Empire of the Two Crowns

Bright clean sunlight shown down upon the wind-tossed green grasses. Rolling grassy hills, beautiful in their symmetry met the crisp white of the ocean's surf in the distance.  The sound of the blown grasses practically roared, though there was something musical to the tone.

Walking up one side of a large hill was a man of average height and build.  He appeared to be in his 40's with black hair, and eyes to match.  His clothing and armor were of high quality, but not garish.  This was a man who appreciated the finer things, but had nothing to prove.

Walking up the other side of the hill was a taller man, with a chiseled face and touch of grey in his dark hair.  He wore a long traveling cloak that whipped in the wind.  He bore himself with confidence, and it was clear men would follow his commands to their very death, and consider it an honor.

The two men met at the top of the hill, and neither spoke.  It was clear they were meeting for the first time, and were sizing each other up.

The man with the chiseled face spoke first.  "You requested we meet, and here we are, Zuc-Swaine."

The man with nothing to prove gave a nod and smiled.  "Lucien.  We are alone.  No government ministers in sight.  No soldiers to lead.  I think we can step away from diplomatic niceties, and address each other by name.  So, call me Lucien."

"So, be it...Lucien.  You may call me Crighton.  But all the niceties in the world do not change the fact that we are two kings vying for the same lands.  The same resources.  Niceties do not solve our problem.  Just a few weeks ago, I was developing and settling the Wilds to serve as a home for my people.  Now, your lands have returned from whatever cursed place they've been, and men have died.  Soldiers have fought.  We are on the cusp of war."

Lucien's smile faded.  "We are only at war if you and I say we are.  No one else gets to decide that.  I've learned what I could about you and the Grey Kingdom over the past few weeks, and I have come to respect that you are a leader.  A King.  No one dictates to you what must happen."

Crighton took a step forward, closing the distance between the men to just a handful of steps.  "You have me at a disadvantage then.  What I know of you is only from rare tomes of history...and that is if you are truly the same Lucian Zuc-Swaine described in those ancient pages.  Why have you asked me to meet with you?"

Lucian turned partially away from the Grey King, and extended his arms to bask in the warmth of the sunlight.  "Is it true you were raised here in SonaNyl?  It is said the Valiant Dead...the Kings of Old raised you as a child.  Taught you everything they knew of rulership...and war."  Lucien turned back to Crighton.  "Is this true?"

Crighton seemed distracted by the change of topic.  He took a moment to answer.  "It is true.  It is not the childhood I would wish on anyone.  But, it is how I was raised.  It is who I am.  Your scholars have done their research."

Lucian pointed at the Grey King, "Then you know better than anyone that if we go to war, thousands will die.  Perhaps tens of thousands.  And for what?  So, I can add another chapter with my name on it to the history books?  So you can grow your power, and challenge the greater Empires of the world?  All those lives snuffed out for you and I?  Weeping widows and well-fed battlefield ravens, just to decide who rules in the South?"

Crighton's eyes softened, but his body retained a guarded posture.  "Is this where you use your magic is ensorcell me?  To convince me that the South is yours, and that I should kneel at your feet as a king beneath Emperor Zuc-Swaine?  It will not work, Lucien."

Lucien looked authentically shocked.  "I am a good and honorable king.  I have magic at my disposal, but so do you.  You pose as lead inquisitor of your hate mobs. But, I know something they don't.  Rather than execute and imprison those that use magic in your Kingdom, you secret them away to a place a safety.  A place where they can live and thrive.  You've been playing this sleight of hand for 20 years, and you have an army of mages and cleric at your disposal, just like I do."

It was Crighton's turn to be shocked.  "How dare you!  You know nothing of what you speak!"

Lucian raised a placating hand.  "Yes...yes I do.  You are no inquisitor, no matter how well you play one.  You were created with magic, raised with magic, and some of your best friends are steeped in magic.  You might fool the hate mobs and ignorant populous, but you do not fool me.  Nor do you need to!  I respect what you've done. I'm impressed by it.  It shows that you are are a good and honorable king, like me."

Crighton turned away now, looking back at the waves crashing on the shores in the distance.  "So, you don't want war.  You don't want to ensorcell me.  You don't want to sell out my secrets for your own advantage.  What do you want?  Why did you ask that we meet?"

Lucien smiled.  "Let us not fight, good King.  Let us not waste our resources and our people on ego, and destruction.  Let us, you and I, side-step fate.  Let us make our own destinies.  I propose we merge our kingdoms and form an Empire of our own."

Crighton turned back around.  "Merge our kingdoms into an Empire that we both rule?"  He laughed.  "You are mad."

Lucien laughed as well.  He stepped forward and extended his hand.  "Have I judged you wrongly?  Are you not also as mad as I?"

Crighton stared at the extended hand.  "Two Emperors.  Two Crowns.  One Empire."

Lucien nodded.  "Equal and fair.  Built on trust between two good and honorable kings.  Our people, unified as one, only benefit from our willingness to take this chance.  We will not allow ourselves to fail.  What say you, Emperor Crighton?"

The Grey King took a step forward, and firmly took Lucien's hand.  "It is a chance worth taking.  To the Empire of the Two Crowns!"

The Two Crowns

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