A Combination of Kings

Footsteps echoed through the hallways, bouncing off the imposing stone walls and traveling deeper into the fortress. Tall ornamental windows filtered sunlight and provided glimpses to the empty grass hills outside. 

Despite the absence of activity, Adrian knew better than to let his guard down. From how his four assigned guards kept their hands on their weapons, they shared his thoughts. Their collective tension strengthened when they opened a pair of heavy wooden doors leading to their destination. Four long wooden tables ran parallel to the rectangular meeting hall. A stage on the opposite end hosted a podium and a smaller but matching table. Adrian examined the space and stared at a smaller door along the left wall. When his guards glanced in the same direction, they drew their weapons.

A young man wearing a pristine black suit lurked in the entryway. An older suited man, who Adrian recognized as his manservant, stood next to him. Both of them positioned themselves out of the sunlight, and as Adrian suspected, they were watching him and his guards.

The younger man stepped forward with a hand to his chest. “Greetings, Adrian. I trust that your journey here went well.”

The clank of metal indicated that Adrian’s guards had raised their weapons. Before they could advance, he raised a hand and gestured for them to stay in place. He stepped forward a few paces.

“That’s King Adrian the Third to you,” Adrian replied, hoping his voice didn’t waver, “and I’d say it did. I’m surprised you could carve time out of your busy schedule for such a trip. Did your sycophants trip over themselves trying to stop you from meeting with cattle?”

The older man’s face turned red, and he bared his teeth in a sharp snarl. Before he could act, the younger man raised a hand and glanced over his shoulder.

“At ease,” he said. “Spiteful insolence won’t rile me.”

Despite not changing his expression, he bowed. “As you wish, your highness.”

“I told you, you can call me Walther.” He shook his head before facing Adrian. “Apologies for that. As for your comments, I have a lot of new responsibilities to tackle. However, I can take time away from them to discuss more pressing issues.”

He strolled along the hall’s leftmost table toward the podium. Even without words, Adrian understood that he was expected to follow. He gestured for his guards to trail behind him before walking along the opposite side of the table. When he arrived, he understood why Walther had chosen this spot. Its position relative to the windows placed it out of the way of eavesdroppers and sunlight.

The antique chess game added a nice touch.

Adrian sat down and waited for Walther to do the same. His manservant clung to the wall while eyeing him and his guards down his nose. Behind him, the clang of metal indicated his guards flanked his back on both sides. Although the gesture reassured him that he didn’t need to worry about ambushes, he disliked discussing charged political matters with people breathing down his neck. A shared glance with Walther indicated he was thinking the same.

Without turning, Adrian said, “Guards, secure the area. Ensure no bystanders eavesdrop.”

Silence ensued, broken up by whispers over whether the guards could trust an enemy ruler with their king. Across the table, Walther was giving similar orders to his manservant, whose furrowed eyebrows and pursed lips expressed more than words. Both sides must’ve thought their respective leaders could handle themselves, for they departed to the entrances from which they came.

While watching their departure, Adrian said, “I see you brought this fossil again. Is it because you view politics as playing chess with your minions as pawns, or do you think a game will somehow distract me from your true nature?”

“There it is again. You keep insisting that I’m out to get you, ignoring the fact that I am not your enemy.” His expression remained impassive, a stark contrast to his snarling manservant. “A carnivorous animal is not considered evil just because it must feast on another living form to survive. Why should we be any different?”

Adrian leaned back and rolled his eyes. To onlookers, the gesture would read as dismissal, and he banked on his guards thinking the same so they wouldn’t notice him tracking their departure. The guards reached the heavy double doors and were about to step out, but they faltered and eyed him. If he wanted them to leave, he needed to give off an air of strength.

Snapping to attention, he jabbed a finger at Walther and declared, “As if I would ever work with the likes of you. It’s part of the human spirit to never give up, and I’d much rather perish in the light than bow to darkness.”

Walther started a speech about the natural state of light versus darkness. Much like Adrian, his statements remained vague and didn’t connect much. Nonetheless, he continued until the heavy wooden doors shutting made him stop and hold a hand out.

Eventually, he leaned forward and whispered “My side is clear. Yours?”

He strained his ears, and when he didn’t hear any footsteps, he nodded.

“Good. I was beginning to think they’d never leave us alone.” With a closed-lip smile, Walther gestured at the board. “Shall we begin for real?”

Adrian nodded, and the match began. Neither spoke at first, and Adrian used the silence to strategize his moves and reflect on how much had changed since his last meeting with his opponent. Compared to before, he struggled less with focusing in the silence and not letting impulses dictate his actions. Additionally, he paid attention to subtle hints in Walter’s demeanor, such as where his gaze traveled, to predict his next move.

