The Lord of Devonshire

Playing with fire

" It's unsafe at this time of the hour Your Majesty", Lord commander Bolton tried to convince his king as their horses sped through the woods.

"This is necessary", William replied. Suddenly, Bolton strode past, his stallion blocking the king's path.

"What is the meaning of this?"William gritted his teeth, trying to keep his voice low to be only audible for Bolton.

"Your highness, this isn't right. Allow me to escort you back."

"Move Bolton!" he commanded his knight. William did not come all this way only to turn back. His kingdom and his people's lives were all at stake. An unaware peril that is slowly digging a hole among their lives. He must right the wrongs before the hole stretches out pulling everyone inside with no way out. Therefore he must meet him. Because he is their only way to salvation.

"Intending to lay bare in front of an unknown danger is heedless. He is an absolute mystery. We must act shrewd but here we are clueless to if it being a lair to lure us. There are initial ways to deal with this before setting out a confidential meet." All Bolton could think of was to protect his king and being out alone in the dark in the middle of the woods is practically inviting trouble. And it vexed him.

"Are you suggesting that I lack prudence Sir Bolton?", William grimaced which deepened the freshly aging lines on his face.

"Your highness! I would dare not. All I did imply was you are heavily unguarded, with the Devonshire army in our vicinity we do not know what might lurk around us ready to cause harm."

"Which is why you are here", saying William slid his horse across Bolton's and continued on his path not bothering to wait. Bolton cursed under his breath and did a moderate spin to inspect his surroundings before following William. The whole while William did put on a courageous face but nervousness of the unknown had built inside him.

William Romanov, the ruler of Avalon Empire and descendant of the Romanov bloodline, the founders of Avalon. Avalon was once a land invaded by bandits. They plundered every village and town they crossed, ruthlessly killed men, raped women and abandoned children. Decades passed, hopes were lost until the Romanov clan voyaged from faraway set foot there. They were pioneers in trade, fearless voyagers and valiant warriors. The residents saw them as a ray of light and the Romanov's vowed to abolish the evil and retain goodness. They adopted the land as their own country and embarked on the pursuit of creating peace and harmony. They named it Avalon, a land of purity and abundance for the kind and those who seek refuge. But at present the very same land is threatened to be tainted by a merciless evil force that lives within the deep pools of darkness and William Romanov must destroy it and withhold Avalon's dignity. When he became the king he had pledged on the words of his forefather's 'The wicked shall cower where a dauntless heart beats." And he is obliged to serve his purpose.

After an hour's journey, William and Bolton stood before a small ruins of a dome building. Its outsides were covered with creepers and broken windows showing signs of complete abandonment. William felt anxious standing there. He looked back at Bolton to see him looking back at William with assurance. Without wasting a second, they entered inside only to find no one. With each passing minute William's thoughts escalated as he started pacing around.

Why isn't he here yet? Did he even receive the message?

Will he make an appearance? What is to happen if he doesn't?

What kind of a person will he be?

What if Bolton is correct? What if this is a trap?.....

William couldn't silence it and they kept him engaged that he failed to notice the sound of the door creaking.

"Your Majesty, he's here," Bolton spoke pulling William out from his trance. William shot his neck sideways to see the man nobody had seen nor dared to see. The man whose name and his title can bring the devil himself down to his knees. The ruler of the great northern empire known for its notorious natives and powerful domineering army.