Do Thrones Lie

The throne was glistening, and the stench of ichor and blood filled my nostrils as I drew nearer. Daunting in not only size, but the eyes of each head that made up the throne followed me with their haunting gaze. I shook their stares and turned to attention to face the Elder.

“Tonight we crown a new king; the five-year reign of Hanor has come to an end.” The crowd’s claps were hollow, and the mood was somber. While it was a day of celebration, it was also a day of loss when you had a good and just king. “Hanor, we thank you for your service to the Realm.” The crowd cheered for their king, but grew silent at the following words. “Kneel, my son”.

Hanor moved from my left and took a few strides until he faced the Elder, then he lowered himself to his knees. The Elder placed his hand on Hanor’s shoulder and bowed to kiss him on his forehead. Hanor took one last look at his people in the crowd, smiled, and lowered his head. The Elder stepped back, and a man in a dark robe glided forward, unsheathing an enormous sword that glowed a deep maroon and hummed with ancient magic. In a swift arc downward, Hanor’s head was removed from his shoulders.

His body thudded to the ground, and the Elder scooped up his head and approached the throne. There was a spot waiting for Hanor, and the Elder whispered a few words and placed his bloody head onto it. Suddenly, voices filled my head. I could hear Hanor, but he only emitted a few groans and babbles. The other voices were deafening, making my head pound. I winced and turned away, but tried to control myself and make out the words they were saying. I didn’t realize it would be this painful.

The heads belonged to all of the previous kings, and they served as advisors to the current king. With their vast knowledge of the realm’s entire existence and its history, it was how the realm refrained from repeating past mistakes and maintained peace. Knowledge was the ultimate power. Along with a five-year limit on a single king’s power, the realm had prospered for many decades.

“Don’t do it. Don’t take the crown!” Another voice, “Five years of power is not worth a lifetime of agony!” I attempted to steady myself as the Elder began the next part of the coronation ritual.

“FREE US!” multiple voices echoed. I shook my head, trying to clear them when a deep, commanding but composed voice drowned out the others.

“Imagine this, for eternity, along with no free will, no body to move, nothing to feel, seeing the exact same view every single day.”

The Elder was preparing the crown, whispering as he gently touched it.

“All you have to do is refuse the crown. Don’t take it, break the curse.” Just refuse? How did any king before me bear this and accept? I dared a glance at the throne, towering with endless different faces, eyes burning into me. “Refuse, then kill the Elder. Save yourself, free us all.”

Realization quickly changed my thoughts. Kill the Elder? The Elder had been a part of the history, part of the entire existence of the realm, since anyone can remember. That would be an ultimate betrayal, an unknown cost. The voices persist, searing into my every thought. “Eternal agony.” “Madness creeps in.” “FREE US!”

This must be a test! I must endure until the ceremony is complete, then the heads will have to accept their fate and return to my advisors and servants to the realm.

The Elder was doing the final cleansing of the crown.

The commanding voice returned, as if reading my thoughts. “It will lessen, yes, but it will linger. We will fulfill our duty, for we are bound to it, but we will be a constant buzz. A blip of madness creeping in day-by-day. You think Hanor was a good king; he may have been to most, but to curb the itching voices, he did dark, unspeakable things in the shadows.”

My eyes grew wide. I couldn’t discern if this was the reality I faced or if this was a test. Would I be the savior or the only failure?

…

Part two coming soon! What do you think of the story so far? Let us know in the comments below!

Thank you so much for reading!

–Clever & WTF