Kull Story Excerpt

 Here is a short excerpt from a Kull of Atlantis story that appears in my latest book, 3 Blades Against Darkness.

Daggers At My Back

Kull sat upon the throne of Valusia, his strong chin resting upon his mighty fist. His grey eyes stared off, focusing on nothing in his line of sight. He was deep in thought as he considered the possible futures that loomed over the nation. He felt pressure to make the right decisions as his subjects’ lives depended on what he did next.

It did not seem long since Kull took the crown from Borna. He had killed Borna to gain the throne, but did that mean he had the wisdom and strength to rule? Borna was a cruel king. Someone had to end his tyrannical reign, and if not Kull, then who? But it was Kull who ended Borna’s cruelty. The people cheered, but not for long. Kull brought peace to Valusia, but peace has a way of making men restless, and they begin to think thoughts. Thoughts turn into plots. Plots turn into action.

Kamelia saw Valusia’s peaceful existence as the right time to stir up war. They believed peace would make men complacent and wish to avoid war, so they made a pact with neighboring Verulia, and now they are beating the war drums. Their objective: to cut out great swaths of Valusia’s southern border for themselves, thereby increasing their lands while Valusia gets whittled away. If that were to happen, it would not be long before Farsun and Zarfhaanah decided they also wanted a piece. Before long, Valusia would be a shadow of its former self, losing its power and greatness. Kull was not about to let that happen.

Kull looked about the throne room. There were councilors, advisors, and diplomats. There were generals, barons, and tacticians. There were Royal guards and servant girls. Which of them were spies and traitors? Kull wondered. Which of them is loyal to Valusia and him?

Chief Councilor Tu entered the throne room and approached Kull. Tu was a mature, portly man with thinning hair. He had a very common face and did not look like a man who held such a lofty position. He bowed before the king.

“Has our envoy returned yet from Verulia, good councilor?” Kull asked.

“There has been no word of the envoy, Your Majesty.”

Kull shook his head. “He should have returned by now.”

“A three-man delegation under the flag of truce arrived from Kamelia,” Your Majesty.

“A Kamelian delegation has come, but not our envoy. The envoy was sent to learn the Kamelians' intention and convey our desire for peace.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Send in the Kamelian delegation,” ordered the king.

“They have returned to Kamelia, Your Majesty, as they were ordered to do.”

Kull shook his head, confused. “Why did they come? Did they deliver a message from King Val?”

“No message, Your Majesty, but they did deliver a gift from King Val.”

“Let us see it.”

Tu turned toward the door and motioned to two men. One was holding a chest and the other a small table. They approached the throne. One man put down the table and the other set the chest upon it. The chest was made of bronze and was handsomely decorated with intricate carvings.

King Kull looked at the chest. He motioned for Tu to open it.

The councilor approached the box, undid a clasp, and opened the lid. Kull heard a slight gasp from Tu.

“What is it, councilor?” Kull asked.

“It is the head of your envoy, Your Majesty.”

Kull stood and stepped toward the chest, then looked inside. He motioned to Tu to have it removed. The two men removed the chest and table.

“Call for a council meeting immediately,” Kull instructed Tu.

The council room was close to the throne room. There were seventeen councilors and the king. By this time, all the councilors knew the fate of the envoy sent to Kamelia.

“I am here to get a unanimous vote for war against Kamelia,” Kull said. Murmurs broke out from most of the councillors, except for those who foresaw the king’s view.  

“Are we certain that is the best course of action?” a senior councillor, Kaanuub of Blaal asked. “I have my hand on the pulse of the nation, Your Majesty, and I know the people are against war.”

“They would not fight to save the nation, their home?” Kull asked with incredulity.

“We do not know if that is the case,” Kaanuub said. “I recommend to you and this council that we must never abandon the road to peace.”

The majority of the council was swayed by Kaanuub, and the king’s proposal was defeated. The council suggested that another envoy be sent to Kamelia.

Kull was openly frustrated with the resistance he met, but before he stalked out of the room, he addressed the council.

“I don’t know where you will find a volunteer to act as an envoy to Kamelia, but I suggest that if you cannot find such a person, that one of you who voted against me, volunteer to take up the mission yourself!”

Later, in his private chamber, King Kull spoke with Tu, who was one of the few councillors who sided with the king.

“What happened in the council chamber, Tu?” Kull raged. “How did that happen?”

“My apologies, my Lord. I must take some of the blame. I should have spoken with the councillors individually first.”

“This is not good, my friend,” Kull said, not wishing to take all his frustration out on Tu. “I need a unanimous council before I can declare war.”   

“It was Kaanuub, my Lord. I do not know what he is up to. What will you do now, my Lord?”

“Weeks ago, I ordered our arms maker to go into full production,” Kull said. “Recruitment has been stepped up. In a week or two, we will be prepared to march. ”

Tu looked amazed and offended. “You never said a word about this to me. Did you not trust me?”

Kull approached the man and laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “I am telling you now, my friend. You are the only one in the palace who knows. I have sent Brule, the Spearslayer, to scout out ahead and try to infiltrate the enemy's camp and learn what he may.”

“I was wondering why I had not seen the Pict in the palace for the last few weeks,” Tu said.

“We must find a way around the council,” Kull said.

“Not so much around the council, Lord King,” Tu said slyly. “We must find a way around Kaanuub of Blaal.”

“Why is Kaanuub opposing me?”

“It is difficult to say, my king.”

Days later, another council meeting was called.

Kaanuub requested the position to speak first. He gave a long oration on peace and the historical relationship between Valusia and Kamelia.

“His Majesty will be pleased to know that another envoy has been chosen for a peace mission to Kamelia,” Kaanuub said.

“That may not be necessary, councilor,” said Kull.

“And why is that, Your Majesty?”

“I plan on appealing to the council, then we will take another vote on my plan to march on Kamelia.”

“I do not see how Your Majesty can expect a different outcome from the last vote, but you are, of course, free to exercise that right,” Kaanuub of Blaal said condescendingly.

Kull turned to the men at the council table. “Who here supports me in waging war on Kamelia? Raise your hand.”

Every councilor but Kaanuub raised their hand.

Kaanuub looked about the room, astonished, then smiled knowingly.

“It would appear I am outvoted,” Kaanuub said.

“It would appear so,” Kull said. Turning to the council, he said, “Gentlemen, thank you for this mandate. We will prepare for war immediately.”

Council members left the chamber, leaving the king, Tu, and Kaanuub. The King and Kaanuub exchanged a long, unspoken look.

Finally, Kaanuub asked Kull, “How did you get them to come around to your way of thinking?” The king said nothing. Kaanuub turned to Tu, and said, “Or was all this your doing?”

Kaanuub walked away haughtily, realizing he had been outmaneuvered by a pair he believed inferior to his intellect and guile. 

3 Blades Against Darkness also comes in a non-graphic edition entitled Three Blades Against Darkness.

Look for them and all of Stephen Gaspar's books on Amazon!