The Axe Falls 2 -ch 24-

“The Dragon King!” shouted Duke Fash and the Count nearly at the same time. Falling down to one knee, bowing their heads, and pressing their opposing fist to the ground.

As one, the entirety of the meeting all fell into the same bow the Duke and the Count had given him.

Standing there, Nick felt rather strange, his fingers tightening up on the shaft of his weapon.

There was also no missing the fact that there was a light rumbling shake that was making the very ground tremor. As if it were trembling with excitement.

A dog that couldn’t contain itself and wagging it’s body at the return of someone.

“Ease yourself Dolphan, ease yourself,” murmured Nick soothingly. “You’ll cause buildings to collapse. Ease yourself.”

Clearly in response to his words, the ground started to settle down, until it only felt as if the ground were vibrating rather than quivering.

“I am the Dragon King. Please… all of you rise. Rise and seat yourself or stand.

“Now, I am here per your request despite the fact that I’m unready to face my foe,” Nick declared, deciding to be forthright with these people. “My level is lacking compared to what the King is likely at or his champions and so I have remained in hiding.

“My best protection was remaining in the shadows until I couldn’t anymore. Which… seems to be now.

“Before you ask, I have no idea why the Fash would want to surrender their throne. It sounds extremely counter-intuitive to me.

“What I can say though, is that the Fash bloodline is… suffering… deeply for their past sins. It’s likely that more than a few of them are going to hide themselves away after today.

“The King himself might very well collapse and need some help. The covenant was broken and they’re now suffering for not protecting it more vehemently. All the wounds they suffer at this moment are due to the lack of foresight by for their forebearers.

“I may not be a Dragon and nor is my family, not truly, but as they say, you should never cross a deal with a Dragon.”

“Sire,” whispered the heavyset man, staring at him in wide-eyed shock. The man hadn’t gotten to his feet. “I-I’m Duke Aban. We’ve remained loyal this entire time, my lord. We’ve never strayed. Never. Not for a moment, we just laid low as your family ordered us.”

Duke Aban turned where he knelt and gestured to one of his people impatiently. As if he were trying to fetch a bucket of water to put out a fire, in fact.

A very large chest was brought over by four men lugging it between them.

It was set down in front of Nick beside the Duke, who was already unlocking the chest and pulling the clasps open. No sooner than he had it done then he lifted the lid back.

Inside laid a set of armor, a shield, and a sword.

All of it was brightly polished and well maintained.

“Ahhhh, it seems the Aban family comes from the Denahn family. That’s the Denahn family armor,” explained Lucian. “They served as knights and almost always as the knight captain of the court for fourteen generations. That armor there was gifted to the head of their family from one of your ancestors. The stat increases are significant and allows any wearer to also utilize the axe lord class. Given the crest upon it, they likely had to hide it.

“Though it would only work for someone truly sworn to your line anyways. It lost it’s power after the surrender I imagine. Though I could be wrong if they never broke their oath.”

Nick had indeed noticed the crest emblazoned over the heart of the armor was that of his family.

Is there any other families like the Denhan that served my family, so?

“Not in the same way, Sire. The Denhan were there at the start. Childhood friends to my son-in-law, in truth,” Lucian murmured. “Their blood crossed over into our own several times, as well as ours to them. They are akin to family in a way. No other family was as close or as friendly for as long a period.”

“It would seem our family lives on,” Nick said, looking to the Duke. “Though are you Duke Aban, or Duke Denahn? You’ll forgive me I hope if I don’t understand current politics or boundary lines. I lived a quiet life until my family was murdered and had no concept of the world as a whole.”

“Ever Duke Denahn,” whispered the man, his eyes widening. “We were forced to change our name and sacrifice our ancestral home.”

“Well, perhaps we’ll see about changing that in this upcoming discussion with the Fash,” remarked Nick. “At this time, I have no Knights of my own and barely a retinue. Let alone a Knight Captain.”

There was a deathly silence after he spoke, as if everyone seemed somewhat shocked that Nick knew the original name of Aban’s family as well as the usage for the armor.

Even Count Distis and Duke Fash looked somewhat unsure of themselves.

“Well, the Fash pretender should know I’m here. I imagine a messenger is on the way,” stated Nick and then blew out a breath. “I’ll need to go get my skills in order.”

“I shall summon the Royal Physician, your majesty,” Count Distis said and then saw Julie not far off. “Lady Wizard, would you please go fetch Dr. Palt as well as… everyone else?”

Julie blinked, then nodded her head, and left at a trot.

Count Distis looked to the Dukes all gathered around.

“While we wait for the messenger that’s very likely to be on the way, I will explain where we are, how we got here, and where the Dragon King has been,” the count said, and then bowed to everyone involved. “I apologize for the deception, but I have been serving as the chamberlain to the king, despite working for the king until recently.

