Chapter 314 The High King's Plan
This is a cell made of Forbidden Demon Stone. Living here is equivalent to being in the Death Demon Zone. The only difference is that it is more comfortable.
Brenes, the little prince of Ghost City, thought happily: If his father had wanted to kill him, he would never have been so troublesome, and he even specially provided him with a comfortable prison.
The High King will not kill him, Brenas kept telling himself in his heart: I am his child, his flesh and blood, his heir, and his youngest son.
He can still recall that when he was a child, he made a mistake and threw himself under his father's lap. He admitted his mistake and begged for forgiveness. When he saw tears rolling down his face, he would definitely forgive him.
But that was only in the past, and he would never do that now. After all, he had done nothing wrong. Even if he had done something wrong, he would not be so humble.
"Olot." On the way back to Sultansa City from the Sea of Shadows, he begged his captors, "I never thought of betraying my father, you have to believe me."
Olot is his father's personal bodyguard. He is known as the 'Shadow Star' in Sultanza. He has a hooked nose, high cheekbones and a strong chin.
He always shaved his cheeks cleanly, and his thick hair hung down to his collar, like a silver glacier, split in two by a strand of black hair as black as midnight.
However, the lines of his mouth were sharp, and his tongue was even sharper. He did not answer, but sat there polishing his sword. The setting sun outlined his outline. The eyes seemed to be black, but Bray Nass had seen them up close, and they were purple...dark purple.
A pair of dark and angry eyes.
“Don’t you know me yet?” Brenas continued to explain, “You have known me since I was a child, and you have always protected me, just like your mother who protected me in the past... dozens of centuries ago , you followed her from the distant Imaskar to the territory of Netheril and acted as her guard. Now I need you and your help. I must leave..."
From the Underdark After returning to Sultanza City, he was fully prepared and planned to go to Guangze with Brian, the lord of Mokou Town.
This was a deal between him and Brian because they were like-minded and working together in the same direction.
"I'm sorry, little prince." Olot's face was as stiff as stone, "The High King ordered, and Olot obeyed."
Brenas thought he would be taken to the glass palace at the top of his father's tower, where there would be pavilions, heat waves, the fragrance of flowers, the heavy and monotonous buzzing of bees, and thorny roses...
Olote He was brought to the cold Forbidden Demon Tower. Any spellcaster imprisoned here would be as weak as a mortal, and the flow of time here would also make people feel desperate.
"Little prince." said the old housekeeper of Sultanza, "please forgive me for being a blind old man who cannot climb the tower with you. My old bones, which are about to rot, cannot control that completely different world. Time flies. The bedroom has been prepared for you. Please wait patiently for the Supreme King to feel better before giving new instructions. "
"Are you saying that my father is in a bad mood?" Brenas couldn't help but wonder. "The Lost Lady's plan is almost completed and is only one step away from success. Why is he in a bad mood?"
This is also what he is most worried about. He must leave the floating city as soon as possible to find Brian and assist him. Together he sabotages the Lost Lady's plans.
"He expected you would ask this." The old butler said, "The Supreme King's answer is: patience."
The Forbidden Demon Tower is a dilapidated high tower located on a huge reef in the Floating City. In a ghastly prison, the ultimate fate of key prisoners is almost always being wasted away by the rapid passage of time until they die.
Brenas climbed the stairs, getting higher and higher. Without the assistance of divine and arcane magic, his breathing gradually became rapid.
The Forbidden Demon Tower is 60 meters high, and the cell where he is held is near the top.
He looked at every door he passed, trying to guess whether it contained an abyss demon, a Baatezu demon, or a yugoloth demon.
After his cell was slammed shut, Brenas began to instinctively explore the new residence. The room was spacious and airy, with many decorations. There were expensive carpets on the floor, fine wine to drink, and books for entertainment.
In the corner stood a Netherese chess table with chess pieces carved from ivory and onyx, but even if he wanted to play, there was no opponent.
Through the window, you can see the magnificent landscape outside the tower.
It was sunset, and the western sky was like a golden-purple tapestry. The clouds were blooming with bright red light. As the day approached, the Eno Oak Desert itself turned from gold to orange, then to purple.
In a trance, he seemed to see a ruins in the desert. The ruins were also shining with light. The fallen pillars glowed with a faint red color, and blood-colored shadows spread between the gaps in the stone floor.
This seemed like his former home. Brenas finally couldn't hide the sadness in his heart, and tears filled his eyes.
Suddenly, he cried, he curled up in the corner, his whole body twitching.
He recalled the truth recorded in the historical corridors of Iolum, and recalled how in the phantom, his eldest brother Revalan wielded a heavy sword and hacked her mother's flesh and bones. .
Revalan, why did you deceive me, why did you do this, why did you kill your mother?
Memory is actually a strange thing. There is always a corner in everyone's memory.
Because it’s too beautiful to share, too humble to show, too far away to talk about, too obscure to talk to, too unbearable that you just want to bear it yourself.
