Kingdom’s Bloodline Chapter 58: Queen of the Sky
Text 125.Chapter 125 Queen of the Sky
"Boy, I know what you are thinking. But if you continue to look at me with that strange look..."
Ada marched on the side of Thales’s mount. She clenched her fist, protruding the knuckles of her index finger, her tone was extremely impatient: "You know what will happen."
"Okay." Thales, who was full of curiosity, stuck out his tongue and turned his head.
"Just forget it if you don't want to answer."
Ada let out a sigh of relief, re-sealing the memories of the past in her heart.
The star.
Damn star.
"But speaking of it, Edda, how did you become the secret guardian of the Star Royal Family?" Thales looked at the blurry mountains that gradually appeared ahead, and asked quietly, "How can an elf be employed by a human Kingdom of stars?"
"I heard that they are extremely proud, and they are unique in serving humanity."
Ada lowered her head slightly.
"Hey, boy," the elf's voice sounded awkward: "I said, I am not your guardian."
"And..."
Ada folded her arms, her tone of disdain: "As a kid, how much do you know about elves?"
Tyles had to stick out his tongue and shook his head helplessly.
Just after the team had crossed a snow-filled hillside, Putila drove his mount and came to Thales's side, and saw the thin deputy maid’s face solemn and raised his finger in the direction they were moving forward:" We are here."
Thyls reacted and quickly raised his head, looking down the hillside.
In the blurred vision of the sky full of snow, a silver and black giant appeared in front of the mountains.
No, not a giant.
Its outline in the snow appeared dimly in the distance—it was a majestic city built on the hillside.
The red and black flags are faintly visible flying over the city.
I saw that its gray-black walls were dotted with silver falling snow. The highest point of the city just happened to be on the top of the mountains. From a distance, it looked like a giant leaning against the snow-capped mountains, surrounded by many villages. In the guard of the town, it stands on the northern land.
Thyls motioned to Wiya to stop the restless mount.
He took a deep breath of the cold wind unique to the north and quietly looked at the thick and powerful city in the distance, with little excitement in his heart.
This is the northern dragon, the capital of the Kingdom of Exeter?
Unconsciously, they have already crossed the Welan Snowfield and entered a new territory.
"It's the first time to see such a magnificent scene," Nicolai came to them on horseback, his mouth curled up, his face full of nostalgia and reverence: "The huge city with mountains on its back, the largest in the North, The most majestic, most magnificent and longest city."
"The Holy Land in the hearts of Northlanders."
"Longxiao City."
At this time, Bian uploaded an untimely hum.
"It was originally not called Dragon City. As early as the ancient empire, it was the central capital of the northern province of the original empire," Putilai accepted Nicolai's words blankly:
"The fort built on the mountain, formerly known as Fort Arundel, was the residence of the Arundel family who ruled the Northland by the emperor’s order. After the collapse of the empire, it fell into chaos and power for three hundred years. Alternately. Until one day, Necaru and Tormond’s armies met nearby and won the first victory in the end battle."
"Nikaru led the army and rushed to help the precarious Tormund," Nicolai shook his head indifferently, and used his own opinion to'correct' the words of the stars: "That's why the battle was called'Reversal Cold Wind'-It is said that in a clearing near here, Nekaru's troops marched swiftly, almost like falling from the sky, defeating the enemy from the rear."
Thyls pouted helplessly.
Well, there is a small "different opinion" between the Exterans and the Stars, the Northerners and the Empires.
Also--even though they are all from the North, Nicolae seems to be more stubborn than Cambeda.
Sure enough, Putila let out a breath, his face disapproving.
"So, how did this place become the capital of Exeter?" Thales immediately said just the right way, interrupting the "violent discussion" between the two of them seeing that they were about to start again.
Nicolae motioned for them to continue marching. While riding a horse, the commander of the Blade Guard began to act like a real receptionist, slowly saying:
"This piece of land with Dragon City as the center belongs to the Walton family, the family of Nunn VII, and the most famous ruling family of Exter, who has inherited the Duke of Dragon City from generation to generation. Title."
"The human hero, Neckar Ax, became the lord of this place more than 600 years ago, and here he is allied with the Nine Knights, vowing to guard the Northland and guard together in the chaos after the End of War Their hometown has regained the pride of the people of the North."
"Since then, the proud northerners have called the new country "Exter", and the Exter Alliance was born from this."
"And the following year, the nine knights who opened up their territories and were raging like a bamboo came back here, together they raised Neckar Axe, the king who was sincerely convinced and followed by the people of the North, and the nine knights were divided Fang, guarding Longxiao City."
