Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 329: The throne that is promised (1)

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Eventually, 

All things decline, 

Everything falters, dies and end, 

Towers cave in, wall collapse, 

Roses wither, horses stumble, 

Cloth grows old, men expire, 

Nothing made by hand will last, 

I understand the truth, that all must die,

Both clerk and lay, 

And the fame of men now dead, 

Will quickly be forgotten, 

Unless the clerk takes up his pen, 

And bring their deeds to life again,

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1021 SEEDMONTH

VANGUA

The New Year came with breeze as Vangua have just win the war in Freya. It was an invasion that strengthened Vangua once againjosei

Now the size of Vangua kingdom has doubled possessing the power to pose a threat to the rest of the continent. 

The rise of Vangua seems to be the trend of time. After a period of decline, it once again rises.

This is what the Duchess of Arrandy worries about and has been trying to protect Arrandy interest as their trade to the South is temporarily halted.

The Four families of the Principality of Freya, the Dondoglio, Giovanni, Giotto and Botticelli have all been forced to flee for their lives. 

Their slave army is destroyed leaving the once proud Principality of Freya a barren wasteland with hundreds of villages and a hundred more cities burn and sacked to the ground by the relentless assault of Harald the Vanquisher as he is now known in the land of Vangua.

This is the year where everything will change as Silas prophesized. Silas had long predicted that with Harald in the helm of power over the large military forces of Vangua, sooner or later, conflict will arise.

As late as winter of last year, King Edward was still well enough for him to engage in activities of the court. 

He still uses intellect and cunningness for his position to be strong and the King keep sending Duke Harald to battle and at the same time reconcile his difference with the Orleans family. 

As he grows older year by year the King of Vangua began to see the lord of Arrandy as a threat and he need to have countermeasure for that. 

It is clear to King Edward that this young lord in Arrandy has unbridled ambition, and an appetite of a dragon. 

One day if left unchecked, that same lord that once protect him might be the same person that will devour him. 

But then, as he planned and schemes, King Edward health deteriorated rapidly. 

Even though Amelie has been released from the nunnery and has been in the castle since their last altercation the King of Vangua is still left with no heir to his kingdom. 

Knowing his death is near, his title Edward the Saint…finally shine through.

He began sending alms to the poor, forgive his old enemies, and began ridding himself of Arrandian influence in his court which drew Harald to respect the King and begun making more and more frequent trips to the castle of Caen.

As one of the great leaders of the continent, and having an aspiration to outclass the young Arrandian lord, King Edward began constructing the Southern Church of Saint Lazare.

He has lavished great fortunes, his last offering to the God of Light, drawing appreciation from the common folk and nobles alike. 

The church itself is close to the Caen Castle, a stunning tribute to god…an act of pride rather than piety. 

He knows he will not be alive to see the completion of the church but history will remember him. 

The largest church in the human continent, rivaling that of the City of Holies.

A few months since the construction of the church he began suffering the more painful bouts of his illness. 

He became bedridden, yet stable in power. 

'His reign is a short one but one that will be remembered' some of the nobles voices this opinion during his absence. The others nodded in agreement.

In his reign the total area of Vangua doubled with Freya under their feet now. 

But even though Freya is no longer, the army of the kingdom is tired and there are many casualties in both sides. 

And there is still plot bubbling all around the continent with growing worry and restlessness pervaded to every man of importance in the continent.

If not for the suggestion of Harald to persuade the insurrection of slaves and promises them of their freedom, to be given a citizenship of Vangua, they might take years of fighting the four families of the Principality.

The slave who has seen the freedom, at least the sense of freedom, fight for it. But by no means one is free for no one is free during this period of chaos…something always bound them whether by oath or by power.

King Edward prodigious piety shines once more as he did not renounce on his promise and truly granted the former slaves their freedom to be the citizen of the proud and mighty Vangua.

But even in his dying days one could show he longs to be with his kinsmen embrace, Caelum. 

For all his worries and unease of the young lord in Arrandy, one could see the church design as Arrandian, a grand imitation of the Church of St Assisi in Acro, with its characteristic round-topped arches and clean, elegant lines resembling that great church of the great city of the Human Continent. 

But the church King Edward envisioned is even longer, larger and even more impressive. 

Five bays of the nave are already completed thanks to the prodigious skill of the Seren architect and Asteros hires.

It was during 67 Seedmonth 2021 After Fall, King Edward the Saint, the King of Vangua breathed his last breath and died in the company of Duke Harald, his wife and few other great men and women of the realm.

In the morning the news of his death spread like a wildfire throughout the Human Continent and many nobles who are at the time near the border of Vangua rush to see the King body and join the funeral procession. 

It is noted, that whatever enmity between the Orleans, Duke Harald and King Edward, it has been resolved as the King even returned back the land that he stripped away and even gifted Duke Harald more land after their almost civil war.

He was to be buried at the Church of St Diana the Apostle. The King body is completely wrapped in a dark yellow binding, lies on its die lifeless as an empty vessel. 

Ten men of great renown, each one of great noble families, performing the rites, holding, shouldering the poles, two other figures ring hand bells at the sides. 

The solemn atmosphere is accompanied by a dirge chanted out by a group of clerics at the rear of the funeral procession. 

Men great and low, good and evil bore the remains of the Saint King into the house of God. 

His royal wife Amelie sobbed and cries during his death but now she is calm and collected and she is with the cleric by special permission, offered up prayers and psalms reciting all that day and the following night.

One that can also be seen in this company is Duke Harald Alan, drawing the attention of the other nobles.

All the time Duke Harald was praying he think of the man…...of the Saint King…and whether history and the stars above will remember him.

From what Harald could see in his journey back, there is genuine lamenting in his passing. 

On the whole, he seemed to have been dignified, dutiful to his country and pious to the church and he belonged to one of the ancient lineage of Vangua just like him. 

But was he truly wise? Harald muse in his head while around him the prayers are still given and offered. 

Beneath that pious exterior, behind his kind smile, and wistful gaze, was he truly an enigma?

During his first reign, he was weak and ineffectual king, forever under the domination of the powerful nobles and yet upon once again seizing power, he acted with great courage, and with great risk of losing, if not always in the effect he desired. 

Emilia understands this Harald thought. Truly…. Edward is no weakling. Rather than that, it was his position that is weak.

It is by this understanding of the inner struggle of the King that Emilia and him reached the king hand, accept the King, as the King also shows an openness to forget old enmity. 

It was pragmatic of Edward to ally with one of his most vile enemies. And wise of Emilia to accept it and cement Orleans and Alan influence in the kingly court.

Surely one day, people of Vangua will look at Edward legacy, his rule and his effort with fondness and nostalgia.

But there seems to be something that is still nagging in Harald mind.