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Nom glared at the horse. It was tall, imposing and carved into the andesite with harsh, precise lines. It looked beyond him, beyond the Blue Kingdom below, almost like they didn’t matter to it. Its rider, clad in the same andesite armour, pointed its spear beyond the kingdom. Despite the blue banners, it didn’t seem to care much for the kingdom below. Nom could relate.
Even still, he harboured a deep, burning hatred for the stupid horse and its stupid knight and the stupid, stupid hill.
He looked down at the scroll in his hand. The day had come. He didn’t know what god kept sending these scrolls and quills down every two weeks. He did know, however, that he did not like them. He didn’t know if this god and the one tormenting 4C were one and the same, but he knew that if they were, he did not like either.
What kind of kingdom needed a new monarch every two weeks?
It was so tempting.
The quill was in his hand and the title was there. “Enrollment for the New Monarch of the Blue Kingdom.”
It would be so easy to press the quill to paper and just write his name. Too easy. He could hear the others distantly, calling his name. He didn’t know if any of them were planning on writing their name down.
Elouise couldn’t, nor could Shan, he knew Owain would never, he didn’t think 4C would want to sit on the throne, and Graecie had described herself as a protector not a leader. He didn’t know if Mae and Scott planned to go for it. Scott would make a good king. Nom knew he wouldn’t.
If Scott was king, would he try to heal the relationship between Red and Blue? Or would the influence of the other, more violent, Blue citizens get the better of him? Would Owain try to sway his perception? Would the uncertainty of El’s rule carry into his? Or would he, knowing Nom and Katie’s relationship, try to get on better terms with the other kingdom? Would he listen to Graecie’s friendliness and kindness and support peace?
Nom sighed, and the horse kept staring beyond him. Nom’s gaze, which had been relentlessly pinned on the horse, drifted past it. To that stupid tree. The tree. He knew what lay beneath its roots. It felt like it was mocking him. Taunting him. He looked away. Back at the scroll.
With a yell of frustration, he threw the scroll at the horse. It hit it noiselessly, and fluttered to the ground, open, revealing the bold letters printed across it.
Nom slumped down at the base of the horse. He glanced down at the scroll and sighed.
“I could do it.” He said carelessly, aware of every syllable that left his mouth. “Be the… King. I’d be good at it, too! I could… get rid of Red. Wipe it off the map. Then, realistically, Katie wouldn’t have a choice. She’d come back to Blue, and it’d be the same. We could be kids again!” The excitement in his voice drained. “But… she’d never… she’d hate me. So much. She’d run away again. Or, just, never speak to me again. I can’t let that happen.” He sighed. “I could do it. If I was king… I guess peace would be best. Owain would listen to me! I wouldn’t have to worry about him anymore, and I could make sure he doesn’t hurt Katie. Yeah…” He reached for the scroll. “I could do it…”
He stared down at it, confidence filling his veins like ichor. “I really could do it.”
He pressed the quill down, and with trembling fingers, shakily wrote the three letters that entered his name into the draw.
As he stared at the black ink, he began to panic. What was he thinking?
“Nom! There you are! We’ve been looking for you!” 4C jumped down from the trees. He grinned at Nom. “What are you doing?”
“I—nothing! I’ve been thinking. Uh, about…” He waves the folded up scroll in front of his face. “Y’know…”
“Oh yeah…” 4C made a face. “Are you going for it?”
“I—nah. Me? King? Psh.” Nom laughed off.
“Oh, it’s just Scott then. Nice, he’ll make a good king. C’mon, let's head back.” He extended a hand to Nom who took it as he sat up.
“Thanks 4C. Seriously; you’re a great friend.”
“Of course, Nom.” 4C said with a smile.
— — — — — —
“Nom! Where’ve you been?” Scott was the first to notice him. Their entire kingdom (a grand total of eight people) stood on the bridge, a majority of them holding scrolls like Nom’s.
“Hey, sorry. I needed a moment to, uh, think.” Nom laughed, tucking the scroll into his waist.
“Oh, of course. Are you going for king?” Scott asked, slightly too eagerly.
“Nope. I’m a knight, not a king.” Nom laughed. Scott’s shoulders dropped. Just barely, but enough to let Nom know that Scott did not, in fact, wish to be king.
“Well then I wonder who our monarch will be?” Owain said with a laugh that the rest of the kingdom joined in on. Nom and Scott’s remained quieter than the rest.
A voice spoke in Nom’s ear, although he knew the other heard it too.
The Monarch of the Blue Kingdom is being chosen.
The rest of the kingdom dissolved into laughter, and the words “I wonder who!” and “Gosh who could it be?” repeated.
Nom picked his way over to Scott.
“Hey, you’ll make a great king, Scott, don't worry.” He said gently, hoping with guilt that he would, and it wouldn't be Nom who sat on the throne instead.
“Yeah… I hope so.” Scott said quietly, smiling up at Nom.
The Monarch of the Blue Kingdom has been chosen.
Nom held his breath. Please, please, please.
Nominal, please take the crown.
Nom’s breath left him in a sigh. He felt his eyes glow, as they did with Shan and Elouise before him.
Scott looked at him with a mix of shock, awe and relief painted across his face.
The glowing eyes retreated, and Nom brought a hand up to gingerly touch the slightly warm crown on his head. He went to take it off, to get a better look at the crown he had only seen on the heads of the monarchs before him, but it stubbornly refused to leave his head.
“You didn’t tell us you went for it!” Gracie was the first to react, surging forward to grab his face, tilting it this way and that, exclaiming over the shimmering crown. “Oh, it suits you! I’m sure you’ll make a wonderful king, Nom.” She smiled gently at him and took a step back.
Nom sighed. “Dammit, I was hoping I wouldn’t get it.” He said jokingly. “Sorry about this Scott.”
“Oh no!” Scott shook his head vigorously. “You have nothing to apologize for. I’m sure you’ll be an amazing king!”
Shan nodded in agreement. El looked saddened, more so by the loss of her crown, than the fact Nom was their new leader, he thought. Gracie was beaming with pride. 4C looked shocked, and a little in awe, if a little betrayed. Scott was clearly relieved, and wore a small smile of pride. Mae looked delighted, but fear shone through some of the cracks.
And Owain. Owain looked thunderstruck, shell shocked, and maybe the tiniest bit fearful.