I thought that somebody called me. Adonis grabbed a filled grail from the table and stood on the chair. He was thrilled about the marriage, even more than my mother. "My Lords and Ladies, I share the happiness of this unity. Toss your cups for the goodness of my dear friend and ally, King Jaromir and his beautiful young wife, Queen Helena!" Hearing people cheering for their king, I realized it had been a while since I was referred to as a commander, a chevalier or a warrior. People supposed being a king comprises them all. I resented that Mother left - and contemplated whether I behaved too harshly. Neither Prince Jaromir nor Commander Jaromir would care about his mother's interventions in the Tigrisian government. They called me a king yet complained when I acted like one. I preached to myself that this would all be matters of the future. The renovation would start after the war - which I was sure would happen sooner than we expected.

Castaver stood beside me, watching people with absolute serenity and crooked eyes. "Jaromir!" Somebody indeed called for me. It was not a cheer but a calling for sure. Castaver stood up. He was eyeing the rampart incredulously. He then looked back at me. Hence, I deemed that the resemblance of the voice was not a delusion. Castaver attempted to approach the wall. Two young men stood in front of me. They were newbies of barracks. They excitedly reverenced. I understood what they came for. To become a knight, they need to succeed or show courage in a battle or duty, or they could duel in a King's marriage and get the title by defeating their opponent.

I let them choose the easy way. The guests had their seats, and the floor set them to begin. I could see that they were friends, both eager to get under my sword. Castaver was still distracted, looking at the rampart. I wanted to tell him it was not her voice - just a memory calling back. The boys were both skilled. Finally, one aimed for the knee and the other decided that escaping from the strike was useless. The winner immediately offered his hand to the one laid on the ground. They stood up, both proud and happy that they got the chance. The loser grabbed a hold of his friend's shoulder. "Congrats!" he said. I felt the other could win over if they duelled one more time. They both kneeled in front of me - I knew that it was rare to encounter people with an honourable heart. I lightly stroked my sword onto the winner's shoulders.

"I, the King of Tigrisia, the dragon of the realm, declare you, Sir Desmond, as a knight of Tigrisia. May luck and God be by your side." People applauded, and his friend was also delighted. Thus, I raised my sword one last time, "I, King of Tigrisia, the dragon of the realm, declare you, Sir Jurilerov, as a knight of Tigrisia. May luck and God be by your side." He was looking at me all abroad. "Next time, watch out for your knee," I whispered. He was exhilarating, inhaling profoundly and heaving his chest. The crowd was bewildered for a moment, but then they applauded again. The musicians started to play. With a bit of wine and a little song, all of them already forgot why they had arrived here in the first place. 

The sky got all scarlet, and clouds were scattered everywhere. There was chaos, a carnage above. Even the sun couldn't endure and dawned quickly, leaving all the mortal problems and pain alone. I leaned for Castaver. "Give those two their capes and swords, then pledge a land for each patronage." He nodded and showed the two young knights the way. There were colours, songs and happiness. The red gleam of the sky reflected on each man's face. They were fellows, partners in crime for now. Tomorrow, they would slit each other's throats, but tomorrow was insignificant. It was today and will always be today. Mother arrived. She was walking elegantly, passing all the ones dancing and cheering, not escaping her eyes from mine. 

Sun was out of sight. Abruptly, screams were heard, and dashing pain silenced the whole castle. I leapt up from the chair. "Temur" was the first name that came to my mind. "Chain the entrance, gather the frontiers!" Terror embraced the guests and sobered them up. Helena hugged my arm. I looked into the startled eyes of the girl - and felt her shuddering body. "I will go defeat the enemy. Everything is going to be alright," I loosened up her hands. Adonis had already drawn his sword. I mounted Goliath and led the frontiers to where the ranting and raving came from. 

People were gathered around. Even though the city guardians showed great endeavours to keep them in the distance, they were curiously pushing forward. I dismounted. It was not an invasion. The city guards outside of the crowd saw me. They got closer. "What happened?" I asked. "A woman committed suicide," they answered in unison. Adonis put his sword down and looked at the crowd from afar. "Poor thing," he voiced negligently. Turning back, I swayed my hand to command the frontiers. Then, Adonis collapsed onto his knees. His eyes widened with anguish. His eyes were soaked, and tears drew pathways on his cheeks. I looked where he was focused - into the crowd. The people had started to lose interest, and they were leaving. She was lying on the cold stone among those curious but careless people. Her hand pointed to Golden Dragon; her lips opened array, her ocean eyes watching the darkened sky. 

