Kingdoms End
Chapter 1

Planet: Huberg.

Person(s): Greg Haavik.

In the Haavik manor, in the southern region of the Queendom, Sanel, the capital city, Gelrish, lived Lord Greg Haavik. Greg was a noble of the Queendom and the house of Haavik was very friendly with the ruling house, House Halel. Lord Haavik was 30, but not married. He’d been married once, but his wife died a year after their marriage and they’d had no children before her passing. He was the last of his family, the rest had been wiped out in a series of assassinations during the last attempt to usurp the throne. House Haavik would always defend House Halel, no matter what the cost was.

Now, about the Queendom, Sanel. It was a beautiful place, made up of nine cities, with Gelrish as its capital. It was ruled by a lineage of queens and was one of the most powerful nations in the world of Huberg, but also the one with the most enemies inside and outside her lands. Sanel was one of the most technologically advanced nations. They wielded technology and combined it with magic to get the best economy in all of Huberg. Now, there were many kingdoms which weren’t nearly half as advanced technologically as Sanel, but that didn’t mean they weren’t powerful both militarily or otherwise. Sanel was at war most of the time, wars which she won more than she lost. There wet lots of towns and settlement scattered throughout the massive territory the Queendom controlled, bit they were too small and insignificant to be counted as her cities were. Each city had its Governor, each town, its Lord and each settlement, its Sire. The hierarchy in Sanel was strictly enforced and disrespect from one of a lower standing against his superior, was properly punished. Queen Zurnich Halel ran her government with an iron grip, yet she was greatly lobed, for she loved the people and never met out punishment to whom it wasn’t owed. She couldn’t be weak, lest one of the many the enemies take the throne and destroy the Queendom.

Lord Haavik was standing in his standing in his main living room, looking out the large glass portal which looked out upon the city below, his light brown skin glowing under the sunlight. This room was on the twenty-second level of the ninety storey mega-mansion, thus it granted a breathtaking view. Lord Haavik had become a cold man since his wife’s passing, caring little for anything but the Queendom and her safety from foreign powers. He didn’t love or hate the people, je was just indifferent towards everything that wasn’t the Queendom’s safety. He withdrew from all his friends and lived a lonely life in his family’s manor, conversing like a mad man most times, with the portraits and statues of his dead ancestors. The people of the Queendom feared him greatly and even the queen’s council did so. House Haavik owned the elite “Bruttites,” the best soldiers in all the nation. Though not anywhere near the number of the Queendom’s army, but they’d be a great card in the hands of any rebellion. The council advised the queen to disarm House Haavik until one of a more stable mind comes to head the House, but the queen turned down this idea, stating that this might infuriate Greg Haavik and make him break alliance with the throne.

The door to the living room opened and Lord Haavik didn’t even look back. In came Linus Chase, personal assistant to Lord Haavik. Greg had gotten Linus during his happier days, before his wife’s death which made him the cold man he now was. Linus loved Greg like a brother and never gave up on him since his wife’s death seven years ago. Linus was 29 and unmarried also, swearing to wed only after his friend and boss had remarried. Greg had tried shaking Linus off, but the latter held on tight, handling his affairs and giving him his full and utter devotion.

Linus wore a big smile as he entered the room. “We found her, Greg,” he announced with excitement. “Good to know,” Lord Haavik replied without looking back. Linus ran across the great living room and came to stand next to Greg. “Is that truly all you have to say?” “What other reply would you ask of me?” Greg asked back, still looking down upon the city. “We just found a daughter you didn’t even know existed until a week ago and I return from speaking with her, only for you to say IT’S GOOD TO KNOW?” Lord Haavik looked at Linus now and the latter held his stare.

Greg eventually looked away from his friend and turned around to head for the exit. “Ready a convoy to pick her up and bring her to Gelrish,” he said as he went. “Will you not even ask me what her name is?” Linus asked the retreating Lord. “Just bring the girl here, Linus,” Greg replied, “The queen sent me and I only remained here because I awaited your news upon your return and and for this I kept the queen waiting. That must show that i care something for the girl.” He went through the door and the four soldiers outside followed him as he went.

“Her name is Lizandra, Greg and I just hope she’s enough to bring you out if this depression, my friend,” Linus said to himself. He touched a button on his earpiece and began walking toward the exit also. “This is Linus Chase. I need an executive cross-country convoy ready to leave,” he ordered and knew that whoever was on the other end would be scurrying to obey.