“I had no way of truly knowing what would be best for the king and even know, I must admit, I didn’t expect the Dragon King to step forward as he had. It seems he has more trust for this assembly than I expected or accounted for.”

Duke Aban, or Denahn Nick supposed, was now standing and speaking to a rather tall young man. He had a wide shouldered build and a hard stare to him despite looking to be in his early twenties.

It was currently directed at the chest and no one in particular.

“— several positions already in place, though we will need to draw up a Knight contingent,” continued Distis. “As well as a Knight Captain, Head cook, Head Maid, Marshal, Royal blacksmith, Stable Master, Personal Bodyguards, and Royal Guard captain.

“I’ve created a list of sorts of people I would reach out to based on my own opinions, but I welcome everyone to submit their own suggestions and requests for approval.

“Additionally… it should be known that the Dragon King is indeed the source of all the potions we’ve been purchasing. That is the reason they are so incredibly cheap. He is taking the loss entirely upon himself.”

The young man’s gaze flicked up to Nick now and looked at him with extreme fervor. Nick wasn’t sure if it was good or bad and merely returned the gaze without any real emotion.

There was a squawk followed by a grumbling hiss at Ker trundled into the tent. He was dragging a man by the neck into the tent.

Nick noted that the Fisher had grown again and was now easily the size of a large dog which was rather terrifying given how nimble the Fisher could be.

Holy fuck, Ker.

Just how much more are you going to grow?

You can’t even fit on the back of Table anymore at this point.

Ker shook the man bodily when he tried to struggle then continued on and dropped him at Nick’s feet.

The impression he got from the Familiar was simple.

“Spy”.

“It appears we have a spy. For who, I don’t know,” remarked Nick dryly, peering down at the bloody man. Ker hadn’t been gentle and there was a good amount of blood dribbling down from the man’s face and neck.

He wasn’t bleeding out thankfully.

“The King wanted to know what we were doing,” someone said nearby. “I don’t know this man and he wouldn’t be here otherwise.”

Duke Danahn and several others nodded at that.

Nick didn’t quite trust it, but there wasn’t a reason for him to argue with them over this. He could solve it rather simply by getting answers out of the man.

“It would seem I’ll need a Royal… Interrogator as well,” Nick mumbled then looked the way Julie had gone. Then looked back to the Count and smiled at him. “Would you be so kind as to summon me the family head of the Margrave family? I’d very much like to hire them for a job and I’m already acquainted with them and trust them with matters such as this.”

“Yes, your majesty,” the Count said, then looked to the crowd.

Nick wasn’t sure who it was but a man in armor left at a very quick jog, exiting the tent.

“Now we wait,” Nick remarked and then brought his poleaxe around and rested the blade on the throat of the man. “Let’s… call you to account. What crimes have you committed, hm?”

“The Dragon King holds the actual job title of Executioner and… can call people to account for their crimes,” the Count explained, causing a great many people to go still. “I will be available to discuss anything and hopefully soon.”

“I like our Chamberlain,” Lucian said with a chuckle. “He just told them all to come speak to him before you find them and he’ll work on their case with you, on their behalf. Likely to the tune of bribes or fines. Which would help the royal coffers.”

So long as it isn’t anything odious, I’m sure I can overlook somethings.

However… this man is quite foul.

Look at all these crimes against the nation.

The list that came back was extensive and Nick was still reading through it when a person came back into the tent. Rather than do anything else, it felt more correct to be reading through it and let the audience wonder just how much he could see.

“Lord Fash has requested to meet with the Dragon King,” announced the messenger. “He and his personal retinue are moving to the grounds between the armies.”

“Well,” Nick said with a click of his tongue and looked to Count Distis. “I suppose that answers that. The king would like to meet immediately and most certainly received the notification that I’ve… stepped up to claim my throne.

“I personally would like to agree to meet the king, however, you Dukes have been fighting all on you rown without me. You’ve been building this faction and this army to this point. This junction.

“I do not dare do anything without consulting you first. The Dragon King I may be, but this force is all yours by right, not my own. Just in the same way that I charge the minimum for potions and do not offer them for free, do you own this army and have it’s usage.”

Nick didn’t want them to get any ruffled feathers about his sudden appearance and then giving orders.

“I immediately move to send a messenger that we’ll meet the king,” the Duke of Denahn said.

The wiry and ancient looking Duke, nodded his head once.

“I agree, I move to send a messenger and assume that everyone else agrees. Does anyone disagree?” asked the man with a look at everyone else.

No one said a word.

The thin Duke waved a hand.

“Send the messenger, the Dukes and their Dragon King accept. We will meet them in the field,” proclaimed the man. He began totering his way over to Nick and stood in front of him.

“I’m the Duke of Ternahl,” he stated, watching Nick as he spoke.