My heart burned without a flame. A phantom of death ate my soul, which phantom of love long abandoned. There had been colours, songs we sang, melodies we cherished, art that amused us, and a world of wonders waiting for us. Now, there were no colours.

Adonis was weeping, punching the ground. I stood still as I did when she left. A horse rear was heard, then the hoof knuckles. Castaver jumped off his horse and walked next to me. People regained attention when they saw us still standing there. Castaver attempted to ask me, and then he saw. He saw more than what we had. He saw less than what we had that they on. He hesitated for a while - just looking at her, seeing her in a way I never did. People recognized Astrid when they saw how Castaver walked towards her. Everyone eagerly watched, some in dismay, some in novelty. Castaver crouched to her and carried her up. Her long red hair hung out of his arm. Castaver didn't turn back. He walked straightforwardly. He walked till the eyes couldn't reach them. Night fell.

A week passed. Adonis didn't get out of his room after what happened. Castaver was gone. Although his wife returned to Hungaria, Sigidmus stayed to declare his side. I was feeling nothing, tasting nothing. Even drinking water was making me sick. It was like the woman lying on the lake of blood was a stranger. Astrid wouldn't return; she was living in some other castle with some royal that pleased her. Her death didn't make sense. All I could think about was the obscurity that brought. She was the one who went away. She was the one who did not want to be with me anymore. This was absurd. Vukasin was always by my side, asking if I was alright. I was fine, even though I shouldn't be. Suddenly, life got slower and heavier, but it didn't stop. I was not just living for myself.

I thought I did right. I had a void on my chest that she used to touch, yet I did fair. Within all this chaos, Helena was sitting in the throne room, having long walks in the garden, only to arrive at the throne room again. Vukasin had a word stuck in his mouth, waiting for the right moment to say, I understood. However, I couldn't convince him that I wouldn't be better or worse than I was. Mother started to take care of her roses again. We didn't have much of a word after the wedding, but her eyes trembled my soul when they met mine. A clock of guilt spread on Vukasin's face when Mother was near. I thought it was because of the king's hand conflict, but Mother's eyes were preaching, not furious. King Sigidmus wished to discuss the alliance this afternoon, so I waited for him in the throne room. Vukasin was also standing beside, bore the duty of the king's hand. 

The gates opened, but it was not Sigidmus that came in. Adonis walked inside. He had tied his hair. He didn't wear his cape, just a white shirt. He was glancing at me somberly, his eyes grey and like glass. He strolled in the middle of the room. "You killed her, Jaromir," he murmured. Then, he tightened his teeth and took out his sword. "She died because of you!" he shouted. Vukasin took his sword out and pointed it to Adonis from the corner. I ordered Vukasin to get down his sword. "This is not true," I said relentlessly. Adonis swayed his sword in the air. "She died because you tormented her," he repeated. He was looking at me monstrously. "Adonis, get out, or I won't forgive you," I orated.

Meanwhile, King Sigidmus was inside, standing far behind Adonis, who was aimlessly shouting around. Adonis grinned insanely and stabbed his sword on the floor. "I challenge you, Jaromir Dragarevic!" he hollered. His advisors had followed him. "My King, you can't challenge King Jaromir Dragarevic," they warned him. I stood up. "He can certainly challenge me, but he shouldn't," I kept eyeing his erratic face. Adonis stepped his foot. "I challenge you!" The advisors approached him. "Your grace, according to the laws, if two kings get into a challenge, the winner owns both countries." Adonis's hair got free from the tie. "I challenge you, Jaromir Dragarevic!" he repeated. I drew Silver Dragon out, and fright spread in the room. "This is serious, Adonis. You cannot take it back. Finishing a challenge is a knight's honour. One of us must die at the end of it. As you see, I have never lost a challenge before; I assure you I had numerous of them. Tell me, how can you avenge me being death?" He took his sword stuck on the floor. "I thought the Dragon never refuses a challenge!" Sigidmus was watching the conversation agitatedly. All of them waited for drama to arise. I had no time for this, "I accept your challenge, decide where and when." The anger in Adonis' eyes extinguished, left its place to espouse. "Tomorrow at sunset, in Belgrad Forest." I nodded serenely. "I will be there." 