Eventually, he said, “Thanks for playing along earlier. I needed to convince them nothing was off.”

“Of course. I’m just as interested in preserving your secret as you are.” Walther raised an eyebrow. “You might have noticed how I kept my attendant at a distance and positioned myself so he never got a full view of you.”

Adrian had noticed the first, but the second had flown over his head. Replaying the memories, his actions became clearer, and he got the urge to facepalm. Instead, he focused on the topic at hand.

“I appreciate the gesture,” he considered his words, “but would that make a difference? I thought your people relied a lot on smell, so it wouldn’t matter if he couldn’t see me if he could smell the stench of rot.”

“We do, in conjunction with our other senses. That’s why I chose this fortress to meet in.” Walther gestured around him. “In addition to being on neutral territory, the fortress falling into a dilapidated state means the place reeks of filth and rot, at least to a keen nose used to pristine environments. Plus, if I stand between you two, he’ll likely think the stench of rot is coming from me, and he’s far too old fashioned to bring that fact up to a royal around others.”

“You really thought of everything.”

“It’s a gift.” He smiled. “I must say, though, your impression of your old self was spot on.”

Adrian snickered, and the tension seeped out of the room. He could almost believe they were old friends playing a game of chess and catching up on recent events. However, the location, guards pacing outside, and topics that no doubt weighed on their minds eroded that illusion. The heavy atmosphere returned, and Adrian considered how to broach the topic.

Before he could, Walther said, “Better not to drag this on and have the others barge in. Have you noticed any changes since the fallout?”

He grimaced. Part of him had hoped they would dance around the issue by discussing other important but less dire matters first. However, Walther had a point, and he didn’t want to spend the whole meeting on edge for the elephant in the room to rear its head. Despite his urge to stall for a response under the guise of chess strategy, he responded straight away.

“I’ve sent some of my best scouts to that clearing in the woods. Some of them reported feelings of unease and a vague sense of being watched, though they didn’t specify where they came from lurking threats or just bad memories.” He paused to think. “Aside from that, there were no unusual physical or supernatural changes.”

“So you don’t think he’s going to return anytime soon.”

“I can only hope so.” Adrian clasped his hands, noting the slight tremor in them and the coolness of his skin. “We didn’t detect anything off the first time he arrived, though my troops and I were occupied with other issues.”

“I imagine your ambush was high on that list.”

“Oh come on.” Adrian threw his hands up. “I apologized for that already. Besides, with everyone in one place, we were available to take on that bastard together.”

“And many of them would’ve been actually able to fight had they not had their powers drained from them moments before.” Walther raised a hand before he could interrupt. “But I am not here to argue about the past. I’m here to plan for the future and whatever may arise.”

Adrian leaned forward, scrutinizing his icy mask for any cracks. Aside from his eyes shifting, nothing in his expression moved. Eventually, he leaned back and inspected the chess board.

While he moved a pawn, he said, “So, any changes on your front? You share a border with the demon nation. Any news on what’s going on with them?”

“Last I heard, they’re still in disarray.” Walther took a pawn out without pausing his response. “Apparently, several high-ranking demons were waiting for their chance to seize the throne. With their king dead, all of them charged at once, and a civil war is on the horizon, assuming it hasn’t broken out already.”

“Really?” Adrian said. “I’m surprised the old bastard held that clusterfuck of a nation together for so long.”

Walther snorted. “Vladimir had plenty of loathsome traits, but I cannot deny that he could rally and mobilize his troops like no other. It helped that he followed his own dogma of ‘the strong standing on top’ until the very end.”

The next question weighed on his mind, and he considered how to approach the topic with his current company. Unfortunately, he doubted he could address the topic without opening a can of worms, so he settled for the straightforward method.

“And your father?”

Walther froze, and when he replied, his tone was blank. “No traces. None of my scouts have found him, his remains, or clues as to where he’s gone. Even the spies stationed in other nations haven’t reported anything.”

In spite of himself, Adrian said. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Really?” He raised an eyebrow. “Never expected you to say that.”

After considering what to share, Adrian said, “Don’t get me wrong. I personally don’t care for the guy, and he sure as hell never cared for me, but I know he was important to you and what it’s like to lose a loved one. I wouldn’t wish it even on my worst enemies.”

Walther stared at Adrian without speaking. The way his stare bore into him made his skin prickle, and had this exchange happened before the fallout, his heart would’ve surely been racing.

Eventually, Walther said, “You really have changed. The old Adrian would’ve never said that.”

He shrugged. “Yeah, well, the old Adrian didn’t have to deal with the consequences of clinging to blind hatred.”

