Small Stories

(#1) Thomas and Talon (Thomas's P.O.V)

Background info: Okay, so I created this universe awhile ago called the kingdom of Unitatius, and it had been ruled by the Rogers' family for generations. However, under Thomas's rule, things started to get a bit hairy..which is how this short story was created! Hope you enjoy!

We are under attack.

The four words a ruler never wants to hear, the four words of which he dreads..have become my reality. I had only caught word of our unfortunate situation an hour beforehand, while Cassidy and I were visiting allies with our twin boys Zayn and Zach. Now I was currently walking through the castle, Cassidy and the boys behind me, my sword raised, ready to attack anyone who dared to hurt me or my family. How could I have done this, leaving Unitatius so unguarded when it needed me most? With every careful step in the eerily quiet castle, I regretted my decision of ever leaving.

Suddenly, I heard voices up ahead. Waiting until Cassidy and the boys hid well enough, I then scouted forward, lifting my sword higher as a precaution. I knew that I had to be willing to give up my own life for the people of Unitatius, for my own family and their safety, and I knew deep down that that was a choice I would make without hesitation. I was going to face whoever was up ahead with the bravery of a true ruler, willing to make sacrafices for those he truly cares about.

Scouting around the corner, I saw them. Relief washed over me when I realized it was only Talon Lark, my close friend. He was talking to a group of my men, most likely giving them orders on how to stop the invader. Emerging from my hiding place, I briskly walked over to them. Talon looked over at me and smiled.

"Hello Thomas, what's going on?"

"Talon, just the man I wanted to see. We have a big problem I'm afraid..Unitatius has been invaded..we're not sure who it is, but I've heard that they are still inside the castle. If you could help me spread the word and get the army together, that would be wonderful..What's so funny?" I asked, for he had started laughing.

"Oh Thomas, you truly are a gullible man!!" He replied, recovering from his laughing fit, but there was some strange light in his eyes..something more sinister.

This definitely startled me..Talon had never acted this way before. He had always listened to me and helped by giving his opinions on serious matters. He had always been my right hand man.

"What do you mean by that? Talon I wish you would stop joking around..I really need your help!"

"Oh? But I'm not Thomas, you see..I am the invader."

At once it felt as if time had stood still. I wanted to desperately believe that Talon was lying..but I could tell from his expression that he wasn't. The shock and hurt crashed into me like a wave hitting the shore on a beach. The man I had trusted for years..one of my only true friends..had betrayed me.

"Why?.." I croaked, unable to form full sentences.

"Oh it was quite simple actually! You see Thomas, you always had the one thing I didn't..and that was power over Unitatius! So of course I befriended you with the hope that one day I could make you vulnerable enough to steal your throne!" Talon replied, smiling smugly. "And you were foolish enough to fall for it!!"

"Talon..I don't understand..I made you one of my advisors..I seeked your advice..you helped me make decisions.." I said weakly, still trying to get over the fact that I had indeed been very foolish.

"Honestly Thomas, how naive can you be? That was all a cover up..as in I only made myself trustworthy to win over your admiration!" He spoke to me as if correcting a small child, which made my blood boil. "Now get out of my way you little pest, or my friends and I here won't hesitate to do that for you!!"

As if things couldn't get any worse..I watched in horror as all of the soldiers behind him raised their weapons, all of them looking at me. I preferred not to fight against my own men..but it seemed like I had no choice.

Finally, with a slightly shaking hand, I raised my sword. "I'm sorry Talon..but your request is declined. It is my job as the king of Unitatius to defend and protect the throne..you are a threat..therefore I cannot allow you to just take my rights from me. If you want to remove me as king of this kingdom then you shall have to do so by force."

I could tell I had made Talon upset, for he gritted his teeth, glaring at me with pure hatred. "Very well..goodbye then Thomas...KILL HIM!!!"

The soldiers then ran at me, yelling battle cries with their weapons raised. I chose to fight, doing my best to defend myself from their strikes. It was painful at having to watch the men I attacked either fall from injuries to the leg or stumble back from cuts in the arm.
I had gotten some cuts as well, one across my left cheek that was starting to sting, and countless others on my arms and legs.
However, I managed to fight them off, and soon it became a whole bunch of injured soldiers, Talon, and myself in the room.

I then turned toward Talon, and he turned toward me, his own sword raised. We circled each other slowly, weapons raised, waiting for the first move of attack.

"You'll never be able to win over the people Talon..they'll hate you."

"Of course I know that..that's what violence is for!!" He then finally tried to strike my arm, smiling evilly.

I almost missed it, narrowly defending myself. Talon, frustrated, took another swing. This time he put another cut in my arm. And so it went on.

After the first round of the fight, we had both gotten quite a few cuts. I was about to take another swing when I heard shouts coming down the hallway. More soldiers.

"What's the matter Thomas? Scared of defeat?" Talon sneered, seeing the expression on my face.

I knew I had no choice. I was getting tired and was outnumbered. This was the time for flight.

Without another word, I then took off in the other direction, back where I had come from. I had to find Cassidy and the boys. I had to get them out of here. I could hear the blood roaring in my ears as I searched for my wife and children. Was I too late?

I was about to start panicking before I saw them, hiding behind a wall. I then made my way over to Cassidy, who looked panicked, and to my sons, who both looked frightened.

"Thomas what happened? What's going on?"

"I'll explain later, right now we have to get out of here!" I then scooped up Zayn and ran as fast as I could toward one of the secret exits. Cassidy followed behind me, carrying Zach.

Once we managed to make it out of the castle, I didn't hesitate to run into the vast woods nearby. I kept running and running until I couldn't hear anymore shouting. That was when I finally stopped, chest heaving. I finally put Zayn down while I myself layed against a rock. Cassidy followed my actions and set Zach down near his brother before walking over to me.

"Thomas..what happened back there? You're all scratched up!" She whispered, putting her hand on my cheek.

Once I had gotten my breath to slow, I prepared to tell her the same heartbroken story that I had been a witness to. What we were going to do now, I wasn't sure.

~PJ