The gates opened without my permission. I attempted to irritate the uninvited guest. It was Castaver, he walked inside. His skin looked harder than stone. He strode past Adonis and stood right in front of me. He looked into my eyes like we didn't know each other or were friends forever. I couldn't say. He took the king's hand brooch on his shirt and threw it to the ground. Then, he undressed his cape. As the cape waved, he took his sword from the sheath and put it on the floor. He didn't have a second look at me - he turned his face to the gates and strolled out as he entered. He was gone for good.

I honed Silver Dragon till the night. Vukasin was sitting right next to me, focused on the sleeking blade on the sword. "He is so stupid to dare to challenge you," he said. I kept honing. Vukasin took Golden Dragon out of his coat. "The guards gave me that after what happened. I grabbed the dagger from him. "This is evil. Nothing can stay that clean after perpetrating those sins," I said, placing it in my belt. I looked at my brother - prudent and discreet. He was my only rest in all of the country. Our hearts were faithful to each other. "I missed my old life in Danishmenthan," I said out of nowhere. "I knew that I could trust Bayezid. That was enough for me. People were simpler. Our problems were shallow. My only job was to fight. I was too good at it. It has been a while since I have genuinely been in a battle. I always thought I could have everything if I followed the path. Respect, reputation, a loving wife, children, peace... Now, I need to see Bayezid to get over it and find who I am again. He knows me, and I know him. At least I can lean on that." Vukasin gulped, looking at me concerned. I lapped his shoulder and said, "Brother, I am glad you returned." He patted my arm. "Me too." 

The next day, I responded to letters till noon. Vukasin joined me. He bated every time I reached for a letter. Afternoon, I dressed in light armour. Vukasin insisted on coming to the forest with me. We rode into the woods. Adonis was waiting beneath withered trees. There was the referee next to him. He reverenced as he saw me. I fetched Goliath to a branch and stood in front of Adonis. He was dressed concerning aesthetics more than functionality. Vukasin stood next to the referee, looking at Adonis from above. The referee read the rules of the challenge and set the boundary. I drew Silver Dragon. He drew his sword. We faced each other motionless. 

Vukasin was right. Pain had blurred his eyes so much that he couldn't think logically. He was going to die in this dead forest. He was going to give up his land for nothing. Adonis swayed his sword. Vukasin said he was an idiot. Adonis could be anything, but he was not an idiot. He stroked one more time. I cut him from his wrist. He screamed in pain and then attacked my chest. Even grief couldn't make one forget himself. I sliced his waist, he was about to fall, but he kept his balance. Adonis was never a fighter. He had never been challenged before. Not in this world; he would aim to kill me in a sword fight. Then what was he up to? Adonis leapt on me one last time. I took on his back, and he fell. This was not an attempt to kill me. He wanted to get killed by me. I kicked his sword away and grabbed his bloody jaw. "Why do you want me to kill you?" He spit blood on me.

I hit his face with the back of my sword. "Why do you punish yourself? What did you do, Adonis?" Adonis started to cry. "Do it! End me!" he yelled. I took him from his collar and hit his back to the ground. "What do you know?" His face was covered with blood, and his tears were coloured when they fell from his chin. "She died because of me!" he blurted. "I killed her!" I released his collar. "How?" I asked. He closed his eyes. "She was sick," he was gasping in between the words. "Fatal sick... she didn't want you to know... she didn't want you to be distracted... to be upset... she made me promise not to tell... she found the cure... she kept writing to me... she asked for you, I didn't tell her that you were... I didn't want her to be distressed. She needed to heal... She couldn't stand to see you with... if I told you... if I told you before... but I promised... I loved her more than you did... more than you ever can... yet she always loved you."