Such a subtle and complex state of mind, intense and forbearing emotions, a humble and proud attitude, the sleepless nights due to longing, in the passage of time, there are only some understatements left in my heart, which are overwhelming.
Brenas originally thought that two thousand years would be enough time for him to forget everything, but little did he know that the longer some memories that he deliberately forgot, the longer they were brewed, the more terrifying they would explode.
And he was undoubtedly unable to bear the power of this grief.
He cried himself to sleep that night...from beginning to end.
Even in his dreams, he could not calm down. He dreamed of his mother's caresses and smiles, and of her singing songs to him...but Revalan's sword kept cutting into her flesh and bones.
Branas comforted himself that this was just a nightmare, and everything would be over in the morning, but when morning came, he was still in the cell, and his father still did not summon him.
My father must have known the truth of this matter for a long time. Brenas kept recalling it, adding dye to the anger in his heart. Anger was stronger than tears, stronger than sadness, and stronger than dejection.
Brenas endured his unreleased anger until the third day, but his father still did not send anyone to summon him.
He could only circle around the room, once, twice, three times, then three times, and three times again. He sat down at the Netherese chess table and moved one aimlessly. Chess piece, he curled up in the window seat and read a book, until the words were blurred and he realized that he was crying again.
On the fourth day, the fifth day, the sixth day, and until the seventh day, he finally realized from his angry mind that this was the punishment his father had given him.
Although it was a simple, silent punishment, for him now, it was very effective and hit the mark.
This is so much like Telamante Tanshur's way.
Brenas couldn't help but laugh out loud. He thought that his clever and profound style actually showed only weakness.
He began to keep a clear and rational mind, and decided to enjoy the quiet atmosphere, use this time to heal his wounds, strengthen his will, and prepare for the revenge that was bound to come.
Yes, he wants revenge!
He wants to go to Sacros in person and confront Revalan. He knows that Revalan’s intention to kill his mother is definitely the secret instruction of the lost lady Shar. He wants to destroy Shar’s plan and never kill her. Can't let it succeed.
It was obviously of no benefit to endlessly miss his dead mother, and he forced himself to think about his eleven brothers, especially Revalan.
But after only two weeks, his patience was worn away as thin as paper.
“I am going to see my father now!” He said to Olot in his most majestic voice, “You must take me to see him!”
He didn't take him with him.
"I already know that I was wrong. You tell my father that I am ready to see him." He said again in a surrendering tone, but Olot turned away and seemed not to hear.
The days passed until Brenas lost count of how long he had been imprisoned. In despair, he lay on the bed more and more, staring at the ceiling blankly, not wanting to get up at all.
He slept and woke up, woke up and slept again, like a useless person. It was difficult for people to see that he was a strong man with a medium-level legendary strength, a man who had extraordinary abilities for archeology and studying history. Passionate archivist. I don’t know how long it took, but one day, a rough hand shook his shoulder and woke him up, "Little Prince."
A voice that had been impressed on him since he was a child said, "Get up and get dressed, the High King wants to see you."
Looking at the stone-faced Olot, Brenas smiled sleepily. At this moment, he He looked like a poor little animal, as weak as a kitten.
"How long has passed outside." He asked.
The flow of time in the Forbidden Demon Tower is different from that in the material world. He has forgotten how long he has been imprisoned, so he wants to know how long the outside world has passed.
"One day and one night." Olot replied.
Thank God, I could still make it. Hearing the hoarse, low voice and the thick Imasca accent, Brenas secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He promised the lord of Mokou Town to go to the swamp with him. One day would be enough for him to catch up with him.
By the time he arrived at the glass palace in his father's tower, dusk had fallen.
High King Telamant Tanshur sat behind a Netherese chess table, playing with an onyx chess piece, turning it over in his hand.
He wears ancient and traditional black armor that symbolizes the dominance of the Netheril Empire, and is paired with a dragon-winged cloak, fixed-style gauntlets, and dark purple robes.
But Brenas clearly felt that his face was pale and swollen, and his whole body was faintly exuding a sense of death. This made him realize how long it had been since his father used life extension spells to maintain his life.
Seeing him like this, Brenas was very sad...but for some reason, he couldn't say it. He could only shout, "Father."
"Sit down." Supreme The king stretched out his hand, and Brenas sat across from the chess table.
“I ordered them to put a Netherese chess table in your room.” He said softly, “You should have seen it.”
“Who do you want me to follow? Next?" Brenas asked.
"Tell yourself, many times, before playing a game, it's best to do some research first. How well do you know this game, Brenas?"
"Enough to be qualified to participate." Brenas encouraged Have the courage to answer.
"Participating... does not mean that I will definitely win, and I only play games that I can win." The High King looked at Breenas's face for a long time, and then whispered, "Why? Tell me, Breenas. Tell me why?"
"For the restoration of Netheril," Breenas said, his voice rising a little higher, "But you look so tired, so weak. You are the High King of Sultanza. You should choose to take the initiative instead of hiding here and letting your weakness embarrass us."
"Do you think I don't know?" the High King said. , "Every time I close my eyes, I seem to see the former territory of Netheril."
