As Marco enters the gates of Orlea, he breathes a sigh of relief.
After days of riding back roads in the dark, he has entered the confines of his home city. A fortress city with it’s back to the sea. With the combined resources of his family and the Coven, he has no fear of the new King now. The city could withstand a siege forever in his mind.
Marco also feels that he can salvage his plans with John Henry safely under the Broussard’s protection. Aero sweeping in and claiming the throne is nothing more than a minor setback. One easily remedied with his superior intellect. The dolphin rider may have had a successful opening salvo, but Marco knows the boy king doesn’t have the mind for this chess game. He is confident that he can rid the world of this pretend king in swift fashion.
Marco was quick to ask the guards about riders from the Capital and found that only a single rider carrying a king sealed note for his father three days ago. The ride through the streets of Orlea from the gates to Broussard Castle takes about fifteen minutes. More than enough time to figure out how to spin the events of the past days to his father.
Word travels fast in Orlea. Ears are everywhere; the Broussa spy network ensures that news of the arrival of Marco reaches the castle before he does. Marco anticipates this and is not surprised when His father’s house greets them at the castle gate.
“Father, may I present King John Henry the Fifth.” Marco says as his father approaches their wagon.
“We need to speak alone, get cleaned up and be in my study afterwards; the help will see to the king.”
“Yes father.”
About a half an hour later, Marco is in his father’s study spinning his story. Doing his best to frame the events in the Capital to minimize them. Marco knows very well that he must convince his father if he has any hope of winning over the Inner Circle. Gaining his father’s favor almost assures unity with the Covenant. Marco uses his oratory skills with expert precision, with each word his confidence grows. He knows he is in the zone and that his audience is being moved. For minutes on end, he explains with great detail his plan to defeat the usurper and place the Coven’s puppet king on the throne.
Leonardo finally stops his son. “You’ve spoken long enough son. This has always been your problem; you always speak first without having all the information.”
A jolt of fear travels down Marco’s spine. He has been so used to manipulating his way through life without any hardship but he may have miscalculated this time.
“I’m sure you are aware that the new King sent a letter a few days ago, but you didn’t even ask about it.”
“Because Father, I know Aero. He sent you a letter demanding that I be turned over to him. He is in over his head.”
“You couldn’t be more wrong. He did demand you, but he also demanded so much more, everything from routine royal inspections to auditing the books for taxes…”
“You’re not considering this are you? Our family has ruled this city for two thousand years! Give me a chance to make this right, my plan will work and end this whole ordeal. We will kill Aero and have his sand charmer queen working the rest of her life in our brothels.”
“King Aero also demanded the immediate disbanding of the Covenant. His demand mentioned the Coven by name. How could he know about us?”
“I didn’t say anything to him. I swear to you father!”
“If you didn’t then who did? Who else would have told Aero?”
“The only options would be Gerwin, Ser Robert, or John Henry.”
“Robert is missing, Gerwin is dead, and your King is here. Aero demands him as well.”
“Father… Let’s convene the Council, I will layout my plan.”
“The Inner Circle met two days ago. We are giving into Aero’s demands.”
“WHAT!?!” Marco screams.
“The Coven has worked in secret for centuries, until you pushed for too much too fast. The Coven must go back into the shadows. Generations of work undone in an instant! We will endure in secret again. You have brought the Owls to our knees. By your oath, you will give your life to ensure the survival of the Coven. The King is sending a security force to recover you and John Henry soon. I am sorry son, you flew too close to the Suns and got us all burned. Go spend time with the family, when the King’s dispatch arrives you will go willingly and keep your mouth shut for once in your life. Your death ensures the survival of the Coven. The Council will meet with you in the morning to get the whole story.”
“But father!”
“Shut up! I have spoken!”
Marco leaves his father’s study absently. How could this have happened? He has no idea. Marco goes straight to his childhood bedroom and locks himself in. Sometime in the middle of the night his mind breaks. By the time of the first Sunrise nothing is left of the old plotting Marco, he is now filled with rage. He spent the night imagining the deaths of Aero and Asna among others.
