The Boy King

The Nightmare

The man had a regal air, and though the ravages of time were beginning to show on his face, Alexander could very well see that he had been handsome once. And while he might have been a charming man under more pleasant circumstances, it is not easy to be so when one is under attack by two heavily armed swordsmen, as this man was.

Alexander had seen this before. He knew how it ended. But it still did not prepare him for the brutality of how it would conclude.

The man seemed set on protecting his wife and child, who were cowering behind him, from the clutches of the swordsmen he faced. He was waiting for something, for someone. Alexander knew he was trying to stall, but defense can only get you so far, and being cornered against the main door was never good. The man lunged forward, stabbing one of the swordsmen in the gut. Taken by surprise, the man could only stare in surprise before he crumpled to the floor in a heap.

His companion wasn't so easily beaten. Taking advantage of the momentary imbalance of the man due to the lunge, he struck at his unprotected legs, leaving a deep wound. Both men circled around each other, the wife staying behind her hobbling husband. But they both knew what it was now. This was no longer a dance, this was just a predator toying with his prey.

But what the second assailant did not know was that the man was merely waiting for the guards to arrive, and he had strategically maneuvered him into a position in front of the main door. So when the doors burst open and the Kingsguard stormed in, all the second swordsman could do was turn around before he had a sword slice right through his neck. The head lay on the floor a moment later.

"My liege, are you alright?" asked the Captain.

"A little worse for wear, and I might need bandages for my leg, but I'll live," the King replied. His wife and child lived, and the relief was evident on his face.

"The usurper has stormed the gates, my king," said the Captain, "and the walls are threatening to fall any moment".

"Captain, get my wife and child to safety," said the King, "I will rally the men at the gates".

"Yes, my liege," replied the Captain.

And that's when Alexander saw the shadow on the balcony. His mouth opened to warn the king, but just as before, no sound came out. The shadow released a bolt from its crossbow, and a second later it was protruding from the King's neck. Blood sprayed onto the Captain's face, his wife screamed in blood curdling agony, and the faces of the Kingsguard registered shock. Their king was dead, and all hope was lost. The shadow then turned to where Alexander stood, and with what he thought was a smile, said "I will find you," before shooting a bolt right at his neck.

*If you have liked what you have read so far, please feel free to vote on this chapter. Also please feel free to leave a comment below on whether you liked it so far, and where you think I should improve. I'm just a fledgling writer, so any and all advice is welcomed. Cheers :)*