I was thunderstruck. I stood up. It was hard to keep my balance. Feelings burst, everything that gone refilled. Adonis was crumpled. I was suffocating. My hands were cold. His blood had dried. "She loved me," I repeated. Adonis was budging on the ground. "Why? Why did she love you?" he cried. I felt my hands tingling. All the memories and regrets urged me and possessed me. I was ill-gotten. My eyes clung to the Golden Dragon hanging down my belt. I roared. Rage kept growing. I threw the dagger into the depths of the forest. I killed her. I was unjust. I was cruel. I couldn't love her as she deserved to be loved. I couldn't. I perished the melody, erased the colours, and silenced the birds. I burned all the poems, all the paintings. I was a fighter, always was and always will be. It was a dream that would never come true to love. I sacrificed her to see it. I was born to serve the angel of death; one stained with that much blood couldn't expect to leave it all behind. I fall onto my knees. I felt tears tilting on my lashes. I failed. "I won't kill you, Adonis," I said. He was still lying on the ground, gasping. The referee frowned his brows. "According to the rules of a duel, you cannot spare a life, your majesty," he warned. "I will change the rules of the duel when I get back to the castle." He leaned his hands on his waist. His white curly hair reached to his shoulders.

"I am afraid you cannot. Our holy leader protects the rules. The ones sparing lives give up their honour, thus give up knighthood." I looked into his small eyes like buds and mouth so thin that lips were unseen. Vukasin clamoured in a hurry. "He hid the reason Astrid was gone. He betrayed you. Kill him and be done with all bother."  The referee eyed Adonis lying on the ground, who had already given up his life. I nodded and reached for the Silver Dragon. "One must die to end this," the referee repeated. I stood up and wiped my eyes. "Have you spoken about this challenge to the holy leader?" I asked the referee. "I will, Your Grace." I nodded and pointed Silver Dragon to Adonis. His eyes were closed. In a quick swing, the head of the referee rolled on the ground. His short body fell on the cold earth with a thud noise. I cleaned my sword with a handkerchief. Vukasin was startled, looking at the rolling head of the man. Adonis opened his eyes. They were both looking at me in shock. "He kept his promise to Astrid. He is not a traitor," I said to Vukasin. I offered a hand to Adonis. The truth was he loved her better than I did. 

I couldn't sleep that night. My senses were sharpened all of a sudden. The scent of her settled to my bed. Her words were echoing in the hallways. Her book was standing on the desk in my room. Even the taste of wine reminded me of her. I sent Adonis to sanitary. He was going to be okay. The news came from the West. Castaver and her sisters settled on a farm on the Wurdlich lordship's borders. He was going to be a simple farmer, living a simple life. I was happy for him.

The night bore the day's weight. It was like running after a deer all day and feeling tired just by the time you sat down. I found myself where I proposed to Astrid. I stood there numerous nights after she left, but now I knew she would say yes, and we would be happy. She would be my queen. We would have children. We would create a paradise on earth. She would recite her poems and help me to write while laughing at all my failed attempts. After the wars against all of the enemies who want to destroy us and corrupt us, I would give Silver Dragon a long, peaceful rest. No blood would be shed further on. We would even see our grandchildren. We would have long rides in the Belgrad forest. Maybe we would see a wolf in Belgrad for the first time. Then, we would be so tired, so we would lie next to each other, speak the most beautiful words, look into the most beautiful eyes and leave the world silently. This would be a life worth living. 

I winced as I saw Helena next to me. She had folded her hands on the bars, looking at the stars. "It's late, why aren't you asleep?" I asked. She was playing with the bulges on the bars, not looking back at me. I rested my elbows on the bars, too. "Look, Helena. You will return to your homeland. You will live however you like. You will have all the privileges of being my wife on the paper, but that's it. Don't worry. It is not forever. After the war, I will figure a way out. You will be free of me." She shut her head into her arms, not facing me. "I thought you were my charming knight," she murmured."Sometimes I wish I stayed as a knight," I exhaled. She eyed me. "You loved her. She just loved you more. Now you are condemned to love her forever," she voiced. I was enthralled. She left without another word. I stood there till I saw the sunrise. 

