TURNING TIDES

The air inside the room shifted. It turned heavy and dense, sweeping into the middle of the room in light surges turning the atmosphere cold. The green embers re-materialized, glowing brightly in flashes and bundling up to form a humanoid figure that blew up, revealing Drom standing in the midst of the dying embers.

His expression said it all. His eyebrows were lowered almost covering his eyes. The little folds on his forehead disfigured his ever jovial face and he kept gnawing on one side of his lower lip with his canine. He pondered over the words he had been told before his departure, and anyone in his position would have reacted the same, maybe even worse. Harmel burst into the room, panting heavily.

" Stop doing that! You know I don't like that stupid prank of yours!"

It took a while for Drom to realize Harmel's presence. His eyes rolled slowly until he caught a glimpse of him holding onto the door, tired, on the verge of a collapse. Drom quickly forced a smile, trying to mask his unease, " aren't you supposed to address me as my liege?"

"Liege my foot! Get down there, you big oaf! Commander is waiting for you, he has been here... For the past two damn hours you big mutt!"

" Okay okay! I'm going... no need to get all aggravated, you know your intelligence reduces when you are angry right?!"

"Haha so funny...just like that crown hides all the stupidity under that hair, I'm even surprised a human being can survive that long without a brain."

Harmel treated Drom like a friend rather than his king, and Drom wanted it that way. They would spend all day cracking jokes and making fun of themselves, and it was tough for them to act all formal in front of others. Harmel gave Drom a perennial stare, noticing how his smile quickly faded. He knew he was faking it, and that something was wrong.

" Your insults seem quite blunt today master, is there something wrong?"

"... Well other than your choice of outfit nothing I guess."

"Overlooking the fact that you deliberately changed this outfit for me I can make anything look good. But I know something is up, and if you are not ready to tell me what it is I respect that."

Drom looked back at him and smiled, this time genuinely, " You know, you're pretty scary how you know me too well."

" It's one of my curses, now quit the chattering and let's go, that makes it two hours and twenty-three minutes."

The staircase descent was swift, with occasional misplacement of feet causing some staggers, but they managed to reach the throne hall unscathed. Alvatrone stood near the capacious banquet table. He paced from left to right, flaunting his purple cape. In his right hand, he juggled a bishop figurine.

"Long time no see commander!"

" My king." Alvatrone grabbed his cloak and whipped it under his armpit and over his right forearm. He gave slid into a graceful bow, almost kissing his knee.

"Come on Al, I've told you thousands of times that isn't necessary."

" Apologies my king."

Drom walked over and protruded his arm, ready for a firm handshake. Alvatrone slowly pulled out his right hand, and the poorly wrapped bandage unwound itself. It dangled under his wrist and started swaying tardily, showcasing the bloodstains and dried up blood on his wrist. Drom noticed his gory hand, " Whoa, should I be concerned about that?" he asked, pointing at his wrist.

Alvatrone shivered slightly, promptly pulling back his arm and tucking it into his robe.

" Oh, it's nothing to be worried about. It was just a little accident I had when I was sparring."

"You should get that checked out."

"I will sire, thank you for the concern."

Harmel also took notice of the wrist, the wound looked a day old, and a day before, the commander was on a train heading to Royal Republic, so it didn't make sense how he got it from a sparring accident yet he was on that train or was supposedly on it. Something was definitely off about him today.

"So...what brings the mighty commander to the palace, I mean let's face it you've never been here most of the time."

"Well actually I had come for our friendly match you promised me," he said, stroking his short stubby beard, chucking.

" You do know I suck at chess don't you!"

They both burst out laughing. Harmel kept a close eye on Alvatrone, intently studying him, every inch of his face.

" Why don't you go all out with Harmel, he won the chess tournament last moon."

"Oh really, that's quite impressive!" Alvatrone looked back at him, raising one of his eyebrows.

"It's not that big of a deal I..."

"No no it is. Please, it would be my pleasure to have a match with you. You seem like a worthy opponent. Now that you've mentioned it I do remember about a match I had recently with an opponent. I didn't know him of course, but, he had the wildest moves I've ever seen. And just at the last minute when I thought everything was going according to plan, he pulled two big surprises on me that I never expected, three actually."

"That must have been a tough game, because knowing you, no one ever surprises you."

" That you are right my king! But these moves, they....caught me by surprise, and I didn't know what to do next," he paused lengthily, staring at Harmel as he continued to speak, " But, in the end, I rethought my strategy, and this bishop was the one that helped me get that checkmate." he said, squinting his eyes towards Harmel and raising the figurine he had. They exchanged gawky glances, then Alvatrone decided to turn his attention towards Drom.

"But forget about me, I just wanted to check up on things before I leave."

"Oh really you're leaving! Where to?"

" Defectors State!"

The mention of the State sent chills down both Drom's and Harmel's spines.

"Uhm...that's odd, why do you want to go there at a time like this?"

"Neglected as it may be it is still part of the Independent States. Why? Is there something wrong with me going there?"

"... No nothing, it's just that it seems so odd of you."

"It's just a quick visit then I'll be on my way off. By the way the class of state guards I choose this year? They are a promising lot aren't they?"

Drom straightened, " Yes they most definitely are."

"Yes, especially that girl, she was the most auspicious of all. What was her name...uhm Alicia yes!"

Harmel and Drom both rolled their eyes and secretly gave themselves short glances. Things were starting to get suspicious and they both felt it.

" She will definitely be a good addition to the Core. Where is she now?"

Drom swallowed nervously, " She...Uhm, honestly I'm not sure. I haven't yet assigned them their posts so she might be in her home, or even anywhere." he then giggled skittishly. Alvatrone glared at him for a moment, then turned towards the exit.

"Well, I don't want to waste any more time. The train is about to depart. But give her my regards. I will be sure to pass by after my visit. Good day to you my king. And also to you Harmel. I hope we can meet again sometime for that match."

"Yes, anytime."

Alvatrone walked away, juggling the figurine. He finally exited and the two people left in the hall stared at themselves, wordless. For a moment Drom remembered the last words Hashi had said to him before he departed, and he now saw clearly, all that he said was terribly true. And it was frightening!

" Tides will turn, enemies will become your allies and your allies will become your worst enemies! Gods will become monsters and evil shall stain your peaceful world. And finally when everything has turned to its worst....you, Drom Valienta. The 34th King of the Independent States, Will die at the hands of the one you cherish most. And he will feel no remorse, neither will I. This is the message passed on to me by the Elder brother God Arekin...