"This is the end of the history of the Alliance, and the history of the Kingdom of Exeter begins."
"Upholding the spirit of alternate rule and fair governance, Exeter's supreme ruler, the co-elected king, was elected from the ten grand dukes, and the rest obeyed his authority and orders-this is a patience Karu's vow to meet and govern together shows that his prestige and influence continue to this day."
At this moment, a black-sand-collared herald struggled to overcome the obstacles of the White Blade Guard and came to Nicolai, asking him to meet with Viscount Cambida.
After Nicolai left, Thales turned his head and looked at Putlai.
"You have something to say." The traverser said definitely.
"Of course," the deputy envoy shook his head disdainfully: "Don't believe our passionate friend from the North, he just used to deceive the people of the North with his nonsense of "ruling by turns and governing by fairness". , In fact, in the North-or anywhere in the world, power has always spoken, and power has reigned."
"Oh?" Thales chuckled softly: "Since the passionate Northland friend has gone, would you mind talking more, my knowledgeable deputy, the versatile North Mr. Ditong?"
Putillah stretched his hand into his arms and wanted to take out his pipe, but he didn't know whether he pampered the tobacco too much or his conscience discovered that after hesitating for a few seconds, the former bard shrank his hand in pain. go back.
He immediately said to the second prince: "I wonder if you have noticed that the first ruler of Longxiao City, the first co-existing king of Exter, is Neckar Aix. But The Dragon City we see now is under the rule of Nunn Walton VII."
Thyls quickly reacted: "Aix and Walton, these are two surnames-that is to say, after Nicaru, the one who inherited his name and title is not his direct blood relative ?"
Putila raised his eyebrows and nodded: "The true history, or the history recorded in the records that the stars can turn to, is: Neckar, who died young did not give birth to an heir, what was left after his death The lord of Longxiao City was inherited by his nephew, Nunn Walton."
"That was the first Nunn after the Walton family became the ruler of Dragon City, Nunn I."
"But Nunn I’s bloodline caused the lord’s coveting to be the king—no matter how many times he emphasized that his mother was Necaru’s sister, Nunn himself was the closest to King Nai. The orthodox heirs of Karu were unable to extinguish the ambitions of the nine lords, even if they were all knight models who were loyal to Nekaru."
Thyls frowned slightly.
At this moment, what he thought of was not Neckaru and his nine knights, but the huge portrait in the center of Mindis Hall: a young knight with scars in the sunset battlefield. Fearlessly charged under the company of people.
The resurgent king of the stars, Tormund Canxing I, and the six knights around him, that is, today's prominent Duke family and six giants.
Even thirteen prominent families.
Did they also be "loyal" to Tormund back then?
Like the nine knights and nine lords behind Nekaru?
"For the orthodox succession to the Exeter throne, Nunn I of Longxiao City had a fierce conflict with the Nine Knights and their descendants." Putila continued: "After the war, among the lords The stalemate and confrontation lasted for decades. At that time, Exeter was almost ten pieces, called a country, but in fact they were enemies and incompatible with each other."
"During this period, finally the survivors of the empire established the originally insignificant new country on the banks of the Shepherd River in the south, and began to slowly rise and continue to expand toward the surrounding areas. "
Thyls replied with understanding: "Tormond I, King of Revival?"
"Yes," Putila nodded, eyes shining with strange colors: "Star Kingdom."
"Finally, under the pressure of the emerging star kingdom, Nunn I and the nine lords reached the final and most embarrassing compromise."
"With the joint support of the nine lords, Nunn Walton inherited the throne of the co-elevating king. In the name of the great prince Nekaru, Nunn I redefined the territory of Exeter , The ten lords, including himself, canonized together as the orthodox ten grand princes of the Kingdom of Exeter. However, after the death of Nunn I, the king must be re-selected among the ten grand princes, and they will vote on their own A new king was created and ruled again for life. With such repeated rotations, Exeter’s king election system was established and implemented for six hundred years."
"This is the so-called'Nicaju's co-governance oath'-because it is an oath made by ten people in the name of Nicaju under the signature of Nicaju. Ironically, it is fundamentally related to Nicaju. Kaju has nothing to do with it."
"Wait," Thales was stunned when he heard it: "Choose the king... I only saw one in Mindis Hall... ten people voted together and chose one of them. People?"
"What if someone happens to have the same number of votes? Is there a mature system and style to determine the smooth birth of the king at the election meeting?"
Thyls remembered a magical movie in his previous life, in which the pirates elected the Pirate King, but in the end every candidate voted for himself.
