The Silver Haired Boy {Silver Series Short Story}

Part Six

                 I was outside with my bow and arrows by the time the king exited the castle gates. I started running to him, but stopped when another man came out behind him. It was a knight I had never seen before, but I knew it was probably the man who had been conspiring with Maverick. The king spoke to him, asking where his nephew was, and the knight told him that Maverick was planning on joining them soon, but he had gone for a hunt first. The king accepted this excuse and continued on his way down the road. I followed them through the village, hoping the king wouldn't allow the knight to lead him to the forest. They weaved their way through the villagers who had risen with the sun, stopping to talk to a few who warranted the king's attention. After a while the king turned his horse around and started trotting in the direction of the castle gates, but the knight called out to him.

              "My lord, are you sure you want to end the ride before Maverick joins us?"

              "Oh, yes you're right, besides, who would want to waste such a beautiful morning? Did he say where he would be meeting us?"

              "He told me he would be meeting us at the edge of the village, he's probably on his way back through the woods now, would you like to go meet him or shall we wait?"

               "The King waits for no one. Lead on."

               "Yes, your majesty." Before I could even call out to the king the knight had his horse sprinting to the tree line. I followed as fast as I could on foot but they soon disappeared through the trees. After I entered the forest I tried to find sight of them or their horses but there was nothing. Giving up on seeing them I called out to Kaliyah, there was no way I could save the king on my own now that he was in the forest. I slowed down and started looking for hoof prints, once I found them I tracked them deeper into the woods. It wasn't long until I came upon a small clearing and remembered that the knight had mentioned one yesterday while conspiring with Maverick.

                Staying hidden for the time being I took in what was going on in the clearing. The king was on his knees by a small river looking at his horse, the poor beast had been killed. Maverick and his accomplice had their swords at the king's throat, but they were arguing about how to kill the man. Something about whether or not they should wait longer before killing him. Quickly I notched an arrow to my bowstring and raised it, aiming my shot at the knight whose name I did not know. Letting the arrow fly, the knight fell, screaming from the pain in his shoulder where it had struck him. Maverick forgot about the king for a moment and looked around for the person who had shot his partner. I ducked down behind a tree as Maverick yelled empty threats and made my way around the clearing until I was behind Maverick and the king. Running as fast as I could I made my way to the king and grabbed his arm, pulling him back across the river before Maverick could stop me.

                 "You! What on earth do you think you're doing?" he screamed.

                 "I'm saving the king from you! How could you Maverick? The king is your uncle! Are you that desperate for the throne that you'd forget? You can't possibly think you would get away with this!" My bow was aimed at his head.

                "Oh? And who is going to stop me? You and your little bow and arrows? You've probably got horrible aim, I bet you were aiming for me when you shot Allen. You will not stop me little boy."

                "Why not? Because I'm small? I'm more powerful than you think Maverick!"

                "Really now? What's this great power that you possess? Go on, show me. You are pathetic and weak. I highly doubt that you've got the guts to kill a man! You need to learn where your place is!"