With her fellow ladies and maids, Helena headed to the road to reunite with her father, Lord Isle, who was too tenacious to attend his daughter's wedding. Mother disapproved of this decision, but she didn't clatter. She spent most of her days in the rose garden or the Belgrad Forest; God knows why. I visited Adonis in the sanitary. He had cut his hair short. We didn't talk. All the words were already uttered. The wounds on his skin would heal. Exiting the sanitary, I needed to speak to Bayezid. I would finally compress the "What if?" question circling in my mind. I could be his fighter again, his son. It would be a brief exit from this life that had so long been full of anger and despair. I could trust him. He was the only one who saw me as I was. Hence, I drew my path, my goal - because somebody foresaw and cared for me. It gives a kind of confidence and entreat to know that no matter what you do what people think about you, there is someone out there who sees you and understands you. Even though you lost your way, the person you are is still out there in the sight of that one who saw you. This makes your life lived and your name remembered. I returned to the study room to write a letter to Bayezid, telling him I was on my way. Vukasin caught up with me along the way. As I sat on my chair, the door knocked. 

A dispatcher reverenced and got in to deliver letters. Vukasin eyed them suspiciously. Then he grabbed one of them that had Danishmenthan's seal on it. As the dispatcher left the room, I turned to him. "Give it to me, Vukasin. I have been waiting for it for a very long time." Vukasin hesitated. "Jaromir, I came to Tigrisia because of that letter," he commenced. He scrutinized me, withholding the letter. Finally, he gave it to me. I neatly opened the envelope with a knife and read the letter. I faced Vukasin back, so satiated with what I had just read.

"I was just thinking about such a gathering. It is quicker than so visit each vessel one by one." Vukasin disagreed with his head. He took a deep breath. "Bayezid will poison all the vessels attending that feast. He believes all the Balkans betrayed him and will stand by Temur." I stood up, pacing in the room. "He is not wrong, yet Sigidmus tends to change his mind. I don't think killing them all at once is a great idea," I stated. Vukasin grabbed my shoulder. "Brother, not them. Us. You are one of those vessels." I grinned. It was impossible, he continued. "I heard it from first hand. It is true. He believes that you allied with Temur. He doesn't consider your letters or statements." I pointed at him rigidly, "Who is this first hand?" He gulped and kept looking at me with his big eyes. "Kartal," he uttered at last. "He is king's hand now." I sat on the chair again. "This is nonsense. Bayezid would never doubt my devotion." Vukasin put his hand on the desk, eyed me furiously between his straight arms, and bent back like a cat. "Nonsense, huh? I rode here, frightened whether I could reach you on time. I wanted to save you from that madman who trapped our sister in his castle to prevent her from warning you. All because of nonsense?!" I faced his stern face, tautened by dread and wrath. He was foolproof. 

The world I knew was gone. Faith was a delusion. Love was a bet. "Vukasin, get out." He peeked at me in confusion. "Get out!" He hit his hand on the table, "Still, you choose him over me!" I grabbed the ink bottle and threw it to the wall. "Get out!" 

He hissed, walked out of the door and hit the door behind him. The ink made a large black spot on the golden motives of the dragon. We were on each other's side. I never knew myself apart from him. He was a father. A man killed his brother because of his ambition for the throne. I scattered all the letters on the table to the floor. His ambition could pierce everyone except me. He could be blind to reality but not to me. Rings tolled in my mind bothered my ears. I gave him all I had. "I gave you all I had!" I gave up my family, my state of belonging, my culture, and my homeland. Now, he wanted me to give up my life. I used to give up my life to save him gladly. It would be an honourable death.

In contrast, all I knew about honour was from him. I was from no man's land. All I believed was going to be the end of me. I heard once that a man is dead when the world he knows is gone. I was a dead man. A man who killed the woman he loved, a man who was never a good brother, never held the legacy of his father, seduced by the devil. The blood I spilled slippered on my hands like falling from a waterfall. I chose Bayezid as my father; I drew this destiny by myself. It would be cowardly to deny it now. I stood beside him no matter what happened. I vowed for it. For the last time, I would stand by him in death. This would be my tragedy. 

I left the room and saw the servants leaning on the wall, who most likely heard the door. They reverenced and quickly ran away. I got down the stairs, and Vukasin was waiting for me. He approached. His eyes curiously widened, waiting for a single word of mine. "What is our plan?" he asked. I scrutinized him like I was seeing him for the first time. "I will go the the feast." He blinked, his eyes tilted, his head puzzled. "Then?" I looked at how he carried his sheath in front of his belt, a Tigrisian tradition. Thus, your foe saw you were armed, making the clash fair.

