Chapter 3

Rehny stood at attention at the bottom of the stairs leading to the two thrones. Both thrones were empty, one was painted red and was large while the other was painted gold and was smaller. He observed the blood red carpeting that his feet stood upon, he observed the blood red metal armor and the blood red cape that completed his look. The sigil of Binoria stood out evidently to the left of his breastplate in a golden hue, it looked like a rhino swimming in a sea of blood. Rehny hated the color red almost as much as he hated the man he swore to serve.

The throne room walls were white and rose high on either side of him, he took comfort in their color, there was a sense of peace to it unlike the color red. Large transparent windows adorned the walls and let in a ray of sunshine that bathed the crimson carpet that was spread over the entire throne room. The ceiling had a mural painting of the first king of Binoria, Selarch Vigon, riding into battle on top of a rhino. He was the first mortal to lay eyes on the goddess Meena and the first mortal to receive her blessing, a piece of the Gods. With the Jojoh Meena he was able to accomplish feats never witnessed before including riding a rhino to war. Selarch was the only King of the Binorians to ever ride a rhino into battle, he'd tamed the beast somehow and despite passing on the Talent of the Gods to his descendants none of them ever dared approach a rhino with the desire to ride it. Rehny hated Selarch but not as much as he hated the man he'd sworn to serve. 

Rehny was the only man in the empty throne room, he had been summoned and was kept waiting as was customary of the King's etiquette. He had better things to do than stand there all day waiting and the anger that rose from this quenched the curiosity of his being summoned. But still, he stood, searching his depths to master a sense of patience. As he stood he remembered the fifty nine battles he had participated in. Battles where he'd stood next to the King and witnessed the capabilities of a man touched by the Gods. He shivered. So much blood. He decided to think of something else.

Just then the giant oak doors to the throne room slowly opened and in their midst stood King Vayin Vigon and his wife Queen Lamical Vigon. The King was dressed in a red leather jacket that hung tight to his aging frame and dark pants that were studded with gold chain emblems upon the thighs. Beside him Queen Lamical looked like a candle blazing within the depths of darkness in her emerald dress. Her beauty was known far and wide, her full cherry lips and her buttoned nose bathed her face in a symmetry that was near godly. Her golden hair fell lazily over her shoulders and her pale skin looked smooth to the touch.

She walked with grace next to her husband and Rehny remembered the years of his youth when he'd intertwined his fingers in hers and gone trotting along in the meadows. He remembered her blue eyes that held the depth of the oceans, the way she'd smile at him and brush her lips upon his. It was love, it was love godsdammit! Now there she was, her fingers interlaced with those of another man's. A man he had sworn to serve.

Rehny allowed the hatred to sweep over him and he glanced again at the carpet, seeing red. Somehow the color seemed to mirror his consciousness and he reveled in that. The King and Queen of Binoria were still far off and were slowly making their way to the thrones while talking in hushed tones. Behind them walked two towering guards dressed in dark leather, the King's royal bodyguards, ever in his presence, ever protecting. Rehny didn't see their relevance. The Kings of Binoria always died of old age and nothing else.

As the King came closer, Rehny collected his thoughts, he forced all of them to the back of his mind and instead pictured only the color red, at first it had been difficult for him to do so but he learnt to tune his hatred to fit the color. He had no idea of the extent of the King's Talent but he noted the way he'd turn his gaze to him whenever his thoughts wafted in a direction that might imply treason. Rehny was cautious. It was his way.

"Commander Rehny." said King Vayin when he was close enough. Rehny went down on one knee and bowed before his ruler. "Get up, I have a job for you." said the King.

Rehny got up and bowed again at the waist "How may I serve you your majesty?" his eyes swept towards the queen but her gaze was transfixed forward. She never looked at Rehny, she never acknowledged his presence. Rehny felt anger boil within him but the only image in his mind was the color red.

"I have discovered the identity of the Black Ghost." said the King as he and the Queen walked past Rehny and up the steps to the thrones. The King placed himself lazily upon the larger red throne and the Queen gracefully lowered herself onto the smaller golden throne. Rehny avoided looking at the Queen as he turned to face them and instead focused his entire attention upon the King.

"You've discovered the identity of the Black Ghost, my King?" Asked Rehny.

"Are you deaf?" asked the King. Picture red, picture red, picture red. Thought Rehny. The two bodyguards took places beside either side of the throne. They resembled Rehny in that they were of the same height as him, tall with broad shoulders and pale skin with bulk that was mainly muscle. Though Rehny's dark hair was spotted grey and the scar upon his left cheek made him look older when he was actually decades younger than the King. Though if a fight ensued between him and the King, even if he was helped by the two guards they would all lose their lives to the King. Jojoh Meena.

"What is the identity of the Black Ghost?" asked Rehny, rephrasing his previous question.

"The identity of a dead man, his head is currently on its way to the Remu with his cock in his mouth." said King Vayin. Glee was sprinkled in his every word and he didn't bother hiding it.

"So he was Remu?" inquired Rehny.

"Yes, that is why you're here commander, I am considering either tripling their taxes to Binoria or going to war against them for the death of the Highlord of the South Local. What do you think? "

"But sire, tripling their taxes, but... Their taxes are already so high! They are paying over a million gold vigons a year, I don't think they'd be able to pay if it's tripled."

"Then war it is then." said King Vayin with glee. "Oh it has been so long since we rode to battle, Rehny. Don't you miss it? The spilling of blood upon the battle field, the screams of men who lay disemboweled! Aaaah, there is no place where you'll feel more alive." said King Vayin, he then turned to the Queen abruptly, leaned forward and placed his right hand on her thigh. "Correction, I also feel alive when in bed with you, my dear." Queen Lamical blushed.

Rehny fought down the urge to draw his sword from its scabbard and launch it at the King's head. He pictured King Vayin bleeding on his throne with the sword sunk deep in his skull, sure the guards would kill him immediately but the image of the King dead as a door nail would be as satisfying to see as a thousand naked whores. The King drew his attention from Queen Lamical and glared at Rehny. Picture red, Picture red, Picture red.

"But sire," said Rehny into the uncomfortable silence that followed his thought, "You're suppose to meet up with the Talisi King for the annual gift giving. I doubt you'd be able to do so and prepare for a campaign at the same time."

The King relaxed back in his chair, taking his hand off Queen Lamical's thigh. "I will send Desan in my place instead, he is my oldest son and appears to be the one most likely to inherit the Jojoh Meena once I'm gone. You will accompany him and ensure nothing happens to him."

Rehny felt relieved at the order, the annual gift giving with the Talisi Kingdom wasn't a bloody affair and he was grateful that he won't be part of the war with Remu.

"Of course after the gift giving you will immediately join me in the battlefield against Remu." said the King with a smirk. Rehny stiffened and nodded at the King.

"Depart." commanded King Vayin and Rehny stole a glance at the Queen who seemed to be interested in everything other than him. He let out a rumbling grunt, bowed low at the waist before turning on his heels and departing the throne room. Picture red picture red, picture red.

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