“Lord Greg Haavik!” came the announcer’s voice over the hidden speaker within the meeting room in the royal home, “The palace of Enders.” Around a massive, round table, the queen’s council was seated, discussing something of importance. Queen Zurnich was in a large, ornate chair and the chair to her right was empty. Queen Zurnich Halel was a beautiful woman of thirty-five, with black hair, six feet tall, Long legs, blue eyes and a very commanding presence. She was as tough as they come and her carriage was heavenly. The empty chair by Queen Zurnich was for Greg. The queen made sure to respect Lord Haavik a lot and show him great friendship. This way, she kept him sympathetic toward her and his family’s elite soldiers, fairly under her control.

“I sent for you before this meeting began, Lord Haavik,” said the Queen. “that was two hours ago.” “I apologise,” was all Greg said before taking his seat. The queen gave him a stern glance, but his eyes were on his hands which were on the table. The queen looked away from Lord Haavik and into the faces of her twenty council members.

“This is no way to behave toward her majesty, Lord Haavik,” said one councilman. Greg looked at the council man and the latter stared right back at him. “End this nonsense and let us continue our discussion,” the queen ordered and Lord Haavik immediately looked away from the other man. “I said I was sorry,” Lord Haavik spoke.

“We were discussing how best to spend the bonus shopping tax income from last year,” the queen stated, ignoring Greg’s second apology. “Some of us believe the money would be best spent on the long promised sky-park,” said a councilwoman. “Some others say we build the second Avalon apartments,” said a councilman. “You should be Governor of the capital, Lord Haavik,” said the Queen, turning to Greg. “So what do you say we do with the money?”

Greg looked at the queen now and she looked dead serious. “I mean no insult, my queen, but this is why you asked me here?” he asked. “And what is that supposed to mean?” the queen asked back. “I just replace it slightly difficult to believe that I was brought here to discuss what the Queendom should do with its money.,” Greg replied. “I consider your opinion to be important in the affairs of my Queendom, Lord Haavik,” the queen stated. Greg let out a sigh and shut his eyes. “Well, if I must. I say we do that which will please the people and that which only the wealthy and royals will profit from should be left for another time.” He said the words without opening his eyes. “No citizen wants to see the royal owned Avalon apartments skyscraper have a twin, when their sky-park hasn’t been put up.” “He speaks just as I did,” the queen said with a smile. “I still fail to see why you turned down the position of governor of the capital, Lord Haavik,” said a councilwoman. “You are so good at running the place,” she added. “Is the meeting over?” Greg asked the queen directly. The queen stared at him without saying a thing. She pitied him, as she knew him before his wife’s death and he was nothing like what he was now. Greg held her starr for awhile, then looked down at his hands. “We also wish to discuss the lack of proper housing for the refugees still pouring in from planet Setuh,” said a councilman. The queen didn’t say anything in reply, she just kept staring at Lord Haavik. The main door to the room suddenly swung open and a soldier rushed in, panting heavily and followed by Linus Chase.

“An attack on the southern territories, your majesty,” said the out of breath soldier. The queen looked away from Lord Haavik now and up at the soldier’s face. “Who is the attacker?” she demanded. “It’s the Queendom of Borduuf, my queen,” the soldier replied. “Those scoundrels!” one councilman exclaimed, slamming his fist on the table. “What city are they attacking?” another councilman asked. “Not a city, councilman,” replied the soldier, “a town. Mareda.” Linus came to Greg’s side and bent over, putting his lips to the latter’s left ear. “Your daughter’s stepfather is Lord of Mareda,” he whispered.

Greg shot to his feet and turned to face Linus. Linus nodded slowly under his friend’s gaze and Lord Haavik turned to the queen once more. “I must leave now, your highness,” he told her. “Where to?” she asked. Greg stared at her without saying a word. He didn’t know what to say, he wouldn’t tell anyone of his daughter, the only successor to his family’s wealth. He might be slightly mentally unstable, but he wasn’t stupid. “I must go,” he finally said, then turned and rushed out of the room, Linus going with him.

Lord Haavik came out the from doors of the Palace of Enders. There were two black SUVs at the base of the front steps. A soldier, a Bruttite to be precise, got out and held open the back door of the car in the rear. Lord Haavik got in and Linus got in next to him.

Linus put his fingers to his earpiece and spoke, “Take us to the private, southern gates!” He lowered his hand now and turned to Greg. “I’ve had a military battalion loaded and awaiting us at the gates,” he informed his employer. Greg didn’t say a word, he just looked out the window on his side. “It’s okay, Greg,” Linus said, placing a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “We’ll get to Mareda before any harm comes to Lizandra.” “Is that what her mother named her?” Greg asked without looking at Linus. “Yeah,” Linus replied, “Beautiful, right?” Greg didn’t reply the question.

The cars got to the private, south gate, where they met up with a convoy of three armored trucks laden with Bruttites and over fifteen military type SUVs . The military cars joined Lord Haavik’s convoy and they set out along the highway which led to the southern parts of the Queendom.