The Seven Deadly Kingdoms

Chapter 2

After the long trip, Adelaide and her family had finally arrived at their destination. The village was buzzing with life, as it always had been when they visited. Adelaide stared at the fancy carriages the higher class rode in that were driving by. They were beautiful, and all sorts of different colours. Adelaide cringed at the people riding inside them, though. From what she had been taught, they were disgusting and haughty people who would do anything for money, even though they had infinite amounts of it.

A flyer hung up on the door of a shop caught Adelaides attention. It was the same letter that her brother had received, telling all of its readers to gather for an announcement two days from now. Strange. It must be a big announcement. Maybe the king finally got over himself and got an heir.

"I wonder what this big announcement is about." She said as they all walked toward the inn they were staying in. Henry saw a flyer hanging up on another door and shrugged. "The king most likely is just having another ball. He usually announces his biggest ones of the year like this." He replied. Adelaide drew her brows together. The king never threw his annual "celebration" ball this time of year. And even if it was that, why was the letter they received addressed to Henry and not their whole family? Adelaide had a bad feeling, like this wasn't going to be a ball at all. "Maybe it's bad news.." She said. Looking at the ground passing beneath them. Henry laughed. "Bad news? In this kingdom? Adelaide, the only bad news we get here is that there's not enough food for a banquet, or a higher class got excluded from their social circle. It'll be fine, I promise." He said, giving her a reassuring smile.

Just then, Adelaide remembered she had forgotten her bag in the carriage. "Oh, Henry, I forgot my bag. You all go on ahead, I'll catch up." She said as she turned to jog back to their wagon.

As she was getting out of the wagon, she heard a few people yelling and the stomping of horses feet. Out of curiosity, she went around the side of the wagon to see a carriage being led down the street by a very, very spooked horse. The horse tried to buck off the driver but was violently whipped in return. Suddenly, the horse went into a full gallop down the street. As it passed their wagon, Adelaide turned her head to follow where it was going. Then, she saw what lay directly in its path.

Henry, squatting down talking to a little boy.

Adelaides eyes grew wide as she immediately began sprinting towards Henry. The horse was going so fast it would have already trampled Henry by the time he could hear its galloping over the noise of the town. "Henry!" She tried yelling, just hoping he could hear her voice. "Henry!" she tried again. People were now walking to get out of the way of the horse, as if this was a daily occurrence. "Henry!," She tried one last time, "Look out! There's a horse!" She yelled desperately.

This time, Henry heard her. He looked up and saw the horse that was just yards away, and approaching at a rapid pace. Immediately, Henry stood up, picked up the little boy, and made a mad dash out of the way in an attempt to save him.

At this point, there was so much dust in the air and so many people flooding the streets again that Adelaide couldn't see Henry at all. The horse continued galloping down the street, and bystanders continued stepping out of the way.

Adelaide ran towards where she last saw Henry, pushing people out of the way as she went. Once she shoved her way between the last group of people, she stepped into a small clearing, where Henry lay in the middle, unconscious. The little boy had the widest eyes Adelaide had ever seen as he stared down at Henry, not knowing what to do. Tears welled up in his eyes.

Adelaide rushed to Henry's side, examining his body. There was no blood, everything appeared to be in place. Except for his leg. One of his legs we completely bent in, clearly broken. Badly. Tears started to pool in Adelaides eyes, too, as she shook his shoulders, trying to get him to wake up. "Henry? Henry, please wake up. Please. C'mon, you jerk. You're scaring the kid." She said as the tears in her eyes started to fall. The little boy poked Henrys cheek in an attempt to help wake him up.