CHAPTER THREEKING GIDEON BROCK REMEMBERS King Gideon Brock looked out over the royal city of Aubrelon from one of the many balconies of his massive castle and sighed quietly.

  The sights. The sounds. Things were going on as usual. The people were happy. It gave him comfort to know his kingdom was flourishing again. However, once his thoughts moved to The Barren Wastend, his mood changed. As Brock’s gaze became a bit downcast, a familiar voice came from behind.

  “Your Highness is troubled by the day’s business?” inquired Falldrim, as he walked toward the leader of The Human Kingdom Lands.

  Falldrim had been the royal advisor and sage for three generations of Brocks now, and though the old wizard was showing his age, his wisdom and advice were still at their utmost.

  “No my friend. I am happy with our return to normalcy,” replied King Brock with an almost reluctant smile. Then he took off his crown, looked at it and finished, “I still wonder if we did the right thing. It is a year today, Falldrim.”

  Falldrim held his staff with both hands and leaned forward. “A year, my lord? Forgive me my king, a year today for what?”

  Still holding his crown, Brock turned and looked at his most trusted advisor. “Landon Rosser. It has been a year since we banished him and his men to The Barren Wastend.”

  “Are you menting what you did?” spoke Falldrim, his voice growing more serious. “You could have executed him and his men. His treason and revolt were more treacherous than…”

  “He was dealing with his son’s loss,” cut in King Brock quietly. Then his voice became confident as he continued. “I still believe what he did was wrong, and no doubt forced an unnecessary battle...”

  Falldrim grabbed King Brock’s shoulder and looked at him sternly.

  “Matthias went willingly to avenge the killing of Queen Marianna by the vile goblins. That is what he wanted. He loved this nd and could not fathom that Goblin King Taudridor would stoop so low.”

  Brock looked out over the city of Aubrelon again, his gaze stopping at the temple of Elion, where Marianna was buried. Falldrim walked to his side and gazed from the balcony as well. Then he put his arm around the king, lovingly.

  “Maybe I could have waited, as Rosser said,” began King Brock before Falldrim could speak again. “Maybe there could have been a better course of action. I made the decision in anger. Besides his father, I know how much Matthias respected me. Cooler heads might have found another way.”

  Falldrim looked at the crown in Brock’s hand. It was not the first time he’d had to remind a king of his courage and might, and he knew it would not be the st.

  Slowly, Falldrim took the crown from the king’s hand.

  “Landon Rosser was your greatest general. A warrior. A tactical marvel. But you know, as I do, that it has always been his way or nothing. The man’s hubris knows no bounds. He has always been unstable. Him allying himself with the goblins to take your kingdom is proof of that. I was not surprised he tried to take the throne. Whether because of revenge for his son, or his stated reason to his men that you cannot rule wisely. Bah! Your invasion into the goblin nds proved to Taudridor that not only are you to be respected, but that you will go to any length if anyone attacks our nds or our people.”

  Then the old sage pced a finger in his king’s face and looked him straight in the eyes. “That is what brave Matthias died knowing.”

  When King Brock nodded in agreement, Falldrim turned his gaze in the direction of The Dwarven Mountains and continued. “You did the right thing. Dwarf King Dormir Ironhearth agreed as well. Think of your strong ally on this day, not on the man who tried to take your kingdom.”

  King Brock rubbed his jaw. His beard was almost completely gray now. He remembered how Ironhearth and his forces had stood with him not only in principle, but also in battle. Then Brock grabbed his crown from Falldrim and put it back on his head.

  “Thank you for hearing me out, my friend," replied King Brock, patting the old sage on his shoulder. Falldrim smiled and nodded graciously.

  “I have advised the Brock Kingdom for almost fifty years now, Gideon,” said Falldrim proudly.

  Then he spoke with assurance. “No king, not even your father, has had it harder, either in his personal life or ruling this great nd. But if there is one thing I know, it is that you will be remembered by your mercy. Whatever Landon Rosser and his men are doing in The Barren Wastend, they still have their lives.”

  King Brock watched as Falldrim gripped his staff with both hands once again and leaned closer.

  Then he heard the old sage say one st thing with absolute conviction.

  “Never forget that.”