’s passing was, indeed, betrayal. Keldwin stood and shouted, “Guards! Secure the arena! No one leaves until everyone has been searched!”

The king redirected his attention toward the healers. They took the brunt of his anger. “What good are you if you couldn’t stop the general from passing? I should weigh you down and cast you into the depths of the sea.”

The pain in Keldwin’s heart was agonizing. He and Justin had been friends since they were boys. Justin’s father had also served under the late King of Brandor as a high-ranking officer, and as children they shared the same teacher while studying the arts of war. During countless sparring engagements, Justin had often thrown Keldwin to his back.

The boys had done everything together: hunting, fishing, riding, playing, and when they were old enough to appreciate women—hunting of a different kind. The general had always been the better fighter, and when Keldwin ascended to the throne, he watched Justin fight his way to the position of General Absolute. When Justin slew the previous general, Keldwin felt honored as he appointed Justin the new leader of the army. Their friendship had come full circle, and the memories of their lives together would be his until he passed.

Keldwin would make everyone wait until the general’s body was cleared from the arena. One by one, the spectators were searched as they left. The guards desperately searched for any clues that would pertain to Justin’s passing, but they found nothing.

The people who waited in line were filled with anxiety. They had no idea what the king might do or what royal power Keldwin would invoke to appease his tormented mind.

The search for an explanation lasted through the night while the king found solace with Sam and Aaron in a small, secluded room beneath the arena. Keldwin collapsed in Sam’s arms.

Sam motioned for Aaron to give him a moment alone with the king. “Keldwin, I need you to listen to me. I know you’re hurting, but remember how Justin would’ve wanted his king, his friend, to remember him.”

The king pulled away. “I don’t know what to do, Sam. My heart is destroyed. No one knew how close we were. We’ve been friends since we were boys. I confided everything in him. When my queen passed, Aaron was just a babe. It was Justin who helped me be the father I needed to be. What do