Walther nodded and stared at the chess board. Adrian thought he was considering what to do next, so his next question caught him off guard.

“Speaking of change, how long can you hide the truth from the others?” Walther eyed him. “I suppose you can leave your kingdom out of the loop, but what about your servants and your family?”

“Don’t go there,” Adrian snapped. “I’ve kept it up all this time. I can keep on going.”

“You say that now, but it’s only a matter of time until they learn about what you did.”

“I had no other choice.” He sprung from his chair. “If not for what I did, we’d all be dead, or worse, absorbed into that hideous abomination that used to call itself the fae king. Are you saying that’s somehow a better alternative?”

Again, Walther watched without reacting. “I understand and even agree, but do you think your darkness-hating people will? It’s what I warned you of. No matter how far you go to defend the humans, as soon as they find out you’re not one of them anymore, you’re out.”

Although he had a point, Adrian set his jaw. “Then I’ll make sure they never know. I’ve been human almost all my life. I can keep up the façade.”

Walther lunged across the table. Despite the way his enhanced speed turned him into a blur, his iron blade grabbed Adrian’s attention and jolted him to action. Without thinking, Adrian ducked out of the way, grabbed his wrist, and slammed it onto the table. He expected Walther to scowl or grin. Instead, he raised an eyebrow, and the situation dawned on him.

Raising his hands, he said, “Uh, I don’t know how I did that.”

“I think you know the reason quite well.” He slid his dagger back into a hidden holster and composed himself. “You may be able to suppress your instincts in calm situations, but all it takes is one surprise for you to throw your perceived humanity out the window.”

Adrian said, “I’ll learn to react correctly next time.”

“I’m not just talking about actions.” Walther gestured at Adrian’s chest. “After what I did, your breathing and heart rate should be racing. Yet since you stepped foot into this room, I have not detected either coming from you.”

He sat down, and Adrian did the same. Even without feeling his chest, he detected the stillness within. 

To save face, Adrian asked. “Well, you keep saying my kind are prejudiced, but how will your cronies react when they learn you’re dealing with so-called human cattle?”

“I imagine they wouldn’t be happy.” He shrugged. “It doesn’t concern me. I have methods and resources to ensure the information doesn’t travel. Besides, that’s why I chose you as my main contact point.”

This time, Adrian snorted. “You know, I still think you’re a right bastard, but you’re damn good at what you do.”

“I’ll take the compliment, minus the crass language.” Walther crossed his arms. “You may not believe me, but despite the issues I have with your people, I still maintain that we can accomplish more if we work together. You saw that first hand when we took down that abomination, remember?”

Flashbacks returned. Adrian would’ve squeezed his eyes shut, not caring about maintaining his reputation, but they spread beyond his mind’s eye. Distant screams and squelches echoed in his ears, and the stench of rot flooded his nose until he thought he might gag. A phantom stabbing pain in his left eye almost made him flinch, and he did when a frigid heavy pressure filled his chest. He might’ve dismissed it as nerves, but when he pressed a hand to his sternum and felt a familiar buzz of energy, he knew that wasn’t the case.

Across the table, Walther watched him without reacting. Adrian couldn’t tell if he was judging him without commenting or didn’t care, but he disregarded both scenarios and focused on the topic at hand. Normally, he would’ve given his usual spiel about light never bowing to darkness, but since the lack of footsteps indicated that they were the only ones present, he dropped that mask.

“Of course, I remember that. I’d say I remember it better than I’d care to.” Adrian leaned forward. “But you said it yourself. Us humans, or I guess just humans, are terrified of monsters that go bump in the night, and I can’t imagine those monsters liking humans much either. Do you really think that’ll change anytime soon? Plus, with how long you’ve lived, surely, you’ve seen how slow societal change can be.”

Without missing a beat, Walther replied, “Of course. My father witnessed it first hand. In fact, he used to tell me stories about life before the Great Schism.”

Curiosity nudged Adrian to ask for those stories, but he refrained. 

“However, that shows that no matter how slow change may be, it can happen. Often, the greatest shifts don’t spring from a few drastic events, but countless small but concentrated ones over an extended time.” He crossed his arms. “I intend to play the long game, so I can afford to wait.”

“That makes two of us now,” Adrian said.

At the mention of games, they glanced down at the chess board between them. Despite how long they’d been sitting at the table, they hadn’t completed even half the game. Although Adrian had work to do, he enjoyed this brief break away from the limelight and the chance to shed his old, worn mask. From how Walther eyed the board, he must’ve felt the same.

Eventually, Walther said, “Shall we continue playing?”

Adrian nodded. “Let’s do it.”