Prafa. 38

In Prafa the streets were crowded. All the day walking people were out taking care of any business they had before nightfall when it might be to dangerous to be out. Keeping there faces covered, like most of the people out and about, Valkar and Azeal made their way through the town. Prafa was pretty big as Yadessian towns go. It had its common section and the places were the nobles lived. As the king, Valkar tried his best to treat his people all the same. The noble didn't fare any better than the commoners. Valkar wasn't the kind to treat nonwealthy like trash as Balthazar did. He was more the kind to be out in the fields with them, trying to better their crops and livestock. He always made sure everybody in his kingdom had food to eat. And everyone seemed happy, at least that's what he thought. Now it seems some sided with Balthazar. Well, first things first. Get back on the throne. As they walked they saw the way Balthazar's guards treated the people. They saw some kicked from there homes for not having their money to pay all the taxes Balthazar had imposed. Shops and business was taken over by the crown. There were beggars in his kingdom. That was the biggest shock. No one in Yadessa had to beg before. What is that crazy fool doing to his own people? The further they walked, the angrier they became. On one corner they stopped when they saw two guards drag a boy and his father down an alley.
" What could this be?" Valkar asked his son.
" I don't know," Azeal said. " But I think we're about to find out. Be careful father."
Valkar smiled as he followed the guards. As they walked into the alley, they could hear the sounds of someone being beaten.
" We told you not to walk in our section didn't we?" They heard. " Now you pay with your lives since you have no money."
" Stop!!" Azeal called. On the ground, in front of them, the guards had beaten both of them down. The boy was hugging his father begging them to stop. With a final kick, the guards turned to them.
" What business is it of yours." One sneered. " Get on your way."
Valkar reached into his pouch and pulled out a gold coin. He tossed it to them.
"You had your fun. Take this and leave them alone."
The coin fell in front of them One man stopped down and retrieved it. He looked it over.
"It's real." He said. He looked at the two strangers and give them a devious smile.
" Maybe you have more?" The other said as he pounded his fist into his hand. " I think it's our lucky day. Hand over the money."
" I don't think so," Valkar said as he took down his hood. It was then that the two guards recognized him.
" Its King Valkar!!." One pointed. " He's worth more than a handful of gold. Let's take him!"
The guards rushed forward, One at Valkar and the other at Azeal. Azeal spun around and kicked the man as he lunged at him in the stomach. He fell back and pulled his knife from his side and moved back to stab at Azeal. He caught the man's arm in one hand and struck out with the other connecting with his jaw. The guard went down and Azeal hit him again knocking him out. The other guard that had attacked Valkar pulled his sword and tried to run him through. Valkar sidestepped and hit the man in the wrist knocking the blade from his hand. The guard backed up. He knew he couldn't beat the ex-king. His only chance was to get away and get help. As he turned to run, the boy came up from behind with a plank and hit him. The guard fell to the ground knocked out. Azeal and Valkar looked at the boy. He was dressed in rags like the other beggars they had seen, He looked hunger and weak.
" Thank you, son." Valkar smiled. Azeal rushed over to the boy's father to check his wounds. The guards had beat him pretty bad, but Azeal thought his weakness from not eating was most severe problem.
"We have to get them some food and rest father." Azeal picked the man up.
" Where are you taking him?" The boy asked rushing to his father's side.
"To a safe place," Valkar told him. " Your coming to."
" There is no safe place here." The boy said. " Not since they took our house and my father's shop."
" We have to get off the streets," Valkar said. " Azeal, if you carry him, people will want to know what's wrong. Can he walk with help?"
" Yes, I can." The man said. " You can put me down. Just give me your arm and help me along."
Azeal put the man down on his feet. He almost fell but Valkar caught him.
"What's your name?" Valkar asked walking the man down the alley to the street.
" I'm Ushar. your majesty." He said quietly. " And this is my son Brand."
" Hello to both of you," Valkar said. " We have to get to the blacksmith. Do you know where it is?"
" Right over there." Brand pointed to the shop. Valkar turned and looked. There was a guard between them and the smith's shop. They needed to distract the guard to get past him.
" We need to get past him," Valkar said.
" I know what to do!" Brand ran across the street and tapped the guard on his side. The guard turned to look at Brand then stooped to hear what he said. Then he ran off up the street as fast as he could. Brand waved them over.
" Quickly!" He said.
With Azeal on one side and Valkar on the other, they made their way to the blacksmith. Looking as casual as they could, Azeal knocked on the smith's door. a bald man answered. He looked at the two hooded men and the boy.
" Well?" He said. Valkar pulled back his hood to show his face. Wide-eyed Luther slide open the door and helped them in. Valkar and Azeal carried Ushar to an armchair and sat him down.
