Short Story - Conquest

 Three days.

It had been three days since the ships have arrived on the shores of this island, Algar it is called by the natives, and the orders had been given.

Take control of the Island. Crush any resistance. Let any willing to depart the island and seek refuge on the other islands to do so.

Karon liked those orders. As it was expected by any order sent by the great general Consilium they were easy to understand and ruthlessly effective. Karon didn't know why this was the first island, but it was to serve as Karrinstorn's foothold into the assimilation. The broken isles had been deemed as being worthy of being part of the Empire and so the process had started. 

From this island, the empire would start expanding into the neighboring islands and soon all the archipelago would be under the crimson flag with the dragon and the crown. No resistance was acceptable, as this would probably be the entry point for all the resources sent by the mainland and it was crucial that the supply chain was not disturbed in any possible way. 

The survivors would spread chaos and fear, while taxing the other island's resources. The army was only in Algar, but Consilium was already attacking the full archipelago. Karon didn't mind those orders as they were allowed to keep the casualties down to the warriors and wannabe heroes that would stand in their way. Karon was always happy to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. 

And here he stood, three days later, going up the stairs that lead to the throne room. He had his war armor, crimson red like his eyes, that would always contrast with the natural lack of color of Karon's skin. The warrior didn't know the name of this kingdom or the king the soldiers had tried to protect but they had endured for three days and that alone was a feat that shouldn't be forgotten. These islands are a place of warriors he thought to himself and the last step took into the middle of three of his soldiers standing in front of a large gate, still unbroken.

  "We did as you ordered, the door is secured and the resistance on the palace has been beaten. All that remains is the king. We don't know how many soldiers are inside."

"Well done Rlain. Go now and spread the word. As soon as the word is given all of our soldiers should only fight to protect themselves. All of the islanders should be allowed to flee through the sea." Rlain confirmed crossing his arms in from of him, Karrinstorn's military acknowledgment, and ran through the stairs that Karon had just come out from. He looked to the locked door, readied his sword and shield, filled himself with power, and delivered a devasting kick that broke it wide open. The wood hadn't yet reached the ground when the arrows flew in its direction, only to meet his steel shied.  The room was well lit, the walls had several large windows from which was possible to see almost all of this small kingdom. Karon counted four soldiers, all armed with a bow and right in front of him a throne, apparently made out of wood but with a handwork that would make other kings and noblemen jealous, with a man sitting on it and a small body huddled on a corner.

Karon didn't bother himself with the men sitting on the throne, instead looked to one of the guards. "It's over. Drop your weapons. Keep your lives. Go save your loved ones." The soldiers looked at each other.

"What are you doing? Shoot him!" Screamed the man on the throne. And the soldiers obeyed. Once again four arrows flew to Karon. His shield blocked two of the arrows while one reached his shoulder and the last failed him. Karon felt the pain of being stabbed, but the power inside his body was already mending the wound. It would be gone in moments. Two of the soldiers fell to the ground, one with an arrow shot to the leg, and the other with a dagger into his chest. Karon's soldiers, Eran and Mian entered the room, Eran with a new arrow on the bow ready to make it fly it and Mian with a dagger in each hand.  

The girl could have spared that poor soul. I will have to talk with her. "I will repeat. Drop your weapons. This fight is over." Karon then looked to the king for the first time. "I will fight you if you so wish. Beat me and my troops will retreat. I can't promise that others would not return in their place but you will have the time to save your people."  "Do you take me for a fool invader? You came to my palace demanding me to surrender to you? My family has ruled over this land for hund..." 

"I didn't" Interrupted Karon "I haven't asked for your surrender. I was only trying to save your soldiers" 

"You take me for a fool?" The king asked, his voice way louder than what he probably wanted. Or maybe he liked to scream. Karon had seen lots of different kings already. 

"These lands are no longer yours. They are now part of the Empire" 

"You foreigners will never take my lands!" Screamed the king, even louder "All of you! Kill them all! Your King orders it!" The two still standing warriors looked to each other and then the three intruders. And dropped their bows to the ground looking down.

"Cowards! Traitors! I will have your heads for this!" The king jumped from the throne and approached the small body that was trying to hide. A girl's scream was heard when the king pulled her by the hair and dragged her to have her body between him and the three invaders. "Go! Fight for your king!" he told as he released the girl's hair. The girl got up and gave one small step towards Karon. Then took another.

