The Shattered Night

30| Darien

When will the goddamned kingdom ever be even close to trustworthy?

That was the asking most people had around in their heads day and night, the cells of the brain desperately trying to complete the wonders themselves. Everyone would think and think about the sentence until their mind would shut off from the tireless energy, and then fade away to dust in the soft wind that nature called every time. If one were to even ask that question and expect an answer, the simple thing to say would be that no one ever knew a reply to the cliff hanging words. To be honest, the asking was more open ended than a direct right or wrong, and that was what made the question even more intriguing.

As the Supreme Captain of the Guards walked placidly down a dark musty alley, and through a door that would lead to another entrance, his heart thumped endlessly against his chest. The door he would soon enter would lead to a totally different world, the one that most people forgot about. Through the depth of the night, Darien could only wonder one thought repeatedly in his head.

Trustworthy.

Such a strong word that most people called out for, and wanted so badly. The commander could almost laugh out loud if that single statement was even heard in this kingdom of ruins. Sure, the same ideas were passed around here and there in the court, but if it were anyhow related to the king and his dictating rule, then for insanity would officially come to order.

"Your profile sir?"

A gloomy and bored looking man appeared in sight, as his voice lulled through the night sky, slow and dreary. The commander watched silently as the man took out a clean piece of parchment and ink pen from his pocket. He handed it to his silent spectator without a word.

"Sign this please."

Darien carefully took the paper from the man's rough fingertips, while twirling the writing tool around his index and ring finger. The familiar smooth material and curved shape sent another greeting to his hand. It was the same hand that had held this exact pen so many times, all for one particular reason.

That was, family, once again.

"Thank you."

The commander's words slipped out of his tongue partly in habit and partly genuine, as he filled the parchment out and walked past the man. Darien left with a single wave of acknowledgement. After so many years of serving inside the court, greetings like those had more or less been inscribed inside him, even when it was not needed.

The thought bothered Darien to the point he had always thought of deserting the kingdom, and running away with true people he actually cared for. Honestly, if he did commit to the action, what really would happen? Would the court bother to look for their so loyal commander and spend a lifelong dedication tracking him down?

Sure. That possibility was so very likely to the point Darien was even the slightest bit worried about it. The king and queen would be so anxious that more of their subjects had deserted them, and panic in their once and a lifetime royal life. Honestly, the commander knew that his ruler needed more loyalties, since the king was already suspicious about every member of the court. But in order to gain the respect of others, the tyrant would have to change his ways of ruling.

Ha. As if that were going to happen.

It wasn't as if the commander really would plan out an escape route. If the truth was broken along with the deal he had made with the king, things could for sure take a quick and ugly turn.

The chilly blow of the windy night and moonlit stars made their way through the one open window of the trapped house filled. The building was filled with prisons and gave the setting an eerie feeling. The emotion of loneliness and heartbreak, the knowing sensation that one would never escape from the fate that they were condemned to.