Koda’s army pushed through the morning at a quickened pace and arrived at the Varisian encampment by noon. Koda’s forces were relieved to finally get some proper rest and meet up with old friends from different divisions. Wiccer found his father discussing plans with his friend and fellow White Cloak, Petrov. Wiccer was hesitant to approach his father, but Petrov nudged Marcus, alerting him of his son’s presence.

Wiccer threw a smart salute, “General Newsun, I–” Wiccer was broken off by the heavy embrace of a bear hug from his overjoyed father.

“Wiccer, it’s good to see you. I’m so happy you survived Stonewall!” Marcus shouted in a booming voice as tears streamed from his eyes, “I’ve heard the reports of what you had to go through. I prayed to Alue for mercy and Jedeo for you to have the strength to pull through!”

Wiccer blushed, crushed by his father’s large arms, “Father, not in front of the men!”

Marcus chuckled, dropping his son, “Right. It’s good to see you alive and well, captain,” he said, finally returning Wiccer’s salute.

Wiccer smirked, going in for a hug of his own, “I’m happy to see you too, Father.”

Marcus sat down, pulling a barrel for his son to sit next to him, “Speaking of your men, you must tell me how ARO turned out.”

Wiccer flashed a wide grin, “We are the scourge of the Black Rabbits. I’ve learned much from Elucard and I’m inclined to believe I could even beat you in a sparring match.”

Marcus chortled a belly laugh and slapped his knee, “Well then, I’d like to take you up on that offer once we win this war.”

“It’s really good to see you again, Father,” Wiccer mused

“Aye, the same to you, my son.”

***

Koda walked into the large war tent set up for the various leaders. There, he met with King Dallin of Varis. The King was about thirty, but his face was weathered and his hair was dark with streaks of gray. He had a well kept beard that was red at the tips. Despite his age, he looked tired and dreary, the way a king should when his capital was under siege. The seven Long Whisper lords stood conversing around a circular table with a large map of Varis spread on top of it.

King Dallin relayed his information to Koda, “Now that you’re here, Koda, we can begin this meeting. The Estinians are three thousand strong. Their forces are well rested and well fed, a stark contrast from my own. We were at siege for weeks with our supply routes cut off from Stonewall. We have the numbers with our forces combined, but my men are in no shape to fight. How are yours?”

Koda gulped nervously, “I was hoping your men could carry mine to victory. Three weeks in that forest have left my men just as battered.”

“The two of you have sentenced us to death with your arrogance!” spat Athar.

“Silence, Moonfall!” snapped Koda.

Athar’s negative attitude over the course of the war had grounded Koda’s patience into a fine powder, and Athar knew this. He was delighted to see Koda’s defenses finally giving way.

“Koda, your constant foolishness has cost us dearly,” pushed Athar.

“I said enough!” Koda shouted, clearly stressed by a combination of Athar’s criticisms and his own failures as a leader.

“You see, my fellow lords, Koda can not handle the crown. Unlike his father, he is not–” a sharp backhand from Koda reeled Athar backwards. He was then lifted in the air with his arms tightly bound to his side by an invisible force. Athar watched in horror as Koda stared at him menacingly with his raised hands quivering in anger. His breathing was labored and deep. Athar clenched his teeth and pushed on defiantly, “I would be a fool to think our king is a coward. But to say that he is drunk with power would be a catastrophic understatement. How can we entrust the realm to such a volatile child?”

The other lords gasped and whispered amongst themselves. Koda’s eyes darted around the tent before he released Athar from his Magi-infused grip. He was in complete shock of his short temper and unforgivable actions. To strike a lord was appalling, but to use the Magi against him was unforgivable. He stormed out of the tent embarrassed and afraid. Dallin ran after him.

“Koda, wait!” Dallin called to him.

Koda turned, his face tense as tears streamed from his eyes, “I d-don’t know w-what happened. I just lost it. A-Athar is right, I am not my father and I am no king!”

Dallin grabbed Koda’s shoulder and lifted his chin, “I was the youngest in my family, fourth in line for the throne. I hadn’t a care in the world…”

Koda sniffed and rubbed his eye, “You’re making me feel worse.”

Dallin smiled and continued his story, “I had my whole life planned out. I was going to marry my long-time love and travel the world, but then the Baneblood plague spread through Varis. I lost everyone. I was alone with no family and no mate. At seventeen I had to take the throne and lead my nation through a troubling time.” Dallin paused as he remembered the painful memories, “Koda, I know about the pressures of the throne. I know what it’s like to take the crown young. You need to stay strong for your people and yourself.”