"There is no doubt that it is telling you to open your eyes."
"What if you open your eyes?" The High King shook his head, "What should come will always come."
< br>"At least it's better than sitting here waiting to die." Brenas said, "Since you came back here from the shadow plane, what you have done has been disappointing me."
The Empire of Shadows It obviously has a huge group of spellcasters, legendary powerhouses and floating cities, but until now, it has only stayed above the Shadow Sea and made no achievements. Instead, it has sat idly by and allowed the Shar Church in the city to gradually grow.
He didn't mean to be so rude to him, but these words came out of his mouth.
"Yes, I am too gentle, too weak, too cautious, and even too merciful to my enemies." The High King said softly, "However, it seems to me that you need a little of this kindness now. You should ask for my forgiveness, and Don't anger me further."
"You are so noble, my father," Brenas said, "I have stood by you unswervingly from beginning to end. I have done something wrong, or betrayed you. ?”
“You should not hide from me and meet with Iolum in private, let alone cooperate with the lord of Mokou Town.” There was no emotion in the whisper of the Supreme King.
He stretched out his hand and disrupted all the chess pieces on the chessboard. The agates collided with each other, making a crisp sound, "You have inadvertently destroyed all my plans and deployments."
"How can you see it?" Bray Nas showed a surprised expression, and he could feel that what his father said was true.
"You shouldn't have gone to see Iolum, the strongest man in Netheril." The High King sighed and rearranged the chess pieces carefully. "He could have been our ally and helped us together. Complete the plan of revival...and fight against the Lost Lady, but before my plan was implemented, you found him in advance and brought the lord of Mokou Town with you, which allowed him to find an opportunity and completely cut himself off. With the connection with Netheril, we have lost one of our strongest allies."
"Is this why you stopped me from going to Guangze with Brian?" Brenas's mind took over again. The impulse in his mind was, "Is that so?"
"Now that Iolum has severed ties with Netheril." He continued, "There is no doubt that he will , all transferred to Brian, we can definitely cooperate with him, after all, he has the entire Kingdom of Cormyr and the mages of Halua behind him."
"At first, I thought so too. "The High King said calmly, "But his destiny is a double-edged sword. It is both the fire of hope to save the world and the sword of disaster that may destroy the world. As long as anything has anything to do with him, in the end The result will always deviate from the original trajectory."
He carefully placed the chess pieces on the chessboard. "The prophecy of "Dark Chronicles" has been affected by him and completely changed its trajectory. Awakening the divinity of the Dark Maiden, the Lost Lady had to appear in advance. Revalan was also implicated and needed to take a magic ship to Bra Star. Do you know the lord of the Evil Pool Fortress in the desolate universe? "
"You definitely don't know." He said to himself, "He is going to Bra Star, but the Chaos Storm will sweep him to the Quagmire Port, and then crash into the meteorite of the Evil Pool Fortress. Look, it's like It’s a well-written script, because the Chaos Storm brought a gift to this lord. The Desolate Universe is really a scheming guy.”
There is no ulterior motive in the Desolate Universe, Brenas thought, as far as he knows. , the lord of Evil Pond Fortress never openly robs, but cunningly 'salvages' the crashed magic ship.
This lord will build a lighthouse on the meteorites floating around the fortress to warn of black holes, meteorites and desolate planets. But when the chaotic storm blows, they will secretly release false signals to seduce the unwary. The captain was fooled.
"What does this mean?" he asked.
“What does it mean?” The High King chuckled, “It means that something that scares all the gods is very likely to come early.”
"This is just a chain reaction caused by coincidence." Brenas looked unconvinced, like a child, "It doesn't prove anything."
"You said it couldn't prove anything, that's understandable. "
The Supreme King looked at the cracks in the agate chess piece with regret due to the collision just now. He rubbed it carefully and tried to repair the cracks with magic. "Then let's wait and see, how about it?"
"What do you mean?" Brenas asked in confusion.
"The magic network has been torn." The Supreme King placed the repaired agate chess piece in the general's position and said slowly: "You said that this young mage lord asked you to accompany him to Guangze. Then let's make a bet. If he can really reverse the situation in Guangze, it means that he has begun to upgrade from a chess piece to a chess player. Not only will I let you go, but I will also carefully consider whether to choose to compete with him. He cooperates.”
"What if not?" Brenas asked.
"Otherwise, it's just like what you see on the surface." The High King looked at the chess pieces he had rearranged, nodded slightly, sighed again, and said slowly: "Maybe I really It will...let you continue to be disappointed."
"I can make this bet with you." Brenas was silent for a long time, then raised his head and said, "But I also have a condition."
" What conditions?" the High King asked casually.
“I want to know everything, everything behind the demise of the empire.” Brenas said firmly, “Including the manipulators behind the scenes.”
"Although this involves the secrets of the gods." The Supreme King straightened the chess piece in the center and nodded with satisfaction, "But if the balance that has been maintained for a long time is broken, what is the point of keeping these secrets? ”
…………
(End of this chapter)