RARE

“I know a lot of you may be wondering why I used such extremes measures on you last time, disrespecting and disregarding your public status and honors. Well, I must admit that it wasn’t easy subjecting you all to such treatment but I wanted to use that medium to make everyone of us understand that no one is bigger than the integrity and glory of this unique kingdom so any attempt to tread upon the glory of this kingdom with scorn will be greeted with measures as strict as the one that was meted out last time. So be it in any gathering be it small, great, insignificant or not, not minding who or what that are gathered, as far as it has something to do with Onyx then there must be utter orderliness and respect of proceedings in it. Nothing less than total respect for the city of lights” King Stylx said as he walked across the courtroom before gradually taking his seat on the throne of fire. All the council men remained standing as he spoke and only took their seats after voicing in affirmative to what their king has said. The true sense of remorse and regret could be felt in the silent and ordered hall. “Now what are the pressing issues on ground?” The king asked as noises started to fill the room but this time around had strict decorum

      The glorious Onyx choir sang beautifully as guests started to arrive in the mighty hall of flames, it was the wedding ceremony of the army general second daughter. Onyx came alive as everywhere looked neat and decorated. The Starlights adorned themselves with attires befitting of royalty after all there was no poor person in Onyx. Chariots and carriages alighted as numbers went into the sacred meeting point that had hosted the ordination of council men, installation of Weoss intermediaries and the crowning of the first human king of Onyx. The hall was an icon of reverence and love for the starlights, no wonder the wedding of the number one security personnel in the kingdom’s daughter was accorded its hosting. Soon King Stylx arrived in company of Nephla and his knights of stars as they alighted from a heavily guarded entourage, a loud and healthy noise greeted the arrival of the king as our the guards and soldiers on duty immediately took their positions to shield the king from the crowd that were pushing and shoving to get a glimpse and touch of their beloved king who had been a driving force in the recent rise of Onyx. King Stylx was full of smiles as Nephla as they tried their best to hug, shake, touch and kiss some of the people who gathered to greet them. Soon they were ushered into the hall where all those expected were already present, they all stood as the king and his wife walked in, they finally sat as the king greeted them and took his seat. The priest took over as the couple took their vows and where about to take their vows when the bride was hit with an arrow. The whole gathering scattered as King Stylx, his knights of stars and the soldiers around all drew their swords. Nephla and the bride’s mother swiftly ran towards the bleeding lady as the groom held her in shock.  A knight sighted the absconding hooded assassin as he made away with his bow and quiver. A squadron of soldiers were soon on his trail. The assassin was very familiar with the terrains of the place as he kept away from the main roads but kept his race on corners, cuts and holes. Soon the chasing party lost him as he simply vanished

           A dusk to dawn curfew was imposed on Onyx by King Stylx as house to house search was done, no one was allowed into the city as soldiers littered the streets. Pictures of the hooded assassin was pasted on all the nooks and crannies of the city as bounties upon bounties was placed on his capture. The army general and his family were in deep mourning. The groom committed suicide after his bride died in his arms two days after the incident, the pain of losing the love of his life on the day that they were to be joined together for life was unbearable so he fell to his sword just beside where his love was buried. Onyx was in no mood to be excited as this was the only recent crime recorded in the city after the tyrant reign of Gogla and his Aarangs. Onyx has always known peace before that faithful day, everyone remained indoors with fear of the unknown. The once busy streets of Onyx became deserted. King Stylx paced restlessly in the royal courtroom where he went to think, this caught him fully unawares and has him confused. Why would anyone try to hurt an innocent girl on her day of joy, they haven’t been in any war or conflict with any of the neighbouring kingdoms for such an attack to be pointed to them so whosoever perpretrated the hit must surely be an insider, he thought to himself as he made to pour himself a drink but quickly remembered Weoss instruction on abstinence from drinks in times of thinking and decision making. He went back to the royal chambers and met Nephla asleep, it hasn’t been easy for her these days too as she had to represent Stylx in all the mourning events the city and family held in remembrance of the two tragic deaths. He sat beside her and gently stroked her hair, he shifted his gaze to her tummy as he became worried of his unborn child considering the recent stress that Nephla has been through, as he was about to dwell on his next thought, Nephla gentle grip made him realize that she was awake. He adjusted his sitting as she rose up and sat beside him. My love, the answer to this riddle of death that happened is tied to the recent action you took towards the councilmen. King Stylx nodded in affirmation as he brought her into his arms. This was one of the winning strategies that Weoss had thought him, trusting the counsel of the one who truly loves him. He kissed her forehead and held her tighter

          The council men got the shock of their lives when king Stylx told them that the sender of the killer was among them in the courtroom after summoning them that morning. “Is he trying to humiliate like he did before, has our King gone mad again, don’t he respect or trust us again?” were some of the murmurs that could be heard in the courtroom. They became more shocked and even scared when he told them that he already knows who the person was and would be executed the next this in front of the Starlights. He told them to go home and that the next day the culprit will be visited by his knights and will be made to face the wrath of the law and people. He walked away without explaining further to the confused courtroom. As they went back to their quarters in the province, they could see the stage for the public crucifixion being erected close to the gates, most swallowed hard hoping that they wont be picked up on mere assumptions and executed as the king has spoken of. Soon the rumours of the intended public execution went round as the city eagerly awaited the break of dawn to see the devil who instructed the carrying out of such an evil action. Pebbles and trash was already being packed to enable everyone have a throw at the culprit who has decided to bring shame to himself and disgrace to his position. Tongues began to wag that it was because the person loved the bride and wanted her for himself, others said the groom or his family might have stepped on the person’s toes, different news surrounding the reason for the act filled the streets, no one wanted to be left out in the story conjuring.

The D day arrived to the terror of the councilmen and the joy and eagerness of the city, some of the councilmen had already put their house in order and given their household their last words. In each of the houses in the councilmen province, there was an unusual hush as most of them stayed in expectation with their wives and kids, soft tears and whispers were the only sounds. Soon the heavy galloping of the knights horses came, the tension in the houses increased as all of their guards were taken off the previous days. Some of the councilmen started to proceed out and walk towards the incoming knights. The knights hurriedly came down their houses and picked the helpless and defenseless elders who looked at their wailing and crying families with looks of fright and terror. Out of the two hundred and forty councilmen, one was missing, according to his household, no one knows about his whereabout