The Fallen Kings

by P D Atkerson

  “I’m sorry, Enrick.” Dasety said, shaking his head. “But it must be done.”

  Steeling himself, the prince nodded and held his hands out to the guard. “Then let’s be done with it.”

  The guard stepped forwards and quickly began to bind Enrick’s arms in front of him, in the most uncomfortable way possible. Enrick grimaced, as the rough rope cut deep into his skin. It wouldn’t take long to draw blood.

  Once he was tied, the guards grabbed hold of the rope and pulled him forwards, then shoved against his back. Enrick slipped on the wet floor and slammed into the ground. He tried to catch himself, but all he ended up doing, was slamming his good arm hard against the ground.

  He grimaced and tried to shove himself back to his feet, but he couldn’t.

  “What’s the matter? His princeness not used to the dungeons?” the guard scoffed, yanking Enrick back to his feet. “Most enjoy that filthy floor.”

  Enrick didn’t even waste his breath on the man. He was just an intolerable Draven, who enjoyed the pain of others. Maybe he wasn’t a guard, but a Loyal Warrior instead. He acted like one.

  After a sharp jab in the back, Prince Enrick started forwards again. He held his head high, as he started towards the dungeon’s main door.

  Dasety lingered behind the guards, as they left the dungeons and stepped into a castle hallway. But Enrick hardly noticed. As much as he might look calm to those watching, he felt sick and his heart was pounding loudly in his ears.

  They marched through hallway after hallway, until they finally came to the doorway leading out into the castle’s main court yard.

  One guard moved before him and shoved the door open, then they pushed Enrick through it, into the open air.

  Blinking, Enrick stepped out into the sunlight. How long had it been since he’d seen the sun? He wasn’t sure, but it felt like a life time ago. It felt so good on his skin! He’d never felt so much joy from its warmth before, and he knew he never would again. This would be the last time he ever stepped out into the sunlight.

  Maybe there was sunshine in the afterlife. Maybe there was no afterlife. Before Enrick had much time to think about it, one of the guards shoved him forwards again.

  Hundreds of peasants from the nearby villages had gathered in the Castle’s main court yard. All of them were there to watch him die. How hungry for entertainment could you be? Enrick wondered. To watch someone be killed!

  He held his head up high, the only thing he allowed himself to think about, was his mother. Soon, he would see her again. That was the only thought that kept him going. Kept him from stopping right there and fighting against the guards. He knew he would only look like a fool, but the urge was still there.

  Now that they were outside, the guards weren’t as rough with Enrick. Instead of jabbing and shoving him, they just led him towards the other side of the court yard, where the crowd had gathered.

  Toward the front of the crowd stood Aliala, her eyes filled with tears as she clutched the arm of the person standing next to her. She looked at Enrick and nodded her head towards him. He flashed her a smile, before turning away again. He couldn’t look towards her for too long, or he knew someone would make a connection.

  A murmur rippled through the crowd, as the guards drug Prince Enrick towards the execution stand. A rope dangled in the air above it.

  “Dasety, please.” Enrick said, as the king's advisor tied the dangling rope to the ropes that were tied around the prince’s wrists. “Don’t do this. Please! You know I’ve done nothing wrong. I don’t deserve to be executed.”

  “Do not lose hope, Enrick.” Dasety whispered, before stepping back from him and off the stand. “Until this is over, there’s still a chance your father will change his mind. I will speak to him again.”

  Enrick eyed him and shook his head. “You’re lying.” He whispered. “This must be where I die.”

  Dasety sighed. “I’d thought you were someone else completely.”

  Before Enrick had a chance to ask him what he meant by that, a Loyal Warrior stepped forwards and moved towards the crank built into the castle wall. He grabbed hold of it and began to twist it around, pulling the rope tied around Enrick's wrists tighter.

  Inch by inch, Enrick was lifted off the ground, the ropes digging deeper and deeper into his skin the higher he went. Once he was twenty feet off the ground, flames leapt up from the stand below him.

  Within seconds he could feel the heat rising from it.

  His heart thudded faster with every second, Enrick struggled until he could see the rope above his head. What he saw caused his heart to stop beating for a long second.

  The rope was hooked over a sharp piece of metal. He swallowed, as realization hit him. The more he struggled, the thinner the rope holding him became.

  This really was how he was going to die!

  After everything he’d been through, this wasn’t how he’d imagined he’d die. He hadn’t expected to be killed by his own father.

  Suddenly, Enrick felt numb about the whole thing. He dropped his gaze down from the rope and towards where his father sat below him, watching the whole thing.

  If this was the way he must die, he would do it with what little honor he still had left. He wouldn’t struggle there, like a fish on a hook. He would end this, right then and there.

  Prince Enrick looked straight at his father, then yanked against the rope one last time.

