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Episode 3 of the Artonian Saga



My story begins ten years ago when I was eight years old.

For sixty years my grandfather has ruled Artonia. He must surely be the greatest king Artonia ever had. My name is James Blackstone and I am the third and youngest son of Embert Blackstone who is in turn the second son of Henry IX Blackstone, the Saviour King. My grandfather talked rarely of the dawn of his reign. Killing your father does that I guess. After my grandfather killed his father John III Blackstone and became king he started a grand military campaign to the north. The queen of the distant north was a mighty warrior princess according to the tales. As she conquered Artonia’s northern provinces in the reign of John III, it seemed a good move to take back those lands. My grandfather proved himself when they clashed. The Northern Queen Alexandra II Ironshield fell among the dead. As she had no direct heir her kingdom fell in a civil war. For the rest of the sixty years my grandfather proved a wise and capable king. He only went to war when needed and always listened to the advise of his counsel. Those sixty years where a golden age for the kingdom not seen in a long time. Even when his wife, my grandmother Angelina Moltovia died he still continued to give his best. She was kind and sweet and he never was the same after her dead.



Now after sixty years Henry IX Blackstone began to cough blood. He was brought to his personal chambers but we all knew that his life was coming to an end. After two days we where all brought to his chambers. I was very sad. I always liked him better then my father. My mother died when I was born and he never forgave me I guess. My uncle and his children where there too. My uncle, Robert Blackstone is sixty years old and he was born the night after my grandfather wed. He is a old and tired person. Robert Blackstone is a good man but always complaining about his health. He has two sons and one daughter. Henry , Richard and Angelina. Angelina is a widow. Her husband a mighty lord died 3 years before and she is left as ruler over those lands a there are no children. Henry and Richard are arrogant, mad and foolish. Henry is the worst as he got an tourney accident once with his head. Richard is a little bit better but more an idiot. My brother George was present too. He always cared for me. Despite being strong wild and proud. My eldest brother died at sea years ago. My grandfather said goodbye to all of us in turn. I came last. My grandfather took my hands and he looked in my eyes with sadness. He told my “You will have the most important future of all” My grandfather looked strange when he said it. I did not understand at the time what was happening.



The next ten years where difficult. In the north a new empire had risen years ago. When the kingdom in the north fell in a civil war an warlord took advantage as he united those lands as a new empire. The Northern Empire it was called. My grandfather had held them of for years but now following his death, unrest was rife. Their Emperor was called: Costan the great Bloodfire. My uncle the new king Robert II Blackstone although weak went to war to defend his northern provinces from the empire. I was too young to join. The battle ended before it even began. My uncle got an heart attack right at the beginning of the battle. The army fell in chaos. My brother as wild as he was personally led a group of men in holding the enemy back so the Artonian Army could retreat. I never saw my brother again.



My uncle had ruled for 5 years. He was not great but not bad either. My cousin, Henry X took the throne. His nickname became the Mad Lion. Meanwhile my life became a living hell with my brother dead. My father humiliated me every moment he got. Once during dinner he screamed that I was worthless for no reason at all even! Despite that my father, Embert Blackstone is a great warrior and he held of the Empire the following years despite everything. Afterward my cousin King Henry commited suicide after two years when he believed the walls ordered him. He jumped from his window laughing. His brother Richard was already dead. Richard died in the wars with the empire. By rights the throne was to go to Angelina , their sister but my father took power. I remember that day. Angelina sat at the throne. This was the first day of her rule when suddenly the doors of the throne room fell open and my father all in mail stormed in with twenty heavily armed guards. I was sitting near the walls when I saw. He stormed to the throne and pushed the blade through her head. Then he tossed her body aside and went to sit on the with blood covered throne. The ministers refused to accept an act of such tyranny so my father put them all on a burning pyre outside the castle.



The next three years where easier for me. My father was always fighting his wars and he ignored me. There where many wars as there where many enemies inside but also outside in the form of the Northern Empire. I always spend my days in the library reading about the history of our kingdom such as my namesakes James II The Fallen king and James I the hunter. I like reading more then fighting if honest. Problems arose when the Northern Emperor Costan the great died. His son Costan II invaded with an hundred thousand men. My father did not like the omens yet he still went forth to defend Artonia. He left me at the castle in case our kingdom would fall then their would always be an Blackstone heir. He had no choice I am the his only living relative. The black lion went fort just north of our castle to face the flame of the north himself. I do not know what happened exactly all I know is that my father was beheaded in combat by the Northern Emperor himself. So I became the new king with my father Embert I dead. As I sat on the throne the surviving knights shouted out with pride: Long live the king! Long live James V! At that same moment the empire had come and they where besieging the castle. The flame of the north had reached our castle. This castle was the same once held by the fallen king all those years ago. It is our capital. Artorius Castle. Named after the kingdoms founder.



My army numbered only a thousand as the enemy had the same hundred thousand of earlier. I had never been in a battle. I hardly ever trained even! Yet I am a lion too. I will not fall here like my namesake. Sir William Moltovia, greatest of our knights and a distant cousin through my grandmother came with advice. He told me that he had send a letter to our allies in the east. The kingdom of Mortumbia. They would take me in and protect me from the empire. I do not want to leave I said to William however I knew I had no choice. Outside I could hear the Imperial army shouting. The castle was not going to hold forever. I have no choice. I must leave. The founder of our dynasty, John III Blackstone had done only one good thing. He had made a underground tunnel to the coast where a ship was always standing prepared. It was decided I would leave with Sir Williams two sons through the tunnel. Sir William was prepared to hold of the enemy. As I joined the knights in the tunnel I could hear the cracking of the castle gates and the fighting of men. The walking through the tunnel seemed forever but finally we saw the coast. I looked into the distance and I saw our castle in flames. Artonia has fallen. The Flame of the North had won but not completely. I still live.



As I go into exile I promise to return and to take back what is mine. Artonia wil rise again one day and then it is the Northern Empire who will feel fear. I shall destroy their empire and end their Bloodfire dynasty.

But for now I must flee. So I go into exile.

The last king of Artonia and of the house of Blackstone.

This is the exile of the house of Blackstone.

This is the exile of the lion.