The Assassin and the King

Chapter 8

Althalos had ears everywhere. That was how he managed to learn what was going on in the castle without the update from Madam Maven. So when Oletha, Laurel and Spencer arrived and confirmed that his informants were correct, she simply told them that they had Althalos' approval, and Laurel was to assassinate the king that night.

Oletha was nervous. She didn't want anything to go wrong, but she also didn't want this to come so soon, because she didn't want Gabriel to find out who she really was. If he knew why she was really here, he might not love her anymore. He did serve the king, and Oletha was nervous about this.

Laurel, on the other hand, couldn't be more prepared for this. She was ready to take down the tyrant who destroyed the lives of millions. The man who killed families, killed children and parents. The man who killed her parents.

Laurel strode down the halls, wearing a tunic and pants so she could move easier. Oletha was also wearing a tunic and pants, and Spencer was wearing his guard uniform. For the most part, they looked normal to anyone who saw them, because their weapons were hidden.

Queen Isabelle, Gavin and Elmina were all on the other side of the castle, just as planned, so the king would be alone in the throne room with his guards.

The doors to the throne room burst open, and there sat the king. He didn't look alarmed, and waved a hand to his guards when they advanced.

Spencer and Oletha drew their weapons on the two guards, and Laurel pulled out twin blades and stepped right up to the king, crossing the blades across his neck.

"Do you have any last words?" She asked icily. This was the last thing an executioner said to their victim before they were killed under the king's order.

He was laughing, his breath warm on her face. It smelled like red wine.

"You look so much like your mother, Laurel." He said. "I'm glad you turned out so much like me."

He seized and dropped to the floor in an instant, foaming at the mouth. Not because of Laurel. He had taken cyanide, and he had killed himself. He was going to leave her without telling her what he meant, and Laurel was angry.

At that moment, the guards attacked, and Oletha and Spencer killed them both in a swift motion.

Just as she saw the first sign of blood on the two guards, Laurel felt a white hot pain in the back of her head, and then there was nothing.

~

Laurel found herself facedown on a red rug. This was familiar. It was the exact rug she had found herself facedown on in many instances. Each time because she had made a mistake in one of her missions. Occasionally, she wondered if the rug was red to begin with or not.

"Hello, Laurel." Althalos' voice spoke as she picked herself up, lifting her head to look at him. "I have some explaining to do."

Laurel blinked at him. She could feel blood running down her nose, and she wiped it with her sleeve.

"You said he killed my parents. He didn't, did he?" Laurel spat, knowing the answer already.

"Gorvenal Bardolphus is your father, Laurel. Your mother killed herself a long time ago, because of him. So in a way, yes, he killed your parents."

"I can't believe you tricked me! I was about to kill my own father!" Laurel screamed.

"You would have killed him regardless of his relation to you, and you know it. He knew it too, and was prepared to die at his own hand rather than yours." Althalos said.

"Does it matter? You lied to me this whole time! And for what? Just to use me as a pawn to kill the king?"

"You were never a pawn to me, Laurel." He said.

"Tell me everything. Now." She said.

Althalos sighed.

"Men of royal blood are not known to stick to one woman, and your father is no exception. Queen Isabelle was pregnant for the first time, and so was the Royal Vizer's daughter, Azerel. About a month before Queen Isabelle gave birth to the prince, Azerel had a daughter at the age of seventeen. I think that you know now that that daughter is you. The king sent for you to be killed before his wife found out about you. You were to be drowned by one of the guards, but Winifred Richil, the Head Healer and Midwife, wanted you to live. So she persuaded the drunken guard to let her take care of you. She foolishly left you on my doorstep, assuming this was the mansion of a Lord. Of course, I knew exactly who you were; I have ears everywhere. I knew from the moment I saw you what you could become, and I had to make sure you achieved your greatest potential."

"My greatest potential was to kill the king?" Laurel asked skeptically.

"No, no. Your greatest potential has yet to come. Now, wait. I have a little more for you. Azerel had another child, a year later. The king did not know about this child, because she hid the boy from him. The moment he was born, Winifred brought him to another Lord's doorstep. A different one, this time, as to not raise suspicions, and the Lord and his wife gladly took the child in."

"I have a younger brother?" Laurel asked.

"They named him Gabriel. Gabriel Newton. I do believe he became a guard at the castle. How ironic!" Althalos laughed.

"My brother is Gabriel?" Laurel asked.

"Well, you must have seen it. You look so alike!" Althalos said.

"You cruel little-"

"Ah, ah, ah. Hold it there. There's one more thing." Althalos said.

"And what is that?"

"I did tell you that your punishment wasn't over, didn't I?" Althalos said.

"You didn't..." Laurel said, looking shocked.

"I wonder where Spencer Cortland is now. I do hope no one tipped the guards off about his involvement in the king's death. It's too bad we were only able to save you before he and that peasant girl ran off." Althalos said, smirking.

"No!"

Althalos leaned back in his chair and watched as Laurel ran through the keep, knocking down anyone in her way.

Althalos knew she would be too late. He made sure that the boy would be as good as dead before she got there.