"Yes, and simple, direct, and effective." Putila whispered: "The customs inherited from the Empire and from the glory days of the knights are still used in Exeter, so it is difficult for the princes to comment. At the time of the decision, determine the ownership of the king."
"Inherit the customs of the empire, determine the ownership of the king?" Thales clenched his horse's rein. He remembered what he had heard in the Heroes Tavern in Kaslan, and was startled: "You mean..."
"Well," Putila nodded, with complicated eyes, he gently spit out a powerful word:
"Duel."
Thyls froze.
"When the sacred king election will be unable to make the final decision, different candidates for the king, regardless of age and status, must prove themselves in the duel."
"Prove that I have the courage to be worthy of raising the king, the courage to lead the people of the North, the fearlessness of life and death in the duel, and the final victory in the duel field."
Hearing this, Thales' mind suddenly showed the face of Black Sand Grand Duke Chaman Rumba that was flickering and flickering in the fire, and the worn-out old sword on his table.
They are from the North after all.
Thyls suddenly realized that the country in the North, known for its toughness and iron-bloodedness, was much more complicated and peculiar than he thought.
And I am about to face them.
"Go on," Thales frowned solemnly: "Before I meet them, I want to get to know the princes of Exeter."
"For example, what is their relationship with the co-juking king?"
Putillah only gave a slight pause, then nodded and continued: "The princes of Exter have absolute autonomy in their own territories. They only have the obligation to express obedience to the king and send troops in war. , But there is no need to pay taxes to the king. Territorial affairs are purely self-determined. As for whether to accept and implement the king’s entire territory, it is entirely up to the princes’ own wishes."
"The power of Archduke Exter is a bit too great," Thales showed surprise on his face, and he inhaled slightly as he marched: "Exter has not split up yet, can you say yes Is it a miracle?"
"Yes, that's why they are called'Archduke' (Archduke) instead of the duke of the empire," Putila sighed: "To some extent, the Egyptian born out of compromise Kester, its division is even worse than our star kingdom."
"Their autonomy in their own territories is far greater than the dukes of the stars. At least, no matter how stingy and reluctant, Duke Cullen will allocate a batch of money from the East China Sea every year to Yongxing City and His Majesty Pay a sufficient amount of tax. The appointment and removal of important officials of the stars and the demotion and demotion of nobles must comply with the "Sacred Stars Covenant" and even be reviewed by the Supreme King's warrant. Therefore, if the dukes want to interfere in the kingdom's politics, the fastest way is Intervene in the central department of Yongxing City, or infiltrate the kingdom’s local officials through the influence of the territory."
Thyls shook his head: "Then what is the significance of the existence of a co-judgment king? If he can't even restrain his subordinates, why should he become a co-judgment king?"
Putillar thought for a while, and answered him seriously: "For the lofty prestige, the obedience of the lord, and the name of orthodoxy."
Thyls frowned again.
"This thing is much more useful in the North than in the stars. No matter how uneducated a Northlander, he also knows that the authority of the king is not to be violated, and Nekaru's oath is not to be violated," Putila Thinking back to my knowledge, I continued:
"Historically, the princes of Exter launched three rebellions because of their dissatisfaction with the co-judging king, but each of them ended in failure, because no matter how the grand princes who raised the flag against the co-judgment king defended Once they openly despised Nicaru’s oath, they would lose the hearts of their people, and even the most greedy northerners would not fight for them. Some grand dukes even withdrew from Exeter’s forever. Rule history."
"It's too simple." Thales said flatly.
"Huh?" Putila looked suspicious.
"I mean, the stability of Exeter is attributed to the prestige of Necaru and the character and tradition of the Northlanders-such an attribution is too simple." Thales lowered his head, carefully Thinking carefully:
"Human behavior and the structure of social power always influence each other. There is no way that there can be only such a situation where behavior unilaterally consolidates the structure, while the social structure has no effect on human behavior-no matter how the Northlanders Being noble, respecting ancestors, and respecting traditions cannot sustain such a national system."
"A power structure that is destined to split and collapse will only have the same impact on the Northlanders. They are destined to be under different lords, different interests, and different institutional structures. Generation after generation In the death and birth and social changes, behaviors and motivations that conform to the structure of the times evolved."
"Under the strange split system of Exter, it is difficult for the Northerners not to be enemies and fight each other."
Yes.
Thyls nodded secretly.
This is the society he knows.
However, Exeter...
"Do you have more ideas" Putila asked, squinting.
The second prince pondered for a moment, then uttered: "Stars."
Thyls raised his head and said with certainty: "The Kingdom of Stars."