By breakfast the castle is roaring with news. Old man Leonardo passed in his sleep.
Rumors swirl quickly that Marco killed his father, but Leonardo had armed guards stationed outside Marco’s room and they testify that Marco never left his room.
By midmorning the Council sends word to Marco that their meeting is still on. Marco immediately sends word back that he will attend.
At midday, Marco enters the chamber of Owls with his cloak and owl mask on.
“You must take off that mask now, you are no longer the Horned Owl.” The Snow Owl demands.
“You are correct.” Marco says as he removes the golden mask and throws it on the table before them.
He then reaches into his cloak and pulls out his father’s mask, the mask of the Great Overseer. The mask is designed after ancient cave carvings of the mythical Spedis Owl by the primitives that inhabited the land before recorded history.
“How dare you!” The Snow Owl yells.
When he does, the doors fly open to the chamber. Dozens of Broussa guards pour into the room and encircle the room.
“Brethren, I have here a sealed letter from my father naming me as his successor on this sacred board. By my right, I am now the Great Overseer!”
“A forgery to be sure!” says the Pygmy Owl.
“No brother. I convinced my father that the time to strike this false king is now! He turned over leadership of the Council to me to ensure his plan. He drank Broan laced Ale before bed last night. His letter says that his time has passed, and it’s my time now. Pledge allegiance to me now, we have much work to do.”
The Broussa guards draw their weapons as intimidation.
‘Your father drank poison last night? I’ve known Leonardo for over forty years! There’s no way…”
“Choose your next words carefully…” Marco pauses midsentence “No, never mind, don’t bother.”
Marco waves his hand and three of his guards step forward stabbing the Snow Owl over and over again.
Marco looks around the room, evaluating the remaining council members. The room is silent, aside from the last gasps of the Snow Owl. When he speaks, he gets straight to the point.
“Anyone else want out or can we get down to business?”
Quickly, each member of the Council pledge allegiance to Marco officially naming him the next Overseer under threat of death.
With his authority cemented, Marco gets straight to business.
“Bring in John Henry.” Marco orders.
John Henry enters the old chambers of the Covenant for the first time.
“Wow, this is the Inner Circle?” John Henry says as he looks around the darkened room.
“It is.” Marco responds.
“Marco? Is that you behind the mask?”
“Yes.”
John Henry nods in acknowledgement.
“Is that my mask?” John Henry ask pointing at the Horned Owl mask on the table.
Marco reaches for the mask and holds it in his hands. “Your brother sent a letter to my father, demanding our surrender and the disbanding of the Coven.”
“He is an idiot; he doesn’t have any idea just how in over his head he is.”
“He seems to be smarter than I thought, he is one of the few people to even know the name of the society.”
“He’s only knows because I told him the night before he left for Meego.”
“You told him?”
“I did, when I was gloating that I was going to be King.”
“You told him…”
Marco reaches into his cloak and pulls out the dagger that he took from Aero the night John Henry spoke to Aero. He stabs him in the gut, John Henry hits the ground screaming. All the owls stand up in shock.
Marco, kneels over the prince “All you had to do was keep your mouth shut and I would have made you the most beloved king in history, but you couldn’t.” He looks at the owl mask in his hand. “You want this mask?”
Marco raises it over his head and brings it crashing down on John Henry’s face, he then raises it over again. He brings the Horned Owl mask down again. John Henry’s facial bones break as Marco continues his assault.
The prince’s screams die down as Marco keeps beating his face. John Henry’s face breaks as Marco takes all his frustrations out on him. Blood, bone and brain matter spill out on the floor of the chamber.
Marco reaches into the dead prince’s blood and smears it across his mask.
“This isn’t the last royal blood I will shed.” Marco says arrogantly in his rage. “Clean this up, we have work to do.”
Relics of the Old Age 