I never carried it on the front. Moving with a sword hanging between your legs was not functional - or because Bayezid always had the sheath on the back. "It didn't happen as we hoped. Did it?" He examined me dully. I continued. "We couldn't grow together. I was not there when you first learned to hold a sword or ride a horse. I never knew if you ever fell in love or your heart broken. I didn't see you leading an army. I needed to be there, but I couldn't. At first, it was because Bayezid didn't let me, but then I chose to stay with him. Forgive me." His eyes were soaked, he tilted his head down to hide it.

"I forgive you, but this doesn't matter; we have all the time in the world now," he voiced. I smiled at him and grabbed him from his neck. "You are my successor." He wiped his eyes, making nothing of my words - or not wanting to understand. "What is your plan, Jaromir?" I took Silver Dragon out. "This is your's now." He hesitated to take the sword. "How will we avenge Bayezid?" he repeated. "Vengence is evil. Promise me that you won't avenge if it harms innocent people." He squinted his eyes and shrank his teeth. "As your King, this is my last demand to you. You won't mention Bayezid's plan to anyone. You won't come with me to Edre and stay here in Tigrisia. You will become a better king than I could ever be." He gasped and frowned. "You cannot, you cannot..." I hugged him. "I love you brother." He pushed me away. "You are the most selfish man in this world, Jaromir Dragarevic." He walked away. 

I said farewell to Mother. "I would like to leave the country to your command, but I believe Vukasin's time has come." She embraced me hard. "My boy, return quickly. I love you more than the world." I touched her cheek. "Don't worry me." Vukasin was not there to say goodbye. Mother said he went for hunting. King Sigidmus had left the country early in the morning, the guards told. I assumed the servants on the door spoke to him about Bayezid's plan. 

I headed to Edre with a small group of King guards. It felt like years to arrive. Winter had come, and I watched many birds fluttering in the air to migrate to warm lands. They were late. As the snow storms and dark clouds filled the air, they would die ferally. Staying in their nests, waiting inside till the spring came, was safer, but I guessed passing on the way to the warmer places meant something more. We entered the Castle of Edre. Bayezid welcomed me at the gates. "Welcome, King Dragarevic," he greeted, attempting to shake my hand. I held his hand and squeezed it stiffly. It was the turning of the times. He was right, years ago when we said goodbye. It was the last time he saw Prince Jaromir. Just when I arrived, King Maximus, Prince Iliad and King Belfida got into the castle's ramparts. Bayezid greeted each of them. He was escaping his eyes from me. The past years had changed him. The paternal look beneath his eyes was gone. He was talking leery like he had rehearsed before. "Emperor Charlemagne, King Ruthiscar and other fellow kings are waiting in the dinner saloon." Walking in the hallway, Bayezid introduced Mehli and his wife, Lady Tomris, to the Kings. The girl was bewildered to see me. Her eyes widened with terror and confusion. "Lady Tomris," I saluted. She reverenced. Her eyes were asking Vukasin for sure. She was the first hand. Approaching the dining room, Bayezid had to walk beside me. He was not facing me, looking straight at the door in the distance. "How have you been?" I asked. He gulped and met my eyes. A red reflection settled in his eyes. He stared at the copper armour I wore and then looked at my face again. "You are married," he said. "Circumstances required for me to do." He nodded, biting his lips and deeply inhaling. "Unlike you, I go where I am invited," I continued. He tried to dress that rehearsed fake intimacy, but he couldn't. Kartal was waiting in front of the door. His hair was tied back, and his beard neatly shawed. He was wearing a golden robe ring on each finger. It was the end of an era. I eyed Bayezid again. We had a good time, didn't we? The guards opened the doors. The table was already filled with numerous appetizers. The other Kings stood up as they saw us. 