Putilai's eyes flashed, waiting for the prince's answer.
"As you said just now, the expansion and strength of the stars should also contribute to the stability and unity of Exeter to a certain extent." Thales patted the mount under his hips, causing a commotion in the opponent. Ya hurriedly control the mount, Thales gave him an apologetic smile.
Thyls turned his head and continued: "With such a giant to the south, no grand prince or lord of Exter can face it alone. They must sit down and coordinate their conflicts. Unite against the enemy."
"This is a good angle," Putila nodded approvingly: "Indeed, the existence of stars has largely contained and diverted the conflict between the King and the Grand Duke."
Thyls took a deep breath.
Conversely, the existence and threat of Exeter are not the external causes of the internal forces of the stars?
No.
Tyles looked at the city getting closer and clearer, lowering his head slightly.
The mutual influence of stars and Exter?
Even this kind of analysis is not enough.
This is not the main reason why Exeter has maintained so far, and the power of the king is so stable.
What kind of power is it that sustains the kingdom of Exeter, which should have been scattered, and continues to this, stable and powerful?
Tyles stared at the red and black flags in the distance, squinting.
————
They encountered the first checkpoint in Longxiao City ahead, and the White Blade Guard was negotiating with each other. At this moment, Thales ushered in the **** for the past few days.
"We can only send you here the farthest, Your Highness Thales." Viscount Cambeda, the black sand collar, was gathering his troops. He looked at the nearby Longxiao City and sighed. In a sigh of relief: "Fortunately, there was nothing wrong along the way."
"Thank you for your **** along the way-even though we did not ask for it," Putila sighed, his face cold: "Thank you also for the welcome ceremony."
Cambida didn’t care about Putila’s attitude, and ignored the unkind gazes of the nearby blade guards. Cambida nodded towards Tuleha behind, indicating that he was ready to leave, then turned around and faced Tai Stall:
"Then don't pass it this way, I hope everything goes well for you in Longxiao City."
Thyls looked at the think tank of the Grand Duke of Rumba intently.
A few seconds later, he suddenly said: "Why didn't the Grand Duke come?"
Viscount Cambeda was taken aback.
"King Nunn sent invitations to all the nine princes of Exeter, didn't they, but Rumba didn't come," Thales said silently, recalling the discussion with Putila, "You know , He might want to let the whole Exeter see how the Kings of the Co-exist deal with the Prince of Stars-starting with the friendly welcome of the Blade Guard."
At this moment, what appeared in Thales’s mind was not the two actual people, Nunn and Rumba, but the two concepts of "co-elevating the king" and "duke", each representing each in the same social structure Different powers and ranks play against each other.
"The Grand Duke has his own reasons," Viscount Cambeda responded quickly. He responded indifferently: "And I believe the Grand Duke has told you before that both you and the Grand Duke yourself are in danger. With your sincere cooperation......"
"King Nunn hates him, right." In Putila's strange gaze, Thales interrupted Cambeda.
Cambeda stopped talking, expressionless.
"I guess, the matter in the Star Palace has been passed to Longxiao City. Although there is no evidence, the Great Duke of Black Sand is inseparable from the death of Prince Morar, just like the cold face. What the meteorite said..." Thales said every word:
"King Nunn will find him sooner or later."
"And what is Rumba going to do?"
Thyls stared at Cambida's expression carefully, trying to find something out of it.
Viscount Cambeda frowned slightly, then shook his head slightly, with a strange smile on his mouth.
He no longer used a polite and alienated tone, but responded with serious and serious words:
"The black sand collar stands on the front line of the border between Exeter and the stars, and has confronted the north for hundreds of years. It is not as weak as you think," His Excellency said with profound meaning: "And Your Majesty Nunn, Including the power of the Walton family, it cannot extend to the black sand collar."
"What's more, Exeter is a kingly system." Cambeda gave a weird smile: "The Grand Duke is still young, and Your Majesty Nunn..."
Tyles' eyes moved slightly.
"Very good." He murmured intentionally or unconsciously: "Because I am also very young."
Cambeda fixedly stared at Thales.
"Before leaving, the Grand Duke also asked me to bring you a sentence."
Thyls raised his head.
"Please choose your enemies and friends carefully," Cambida smiled again, knocked on his heart, and said: "Love and compassion are not the fault of the king."
"However, it is the king's taboo to see things unknown."
Thyls frowned and snorted.
"These remarks," the second prince shook his head: "Let's wait until the Grand Duke himself becomes the king, and then use it to teach me."
Cambeda smiled and nodded unchanged: "I will bring the original words."
Just now.
