The enemy within

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-I see a king and his soldiers marching into battle.

-I feel that the king is weary, but also wants to fulfill his responsibility as the protector and defender of his people.
STORY
King Jeffrey sat down on his throne wearily, as usual, the daily report brought in by his guards from the four corners of his kingdom wasn't good news. Since the harvest, his kingdom had been plagued by bandits and arrows lit with fires. Out of five of their food reserve stores, three had been burned down. The granary had also been attacked, so planting next season was going to be difficult.

His people had not been spared either because almost every night his kingdom was raided by bandits, they took away their food, livestock, money, and children who would possibly be sold as slaves. The baffling thing was that the bandits seemed to know all the security measures put in place to apprehend them and always defeated his guards to have their way.

He sighed wearily and sent one of his guards to call his right-hand man Canisius.

“My Lord, you sent for me” Canisius said as he walked in, bowing before his king.

“I did Canisius, your King is troubled. Take a look at the daily report that came in this evening” King Jeffrey said handing the scroll over to him.

Canisius read quietly, a vein pulsing in his neck and his face clouded over. His hold on the scroll tightened as he read further.

“I see you're as angry and troubled as I am, dear friend. Who could be behind all these happenings?” the King asked wearily.

“My Lord, this matter seems to be getting out of hand. If we let it go any further other kings will start making mockery of the throne and move to overthrow your Highness” Canisius replied enraged.

“It's obvious we're being attacked by an enemy, I want you to find out who that enemy is. Heaven knows I'm an old king, but before I hand over to the prince, my reign shall not be known to end in failure and war!” King Jeffrey said through gritted teeth.

“Of course, My Lord I'll be as quiet as possible in my investigations. I should have news for you soon” Canisius replied, bowing as the King rose to leave the throne room.

The king retreated to his chambers where he sent for his queen and first son. They discussed the happenings and the order he had given Canisius. Having witnessed the effect of war when he was a child, the King did not want to subject his people to that horror, so he placed he decided to solve things peacefully if the enemy was found.

One more week of looting and injured soldiers passed before Canisius brought the king any news. And the news he brought was astounding.

“Are you sure of your findings?” the Queen asked in shock

“Yes your majesty” Canisius replied.

“But this is madness!” the Queen said looking shocked.

“Canisius, you mean to tell me that my wife's cousin King Silas is responsible for all the happenings in our kingdom?” King Jeffrey asked.

“Yes My Lord, his plan is to make you look weak, overthrow you and take over the kingdom” Canisius replied.

“And why would he do that?” the Queen asked.

“Greed, your majesty, he wishes to take over the lands your late father bequeathed to you and My Lord after your marriage” Canisius replied.

“My Lord, surely you do not believe this news?” The Queen addressed her husband.

“Come to think of it, my dear, your cousin has never liked me and the fact that you chose me over his best friend still irks him. He mentions it whenever we see each other” King Jeffrey replied.

“Only as a joke My Lord, Silas would never do anything to hurt my people” The Queen responded.

“But he tried to overthrow your father once” The king replied

“Only because uncle Simon fed him with lies and once he discovered the truth he was truly repentant and have ruled my father's kingdom in peace and wisdom since my brother's passing!” the Queen replied, walking glaring at Canisius.

“Go to your chambers my dear and ask the prince to meet me here” King Jeffrey replied firmly.

The Queen stormed out and delivered the message to her son before moving to her room. She needed to send a letter to her cousin to find out what was going on.

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“Father any news?” Prince Roman asked as he walked into the throne room.

“Yes my son, but since the culprit is your uncle Silas, we have to proceed with caution” King Jeffrey replied.

“Uncle Silas, King Silas Mother's cousin?” prince Roman asked, shocked.

“Canisius, what do you think we should do?” the King said

“Pay them back in their coin, my Lord. Give them war, we have more than enough men to defeat them” Canisius replied with a glint in his eye.

