Red lion: hell let loose

Escape!

The sky was glowing red in the distance. The red horizon silhouetted the growing ruins of the great "twin cities" gateway to carnbell and the continent. All around a shadowy figure was utter chaos, some people fled to the docks to get away on ships others partook in looting and some tried to fight the fires. "My liege?" Asked a man in the distance, "yes, is my transport ready?".  Young Alfred lionheart (Alfred dunsford by birth) great king of carnbell and feared warrior of the continent was now in civilian rags trying to escape his own empire which had been collapsed by her neighbors. "My liege, the commerce ship 'yellow flower' is waiting to take you away from here!" He said with haste. Just as he finished the magazine of the central armory exploded. The city was as bright as day and debris rained down. They raced towards the docked ship.

"Make haste, his majesty must escape post haste!" Cried the caped officer. "It will take a few minutes or this ship to leave the port." Said the captain, "I don't care!" Cried the officer, "you chartered your services to your liege, thus your ship must depart post haste!". The captain bowed his head, "as you wish." He said calmly. "His majesty will require the use of your finest quarters as a meeting a staffing area." The captain didn't bat an eye, "yes sir, as you wish.".

"My liege!" Shouted the officer, "your quarters are ready!" The ragged former king staggered past the officer into his "quarters" and slumped into a chair. "Duart, who is with us?" He asked in a frail hoarse voice. "My liege, no one is left. What's left is still in the cities. I have much doubt as to weather your marshals will be alive in the coming weeks." The king slumped further, "last I knew our strength was at least 78,500. How did we get so low?" He was shaking his head is disappointment. "Well my liege..." the king interrupted, "it was my futile attack at that crossroads. I held them off but at too much cost. I should've arrange all our escapes instead of trying to hold off the inevitable." The two men looked at each other, "my liege you have survived and that is the key! As long as you live there is hope of a revival!" Alfred sighed, "where is our ship going?" The officer paused for a brief second. "I was promised, my liege that the isle of the lyre would welcome you." There was a pause and then the king spoke, "what will the conditions be like? I should not like to make a show of my presence." The officer looked baffled for a second then replied, "why should you wish anonymity?" There was no time to wait for a reply, "assassins or those wishing to gain favor with the 'republic' will come hunting if my presence is well known. Perhaps after a year or two of no contact and no issues I may decide to emerge again." There was nothing but silence, "I shall take my leave for the night then my liege." Said the officer. "As you please, i shouldn't be needing you for the next while." Said the king.

After five days at sea the "yellow flower" arrived in the main port city of the "isle of the lyre" (similar to modern Ireland). The former king stepped off the ship in his civilian rags staying as low profile as anyone else. "Sir, ive 3,600 leaves in my pockets just to arrange us a farmstead in the country where no one will find you." Said the officer, "I must thank you more than can be!" Said Alfred, "I am sure when I re-emerge that the people here will be welcoming of me." They walked along the streets and back alleys no one even questioning them.
The new life of Alfred Wilson was set to begin.