Koda wiped his tears away and nodded.

“Take some time and then come back and lead your nation.”

***

Koda sat in his private tent with a chessboard between him and Elucard. The two were locked in epic duel of wits. Finally, Elucard moved his knight in place, cornering Koda’s king.

“Checkmate,” Elucard said as he knocked the king over with his knight.

“Who taught you to be so good?” asked Koda as he reached for a cup of water.

“My master. He wanted to train my mind as hard as he trained my body.” Elucard picked up the wooden knight piece and felt the grooves that made up its mane, “He always said, ‘A blade is only as sharp as the Rabbit wielding it.’”

“A wise man,” nodded Koda, approving the quote.

“He was like a fa–” Elucard started but halted so as not to offend Koda, whose own father was taken by Elucard’s blade.

Koda frowned, but then smiled gently, “It’s true, you were responsible for my father’s death. By all rights we should be enemies. However, you are my ally now. You serve to protect me and my people. It’s funny how life works out sometimes.”

Elucard opened his mouth to respond, but quickly stood watching as the tent flap opened and in stepped the seven lords.

Athar kicked aside the chess board to stand in front of Koda, “I see you are with your pet Rabbit. No matter, this will be short.”

Elucard sneered behind Athar’s back.

Koda stood and put his hand up to calm Elucard, “Athar, what do you want?”

Athar smirked and turned to the lords. Sove Breezerunner stepped forward and spoke up, “Koda, we seven have discussed the crown and your future with it. We have come to the decision to elect Athar Moonfall to take your place as the king of Long Whisper.”

Koda gawked at Sove, floored by the news, “How can the seven betray the Dawnedge? My father forged this nation with his own hands!”

Athar bobbed his head and chuckled, “You father was a great elf, but you are not your father, nor are you the same caliber of an elf.”

“We can not falter now! We can not break our binding with such a great battle on the wings of dawn!” exclaimed Koda as he looked desperately into each one of his lord’s eyes, finally resting on Cass Baneberry, “Even you Cass? You were my mother’s best friend. The Baneberry were the first to support the construction of Lost Dawns! You must still respect the Dawnedge tribe!”

“It is not about respect for the Dawnedge, Koda. You have driven yourself beyond reason. You are drunk on the Magi. You are blind and unstable and must abdicate,” stated Fendrick.

“I–” Koda stopped, he knew he had lost the crown. He knew he lost it all.

“As king I will make a deal with Aric Stine to salvage the freedom of our country under his guiding rule,” said Athar, almost smugly.

Elucard flashed in front of Athar and drew his blade, “Shall I kill him, my king?”

Athar stepped back and shouted in a shrill voice, “Keep your Rabbit’s leash taut, Koda!”

“Lower your weapon, Elucard. He may speak of treason, but only because he is a coward,” snapped Koda.

“I speak treason?” spouted Athar in mock bafflement, “You forget that the same elf by your side slew your father and brought our country to its knees! You let Black Rabbits into your home, you sent away the White Cloaks, you sent us to war ill prepared, you marched us to our deaths, and when hope and prosperity presents its self to you, you dismiss it for further destruction. You are unworthy of that crown, now hand it over!”

Koda shook his head, hot tears dripped down his face, “You can’t do this!”

“It is already done,” sneered Athar.

Koda slowly removed his crown and handed it over to Athar.

“You utterly failed as a leader, but I will make sure you are spared if you bow to me now,” said Athar as he snatched the crown and placed it on his head.

Koda trembled, but before he could move, Elucard put his hand on Koda’s chest and faced the lords, “Koda will not bow to a traitor. Will none of you five stand by this man’s side? The burden he carried was more than the weight of the crown. The war is not over, this upcoming battle with prove that to us. Leave to lick Stine’s boots and Long Whisper will fall. Stand by Koda’s side and we will overcome and triumph, I promise you this!”

Cass balled her fists and stepped to stand by Koda’s side, “I can not carry on with this. Bowing before Stine is wrong,” she turned to Koda, “I will stand with you, Dawnedge. I would rather die than serve under a traitor to our nation!”

Athar snarled in disgust, “Very well Cass, be the worthless dog I’ve always known you to be,” Athar snapped his fingers and walked out of the tent with his five lords following behind.

“We may have lost an overwhelming number of men, but the Baneberry will fight with honor alongside your men, my king,” Cass said reassuringly.

Koda lowered his head. In his own mind, he was no longer a king. He had failed himself, his people, and most of all, his father.