Mini Short Stories: 2020 Volume 1

Ancient - Story 23

He looked across the room. They'd brought him here to rest for the night and he'd been so tired that he'd already had a bath and changed before he had recognised whose room it had been. He smiled wryly and looked around seeing it from a new perspective. He was always a boy and a student when he entered. Now he was a man and a master. He now held the keys to the kingdom and to attain them someone had to die. His father had died less than twenty four hours ago and he was now The High King of The Ancient Lands.

His father's rooms were larger than his old ones. There was another floor which he'd always noticed and really never explored before. He didn't want to explore tonight. In fact, he didn't want to stay and remember what he'd lost. He threw a coat over his nightwear, picked up the shoulder bag stuffed with paperwork and opened the door. The guards at the doors saluted smartly. "Where to, Your Highness?" asked Felix. He'd trained together with Felix like a brother and now Felix was giving him respectful politeness. It just made his grief more acute. "My room," he replied gruffly and strode off. Ten sentries escorted him in silence. A King's Guard was always ten men. He opened the door to his room, but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. He turned and saw Felix looking at him like a friend and not a vassal. He clapped him on the shoulder again and said, "You'll get through this, Judah." Judah smiled solemnly and playfully hit him on the shoulder. "We all will." Felix nodded. "Get some sleep, Your Highness," he advised with a knowing smile. His father's honorific didn't sting this time. "Wake me at five," Judah acknowledged and closed the door.

At least the strangeness of the past day did not follow him here. He finally felt his body relax as he placed the bag on his desk and pulled off his coat and jersey. He threw himself into his bed as his body began to succumb to sleep, but his mind was slow to follow. The entire Kingdom needed him now. All its people from the Carnivalians to the Craftisans. They would need stability and hope that he would continue to protect them from the Alone Demons. He needed to lead his people into prosperity. As for grief? There would always be quiet moments for that, but for now the tears would have to wait. He fell asleep in his own bedroom in brief contentment and acceptance before he tackled another day as the new High King.