Chapter CHAPTER VIII: HEART OF THE KING (6)

Argôn stayed a little longer in the gardens. He needed to clear his mind, and he wanted to clear everything that had happened.

The people needed words of motivation, words of dreams. They were about to succeed, and he wanted to prepare the best speech for them.

uddenly, behind a bush, he felt a strange presence. He grabbed the hilt of his new silver sword; his bronze sword was on the left for any surprises. Until, a familiar face was revealed.

“Dāel?” Argôn said. “Is that you my friend?”

“Flattered as always in your presence, my friend.”

The dragon and the man gave each other a big hug.

“My friend! I can’t believe you’re here!” said Argôn.

“Neither can I, my friend,” exclaimed the dragon.

“It’s fascinating” said Argôn. “I have not seen you in such a long time. How are you? How is the Kingdom? How is my father?”

“He is,” said the dragon while moving his eyes away.

“What happens?”

“He is resting, Argôn.”

“I assumed that” said the confident man. “Did you see the battle today?”

“Yes, I saw it.”

“I did it Dāel! I really did it. I didn’t think we could do it, but we did it.”

“So it seems” responded the dragon “We have defended ourselves, and tomorrow at dawn we will finally consolidate as a new reign” continued the man.

“I’m thinking big, Dāel” he said. “I haven´t told anyone, but I think it is time to consolidate Anaís as a new kingdom, and in tomorrow’s triumph I will proclaim it as one. I will take this town to greatness. I will become a king, Dāel!”

“About that, Argôn ” said the dragon, “I think you should reconsider what you are doing.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Argôn, you are considered unworthy in the Garden” said Dāel. “Nobody wants to hear from you, and they are all making fun of you because they consider you as a traitor.”

“Well, I didn’t expect any less, my friend” said the man. “You know I am not interested”

“That’s what you say, but I know deep down it’s not like that” said the dragon. “Argôn, this is not your nature. This started as a whim on your part and look how far you have come. Now you want to become a king. You don´t know when to stop! Who knows what consequences will bring becoming this now. Don’t you think about them?”

“Of course I think about them!” answered the man. “I’ll tell you what they are. I will become the hero they need. I will become the leader, they need. I will become the husband that Amalia needs, and I will become the greatest king Anaís will ever see.”

“Argônæth”

“You will not convince me, Dāel” exclaimed the man. “This has already been decided.”

“I´m not here to convince you. I’m here to warn you” explained the dragon. “If you decide to be a King, there will be no turning back.”

“What do you mean with that?”

“I do not know” he exclaimed. “This is what Wėzhreem says. It is what your father and your brother says. It’s what everyone says! That’s why I came here, because I don’t know what this means, but whatever it is, it won’t be good for you Argôn. You must think of yourself; your purpose, your destiny. Not only in this town, not only in this woman.”

“This woman is my purpose” exclaimed the man. “This town is my destiny. I know you want to help me Dāel, but the Kingdom of Dragons no longer belongs to me, nor do I belong to it. And for the record, I am not afraid of either Wiz, or my father, or my brother, or any Raēn of this selfish realm! I know what they are made of, I know what they are up to. And believe me, Dāel, I’m not surprised. It bores me, and I hope you don’t take it badly because I will always consider you as my best friend.”

“Okay” says the dragon. “I tried. I think it’s time for me to leave.”

“So it seems” responded Argôn.

The dragon turned around, and directed a worried glance towards The Gardens. Before leaving, some last words came to him.

“I know you’re not going to change your mind” said Dāel, “but at least try to consider it. You still have time to change plans.”

“I will do it, my friend” responded Argôn. “Everything will be better than you think.”

Argôn turned his back and headed straight, with his forehead held high towards the Central Square. Without realizing it, the time had come. The moment of the Great Announcement.

When he arrived at the Central Plaza, it was fully decorated. Torches were found everywhere. Bouquets of roses were softly place on the ground. The riders opened a path full of flowers and fire, the town had gone mad.

Everyone chanted the man’s name. ´ Argôn, Argôn! ´ People applauded endlessly. Some simple drums resounded, and Anaís’ best voices sang the melody of victory, gratitude, for the reception of the New Colonel.

“Here, I prostrate before you, the New Colonel of Anaís!” Amalia exclaimed. “He is the savior of our lands! The unstoppable Argônæth!”

The public began to shout for joy and hope. Argôn had become a true hero after the victory of the day, and the defensive success he had carefully prepared, for so many cycles.

“People of Anais” began the man. “Look at how much you´ve grown. Observe how we got up. The miraculous daughter said it yesterday: this is a sacred town! This is the meadow of heaven! The land of the brave! Here, the best men, the best women, the best children live. This is the divine nation, and as long as I live, this town will not be unfairly overthrown by anyone! We have defended ourselves, and we have overcome! And everything is due to the ceaselessly effort of each one of you!”

The entire town hyped up with the words of the man. His message went across their vulnerable hearts. His voice was encouraging, and rejuvenated the soul of love, honor and courage.

“We have lost two great men today, along with dozens of noble warriors. By their sacrifice and their strong will, we are alive here tonight; and I’ll make sure that their names are located in the bed of this flaming and victorious home! Never to be forgotten! Heads up Sons of Salvation!”

“Heads up Argônæth!” replied the army.

“But gentlemen, this does not end here” continued the man. “I have brought you all here tonight, for in battle we’ve recognized unfortunate news, which I have decided to share with all of you. This foolish and useless attempt to destroy us has not been a random act. In fact, it has been somewhat premeditated.”

The people went into confusion, they looked at each other perplexed, for the news about to be shared with them caused already an unpleasant feeling.

“The Kingdom of Glamdoer, our neighboring town, has conducted secret negotiations with the barbarians who attacked us” he exclaimed. “They provided their weaponry to these same barbarians. They gave them everything; forged swords, axes, spears, shields, armaments with the purpose of destroying our so hard-fought Village, trying to seize all our resources. It is a real shame, because this wasn´t seen before, and didn´t happen in the entire history of the South. But a shame for them! For we won’t keep our arms crossed! Tonight, before all of you, I declare the rupture of Anaís from the Noble Peace agreeement, and the abolition of the Union of the Surrounding Villages! I declare war on Glamdoer! You don’t play with our people’s bread! You don’t play with the lives of our innocent children! You don’t play with the resources of my town! And since they started this, we will finish it! Tomorrow, when the great star shines its first rays of light, the Sons of Salvation will invade Glamdoer. And I will go with them! I will lead you to victory! I will dismantle this kingdom! We will destroy their rooms, their pilasters, their temples, their chambers! The kings of this unfortunate people will be captured, and they will be brought here and enslaved for life! Their pride will be shed, and their egos will be humiliated! We will destroy this threat, before it comes to us! And we will proclaim ourselves as a New Kingdom, a single realm for the entire region! And by right, we will become a new great nation! The Great Kingdom of Anaís!”