Chapter 3 - Lightning on the Kingdom

Chapter 3 - Lightning on the Kingdom

The next morning, Elion got up early. The first light of dawn filtered through the high windows of the royal palace, projecting a pale light onto the stone walls. The biting cold of winter seeped through the interstices of the great gates of the castle, but Elion was already standing, his eyes fixed on the courtyard below.

The court of Sky's palace was modest compared to that of neighboring kingdoms. The grey stone walls were ancient, marked by the scars of time and past wars. The soldiers, dressed in worn-out armor, trained with rigid discipline despite the harsh climate. The snapping of the wooden blades and the cries of effort echoed in the cold air.

Elion took a deep breath before leaving his room. He walked steadily towards the council chamber, where the lords of the kingdom were waiting for him for their first meeting since his coronation. The guards stationed in front of the large solid wooden door opened it to him without a word, revealing a dark room where some torches hung on the walls were burning.

Inside, a round table of raw wood was installed in the center of the room. The lords of Sky were already there. Velkan Valoras, the army commander, stood straight to the right of the table with his arms folded. His imposing figure and cold look inspired both respect and fear.

To his left was Lord Arwyn Greyr, a middle-aged man with a stern face. His long black hair was tied back, and his suspicious expression betrayed his skepticism towards the young king.

"Majesty," said Greyr, bowing his head formally.

Elion sat at the head of the table, his gaze running through the room.

"We must discuss the steps to be taken to strengthen the kingdom," he said in a calm tone. "Sky is in a fragile situation. Harvests are weak, our defenses are insufficient, and our neighbors are watching us with lust. If we do not strengthen quickly, we will be vulnerable."

Velkan nodded.

"The problem is obvious," he said. "But we lack soldiers and weapons. Without sufficient resources, we will not be able to raise an army worthy of the name."

Lord Greyr sighed, crossing his arms.

"The problem, Your Majesty, is that the kingdom is poor," he said. "We have neither fertile land nor precious resources. "Maintaining a powerful army will be expensive."

"I am aware of the economic limits of the kingdom," Elion replied. "But we can strengthen ourselves in a different way. "The first step is to improve the management of agricultural land."

"Do you think that's enough?" Greyr asked with a sarcastic smile.

Elion stared at him without blinking.

- "We need to increase our harvests, improve irrigation and organize the redistribution of food," he continued. "But that's not all. I intend to reform the training of our troops. Each village will have to form a local militia. Every man of fighting age will have to be trained."

A heavy silence followed his words. Velkan exchanged a glance with Greyr.

"A kingdom where every man knows how to fight?" Velkan smiled out a smile. "It's never been done before."

"Just," Elion replied. "This will be our strength. Sky will not become a kingdom of merchants or diplomats. We will be a kingdom of fighters."

Greyr frowned.

"A permanent militia will be expensive. Without a strong economic system, we will not be able to maintain this structure for long."

"We don't have the luxury of expecting hypothetical prosperity," Elion replied. "We will start by mobilizing local forces and using the crops to support the military effort."

Velkan smiled slightly.

"If we can train enough troops, we could deter neighboring kingdoms from attacking us."

"Dissuading is not enough," Elion corrected. "We must be able to hit first."

Greyr seemed agitated by the direction Elion was imposing.

"Majesty, there is another solution," he said after a moment of silence. "The kingdom of Velis is seeking to enter into a trade alliance. If we agree to strengthen our diplomatic relations with them...

Elion raised his hand, interrupting him.

"I will not negotiate Sky's survival by depending on a neighboring kingdom," he said firmly. "We will never be strong if we owe our security to the generosity of others."

Velkan nodded slowly, a spark of respect shining in his eyes.

"So we're focusing on military training?" he asked.

"Yes," said Elion. "And we also need to prepare to reorganise trade routes. Caravans must be secured and rights of way imposed. If Sky becomes a commercial hub, we can take advantage of this strategic position."

Greyr seemed troubled.

"Are you talking about levying a tax on trade routes?" he asked.

- "Exactly."

Velkan had an approving smile.

"It could work," he said. "But it will take soldiers to protect these roads."

"That's why militia is indispensable," Elion replied.

The council ended after an extra hour of discussion. Elion came out of the room in silence, his heart beating. He knew that the decisions he had just made were bold, even risky. But the kingdom of Sky had no choice.

Later in the evening, Elion stood on the balcony of the palace, staring towards the horizon. The mountains bordering the kingdom seemed even darker under the pale glow of the moon. He felt the weight of the throne hanging over his shoulders.

Velkan appeared beside him.

"You made a difficult choice today," he said calmly.

Elion nodded without looking away.

"This kingdom can no longer afford weakness," he whispered. "We have been prey for too long. It's time to become a hunter."

Velkan looked at him for a moment before smiling.

"Then prepare for war, Your Majesty," he said. "For once you have shown your fangs, the other kingdoms will not remain inactive."

Elion took a deep breath, his gaze always fixed on the horizon.

"Let them come," he replied. "They will discover that the kingdom of Sky is no longer prey."