Bayezid sat at the head of the table. I sat on the other end. I wanted him to have a hard time escaping his eyes from mine. A seat was empty. Bayezid folded his hands on the table. "Seems like King Sigidmus won't be able to join us." Servants brought a massive turkey and a cooked lamb to the table. "His loss," Bayezid moched. The vessels laughed. "Be patient, gentlemen. The service of wine will start soon." Charlamagne grinned. "Bayezid, I think this is a very joyful idea. Our countries have been in peace for many years, and we haven't sat on the same side of the table before." The others agreed with him. "Let's say I was waiting for the right time since we all have a common enemy now," Bayezid smirked. Charlamagne's face got pale, and he turned his eyes to his plate. King Belfida pointed at Bayezid's sapphire ring. "Where did you find such a pure item?" It was blue and had a notch inside. My heart shrivelled up as I noticed the resemblance. Barbaran laughed while slicing a piece of meat. "He might not bothered to conquer a country to have that ring. Your ambition opens my jaw." Bayezid chuckled cunningly. King Ruthiscar smiled beneath his crooked teeth. "That ambition, my friend, makes him invincible." Bayezid looked at him above and deviously nodded. 

"But you must beware, King Bayezid. Ambition is a treacherous quality. It can cause one to choke his brother or poison his son," I said finally. Bayezid's eyes widened. He looked at me astonished. His fingers clung to the table, and his lips arrayed, inquiring me. He barely gulped, bit his lips, and tried to shake his head. He squinted his eyes and imitated a smile to the other kings, but his eyes were caught improvised to me. Servants entered with the grails of wine. They serviced the grails to each guest and then finally to me. Bayezid's eyes were locked to me. I grabbed the grail, swung it and looked inside the dark red. There was no scent, no deviation in the colour.

Bayezid caught his grail. He was directly peeking at my eyes. He raised the grail, and all the kings raised it overhead, following him. I took a deep breath for a life of fighting, a life spent for nothing. I thought about people who die in the name of God, not knowing if our lord in heaven is real. I was going to do the same, die for the belief that raised me, that kept me alive even though it was a lie. "I raise my cup for our unity, alliance and common cause. I toss my cup for your devotion to me!" Everyone delightedly shouted, "Cheers!" I took a sip from death and felt the burning wine getting down in my throat.

I didn't lose eye contact. The world had stopped. It was just the two of us, the tragedy of Bayezid, the Lightning's most dreadful knight. Bayezid's light blue eyes were bright like glass. Emperor Charlamagne coughed. He looked suspiciously at Bayezid. Then the coughing got vigorous, and he spit blood. Blood flowed out of his ears and drew lines in his veiny old neck. All the vessels were startled. He nearly coughed his lungs out, swearing to Bayezid, who was not even looking at his face. His eyes were bloody and yellow. He fell onto the floor. Terror placed each of the vessel's eyes. They stood up. Belfida yelled, "He poisoned us!" Ruthiscar rested on the table. He couldn't breathe. Blood welled out from his eyes. He fell, hitting his head on the table.

The remaining ones tried to run toward the door. One by one, they fell to the ground and buckled up on the floor, suffocating in their blood. Belfida gripped the door handle and pushed it. It was locked from the outside. He squealed helplessly, and then he collapsed. I have seen my end, waiting for the inevitable fortune. I felt my heart burning inside, my throat soured up, and my hands senseless. Bayezid's eyes were soaked, and tears fell onto his dry lips. My heart was pounding fast, and the scent of blood settled on my tongue. I was dreading it, but it was not because of the death unfolded. It was too hard to say goodbye to him, too painful to keep looking at his eyes. I couldn't face anywhere else.

Then, the flames in my chest extinguished, and the sour taste in my throat was gone. The scent of blood was coming from outside. I was alive. Bayezid started to gasp. I was confused. I eyed the corpses helplessly, reaching for the door. I was then faced back to Bayezid. At that moment, I realized he got old. He was weeping like a child. I couldn't move and sat still. He wiped his tears, too ashamed that he cried. "I will never make that mistake again," he said. He took out a little tube from his inner pocket. "This is the dip of poison I ordered to put into your grail," he opened the tube. I stood up and thought that he would do something stupid. He opened the notch on his ring and poured the poison inside. "This ring would remind me of this day and help me to never sink into despair. How can a father murder his son?" He stood up, as did I. We meet in the middle of the room, crashing on the dead, squashing on the blood. He embraced me, and I knew he needed me as much as I needed him.