Chapter 106: A Dream of an Empire and the Creation of Another: End of Arc Two- The Safrid Collapse

A week had passed since the conquest of Ali’s castle. Alexei had passed the worst of it and was believed to survive. Ivan sat beside his father a smile wide on his face.

"We finally have rid ourselves of this annoyance Father." Ivan laughed finishing his words. He looked at Alexei’s face and saw even he had a prideful smile on full display.

"Yes, not without cost but it was expected." He pushed himself up going eye level with Ivan, wincing in pain a little. "That being said, you sure both the Prince and Princess are dead." He asked the question making Ivan’s smile go smaller.

"Yes." It was a tone unbecoming of him, lacking the useless playfulness, "Harun died in battle and the Princess drunk poison. I checked the next night." Alexei nodded.

"Good. I have news from the south. The Kingdom has won. Nasr is dead and with those two, the Safrid Dynasty is over." It was a surreal thing for him to say. He never thought he would say the words yet here he was.

Ivan laughed, "It looks like your fears were unfounded then. You came out alive and the Kingdom could complete their side of the agreement."

"I got lucky." Alexei cut in Ivan’s good mood and said seriously. "He had the chance to kill me but didn’t. He was a good man. An honourable one. He deserves respect, Ivan." Ivan could see he angered his father and just shook his head.

"Moving on. With our alliance secured to the Kingdom and the Safrid’s finally dealt with, we finally have a chance to look East. Nogrovod is always busy dealing with The Gotic Kingdom. We stabilise the new lands and rebuild. We could be going east in five years." Ivan stopped, his imagination running again, "Think Father. The old Empire reformed. We will become Emporers once more, no longer a fallen power. In the future, we can continue to marry with the Kingdom. An empire and alliance to last a centuries."

Alexei laughed at his son’s imagination. "The Kingdom would need to approve of this before you get any ideas."

Ivan waved it off, annoyed at his father for ruining his perfect setting, "What do you think they’re gonna do now going forward anyway?" Alexei shrugged his shoulders. He had no clue when it came to Alfred.

Isra opened a letter sent to her. She recognised Alfred’s handwriting from anywhere and for a second fear filled her heart. Yet she quickly jumped up in excitement.’The war is over. We are victorious.’Although it was against her homeland, she had no love for it anymore. When she had been a Princess still she was an abandoned child, only good for marriage. Her brothers and sisters never really cared for her either, only seeing her as a weird child who strayed from her path.

She quickly let the excitement die down and rang a bell to summon a servant. "Please send summon. I will be holding court in one hour." The servant bowed and quickly ran off to carry out the order. Isra also made sure to ready herself.

An hour passed and all those from the inner circle who were in the capital were present. A few extras were there as well either being nobles or important to the running of the kingdom.

Isra sat on the throne looking down at all of them. She had the dignity of a queen and enforced compliance from all those around her with her presence alone. Yet despite this, it was obvious she was in an incredible mood. Her smile hadn’t left her face since they arrived and she practically bounced in her chair.

"I have received word from my husband." Isra started silencing everyone. They all held their breath but could guess what had happened seeing her mood, "The Sultanate is no more. He is victorious." Her words held a silence for a second before clapping started. They all wore prideful faces. She raised her hand to stop them once more.

"He also has an announcement. One he wished he could make himself here but has intrusted to me." She paused to create tension. She could see some had nervous faces, hoping it wasn’t a repeat of so many years ago. "With the conquest of these new lands, the Kingdom is no more. In its place, The Ammary Empire now stands. Spread the word to all within the land. A week of celebration is to take place."

It was an unexpected announcement but one welcomed. Those present smiled and laughed as food and drinks were brought out. Despite saying she was holding court Isra knew it was a time for celebration and made the preparations.

All around the Kingdom, word travelled. It was a shock to the nobles and a welcome surprise to the peasants who had been given a week off. Cities were alive from morning till night, a never-ending party taking place for its inhabitants and nobles quickly manoeuvred to try and secure themselves a place in the new empire, sensing a great change coming.

Unlike the mood of celebration within the Kingdom, The Ammary military was exhausted. War fatigue had finally caught up to them and all they wished to do now was return home. Despite this, they knew the job wasn’t finished. Alfred rode at the head of the large column of men. He saw the gates that led into the Safrid capital, an exhausted smile spreading on his face, he was tired. Yet standing in front of the huge walls he felt pride, knowing that he finally finished his conquest.

He saw the large gates open for him and walked in leading his military. Their march echoed around this city, gaining anyone’s attention. They had their orders and those in charge of the food conveys quickly went around feeding the people. Another segment went around to finally enforce the law onto the city that had fallen into disrepair and anarchy.

Its effects showed quickly. The people who were sceptical of the invading force happily embraced them. After months of their food slowly becoming a luxury and the fear of not knowing when someone would kick down their door in the middle of the night, the Kingdom’s army felt like a delivery from God. They didn’t care that they were the enemy, many were on the brink of starvation and could look past it for now.