“If history holds true, they’re a wall Duke. The eastern portion near the south-east. Some of their domain overlaps into the lands outside the wall and partially inside, Sire,” Lucian stated. “They were fairly loyal in the past without too many issues. You can’t control every member of your family after all. As a majority they were there at the end as well and fought bravely.”

“Then I greet you Duke Ternahl. All I know of your family is that they’re a ducal family that has it’s lands along the wall. As well as the fact that your ancestor was there with my own at the end of my family’s rule. I do hope you’ll forgive me for only knowing that,” stated Nick, meeting the man’s eyes.

Who suddenly grinned wolfishly at Nick in return, only to turn and look at the crowd. Nick wasn’t sure where the older man was looking, but he saw something out there.

Then looked back to Nick.

“Thank you, Sire. Thank you,” he said in a hiss, then began to shuffle off toward the crowd as well.

Well.

Meeting time, I suppose.

Slowly, inexorably, the Dukes began assembling a “retinue” to go meet the Fash King. Taking only a few people with them each though Nick noted they were all more than likely very high level.

Thankfully, no one seemed to care that Jessie, Sara, and Harlowe all joined Nick’s group, though they stood with Claudia and Erica. Julie only barely joined the group just as they were getting together in ranks at the edge of their lines.

“Ah, your highness, this is-this is my mother,” Julie said in a pinched voice. There was an infinitely small bubble around the three of them that was as faint as could be. As if she were only obscuring what they were saying in the number of people around them. “I understand you summoned us?”

Nick looked to Julie than the woman next to her. She was certainly an attractive older woman with more heft to her than Julie did. The same black hair and pale green eyes were there, yet soft features than Julie.

“Well, I’m glad I get to see what I can look forward to, dear consort. Your mother’s beautiful,” Nick said with a smile for Julie and held her gaze for several seconds.

Which caused the older woman to snort, followed by a chuckle.

She finally gifted Nick with a wide smile, clearly no longer very nervous. If anything she looked quite pleased and rather happy.

“I’ll give you a suitable title later if this works,” Nick promised, watching her face. The smile had faded, but she looked serious and listening intently. “Get me answers out of that spy. Do what you must. Need I say more? Consider it my first investment. Julie can answer anything else if you have questions.”

“Not a problem, your Highness,” promised Julie’s mother with a nod of her head. “Consider it a promise from your family. We’ll make sure to never stain you and stay to any order you give us.”

Wonderful.

A secret family of dark mages all to myself.

All it cost me was a bed I’d already been sharing with a beautiful woman previously and just getting back into it.

“Such a terrible price, Sire. However will you pay it?” teased Lucian with a snicker.

“As I said, Julie will answer anything else. I trust her,” Nick murmured and then the fragile spell collapsed as someone walked through it to get to another part of the entourage.

“I understand,” Julie’s mother said then began walking away. She’d set a hand on Julie’s back and guided her away with herself.

He hadn’t missed it though when Julie had smiled from ear to ear at him the moment he complimented her mother.

“Sire, we’re about to move forward,” said Duke Denahn coming to stand next to Nick. He was wearing a full set of plate mail. Next to him was someone wearing the armor that the Duke had shown him previously. “This-this is my son. Nathanien Denahn. He’s level eighty-nine and at his max. I’ve asked him to remain at your side just in case. The armor is fully active and he’s given you his oath.”

At his max? Holy hell!

What’d he do, pay to have his son drug around into every possible Dungeon day and night to speed-run him to the end? That’s wild!

“Money talks, bullshit walks, Sire,” advised Lucian. “I wouldn’t underestimate him, however. Many Dukes did the same even when our family was the king. They paid to have them leveled up, all while training them intensely. I imagine the Duke himself had it done the same done to him in his youth.”

“I’m your loyal servant, Dragon King,” said the man in the armor after raising up his visor. The eyes he looked to Nick with were brimming with fervor and determination.

“Glad to hear it Nathaniel Denahn,” Nick remarked as the group began marching toward the center. Where the Fash King already was standing and waiting. “Well, let’s go see what the king wants to discuss.”

I don’t think we can wait for Dr. Palt to come and make sure my abilities are there, gramps.

Any chance you can tell me how to call you forth? I think there might be a need for you if the King decides he wants to make things awful.

“The ability is called ‘summon dragon’ and I’ll be called forth in the form I once was, Sire,” Lucian informed him.

That’s stupid.

Shouldn’t it be called summon ancestor?

“Mm, we didn’t get to name it,” Lucian lamented. “Another would be ‘dragon’s might’ which greatly increases your strength and constitution, though those would be the only useful ones at the moment.”

At the moment.

Never expected to be doing this of all things.

Not right now.

I thought… maybe in the future. At some point. When I’m much stronger.

“To be honest, Sire… this is actually the best possible situation,” countered Lucian. “This gives us a chance to show ourselves, gain support, and begin building relationships.”

Yeah… yeah.

Just don’t feel ready.

Not ready at all.