All the King's Men - Act IV: The Greatest Revenge

 

The King walked up the stairs that led to the throne room of Altair castle, and for the first time since his father's death he felt almost fulfilled. This feeling of fulfillment grew stronger as he walked up the steps. He, himself, was a bit weary from the three weeks ride from the wood.

 

Inside the elaborately decorated throne room sat the ever young and beautiful Princess Hana. She was not alone in the room however, there was a man dressed in an ornately woven tunic that were surely of great enough quality to befit a king or at very least a prince. King Barakai ignored the man and shifted his attention to the radiant Princess.

 

“I have heard that you are in need of a king, and since there are no able princes in the land, it is I that have come to ask for your hand in marriage.”

 

Hana laughs making Barakai nervous of his bold words.

 

“There is no need, your majesty, for I am already to be wed.”

 

The King tries his best not to let anger overcome his face or voice as he speaks.

 

“And who is this suitor, may I ask?”

 

“Why, yes, you may. It is your dear brother.” With these word Barakai turns bright red and the man in kingly dress turns to him. Barakai does not recognize him as his brother but instead as the feral child. Now he is clean and well dressed but one could easily recognize the gleam in his eye.

 

“This man is not my brother, he is a child of the elven wood, he is your father's assassin.” Princess Hana was not nearly as shocked by his words as he would have thought she would be, in fact, she seems almost on the verge of laughter.

 

It is now the man's turn to speak. “Dear brother, the king died of old age, we simply let it be known to you that he was killed to allow you to believe your plan had been a success. You see, after I proposed marriage to the fair maiden you see before you (Hana blushes at his kind words) I told her of your plan to kill the king and take her as your own.”

 

Barakai saw his world slowly crashing down before him.

 

“And what proof do you have to offer that you are indeed Kanna!”

 

As Barakai spoke the boys name an eye began to glow upon his forehead.

 

“I'm not surprised you didn't recognize me in the wood, I have changed a lot over the years since you had me exile myself to the corners of Mirhame. You, my dear brother, have not changed at all, still the same spiteful, power-hungry wretch as always. The trees told me you would not change, but I didn't want to believe them.” He pauses to enjoy his brothers face twisted in anger. “One would think that a man with vanity such as yours would be more careful in who he trusts with his secrets.”

 

“You abandoned our kingdom of your own accord, we thought you had been kidnapped, we fought a war on your behalf, thousands were killed in your name.... and... and... you made father cry!”

 

“Do you think I am a fool? I realize full well you drove me from there, and I also know something else, something that perhaps you don't even know. You were father's murderer, and ever since the trees told me so, I have waited for this day to come. I have waited to bring you what you fear the most, humiliation and defeat. Now, I want you to go and I never want to see you in my kingdom again.”

 

As he said these last words two armed guards grab King Barakai by the arms and pulled him backwards out of the throne room. Barakai felt weak and he could barely stand, much less fight off the two burly men.

 

“But before I have you thrown from my kingdom like the trash you are, you have something that is rightfully mine. Father's ring, give it to me now and I will leave you alone to rot in your own personal hell.”

 

“Kanna, you can pry it from my cold dead hands.”

 

“I just may.”

 

And with that Barakai is dragged down the steps and out of the castle to be thrown in a slump at the feet of his waiting knights.

 

“I take it all didn't go as planned.” Says Knight Valias.

 

“I would have you executed for the understatement but I just want to return to Mirhame.”

 

And so they left in shame back to the kingdom of Mi'Xon.