“Father, how about I travel to mother's kingdom and try to reason with him?” Prince Roman suggested.

The king being a man of peace accepted his son's suggestion and asked him to set off right away. Canisius tried to protest the idea, fearing that the Prince's life would be endangered, but King Jeffrey waved his concerns aside but told him to ask the soldiers to begin training and be ready.

The royal house had just settled down for the night when a loud commotion caused everyone to awaken. Some guards had returned bloody and beaten to inform them that the prince had been kidnapped and the rest of their traveling party were killed. The Queen started sobbing uncontrollably and had to be carried inside.

The king violently shaking with anger sent for Canisius, who arrived promptly looking as enraged as the King.

“Did you hear of the Prince's abduction?” King Jeffrey asked.

“Yes My Lord, I did warn you about it” Canisius replied

“I was a fool not to have listened ready the soldier's. Tomorrow we travel to see that mad man and put an end to this once and for all” The King declared.

A letter from Silas woke up the Queen the next morning. He asserted his innocence and assured his sister that he would try to get to the bottom of the matter. She sent him back a letter informing him of King Jeffrey and his decision of war and her son's abduction. She quickly roused from her bed and went searching for her husband, she found him bringing out his battle armor to be polished.

“My Lord, any news about our son?” She asked.

“Not yet, my dear, but fret not. Our scouts are out looking for him and Canisius went with them” he replied, embracing his wife.

“I think you shouldn't go to war with my cousin. What if Canisius is wrong?” she asked.

“That man has served me faithfully and diligently for 25 years. I trust him more than I trust anyone. Apart from you of course my love” King Jeffrey replied.

“If you trust me, listen to me. Something is not right!” The Queen insisted.

“Yes, and we'll set everything right tonight. We move at midnight, Canisius and several guards will behind to guard the kingdom” King Jeffrey said heading to the armory to speak to his Top soldiers.

At midnight, the King, and his soldiers began their journey despite the Queen's protests and moved steadily without stopping. They arrived at King Silas's border just before dawn to find with waiting with an army of his own.

“Hello Coward” King Jeffrey addressed King Silas angrily.

“Your highness, I am no coward I suggest you turn back and head home as my people and I have no hand in the happenings in your kingdom” King Silas replied.

King Jeffrey refused and insisted that his son be released firstly.

“I still don't know why you would believe that I could harm my sister's only child. I love Roman and respect my sister and your crown too much to do the things you accuse me of” King Silas said.

More shouting ensued, where Jeffrey informed Silas that his most trusted man had discovered he was their enemy. Silas replied by telling him that his spies had also informed him that no other king was involved in the attacks on Jeffrey's kingdom, they all knew he was a peaceful man.

“Soldiers ATTACK!!!” King Jeffrey commanded. He and his men marched forth as birds flew overhead.

King Silas ordered his men to be ready for attack also, everyone was focused and ready for battle when a shout pierced through the air.

“My Lord Stop!” King Jeffrey looked back to see one of his soldiers galloping towards him at full speed.

He slowed his horse down and listened to him speak. He was informed that Canisius had brought in an army of mercenaries to the palace. They had captured the Queen and people in the kingdom and were putting them in dungeons. The prince had also been brought back and was to be beheaded by noon.

“Heavens!” the king exclaimed In shock, “This is unbelievable”.

“I barely escaped alive to get here. Canisius thinks the war has begun already and that you all are dead, knowing how powerful King Silas's army is” the soldier replied.

King Silas, who had overheard everything, roused into action. Together, he and King Jeffrey combined their army and stormed back to save the Queen and the kingdom. The battle was short as their army was larger than Canisius' and soon enough they rounded them all up.

It turned out Canisius had been the enemy all along, and he had made a deal with some slave traders to sell the kingdom to them. The attacks were just a part of their plans. King Silas finished him off right away and moved to the slave traders' camp with the army to free the kidnapped children, while King Jeffrey and his family reunited.