Troubles of the High King

Troubles of the High King is part of Tales of Arkain.

## Synopsis

Zarin Hammerfall, the High King of the Dwarves and his daughter was talking about what troubles her father.

## Story

High King Zarin Hammerfall sat upon his throne in the great hall that was his throne room and was lost in his thoughts. The room was otherwise empty save for his guards, the Chosen of the High King, that stood at the doors and the ones that stood around his throne, neither moving nor making any other noise. It was late in the night, everyone else was asleep but the troubled high king of the Dwarves could not find any rest. Despite the fact that his realm prospered under his rule, he could not ignore the events that were taking place above. Twenty years had passed since the end of the last great war – and the end of the alliance with the Humans and Elves. Twenty years since the rise of the cursed Bloodclaw and his kin. History repeated itself. The Humans, formerly friends of the Dwarves, allied with the black dragons and destroyed the friendship – though in this particular case, the black dragons were only ONE of the reasons – and caused a war. The real war had not yet come, but more and more kings began to suggest or demand that Zarin took action against Zyainor – Zarin could not blame them but the Dwarves were surrounded by foes. And if Zyainor fell... Who knew how long it would be until the Demons would invade again? Not to mention that this was possibly the worst time to go to war against Zyainor, the nation had reached power that surpassed even the power of the old Zyainor.

Zarin, still lost in his thoughts, heard the heavy door open and steps in his direction. He did not look up, his guards would already have dealt with the intruder if it was someone whom the high king would not have wanted to be here. He was still lost in his thoughts. "High King, your daughter has arrived. She wishes an audience with you." said one of the guards who stood next to his throne. Zarin nodded and gazed upon his visitor. His daughter stood several steps away from his throne, in the center of the throne room. She wore the robes that identified her as a student of the rune priests. She was but an adept but a skilled one. She was Zarin's youngest child – and the only one who had remained. The only direct kin that he had left. "It is too late for you to be visiting your father in his throne room. You should be sleeping to be fit for your training in the morning." he said. She looked on the ground – as she should. She was being reprimanded, Zarin was sure that she had been explicitly told to go to bed by her tutors SEVERAL hours ago. She did not raise her voice to talk back on him. A child was supposed to honor the parents and never talk back – and unlike OTHERS, Zarin's daughter honored the traditions. "I could not sleep, knowing that my father's mind was poisoned by dark thoughts about the dark times on the surface. I humbly ask for your forgiveness." she said. Zarin waited as if he pondered and then nodded. "You are forgiven, my daughter. However, you should not trouble yourself with the political events of the world and instead focus on your training. As the daughter of the high king and adept of the runepriests, you are expected to perform extraordinary well." he explained. "I understand, my father, and I promise that I will return to sleep as soon as I leave this room. Still, as a responsible daughter and your only direct kin within these halls, I am obliged to care for your well-being." she said. "Your concern is appreciated but not required, my daughter." Zarin assured her. She did not seem convinced. "Father, it is not my place to say such a thing, but I'd like you to hear me out. I have heard most disturbing things regarding the nations of Zyainor and would like to repeat that the Kingdom of Kerrel-" Zarin raised his hand and immediately silenced his daughter by doing so. She was getting ahead of herself, she had not even waited for him to give permission to continue. While this was something a father COULD forgive, a high king certainly could not. She looked back on the ground, not saying a word. Zarin, on the other hand, slightly raised his voice to highlight his discontent. "This discussion is over. As I have already said, it is late. I will not let your training suffer. I suggest that you return to your quarters and think about this before you return to my throne room, daughter." he said. She stood there for a few seconds, staring at the ground until she bowed before the throne. "Forgive me for my intrusion, father. It will not happen again." she whispered and hurried to leave the throne room.

Zarin watched her as she left. She had wanted to suggest to him that he should seek out the rulers of Kerrel to ally with them against the common enemy in Zyainor. Such a thing was impossible. Neither Zarin nor any other king had forgotten that Dorten and his followers had actively supported Gardon during the Second Voidwar – not only in the war but also politically by accepting him as king of two kingdoms and as if that had not been enough, accepting the return of the Black Dragons, allowing him to bring back Zyainor! An unforgivable crime. A human king might have forgotten or forgiven this act of betrayal, but no dwarf. After the Humans of the Kingdoms had now, for the second time, allied with the Black Dragons, most Dwarven rulers had little doubt that the Humans of Zyainor and the Kingdoms – what still remained of them anyway – had proven that their kind would NEVER be in a position where they could be accepted as allies or even trade partners ever again. And so, Zarin returned to his thoughts.