The Rugged Edge

Chapter 36: To Meet Her Life's Thief

He who took away her life
tore her from me then.
Now history wakes the knife
that cut my deepest wound.
I do not despise it so,
not now that wounds can mend.
I know now that I may grow,
despite the ire that thins.

. . . . .

I stood frozen. It was only then that I realized that I hadn't really believed that Rufus had killed Giovanna. Why on earth would he have done so? It had only been what one would call a gut feeling, more of a way to vent my frustration than any sense at all. So it came as another shock to me as he said those words. He really had killed my mother! But now the question came. Why? And then another one. What was he doing here, instead of in the castle? More questions rose, multiplying like bees from a smashed honeycomb. But I felt strength swell from my confusion and frustration, though mostly from my anger.

"You killed her. You killed my mother," I started.

Rufus pulled a knife out of his belt and I stepped back, shaking all over.

"Whenever I asked you who would take Collum's place, you wouldn't answer," I continued, undeterred although I had no weapon. "You knew all along. It would be you."

"Yes! You're quite bright."

"You won't be king," I said, trying to sound brave although I had no clue what was going on. "You'll go to prison. You're just as bad as Collum."

"Don't worry, you won't be around to see me in prison," said Rufus, looking angry at my last words. "Although I never will be. You'll never be queen."

"I'm not a queen," I said. "I'm just a pawn. You said so yourself."

"Granted, a very useful pawn!" Rufus laughed. I found that his laugh was just as chilling as his smile. "And for that, you deserve to know why I'm killing you." He came closer until he was only a foot away from me. I backed into a tree, with nowhere to go.

"Who would have ever guessed that I would have killed the queen, of all people?" the lion said. "I was the one who wanted Rokenmeine green again. Giovanna never hindered that. Why, indeed? Let's see, where should I begin? I have such a long and full history." He paused, still smiling icily. "Why don't we start with when I was born? Or better, where I was born.

"I was born in a poor little village in Auctorndom," said Rufus, with the clearest pride. "Such a magnificent kingdom! Vibrant and powerful, and so very strong. And I was born in the poorest little village. Still, it was rich compared to any place in Rokenmeine! Such a sad little kingdom. No... not then, I suppose. Then, Rokenmeine was quite fruitful. But never as fruitful as Auctorndom. Never so powerful. We were willing to fight for our power, while William sat around, promoting peace. Well, when I grew up and left my poor little village, I was a renown general in Auctorndom. Everyone knew my name! I was the one who brought victory to our wars.

"On the right side of the king of Auctorndom, I led the army into Rokenmeine. We fought valiantly and greatly, like we have always done, but I was the victorious one. I killed William himself. Oh, what a victory! I deserved to be made great in Auctorndom, but when I returned, the king only had me continue as I was. Only a general! I should have been made a prince - I was the one to kill half of the Rokenmeine army! But no, I was still a general. The king saw no reason. So I resolved to make myself great. I decided I could and would take all of Rokenmeine for myself. I left Auctorndom and came here, only to find that Collum was the queen's new husband. I'd planned to kill you and the queen and take the throne, but Collum was skilled in defense. Or at least, everyone believed so at the time.