<div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://www.epilogue.net/sites/default/files/imagecache/gallery_med/images/02/35/18403_1030420800.jpg">[ img ]</a></div><br/><br/>Voll had been spying on the guards and organizers of the event for some time, waiting for any hint of his brother's arrival. He waited in rapt anticipation for some time, his eyes darting to and fro manically like a lunatic. His impatience to get underway was peaking, and, as his tolerance reached it's pinnacle, he saw the first signs of the workers beginning to panic and become frantic.<span style="font-style: italic">Ah, this is it!</span>He thought excitedly,<span style="font-style: italic">He's here!</span>He gulped down the last of his wine, and after belching with the uncanny force of a blast of the royal trumpet, stood to make his way to the wooden barricades at the front of the stage. He waved his thanks to the folk who had supped with him as he went, being met with nods and the rising of tankards.<br/><br/>As he walked he checked the insides of his hip-bag, making sure his ammunition was still in tact. And indeed it was, three wonderful over-ripe, stinking, rotten tomatoes. Though he knew himself to be fool-turned-beggar, but in that moment, he felt closer to being a god with rods of lightning. He closed up his hip-bag and simply let the joy of impending nonsense wash over him. Filling him with a giddy energy, only barely contained. A trumpet blared in the distance, some ways away from the square, but echoing through the streets nonetheless. The congregation of milling people suddenly became alert, all knowing the sounds meaning. In a flash, hoards of people flocked to the barricades, whooping their enthusiasms and murmuring their curiosities for such a gathering. Voll struggled to keep his place, waves of limbs tugged and pushed at him, jostling him along the barricades and dragging him deeper into the current of human flesh. Soon enough he was squeezed into a spot deep in the crowds, too far for anyone stood upon it to be able to clearly see Voll's face. Voll began to curse to himself. He was out of range to use his ammunition as well.<br/><br/>Another lot of trumpets sounded, this time closer. The vibration in the floor that usually proceeds a company of horses could be felt rumbling beneath. He was upon them. People began to cheer, guards became tense, political activists shouted damning slogans about the monarchy system, and drunk folk reveled in all the splendor. Voll might have been able to enjoy the atmosphere if his plans were still in tact; but instead they had been foiled by those very same people that create it. He despised this situation. He began to try and jostle his way through the thick backs of the poor, but his slender frme would not squeeze through. Another blare of trumpets. This time from behind the stage and it's luxurious curtains and drapes. A Kingsman popped through the sheets, and after clearing his throat cordially, announced, "Here here!" the crowd went silent, "his majesty, The King!", the crowds erupted into a roar as they watched The King emerge from behind the curtains.<br/><br/>He waved and smiled as a good King might do. He looked slightly disheveled though, something that seemed peculiar to Voll. The King was normally a well put together man, streamlined, symmetrical and with a hint of grand royalness to his style. Here, he looked similar, yet his clothes hung slightly off, as if they were a tad too big for him. Even his face seemed clammy, and perspired much. Voll knew instantly, the King was ill. He was indeed old, and for a human, he had lived long. But it seemed that indeed, as it did with most humans his age, death was beginning to touch his heart. Voll suddenly became slightly disjointed from himself, the realization sending a shock through him. He didn't know quite how he felt about his brothers situation. Should he be sad? He did after all grow up with this man. But, this man had also gone to some extreme lengths to ruin Voll's life and career. Also, it wasn't as though Voll didn't have a good claim to the throne either. He could, by all means, campaign for his sovereignty after his brothers passing and perhaps even win. But, the question was, did Voll even want such a thing?<br/><br/>Voll was lost in his emotions for a time, insomuch that he nearly forgot that his brother was talking to the crowd.<br/><br/>"...I know it has been some time since I last held such an event. There is so much one has to do when he becomes king, that simple gatherings like this become rare occasions. I wish it did not have to be so, if it could be the reverse I think we would all indeed be a damn shot happier," He smiled that regretful smile one does when accepting or admitting an irrefutable truth, "It's all well and good to wish well though isn't it? But it isn't real life. We have wars, starvation, politics, revolution, abominations, rogue mages, uncertainty on all levels. We must confront those issues if we are ever going to find ourselves round the fire sharing stories as our chief pass time. I am doing my best, and the mighty Lord knows that peace has reigned in our kingdom for longer than it ever