Deathstalker 06 - Deathstalker Legacy
King's Justice; not his hired killers."
"That's enough," Douglas said quickly. "I'll have no arguments among my friends, not on my Coronation day. You both did a good job, under difficult conditions. Let it go." "For now," said Lewis. "Yes," said Finn. "For now." "Where's your father?" said Lewis.
"Backstage, resting," said Douglas. "He was looking tired and frayed at the edges, so I sent him off to have a bit of a lie down, before the Ceremony proper gets under way."
"Does he know what Finn did in his name?" said Lewis. "William hasn't had an opinion that mattered in years," Finn said calmly. "You'll be a different kind of King, won't you, Douglas? You've been a Paragon.
You know what things are like at the cutting edge. You'll make them all sit up and take notice."
Douglas looked sharply at Finn. "My father is still your King, and you will not speak of him in that manner, Finn Durandal. Not now, not ever. Is that understood?"
Finn bowed his head to Douglas immediately. "Of course. Please accept my apologies. I meant no disrespect. I was just . . . I'm still a little upset after seeing what the ELFs did in the Arena."
"Of course," said Douglas. "I understand. We're all upset." He looked around him, making sure that the crowd was still keeping a discreet distance, and that the media cameras were pointed somewhere else, and then he gestured for Lewis and Finn to lean closer. "There's something we need to discuss, before the Ceremony begins. Concerning my naming of a new King's Champion, after my Coronation."
Lewis and Finn nodded. The Paragons had been talking about nothing else for weeks, ever since Douglas first made the announcement. There hadn't been an official Champion for two hundred years.
Not since Kit Summerlsle, the last Champion, had died so mysteriously, so soon after taking office. His killer was never caught, or even identified.
People had been playing conspiracy theory over his death for centuries. Even more people said the office was jinxed. Maybe even cursed. But it had been two hundred years, and Douglas had never been much of a one for superstitions.
"Naming a Champion is just what I need to mark my ascencion to the Throne," he said. "To show that I intend to be a whole different kind of King. That I will pursue justice for all, even when I'm no longer a Paragon. My Champion won't just be a bodyguard, or a symbol; he'll have rank and position and power equal to anyone in Parliament. More than any Paragon ever had. Parliament won't like it, but they won't dare defy me on the day of my Coronation. Particularly since I've already agreed to do something for them . . . My Champion will lead the fight against Humanity's enemies. The ELFs, the Shadow Court, the Hellfire Club. He will hunt them down, whoever they try to hide behind. My justice will not only be done, but be seen to be done."
"I hate it when you try out your speeches on us," said Lewis.
"Is this why you're leaving it so late to name your Champion?" said Finn. "So Parliament can't try to influence your choice?"
"Got it in one," said Douglas.
"You could be making a rod for your own back," said Lewis. "Whoever you choose, inevitably you're going to disappoint a. hell of a lot more. God knows Paragons are competitive enough at the best of times, but they've been outdoing themselves recently, trying to catch your attention. And isn't there a very real chance Parliament will see this as an attempt to make the Paragons your own personal power base?
Your own private army, to support you in case you decide to go against Parliament's wishes?"
"How else can I be sure of getting things done?" said Douglas. "Look, Lewis; this isn't about me. About power for me. I've never wanted to be King. You know that. I'd be happy to be a Paragon for the rest of my days. But if I've got to be King, I'll be the best damned King I'm capable of being. Not for myself; for my people. To protect them from scum like the ELFs, and from a Parliament that's grown too secure in its own power, and too distant from what needs doing. There are times when Parliament can't or won't do the right thing, the necessary thing, because MPs have to worry about not being reelected if they make an unpopular decision. I, on the other hand, couldn't give a rat's arse whether they sling me off the Throne or not."
"We need a strong King," said Finn. "You and I, Douglas, we've seen evil up close. Fought it, face to face. Walked through the blood of innocents. The guilty must be
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