I looked at her blankly as everything happening this night was all just too much for me to continue comprehending clearly. "Gathered?" I asked.
She nodded her head quickly, "The Targon Mountains are overrun by every vile creation of the fallen ones imaginable! The Yesathurim have been gathered together in the valley that you helped clear in the Holy Mountains years ago. We have built a city, along with a great wall, to hold our enemies out. It has been our only task since Kuri has drawn us all back together from the nations. The only clan that remains abroad is that which the Witch at Vella controls. You will help us won't you?" she asked, suddenly looking uncertain for the first time.
I was the King of a people who needed a leader. I was the husband and father of a family that needed me. But I was first and foremost the trusted servant of the man who'd made me to be the man that everyone seemed to think was impossible to do without.
How could I betray that first and most sacred trust? I couldn't.
"I will do as Kuri asks and go to confront the Witch at Vella."
There was a general stir in the Knights around me and focusing on them I said, "And then, if El Elyon permits, I will bring my wife and children back here in order to rule as your King, but this I must do first. If this is not to your liking then elect another king to rule over you."
"No!!! We will wait. We will have you and no other as king, as ruler over us!" one Knight said.
Another Knight stepped forward and said, "As our king the army should go with you to Vella."
I shook my head, "The army stays here to protect Smirnaz. The men under my command will also stay in order to ensure that the people are safe from attack by anyone emboldened by your leaderless state in my absence."
Strong objections began to be raised, but I shut them off, "I am the King and I have spoken, even so do as I have commanded!"
In the silence that followed I turned to Thanuel, who'd come up to the scene, "I place you in command in my absence." To his credit, Thanuel voiced no objections before the others, but I knew it would have been far different should I have given him the order in a more private setting.
Then turning to the crowd of Knights I said, "I have long awaited the call of this mission to Vella. Years have gone by since it was given to me by my master and I shall not fail him, even as I know you will not fail me in doing what I have asked of you. I believe this mission heralds in the end of our time as we know it. It is my strong belief that the time of kingdoms is at an end and that the Kingdom of Shamayim is close at hand. Prepare your hearts and look closely to your lives to make sure that you are right with El Elyon. I would also caution you to put your houses in order and to be ready to leave the lands that we have fought so hard for these past few years and be ready to go to the East, even as prophecy would have us believe such will be the way to the Kingdom. I leave you now as there is no time to be wasted, but know that you will be in my prayers."