Koda was groggy when he finally awoke. His mouth was parched and his body was still very weak. Propping himself up in the grand bed was out of the question, so he simply turned his head to view his surroundings. The room was rather large. Sunlight drifted through the windows giving the silk curtains a soft glow. The room looked eerily similar to his own bedroom back in Long Whisper. It was beautifully furnished with a rosewood writing desk and wardrobe. A small, round table accented the center of the room with three comfortable chairs placed around it. In a chair next to his bed he found King Dallin looking curiously at him.

“Welcome back to the world of the living, Koda,” said Dallin with a light chuckle escaping him.

A blinding pain spurted from his forehead, making Koda wince, “Ugh, It doesn’t feel that way. How long have I been out?”

Dallin stood up, stretching his back, “About a week, maybe more. As you can see, you are in Varis City. There is much for you to–”

Koda rapidly spat out a succession of questions that nearly bowled Dallin over, “What of Aric? Is the war over? What will happen to Long Whisper now that Athar is king?”

“Easy, easy, Koda. You are far too weak to deal with Long Whisper’s troubles at this time. Just know that Athar and the five traitorous lords are in my prison.”

“Well, what of Aric?”

“Aric is also locked up and we are currently working with Queen Natal on an agreement for his release in exchange for their surrender to Varis.”

Koda sighed with relief. The war was finally over. With much of that stress having now passed, he found himself sleeping once more.

***

Another week had passed. Koda stood beside the throne of Dallin leaning on a crutch. He was still weak, but no longer bedridden. It was time to address the future of Long Whisper. He looked at Cass who was on the opposite side of the throne. She was loyal and fierce. She stood by his side throughout the war. Perhaps she was even more fit than he to lead Long Whisper – another question to add to the pile in his mind.

“You six stand before us for committing the crime of treason during a time of war. What say you?” barked Dallin at the chained up King Athar and his five shackled lords.

Athar wrestled with his shackles, still astonished that he was in such a dire situation. When he convinced the other lords to betray the young Dawnedge king, he thought things were finally going his way. He was promised more power and riches than he could ever dream of when Aric Stine showered him with dreams of victory. Now he was locked with iron bolts in front of the wretched human, Evritt Dallin. To throw salt on his already deep wounds, Koda may well be the one deciding his fate, the boy that he so easily manipulated. The boy whom he regarded as nothing more than a fool was now the single greatest threat to his life.

“I am the king of Long Whisper by rite of the eight tribes! Release me and I will forget this incident!” Athar snarled in humiliation and rage.

“You dare call yourself king of Long Whisper? I should hang you by your slimy neck right now! You betrayed our alliance at our most vulnerable time!” Dallin spat before turning his attention to the cringing lords, “You five, do you still see this man as your king? Speak wisely or share his fate!”

Athar attempted to step forward but the guards at his side raised their pikes to his neck. He shouted from behind the spear tips instead, “What kind of choice is that?” You dare bully my brethren into insulting their crown?”

Dallin stood, shouting at the top of his lungs. His booming voice echoed off the walls of the throne room, “Silence! Which of you stand by the side of the true heir of Long Whisper, Koda Dawnedge? And which of you stands by the side of the traitor, Athar Moonfall?”

The five lords stepped forward away from Athar, their heads lowered in fear and shame.

Koda looked on with sunken eyes, still drained from his overuse of the Magi. The sounds of the throne room were muffled as memories of the past war drowned his thoughts. Only fragments of those thoughts breached the surface of his mind – thoughts of his lords betraying him. The same families that swore allegiance to his father were so quick to turn on him. They would rather side with a tyrant that would enslave his own people than fight alongside their rightful king. How could he trust these lords? He couldn’t. That was the answer.

“These five lords…” muttered Koda, half dazed, Dallin and Cass turned to the drowsy Koda, “these five lords do not deserve amnesty…”

Cass Baneberry gawked at Koda’s words, “Koda they have distanced themselves from Athar.”

Koda drooped his head and took a large breath, “They are just as guilty as Athar. They betrayed Varis and Long Whisper in a time of war. They have committed treason and therefore must be punished.”

“You are still weary from the battle, you are not thinking straight,” Cass said, attempting to quell Koda’s wrath. She walked over to him and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.

Koda jolted his shoulder away and hobbled over to the five lords, each watching with an intense fear, “How dare you treat me as some child! My innocence died when I watch my father’s head roll at my feet! My foolishness died when I watched my men starve in the blasted forest! Today I am a man, and today I must no longer be weak minded! You say I am not thinking straight. I have never thought so clearly in my life. These five lords will swing beside their beloved king. If they wish to follow him to war, then they can follow him to death!”

Cass stepped back to her place as Dallin stood from his throne, “Koda is the rightful king, his word is law.”

Athar’s eyes brimmed with fury as he began to spit his words, “You think you are no longer a child? You think wearing that crown hides your failures from your people? You do not des–”

Koda thrust his hand forward, silencing Athar. The shackled elf froze, still struggling against the painful grip of the Magi’s binding.

“T-this is h-how you handle criticism?” stuttered Athar.

“Be quiet, worm,” Koda snapped ruthlessly. He released Athar from his ethereal grip, dropping the prisoner to his knees.

King Dallin waved his hands to send the six elves back to their cells, “You will all be hung in the morning, may Alanna have mercy on your souls.”

“It is more than they deserve,” whispered Koda.