"It is impossible to say why or how this was happening but with all things being equal, one thing had become very clear : Ever since that dreaded box had arrived in the Kingdom, our people haven't stopped dying..."
– Garrett Rolfe.
"My Lord, I'm afraid we have another death on our hands. This time the body was found near the river." Garrett spoke lowly and nervously to the Kingdom's Liege Lord.
"Hmm..." the lord muttered. "And the body? To whom does it belong to?" the King questioned his Royal Hand. And by the grim and stern expression of the countenance he wore, it was clear to Garrett that the Liege was very displeased by the information he had just heard.
"Baldwin... your grace." Garrett mumbled. "Uhm... a one Mr Baldwin from the East of Mermont. My Lord, if I may, this is the 22nd death that has been reported just this morning! And I'm afraid our town's people are beginning to query as to why all this misfortunes have been befalling our Land so suddenly. Some of them have even began blaming it on the Kingdom! My Liege, they believe our Land is cursed!! Most of them are even threatening to leave the Kingdom soon..." Garrett kept ranting on to the Liege Lord in a very fast and nonchalant manner.
"Enough!" the Liege commanded. Then, for a brief moment, his gaze met that of of the floor as if being lost in reverie. His thoughts had since lingered far and the expression on his face had changed from that of anger and impatience to dreadfulness and confusion. Then at once, he recovered from this trans like state , and quickly turned away his head.
"Very well, send an order through the palace for a funeral procession for the deceased at once. Also inform me when it is set in motion." The liege replied coldly. "Yes my Lord." Garrett bowed and made to leave. But as he turned around to make his way out the chamber door, he was haulted by the striking words that came from the Liege:
"It's the Box's doing isn't it Garrett?..." the lord queried to his hand speaking in a low and muffled tone. And in his eyes, harbored all the soulfulness of sorrow and regret.
Garrett, upon hearing the liege, slowly turned back to the throne on which he sat and spoke to his Lord: "I'm afraid it will seem as so Sire..."
"Ah... I knew I should've destroyed that ghastly object when I had the chance and look now, with the frequency of deaths so far, we could be looking at a complete annihilation of our entire population just by the next Fortnight!" the King exclaimed in total despair and bewilderment. "Oh Garrett, my friend, my loyal hand... tell me what I must do now?"
"Your grace, that is for you to decide now. The true question is: are you willing to do now what should have been done long before?" the Lord's hand replied.
"Hmm... I thought the object was going to bring us good fortune, instead it has left a huge dent in the Kingdom. In MY Kingdom!" the Liege Lord slowly raged. "Guards! Guards!! Send to me the Kindgom's messenger at once! I have a new decree..." he uttered once more.
It didn't take long for the Messenger to arrive at the Lord's Chamber and when he did, he was welcomed with orders and questions:
"Tell me messenger, at precisely what date did that dreaded 84 inch box arrive at Mermont?" the King questioned the messenger that stood before him.
"Uhm... My Lord, I believe it was exactly 3 fortnights from today." the messenger replied nervously.
"Hmm... and just how many deaths have we recorded since it's arrival?" the king inquired further.
Then the messenger began counting off on his fingers; "Two hundred fifty five..."
"And the number of funerals?" the liege persisted.
"One thousand eight hundred twenty in total your grace!..." the messenger belted out.
Now, there was a still silence in the room. All men, both noble and commoner, could feel the atrociousness in these numbers and then finally, the Liege spoke:
"I believe the Silence speaks for itself. It's time we finally take action!..." commanded the Liege as he slowly got off his throne and began speaking with wild gesticulations: "Hear me now and take this message to my people:
Dissemble no more! For I, your Liege, has decreed that by Nightfall today, we will put an end to all the suffering that has plagued our Kingdom thus far. My only command and wish to you all now, is that you remain concealed safely in your homes, shelters, and workshops until the deed has been done. Tonight will mark the ending of our miseries and the birth of a new and profound beginning - one full of fortune and triumph..."
the king concluded his decree and then, he slowly turned to the bowing messenger whom had been carefully scribbling down the Liege's message on paper and said to him:
"Take this message to the people of the Kingdom at once, it's time we undo this evil..."
"Of course Sire, I will leave at once." the messenger said before hurriedly leaving the chambers to deliver the message to the Kingdom. The Liege then turned to Garrett and commanded to him:
"Immediately, ready our best Knights and horses, prepare the weapons, I want the best of all my men for this departure - God knows what evil we might encounter in that box..."
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