"By the gods, this is a waste of time" Said Mian to his right, but Karon raised his sword to her's chest, blocking her path, a signal to stop. Slightly annoyed, she stopped.  The little girl took one more step and looked at them. The Girl with the daggers, the man with a big bow, and the pale man in the red armor. She was trembling but managed to take one more step. She was now the closest to the three intruders. All of them could see that she was trembling and tears were falling from her face while she tried to not cry out loud. "Yes! Kill all of them! Protect your king!"

The little girl took one more little step at the same time that Karon took one from his own while sheathing his blade. She gasped when that large man cladded in red approached and was surprised when he simply rested his hand on top of his head.  

"What are you doing? Kill them!"

The girl trembled at the sound of the king. "Eran, calm him down" Karon had barely finished his sentence and an arrow flew, meeting the king's right shoulder with perfect accuracy. He dropped to the ground screaming. 

Karon took a look at the girl. Ragged clothes, scared legs and hands. She had not had an easy life. "Child, your mother?" 

The girl tried to speak, but at the first try only sounds of crying come out. Karon waited and the girl was eventually able to speak.

"She... she was a bad woman. The king had to punish her" She said as tears once again started to pour down from her eyes. Karon started to walk beyond the girl right to the king that was pulling himself back to the throne.  "Mian, give her one knife. You two, take your comrades and leave." The two soldiers obeyed leaving the room with the corpse and the injured.  

"Why are you here? Why won't you people leave? Just leave us alone!" 

"I can't. I have my orders."

"That's it? Someone told you and so our country has to fall? Our beautiful city has to be ravaged by you barbarians?"

"City? You have no idea of what that word means. This is barely more than a village. The Empire has cities bigger than this whole island and yet you managed to divide it into three... "Kingdoms"? You have no concept of what a real kingdom looks like. You can't even begin to imagine what being a king truly means." 

The king tried to forget the pain "You dare question my kingship? You are no more than a brute and simpleton!"

"That might be, but at least, I know my place in the world." Karon reached for the king's head and took its crown "And now so do you" 

"You are nothing more than a thief! I will always be the king of these people! They love and worship me!" 

"I'm the thief?" Karon seemed amused "What did she do?" 

"What?" 

"The child's mother. What did she do? What was her crime and what was the punishment?" 

"The wrench dared to steal food. I had her hanged to show everyone that no one steals from me." 

"So by your own rule, if one steals food, one's life is forfeited? Harsh rules"

"It is not your place to question us! I'm the king and I serve justice as I see fit!" Karon showed him the crown "You are no longer king. But until a regent is elected, your rule will remain. And now I proclaim you guilty of theft."

The King gasped "Are you mad?" 

"You stole her's future, the child's ability to smile and dream. You took everything from her" 

"What about it? Who cares about that little whore? Are you telling me that you care about her?" 

"No. But she does."

Karon took a step to the side to let the king see the child looking at him, knife in hand. "You got a weapon! What are you waiting for! Kill them all you little whore!"

Karon once again rested his hand on the child's head. "I know it hurts. You want to cry. You are confused and angry and all of this seems unfair. But Child, here you take the first step. Karrinstorn has always been about freedom. Freedom to punish those who wronged you. Take your justice to him, and if you so decide, come and try to also kill me for putting you in this position." 

The child looked to the knife and to the bloody screaming king and remembered her own screams and pain as her mother was hanged for all to see. She took one step, and then another, each with more confidence. She grasped the weapon with all of her strength and approached even more. The king tried to punch her with his good harm but a second arrow trespassed it, pinning it to the throne. The King first screamed of pain and then horror as he could not defend himself from the falling knife. Karon, Mian  and Eran left the room without looking back. "Eran, give the word. We won. Mian, we have to talk."

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Hours passed, Karon and his personal squad were enjoying dinner as Rlain was telling a story that all of them had eared before dozens of times. Yet the alcohol as good and the food plenty. One guard looked inside the tent. "Commander, I'm sorry to disturb you, but the girl you talked about is here"

"She really came here?" Rlaim asked, disbelieving

"Let her in, soldier" Said Karon 

"Yes, Sir!" Said the soldier as he took a step to the side letting a young girl enter the tent. Raged clothes, scarred hands and legs, covered by blood. 

She took one step in their direction and then another. She was still holding the knife they had given her.

"I will be the one training this one!" Said Mian laughing while drinking from the cup she was holding, a little thread of red whine going down her's face. "She will be a nasty piece of work when she gets older"

"She can't be worst than you" Replied Eran and they all laughed