" I'll leave with you, just leave everyone alone", I say softly. Jonathan raises his eyebrows, " No, Kill everyone", Jonathan says calmly. The soldiers march towards us, everyone stands up and grabs their weapons. I look right, a crossbow hangs on the wall. " Take the crossbow", I whisper. I step forward, the soldiers stop marching. " I will kill you Jonathan", I scream. Arthur grabs the crossbow and fires an arrow, a soldier falls to the ground.
" March", Jonathan screams. My skin picks at me, I need to get everyone out of here, now. Arrows whizz, " For King and Country", John yells. " Help", I scream as I grab the table. Wilhelm, Andreas, Arthur run to me and grab the table. I lift with all my might, a stabbing pain starts in my shoulders, we drop the table on it's side. " Where's Edward?", I yell. Edward crawls to me, " Daddy, what's happening?". " We need to leave, follow me", I scream, we all get up and run into the courtroom.
The soldiers scream and cuss. I run to the huge coloured glass window painted in lilacs. I bend my knee and kick the window, the glass shatters and falls to the ground. " You first Edward", I say as I pick up Edward, I gently sit him on the grass. A soldier runs into the room, I charge towards him. I tackle him and choke him to the ground, the soldier claws at my hands. Fear swells in the soldier's eyes, his eyes slowly shut. I sprint to the door and latch it, " Hurry", Andreas screams as he climbs through the window.
" Break that door in", Jonathan screams. I sprint towards the window and leap in the air, I fall in the grass. Alix grabs my hand, I stand up. " John, get my family out of here", I say firmly, John nods. " I love you Will", Alix says, I gently kiss her. " Go, get out", I say calmly. John, Alix, Edward, Mummy and Joann run towards the carriage. " Andrew, go into town and get the local garrison", I command. Andrew bows and sprints towards town.
Wilhelm, Andreas, Arthur and I run to the Abbey, " Follow me", I say as we burst into the Abbey, guards stand watch. " Andreas, get the guards, tell them to ready themselves for a fight", I say firmly, Andreas nods. " William Dinefwr, come out now", Jonathan screams. I swiftly lock the door, " I gave you a way out, and you mistook it for weakness. I will now show strength, and you may mistake it for brutality", Jonathan adds. I unlatch the door, " Don't Icarus", Wilhelm says, grabbing my hand.
" I'll be fine Willy, go upstairs to the armoury, get weapons", I say softly. I open the door, Soldiers stand in the rain with Jonathan on a horse. I step outside and shut the door, the rain slams like nails into the Abbey. " William Dinefwr, You must give up the Kingdom of Scotland now", Jonathan says calmly, his eyes dead inside. I raise my hands, " My family has ruled the Kingdom of Scotland for eighteen years, my great-great-grandfather was King Job of Scotland, I am a rightful claimant, and I will not give up my throne. You will have to tear it from my dead hands", I say firmly. Jonathan chuckles, " I kind of want this to happen, soldiers, take his head", Jonathan commands.
A lump forms in my throat, making it hard to breathe. " I'll give you the Duchy of Strathclyde, just let me and my family go", I say, my voice trembles in fear. Jonathan climbs off his horse and raises his hand as he approaches me, we stand one pace away from each other. The smell of wine protrudes from Jonathan, his cold breath blows against me, I shudder. " Your Father, Morgan the Devil, stole my throne. And now I have a sodomite, telling me that he will give me a lesser title, it's fucking shameful", Jonathan screams.
Cormac, no. " Where is Cormac?", I ask angrily, I ball up my fist. Jonathan laughs, " He's dead Will, may I call you Will?", Jonathan asks with a smirk. Cormac can't be dead, he's lying. " Oh Cormac, I love you. What utter rubbish, give me what I want, and I won't kill you where you stand now", Jonathan says firmly. I stand tall, " I don't think he believes us, give me the head", Jonathan commands, a soldier hands him a ball wrapped in cloth. Jonathan pulls up the cloth, my heart drops into my stomach. Cormac's face is covered in blood, his eyes shut.
I heel over and vomit, my insides boil. My heart begins racing, I'll die here tonight. " Poor Cormac, I think he really did love you, I'm done playing with you now", Jonathan says firmly. An arrow whizzes down from the roof, " Damnit!", Jonathan screams as he lies on the ground, an arrow sticks out of his leg. I run back inside and latch the door, " For the glory of Wales", I scream. I run down the hall and look out of the window, the garrison marches towards us.
" William, get up here", Arthur yells, he stands at the top of the stairs. My heart races as I sprint up the stairs and into the attic. Our guards stand on the roof raining down arrows, I climb through the window and onto the roof. " Come on men, fight harder", I scream as Arthur hands me a crossbow. I ready my crossbow and fire onto the soldiers, Jonathan is being carried on a cot, a crossbow in his hand. " Die Sodomite", Jonathan screams as he fires his arrow. The world seems to go silent, the arrow strikes me in my left eye. I scream in agonizing pain and fall backwards into the attic.
" The King is hit", Andreas says as I scream in pain. Andreas stops shooting and rushes to me, it feels as if a cannon was shot through my head. " Help me", I scream. Andreas flattens his hands and pushes it against the wound. I can taste the blood dripping down my face, salty. I feel my ears ringing. " Calm down Will", Andreas says softly. " Am I going to die?", I whimper.
YOU ARE READING
A New Legacy
Historical FictionThe year is 1479, King Morgan the Great of Wales, Ireland and Scotland just died at 51 after serving 30 years on the throne. Now King, William is looking to cut out a new legacy.