has, since my father, and expanded on by me. Something I m very proud to admit. However, this peace is being jeopardized. I am dying. My physicians have confirmed it, and I have long suspected it to be true. I am dying." This was met by hushed murmurs from the crowd, their shock palpable in the air, "when I die there will no doubt be havoc in this kingdom. Tis well known that many vie for power here, some within the kingdom, and others from outside. I have no offspring, I have no kin, the throne shall be empty," Voll spat on the ground in disgust, "I dread to think of the blood spilled after my passing, something I know to be almost a surety. That is not what I want for my people, it is not what I have fought for my entire life! I will not stand for it!" The King was impassioned now, "which is why me and my mages have gathered you here today. In our bid to find a cure for my illness, we discovered scrolls relating to an artifact of ancient magic. It is said to have been held by the generations of old, a tool of the Pharos, the original gods to expand lifespan. We are currently searching in all reaches available to us. However we have had no luck. And as more and more issues pile up, my searching capabilities become depleted. I have decided to reach out to those of you whom live in our capital, who would vouch to assist us? Who would lay their life down, for their King!" He barked the last words, almost looking healthy as he said it.<br/><br/>It was of no surprise that the crowds were silent. Not many of the folk gathered were any sort of adventuring gallivanter type, in fact he could barely see any of that type at all. Many were families, immigrants, ex soldiers, merchants and aristocrats. The people were soft, not the hardy, hilly type folk you get in the wilds.<br/><br/>After what seemed like an age, Voll raised his hand. Heads whipped around to view the first volunteer. Some laughed instantly, others gasped wondering if it was a bad joke. Bodies began to shift in front of Voll as he moved forwards through the crowd, hand still raised. Soon enough he was the front and vaulted over the barricade neatly, as a master tumbler might. The guards looked at Voll with panic in their eyes. On one hand, they were their to protect the King, on the other, Voll was a beloved folk hero to the town, that had been a well known bastard child, and by default, of royal descent. Voll made it clear he would not go any further, and looked up to his brother, who looked back in distaste.<br/><br/>"Let him up on the stage," the King relented, his desperation for help overriding his pride. Voll nodded his thanks and passed by the guards, and skipped up onto the stage, "Speak, ye first of the volunteers," The King spat, his words implying they were strangers, his tone implying the opposite.<br/><br/>"Yes, I will speak thank you. After all this is the King's address, is it not?" he turned to the audience in a jaunty manner, presenting himself as a parody of the King, "I m of course, only joking. After all, I am only a Fool, nothing more, nothing less. Not human, no, not elf. A horrid creature who does not feel as you feel. I am lesser. Only a sideshow, given only pity and the laughs of easily amused. And why am I this way? Why do my clothes smell and my breath reek? Why do my feet swell and my back ache? Why do my pockets seem to be vacuum for coin? I can think of nothing that I did to make this happen. I have been as I have always been, myself."<br/>"All you've been is a bloody hindrance, thorn in my side of sides!" The King shot back to the audience's amazement, and belying his feigned ignorance of Voll's person.<br/>"You destroyed my life Fredrick!" Voll screamed suddenly, pointing in anger at his brother.<br/>"You stole my father" The King roared.<br/>"How could I steal the most powerful man in the kingdom? He could decide for himself who he loved! And he chose well! You were always conniving Fredrick, always your needs before anyone else's isn't it? You treated your father like shit, and and like anyone else would, he turned away from you. And here we are, you're dying, and you're still at it. It's pitiful." Voll spat.<br/>"You dare to speak to the King that way? In public no less!" The King blustered, hurt in his eyes.<br/>"I dare to speak to my brother that way," Voll fired back, ferocity in him, "But," Voll chimed, "despite all this. I still love you. And that is why I hurt the most Fredrick. I expected better from a loved one. And I am going to show you what love means. I am going to find this artifact, and cure your illness. You said I could never be a real man, even father said that to me. I am going to show you both that not only am I a man, but I am a far superior man than either of you. Do you hear me?" Voll said. The King was visibly stunned by Voll's words and the crowd watched on in rapt awe.<br/>"Do or say what you want Fool, the proof will be in the pudding, not in the words," The King replied curtly, his pride still guiding his sails. Voll sneered and listened as the King shouted, "Who else would join this new company? Which of you loves your King enough to lay his life on the line in the name of the peace of his country?"