Of Jesters And Kings

Is what you see and hear always true? Do people let their desires show, or do they hide it? Sometimes there is no such thing as a simple answer. That’s what my tale is about. So hold on to your armchairs and we will venture in to an old tale of a limited King, a young Counselor and a Jester…

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One day, after a heated argument with the King, Glenn, the young counselor of the King, was nervous about the outcome of the actions the King had taken. No matter what he said or did, the King still wouldn’t change his mind. The King wanted to declare war against his own son, Parvat. Both father and son were always know for their stupidity; one for his stubbornness the other for his immaturity. Those traits led them to war with others, and make use of treachery and spies.

This being not enough for them, they decided to declare war against one another; one owning the plains of the east and the other the marshes of the south. The war ended fast since the King was still wiser than his son, but the war itself left its kingdom with scars. It harmed the King’s honor and popularity, and with that, mocking titles appeared naming him foolish. The King, enraged by this, blamed Glenn for not warning him. He discused the situation once again with Glenn, but this time was even more aggressive with the young Counselor.

After everything was said and done, Glenn had lost his place in the court. Charged with treason, he was punished by whipping and his face was disfigured beyond recognition. Being a monster he wouldn’t be hired by anyone unless they wanted to laugh at him. Thinking about that he got an idea, both about revenge and survival.

He disguised himself as the new Jester of the court. Having won the war, the King had his son exiled and Glenn thought it would be the perfect opportunity to act. For countless days he entertained the King as a foolish person, acting out the whole war of blood, while insulting both son and father, daring even to predict his own revenge against the King, while the King only laughed at his “supposed” stupidity. Days passed and he earned the King’s trust. And with that he often would be the King’s unofficial adviser. He learned about everything the King planned and thought, sometimes giving bad advice decorated with a colorful range of praises, letting the King fall into his trap.

Glenn, having discovered enough information, made a pact with an old enemy of the King, now a grudging ally since the struggle was costing too much for both sides. Giving his information and support to the enemy, both decided the time was right to assassinate the King, one helping with an army to overthrow the loyal knights, and the other killing the King from inside the castle. The rewards would be divided. The King’s land would go to Glenn and the Parvat’s share to the enemy.

With everything planned, Glenn told The King’s enemy to attack the castle, having himself disposed of the observers and messengers to the castle by simply making a “fake feast” for them. He deceived the King into thinking they were at their duty stations. The enemy’s army went straight for the King’s castle, catching everyone unprepared for an assault. Amidst the confusion the King retreated to his secret room which had a direct passageway to the woods outside of the castle.

Glenn, knowing about this place when he was a Counselor, blocked the exit and waited for the King. He hid, waiting for the right moment to show himself and kill the King. As the King appeared through the hidden door and aimed for the exit, Glenn stood his ground between the King and the hidden door, not letting him escape. Surprised by his Jester and the fact that the exit door was blocked, the King asked what he was doing there, receiving only a manic laugh from the Jester and a single hissed word: Counselor. This made the King pale as death itself, losing his grip on reality for a few seconds. He only noticed the Jester plunging a knife into him when it was too late. As he fell to the floor in a puddle of blood, he made a sour smile and whispered the last words of his life:

Not ever had he felt that much remorse in his life. Not for the fact of betrayal, but for the fact that he did what the King once did to him. And the King’s last words proved to be only too true. There was no winner in this war, except for the King’s enemy gaining all the territory for himself and leaving the distorted Jester on his own.
Why would the King’s Enemy honor the deal after conquering? He smiled bitterly as he opened the hidden passage to exit the castle.