The Reign of Swineheart: Swineheart, #2

By Rich Cole

Swineheart, the great warrior raised by pigs, has defeated the warlord Raz, and taken his place in the castle. Now, a whole new set of challenges await. Swineheart must learn about laws and governing, concepts which are entirely alien to him. He must choose whether to trust or destroy his new advisers, and build an army to defend his new lands. On top of that, his aunt Lavina is still held captive on an island across the ocean, and it falls to him to rescue her; and his visions have never stopped. All of this leads to a journey of bureaucracy and cross-country travels unlike any other. Can Swineheart learn to control his power and figure out the meanings behind his visions? Can he dance properly in royal attire? Can he sail across the ocean without becoming seasick?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Seagull Editions
• Release date: May 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215949221

Book preview

Rich Cole

The Reign of Swineheart

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 1

A strange silence followed Swineheart’s passionate speech, and one of the guards cleared his throat.

Disperse! Your orders will be given to you soon enough, he saidas he pulled Swineheart to the side. My lord, there are many laws that you must follow before you can make these judgments.

What are you talking about? Swineheart answered angrily. He had slain the great Raz, and he was now warlord. Certainly there was nothing standing in his way from ruling these people as he wished. "What are these... laws?"

A group of really old men in odd robes had advanced upon the balcony, and they were now squeezing themselves awkwardly into the space. It looked as if they definitely had something they wished to consult him on.

One of them stepped slightly forward. My lord, it is the work that must be done before we can enforce any new laws. There are many papers that require your seal, which you do not yet have, and many discussions and decisions that must be made.

That didn’t sound so great to Swineheart. He had many quests ahead of him, and there had been no suggestion that he would need to work with any kind of paper, whatever that meant. Swineheart knew of the lines that people often made on the pieces of parchment, but he could not interpret the strange symbols.

That sounds unnecessary, he said shortly.

Perhaps, my lord, it would be best to begin with your presentation as our new ruler. said another of the old men, short and bald and wrinkled so much that he must have been made exclusively of leather. They all looked very wary and careful, as if they were afraid of him, but wanted to remain in his shadow.

Presentation?

Please follow me. The leader of the ancient group began to shuffle away, beckoning at Swineheart to come with them. Reluctantly, he did. Piglet followed just as suspiciously, but he kept his invariably rude thoughts to himself.

They were led to a large room, the center of which was dominated by an enormously heavy wooden table, surrounded by enough chairs for each man. The others each sat down and left the bigger seat at the head open.

Swineheart guessed at the expectation for him to sit there, which he did, and he felt the power settle in him as he looked out over them. Piglet was forced to stay standing beside him, but his presence gave Swineheart confidence.

Who are you? Swineheart asked before anyone else could speak again. He wouldn’t be listening to these people, even with their wizened age, without knowing who he was talking to.

They turned to one another, almost as if they were communicating with their minds rather than their mouths, before the one on his right-hand side finally answered. I am Regis, the Elder of the Council of Advisors.

Swineheart only caught his name. The rest made absolutely no sense and might as well have been in an entirely different tongue. He nodded slowly, however, as if he completely understood the title.

These are Vizier, Cullot, Leggag, Melkke, and Kerriem. Each are an advisor for the warlord’s council. Regis pointed to each man in turn.

The names were harder to remember than others Swineheart had heard before. He tried to match them to each face, but he’d forget them soon anyway.

We each have a part of the village that we are responsible for. Vizier, for example, looks after trade, and Cullot is in charge of the castle guard. Melkke deals with the peasantry and the slaves, Kerriem handles outsiders, and Leggag manages our treasury and storage. I, as their Elder, lead them all, Regis continued to explain.

This was easier to understand, but Swineheart didn’t like this. As warlord, did he not have power over all of those things? What made these men think that they had any power here, in his castle, over the people?

I have not given you that right, Swineheart asserted, and all of them shrunk back like the night before the sun.

It was Cullot who was brave enough to speak in return. My lord, are you saying that you can take on all of this responsibility? Can you run an entire city? Do you know how much work you want to make?

This line of thought spurred the rest of them on to join in the question. Can you determine the right prices to trade livestock? How many chickens would you trade for the pelt of a wolf? said Vizier first, and Melkke soon followed.

Who will do the work of the slaves you wish to free? Who will work for our winter resources, and who will take their place? Do you know how to fill the gaps?

Will you make sure that the guards patrol the right places, that they know their schedule, that none of them go over the line or commit crimes themselves? Will you go into the dungeons each morning and make sure each criminal is dealt with? Cullot took another turn, before Kerriem’s smooth, deep voice interrupted.

Do you know how to speak with those outside this city? Will you know their customs, how to avoid a war? Can you play the games of diplomacy?

