The Bastard (Darling #2) [complete]

Chapter Twenty-Seven

A L L  T H R O U G H O U T the venture to the Friar village, Thatcher could not help but to glare daggers into the back of the king. He was infuriated and wished nothing more than to put King James in his place, six feet under ground in a wooden box right beside the late king. But with all of the guards around, he was aware the possibility of getting away with murdering his father wasn't possible.

And with every second that passed, his anger towards his father - the king - only grew, and as his resentment grew, his patience wore thin. Thatcher only had one opportunity to strike King James with the blade of his sword. As soon as the chance would present itself, he would not waste any time.

King James definitely didn't hesitate to beat Louelle into a bloody, near unrecognizable pulp.

If Thatcher could not get the opportunity to corner his father and strike him by surprise on the excursion, he didn't understand why he had volunteered himself to go.

Yes, he did still have a lot to learn in regards to running a kingdom, and stepping onto a battleground of villagers harming their own was definitely something he needed to experience. That way, he would not create the same mistakes his father was making during his own reign. But, if Thatcher could not catch the king by surprise, then he was putting himself in harm's way.

At first, before agreeing Thatcher could attend, King James was incredibly hesitant on allowing his crowned prince to join the king's charge. If the king was hesitant, it must have been for good reason.

He could get killed, King James had said.

Thatcher did not wish to be killed.

He wished to do the killing.

Even though he had never killed another human being. He had gone hunting, so he had killed a living being, but it wasn't something he had enjoyed very much. For something so defenseless to be shot and killed by a bow and arrow - it made the prince uncomfortable and a little... Guilty. He was aware that it was a natural sport men had often partook in, and he also knew it was something that needed to happen to put food on the table. It just wasn't something he enjoyed doing.

He wasn't very certain on how to kill another human, but he was more than confident that his victim was more than deserving. Not only for the harm he caused to Louelle and their unborn child - but for all of the others he had also caused harm to: servants, guards, and castle folk who were at lower statuses. They all deserved justice of their own, too, and killing King James - nipping his plague-like path in the rear - was the only way proper justice could be served.

Without the threat of him stalking around inside of the castle's walls, everyone would live a much peaceful and easefull life.

Thatcher was too busy inside of his head to see that the party of well-guarded men was stopped. He nearly let his horse crash into the back of the one King James was riding on.