Garinor didn’t consider it much of a choice. He couldn’t see the prince being a just ruler and he knew the noble heart of his friend.
“I choose Tomli to be king,” he said.
“Very well, Chosen One,” beamed the Voice.
The scepter lit with an eerie glow that drew Garinor’s attention. He felt it reach into his body and pull on his spirit from within. The green light coalesced into a fist-sized sphere and his soul was ripped from him in searing agony. His body collapsed in a heap, melting away and leaving behind only a bony skeleton.
The gems inside the scepter lit in an odd glow. The emeralds died abruptly and the sapphires glistened. But it was the mingled glow of the topazes and citrines that overtook Garinor’s senses. The brilliant light shot up through the ceiling and bore Garinor across the land in a swooping glory. He dashed from village to village with the light guiding him like giant wings. His fingertips graced the minds of the people and he notified them of the change in power. The true heir had been found and had ascended as king.
He spiraled down and around and returned to the cave where Tomli, the prince, and the two Daggerfist guards all waited, suspended in time and unable to move. Garinor alighted on the ground and watched as the iron scepter shattered into countless pieces, scattering its remains to the edges of the rocky chamber.
All the light faded from the room except that of the two torches, still held in the guards’ hands. Everyone knew then what had taken place, and even the prince cowed in Tomli’s regal presence. Garinor’s spirit watched the two guards escort the prince out.
Tomli remained for a moment. He knelt and paid homage to his best friend, who had given him the power to rule the kingdom in earnest. When he rose to his feet, Garinor saw tears shimmering in Tomli’s eyes and all he wanted to do was to follow him. So he did.
They returned to the Daggerfist camp, where the people regaled their new king. He honored them with stories of his journey and of the sacrifice his great friend had made in order to acknowledge him.
Terrian, Garinor’s father, was given command of the king’s guard, which was met with raucous cheers. He spent the evening selecting suitable men and women to join the official forces, and everyone felt confidence in his decisions.
Tomli set the prince on house arrest for the rest of his life. He was guarded day and night and eventually the pressure was too great for the man. He escaped one night and sought refuge deep in the mountains to the north, where he was never heard from again.
The previous king, Vehn, abdicated his throne without conflict and took Tomli’s generous offer to rule a manor out east. Again, Tomli had guards keeping an eye on the liege, but he never ventured beyond his province.
Soon after Tomli had settled into his reign, he was met with a strange surprise. He was sitting at a table one night, staring vacantly into the candlelight, and there he saw a glimpse of Garinor. He looked just as he had that day in the rock chamber, though Tomli seemed much more grown-up. They communicated through hand signals and from that day forward, Garinor stayed by Tomli’s side for the rest of his days.
The kingdom grew to a rich province and the people all benefited from King Tomli’s rule. He crowned dukes in each of the major towns and held them accountable for the affairs within. This worked well, for the people felt they had a lord close at hand who could deal with their specific needs, instead of trying to appeal to a monarch who was effectively sealed away in a castle up north. As a spirit, Garinor was able to verify the accuracy of certain reports, which helped to keep the lords in check.
King Tomli had good relations with all the neighbors, and when it was time to pass the kingdom on to his heir, the historians would remark that Tomli’s reign had been filled with grace, justice, and an overwhelming sense of nobility.
Garinor could not have agreed more.
You have come to the end of Garinor’s adventure, but there are other paths to explore. Start over and guide Garinor again along his journey.
The End…