Alfred rode as he heard the cheers slowly increase for him. His trust in Adrian had grown exceptionally. He had asked him to create chaos so his arrival could be more welcomed, but this was beyond his imagination. He didn’t know how Adrian did it and he didn’t want to know, all he cared about was the results he got.

His forces stopped just before the Palace steps. Climbing them Alfred walked draped in the royal black colours of the Kingdom. He wore a red cape over his black clothing. His royal Guard flanked his side. With each step he took, he felt energised and excited. Atop them, Alfred turned around and looked down at his army. They all saluted in unison towards his direction and the noise of the city seemed to silence. Civilians had been following behind and knew to keep quiet. They watched the golden-haired figure who looked like he had come from the heavens with interest. They didn’t know what was going to happen but everyone knew it was something big.

Only the wind blowing could be heard now as they waited for the young King to talk. Alfred looked over all of them. His face which had been cold for so long finally wore some emotion. "My people." His voice belted out, carried by the wind. "Today is a historic day for the Ammary people. For too long we have been dismissed, laughed at or ignored. They look at us and think we are unworthy. And we were. BUT NO MORE!." His voice yelled with passion and conviction, "Today, I have become the first and last King in our history, to completely conquer our enemy, to take what we deserve. The Lindonfall dynasty has always said they have the ’Divine Right to Rule’ yet few of my ancestors proved it."

"My father." After a brief pause, Aflred called out, "Was a good man. An honest man. A just one, but he did not live up to the standard Sol gave my family. My ancestor, William ’The Unworthy’, in his twenty-year rule, was a whoring, coward, who lost our land over and over, threatening the very fate of our people. He is undeserving of my name. We all know the tragedy of the lone Queen Isabel. Kind was her soul but weak she was in her rule. Micheal the first, was a man who preferred the arts to any form of ruling, creating a corrupt court and a nation ruled by others. I can list more. All either good men but weak leaders, or plagues on our world."

He slammed his hand on his chest. "I have proved it. I have made that motto a reality. And you all should be proud. I take my place amongst the few in our history, Edmund ’The Brilliant’, the man who saved our people, our culture, our very way of life, after William ’The Unworthy’. Harold ’The Tall’. They say he was as tall as Giants of the Lost Era. They say he could crush a man’s skull with one hand. All of this is myth, legend. What is true is what he did. He saved us from starvation, plagues and all the horrors of the world when the Lord’s light left us for those dreadful years. He has earned our name, not because he is a great conqueror, but because if it was not for him, we all would not be standing here."

"I ask you all to follow me. Watch as I bring more glory to our people, to you all. I have turned you all into the sword of the Kingdom for a reason. You have proven why we should be feared. Why we are deserving of our place in this world. But we are not finished." Alfred paused looking down at his men. He could see the pride on their faces.

His smile grew and his voice became louder, more passionate, "And so to all of you. The ones who I have turned from mere peasants, into warriors I declare this to you first. To those I have conquered, I tell you this first. On the 767th Year of Light, I, King Alfred II, declare this. With the conquest of the Safrid Sulatate, I hereby dissolve the Kingdom of Ammar, and in its place establish The Ammary Empire."

His words were followed by a silence. It lasted long as people had to digest his words, but like dominos, the soldiers all began to slam their weapons into the ground, cheering at the new establishment. civilians didn’t know what to feel, they just watched astonished. The cheer from the military was deafening but silenced instantly by the new Emporer’s hands being raised. "We, my people, are not finished. I promised on the day I was coronated that I would see the Kingdom experience growth and prosperity that the world had never seen. And I will make sure to follow through on that. We shall no longer be ignored."

"I will bring you all riches that you could have never hoped to hold before. I will make it so your kids, never have to know what it is like to feel their stomachs empty. I will lead us to new lands unknown to the world. I will create this into something that will completely overshadow history as we know it. By the end of my reign, I promise you, The Era of Light will be over, and a new era will be brought about by me, by you." His words died as one of the guards behind pulled a crown from behind. Alfred lowered his head slightly letting it be placed atop it.

"ALL HAIL HIS MAJESTY, EMPEROR ALFRED LINDONFALL. THE BLESSED ONE, CHAMPION OF SOL, CREATOR OF THE EMPIRE!" Chris’s voice boomed from behind Alfred. William was the first to begin the chant repeating the words back, soon it was followed by all the soldiers lined up before their new Emperor.

Alfred smiled seeing this and basked in the cheers.’I promised you, Alfred. I would create an Empire worthy. I have just begun.’He silently said to himself in his head talking to the little boy’s body he stole. As if responding a new wave of excitement that didn’t belong to him surfaced. Alfred’s smile deepened feeling this.

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Please read author notes for this Chapter.