The conversation with Nartuck went as well as Linth expected it to. Nartuck actually seemed happy to be rid of Hashmire, and he made it known in front of all the priests. There were murmurs, and Nartuck noticed.
“If anyone has a problem with me, they’ll get the sword!” Nartuck said. This made them all quiet, and he was annoyed by them and told them all to leave. This is what Linth wanted; he knew the priests would be talking about it openly to the people and the soldiers. Hashmire was beloved by the people. He did so much for them, and now their Lord was doing nothing to help him. Nartuck was laughing.
“I need a new high priest, someone to crown me king! These people have longed for a king, and that’s what I’ll give them. Linth, get your warriors together; they will encourage the people to take me as their king, or they will have to deal with my soldiers,” Nartuck said. Linth bowed his head and walked out. Now was the time.
Once all the people were gathered by the Lord’s hut, he came out. By that time, more than half of Nartuck’s soldiers were on the rebellion’s side. Most of the people were ready to stand and fight. Linth felt good about where they stood. Verdom told the loyal soldiers to stand next to the ones that were still loyal to the Lord, just in case they needed to intervene. Nartuck then began to speak.
“My good people, by now you must have heard of Hashmire. I am sorry to say we will not be going to get him,” he said. A resounding no could be heard throughout the people. The crowd then started speaking. This aggravated Nartuck, and he was in no mood to be disobeyed.
“Silence, you fools…don’t fret, we will get a new high priest. One that is loyal to me! Anyone of you who chooses to go against me will be flogged,” Nartuck said. People from the faction started to speak up loudly, saying that this was wrong, and more and more people started to get the courage to fight back. Nartuck was getting nervous and angry. He motioned for his soldiers to get the perpetrators, but they were stopped by the people.
“Now you dumb Piskals, I am the king now, and you will obey me!” Nartuck said. That is when Verdom came out in front of the group. He smiled at Nartuck.
“We do not follow you! We follow the true king, and I must admit he is still alive. Your reign of terror is now at its end,” Verdom said. The people were ecstatic, cheering for their king and blessing the water. Rage consumed Nartuck, and he ordered his men to cut Verdom down. The soldiers who tried were quickly stopped by the rebels and forced to their knees. Linth then came up and told the soldiers and warriors to take everyone who stood with Nartuck to the cages. Nartuck then brought out his sword and went for Verdom. Nartuck tried to strike, but his sword was quickly pushed down by Verdom’s sword. They exchanged blows for some time until Linth came up behind Nartuck and knocked him unconscious.
“That’s enough of that,” Linth said, and Verdom laughed. Soon, Nartuck was taken away, and Linth addressed the people.
“My good people, there is a battle coming for us, and we need to prepare. When our king returns with the Master of water, we should be ready. We will save our missing people and drive back the Rhudons that come to annihilate us. Go prepare, it shouldn’t be long,” Linth said. People were overjoyed and rushed to their homes to prepare for a war. They finally got what they needed, a way out from the rule of the tyrant. Linth then dispatched a group of warriors to look for the king and the Master, but told them to hide in the shadows; they must not be found by the Rhudons. They left with haste. Verdom sat down, happy that this nightmare was over, but his thoughts soon went towards his wife. Linth saw this and came up to him.
“We will get her back, I promise,” Linth said, and Verdom didn’t know if he could believe it. He shook his head.
“We just have to wait for the king,” Verdom said. They sat there in silence, preparing themselves for the war ahead.