"The people from the black sand collar--why are you still not leaving?" Nicolai came to them and said unceremoniously: "Why, I want to take two thousand people to visit Longxiao City?" /
The Marquis of Shreis gently followed, haha smiled: "Don't mind, I think Lord Nicolai just speaks special."
"Walking around?"
"How dare, after all, this is the territory of the Dragonlance family, and it is also the place where the king is together," Cambida smiled bitterly: "We will leave early tomorrow morning... If your Majesty is as generous as always, you can provide us with some... …"
"Hurry up then-if you don't want to freeze to death in the extreme cold," Nicolai's face was cold and interrupted Cambida: "Unless Rumba is allowed to come by himself."
"Otherwise, your majesty is not in the mood to entertain you."
Cambeda stagnated and did not speak any more. He bowed slightly, and left calmly.
Following him is the army of the black sand collar that stretches for hundreds of meters.
For a time, Thales was only left with the mission and the Blade Guard.
Facing the majestic Longxiao City.
Tyles exhaled, turned his head, and looked at Longxiao City, which was getting closer. Suddenly, his brow furrowed.
"That huge cliff—why is it so flat and empty?" Thales looked at the stone bridge connecting the top of Longxiao City, wondering.
The stone bridge is suspended in the air, and the other end leads to a huge cliff. The cliff is flat and wide, but unlike the cliffs of other buildings in Longxiao City, the cliff is not small in size. It's nothing.
And...
"And the big cave behind it, which seems to have been dug out manually?" Thales squinted and looked far away.
Slaes passed several people and came to Thales.
"It's the legendary'Sky Cliff'," the Marquis of Camus looked at the huge cliff, frowned and shook his head: "Although I have been here many times, but the story of that place , Alas-I heard that it is their queen, exclusive territory."
"Your Majesty the Queen?" Thales, who was observing the cliff, was taken aback, and subconsciously asked: "What queen?"
"What queen?" Nicolai turned his head, his face was strange, and seemed to be slightly dissatisfied:
"Are you kidding?"
Thyls shrugged, trying to exchange a look with Putila on one side, and the latter was only deeply silent.
"I have heard a little about this, about the sky cliff of Longxiao City," At this time, the attendant Huaiya who had been silent for a long time suddenly said: "I heard that it is the palace of the'First Queen'? "
"The First Queen?" Thales was even more puzzled. He let out a breath and looked at Nicolai.
Use the deserted and empty cliff as a residence?
Asceticism?
"Whose queen is it?" Thales asked impatiently.
"I think the prince of the stars should at least have some knowledge," Nicolai sarcastically said: "Of course he is the savior of the Ending War, the greatest hero in human history, the founder of Exeter, Nekaru Aye Your Majesty X... is his queen!"
Thyls was dumbfounded.
"Queen of Nekaru?"
Thyls frowned slightly, he raised his head and looked at the cliff, the cliff of the sky.
Wait.
The queen six hundred years ago?
"Yeah." Nicolai nodded, solemn and respectful.
"Exter's legendary first queen."
"In the Battle of the End, the most reliable existence behind His Majesty Nekaru~IndoMTL.com~His comrade-in-arms, his beloved, when he is crowned king, the eternal and eternal queen."
"It is also the most noble and perfect symbol in the hearts of Northlanders for 600 years."
Nicolai showed a look of reverence.
Even though the Blade Guards were covering their faces, Thales still felt their emotions, just like Nicollet.
I saw the leader of the Blade Guard indifferently:
"Although she quietly left after the death of His Majesty Necaru, her legends and myths remain in the hearts of every Exeter."
Nicolai whispered:
"The battlefield legend of Cangyan Cangyan in the end battle."
"The Queen of the Sky (the_Queen_of_sky)-Your Majesty Crowley Xis."
Thyls frowned.
Why is the sky?
Could this queen still fly...
Wait.
Tyles looked at the huge cliff and opened his mouth wide.
Will...
Fly...
"What did you just say...Red Wing Cangyan?" Thales turned his head sullenly, and stared at Nicolai dumbfounded: "That means... You mean..."
"Ah, yes."
Nicolai has a rare grin. This usually cold and serious man with a pale face is full of glory and pride at this moment:
"In the battle of the end, the great hero, Your Majesty Neckar Ax..."
Nicolai proudly raised his hand and pointed at the Exeter flag flying in the distance.
"...Is a knight."
Tyles turned his head and stared blankly at the black banner, on which a crimson beast was facing the wind, flaring its teeth and claws.
"Fighting side by side with his beloved Sky Queen..."
Nicolai's words sounded in my ears:
"Dragon Knight."