Can you balance the gold we have with our expenditures? Leggag wasn’t one to speak much, but he wanted a part of this interrogation.

Swineheart stood up and lifted a hand for their silence. The questions were overwhelming, and he had no idea how to answer most of them. He hadn’t even thought of anything of that sort.

You have made your point. Are you requesting of me to continue your work? Will these things be what you do here? He almost felt like an idiot asking this. They looked at him as if they’d never been asked these things; as if their presence was a natural expectation rather than an unpleasant surprise.

Those are the roles of the council, as has been for generations before. Regis said, bowing his head slightly; perhaps to hide a sneer. Of course, we would not presume to stand above you, my lord.

Piglet snorted next to him. I don’t trust them.

Swineheart didn’t answer him at that moment, or even acknowledge that he had spoken. Humans found it very strange when he spoke to his animal brethren, and he didn’t want these ones to use that against him.

I will let you continue your duties, but if you cross me, I will exact terrible revenge. Swineheart said to the council, who all offered him a bow in return.

Of course, my lord, said Regis, speaking for them all. It seemed that he would be doing most of the talking, most of the time. If you wish, we would like to offer you a tour of these grounds, so that you may gaze upon your kingdom and realize its scope.

That seems an appropriate pastime. Swineheart nodded slowly, as if he were considering the proposal. It was a good idea to become more knowledgeable about this new life. I shall meet you at the gates, but I ask you to leave me now.

They all swept out of the room and closed its large doors behind them, instructing the guards outside to keep an eye on the new warlord. Swineheart, for his part, turned to Piglet immediately, and began to speak in the pig language. He didn’t want to be overheard speaking human at this time.

"Why don’t you trust them?" he asked of Piglet, and the pig shook his head with an angry huff.

"They smell all wrong. They don’t care about anyone but themselves."

"Don’t you think you are being paranoid?"

It was a tendency of Piglet’s to see things as worse than they were. The men had seemed greedy, for certain, but Swineheart believed that they would, at least, take their work seriously. How else would they have achieved such seats at Raz’ side? Their willingness to switch to working for Swineheart was slightly worrying, but also proved that they could be swayed to change their ways. If it was good for them, they’d do as he asked.

"If they do anything suspicious, I will cut them down where they stand." Swineheart said to Piglet, to make him feel better about the situation. He meant his words, of course; he wouldn’t be merciful with those that had served Raz’ wicked ways, even if they did change to doing good.

"I trust you. Do the right things. We have to go." Piglet bounced towards the door, his helmet still balanced comically on his head.

Swineheart held back a chuckle. Even at this size, Piglet still had that look of silly innocence to him, no matter how much of an intimidating visage he attempted to build.

***

It was only Regis and Vizier that greeted them at the castle gates. They had been followed down by a procession of guards who refused to speak and refused to leave their side. Swineheart decided to let the matter go. After all, the most powerful people always had their guards following them. That’s what the hunters told him.

Where are the others? Swineheart turned his attention to Regis. There were a few crowds in front of the castle, whispering and clamouring to get a view of the new warlord.

They have returned to their duties, my lord, answered Regis matter-of-factly. The day does not wait for pleasantries. Please, come with us.

The group began to walk back across the massive castle grounds. There were tents and workshops and shacks all over the place, almost covering all of the space up to the walls. It was sweaty and metallic and hot down here, with soldiers and blacksmiths and people shouting and clanging all around.

All of our weaponry and armour is made and sold here, at the castle. Raz decided it best that way, to keep the peasantry from accessing them. Regis’ cracking voice somehow registered above the noise around them.

The explanation irked Swineheart, and he placed it in the back of his mind. He would bring these things up with the old man, and ensure that they changed. People needed weapons, for the animals in the forest and the bandits. If the peasants could not afford or even get to any of them, there would be no way for them to protect themselves. It was not acceptable.

For now, Swineheart did not comment. It would not do to stop in every area to lodge a complaint. He would save them all for the discussions around the heavy table.

They continued upwards, toward the castle itself, and when the stairs reached the next level, it was as if they stepped into a different world. The heat did not reach this place, with its grass and rows of plants and small huts. It smelled of spices and medicine; altogether more pleasant. There was a stable on one end, big enough for twenty horses, and Swineheart wondered if they all now belonged to him.

Raz preferred his healers to remain in the castle grounds as well. Here, they can practice alchemy safely and can be reached easily by the injured.

It did not seem that easy, if the injured would need to traverse the steps below. However, this seemed more appropriate to Swineheart. He would prefer the healers to move down into the village to help the people, but they could continue their alchemy behind the safety of the soldiers below. He did not have much to say to Regis, and so the Elder continued his walk.

Their movements were slow, because of their age,