" Majesty," Luther said. " We've been expecting you. What happened to him?"
" He and his son." Azeal pointed to the boy. " Were beaten by some guards. We stepped in to stop them."
Luther rushed to the window and looked out in all directions.
" Don't worry, they didn't see us come in here." Valkar threw off his cloak and put it on a peg by the door. Azeal found a pitcher of freshwater and got Ushar a drink.
" Sir. They need something to eat." Valkar said. "Do you have a feeding animal they can draw from?"
" Yes, but Sire. They know your here." Luther. " Can we trust them?"
"We are loyal to you." Ushar said." If you were on the throne, we wouldn't be begging for our lives. Balthazar is the cause of all this. Your fight is our fight. Besides, who else can get around this town as easily as we can?"
" This is going to be dangerous," Valkar told him. " I can't ask this of you."
" You fight for us, right?"He sat up in his chair. Brand came and stood by his side. They looked up at Valkar." We want our lives back. If that means we have to fight for it, that's what we'll do. Right son?"
" Yes, father." Brand said. Valkar clapped Brand on his shoulder and smiled.
"You're going to need your strength. Luther will take you to feed."
" Sire, you have a guest waiting for you in my shop," Luther told him. " Follow me. You to young Brand. I'll show you to the feed and you can take your father something to hold him until he can feed himself."
Luther led them, through the house to the back. They went outside and he showed Brand where he kept his livestock. Off to the left, there was another building. There he did all his smith work. Valkar and Azeal followed Luther as he opened the door and ushered them in. Inside they found Angela and Arturus sitting at the table talking. When they saw him they both got up and bowed. Valkar rushed over and hugged Angela.
" I'm so glad you alright." He said hugging her close.
" Thank you, your majesty." Angela smiles. " Its good to be free."
" Call me Valkar." He waved Azeal forward. " This is my son, Azeal. This is Lady Angela Gaelich and Arturus Gaelich her husband's brother."
" You mean as in Balthazar Gaelich?" Azeal stood looking at them in shock.
" Yes, he's is my husband." She said. "But I'm hoping to end that part of my life forever."
From behind them, something stirred. Azeal walked over behind Angela and saw the huge blanket covering something. He poked at and it moved. In a surprise, he stepped back and pulled his sword.
" What is that!!"
" That's Sting," Angela said. A large clawed arm reached up and pushed off its cover. Sting with his great insect-like body stood and turned toward Azeal. Azeal stared open-mouthed as its statue became taller and taller until he towered over Azeal. Clicking sounds came from him.
" He's with me," Angela told them moving to its side to help it. " Balthazar did this to him. He was one of my guards, now he's my friend.
[ King Valkar] Sting spoke in his head. [Help us.]
Valkar stared at Sting. His anger at Balthazar rose tenfold. How could he do this to one of his own?
[Punishment.] Sting told him. [ I hear you in head.] Sting tapped the shell covering his head.
"That's it," Valkar said saddened by what he saw. " I can't let him torture anyone else. Tonight we begin our move."

After eating and getting some rest, Ushar and Brand crept from the house. From alley to alley they moved in silence talking to every beggar, all those displaced by Balthazar. The poor sitting in there huts wondering how they came to this, they remembered that things were not always like this. Valkar's call was heard passed all over the town. Quietly they gathered. In the market, in the square, whispers could be heard of rebellion. There King has come to lead them back to the peaceful way it should be in Yadessa. Balthazar's guards on the streets heard rumors of something going on, but it was to late. One by one they began to disappear until soon the streets were filled with people screaming for there blood. Valkar, Azeal, Angela, and Sting soon joined the fighting. Valkar single-handed and Azeal armed with Justice battled side by side with Luther, Ushar, and Brand. Angela blasting Balthazar's troops and Sting swatting and tearing them apart. Soon the town was back in their hands and the people were cheering. Any and all that favored Balthazar took flight from the city to warn their lord of Valkars return, for his day would soon come. The battle had begun. Yadessa would be free.
After Prafa was free, men loyal to Valkar began to flock to Prafa. They all came to pledge their swords to their real king. It seemed there were many in Yadessa not satisfied with Balthazar's rule and not even his magic could change that. Soon the city was fortified. Walls were built high, pits were dug with sharp spikes. Angela set magical traps around the outside in case spies lurked and tried to get in. She also put a spell on the gates and walls. This spell would warn them if anyone that had not sworn the oath to Valkar and Azeal entered. All was ready for the coming war. All Valkar had left to do was get the dragons involved, and Cutter was on his way to talk to the Baron when he returned.