  * * *

  King Munay forced himself to watch, as the Fire of Carnifex flared up and engulfed the ground below Enrick. He felt sick. He didn’t want to do this, not to his own son. He wanted to jump up and order his men to 'stop this'! But he couldn’t.

  If only there’d been another way… But there hadn’t been.

  His son had chosen this fate. He had to keep reminding himself of that. It was his son, not he, who’d committed treason.

  He looked up at Enrick and their eyes locked. With a defiant look, he yanked hard against his rope, and it snapped. At the last second, King Munay closed his eyes. But no matter how hard he squeezed his eyes shut, he could still hear Enrick’s scream, as he plummeted into the flames that would engulf him.

  Another scream echoed out from the crowd. Munay opened his eyes and turned to the side, just before a young girl shoved her way forwards and dropped down next to the flames, crying, she pounded the ground.

  “Murder!” she screamed. “This was murder!”

  Another peasant grabbed her, and drug her back into the crowd, before Munay even had a chance to get a good look at her. She was just another faceless person who thought he was a murderer. They were allowed to think what they liked, as long as they didn’t try anything stupid because of it.

  “This is the fate of all who betray our great king!” Dasety cried out, cutting into Munay’s thoughts. “So, will it be yours, if you follow after Enrick’s actions.”

  Enrick. Munay wasn’t sure if he could handle hearing his son’s name again. “I need to go inside.” King Munay said, jumping to his feet, he hurried away from the crowd and through the nearest doorway. No one even seemed to notice him leave, no one but his wife, who followed him inside.

  King Munay sat on his throne and sighed, burying his face in his hands. “What have I done, Willow?” he whispered.

  “You did the right thing.” Willow whispered, rubbing his back. “You did what you had to do. Even a prince must follow the laws of the land.”

  “Then why do I feel like this?!” he yelled, pulling away from her. “I sentenced my son to death, because he dared to believe I killed his mother. What kind of person does that make me? I could have stopped it, until the very last second. I could have just snapped my fingers and the flames would have been gone. Enrick… would still be alive.”

  “Enrick got what he deserved.” Willow said, her voice sharp. “Don’t punish yourself for his actions.”

  King Munay dropped his hand from his face and turned towards her. “What if it was Salmay? Would you still think that?”

>   “I don’t plan on dying like your other wife!” Willow said. “Will I?”

  Munay searched her face. “Do you believe I killed her?” he asked. “Do you think I poisoned my own wife?”

  Willow hesitated, as she glanced around the throne room. She bent closer to the king, so only he would hear her. “No. I don’t think you killed her.”

  “But you do think she was murdered?” Munay asked, finding the words harder to form than he’d have expected. His mouth dry. “Why?”

  “Believe me, I’m not defending Enrick in any way, but… from what little I’ve come to know of him, I don’t think he would have done what he did, unless he was sure his mother had been poisoned.” Willow whispered. “Is there a chance someone might have done this?”

  Gance never had any enemies. He couldn’t think of a soul that would want to hurt her. No, if someone had done this, it would have been for another reason.

  “Leave me, I need time alone.” King Munay said, motioning her away. “I must think.”

  Queen Willow hesitated. “Yes, my lord.” She said, curtsying. “If you need me, I shall be in my chambers.”

  As soon as the throne room doors closed behind Willow, Munay sighed and dropped his head back against the throne. He stared up at the roof, as he racked his brain, but there wasn’t much he could remember from that time.

  He’d been so busy. Could he have missed something? King Munay rubbed his face. He couldn’t deal with all of this! He had too many things he needed to do. Losing Enrick was already a big blow to his plan.

  For the rest of the day and into the next, King Munay stayed in the throne room, alone. He hardly ate. It wasn’t until the third day, that Dasety dared enter the room.

  King Munay looked up at Dasety and sighed. “Ah… what is it you need?” he whispered, looking out through his blood shot eyes.

  “Next week is the new year, are we still having the celebration?” Dasety asked, frowning at the king. “If you do not wish to, I’m sure the nobles will understand.”

  King Munay blinked. “Why wouldn’t we?”

  “Well,” Dasety hesitated. “The people may not be happy to hear that you’re celebrating close to the prince’s death, that was all.”

  “I cannot show any remorse over what I’ve done, you know that Dasety.” King Munay said, shoving himself off the throne. He seemed to shake himself free of the fog that had clung to him since Enrick's death. What was done, was done. “We will continue on as planned.” He said, clearing his throat. “We shall celebrate the new year.”

  * * *

  As Dasety stepped out of the throne room again, a smile tugged at his lips.

  He felt a little bit bad about the boy’s death, but there’d really been nothing he could do. Not that he would have done anything anyways. The prince had already found out his mother was poisoned, what would Dasety have done if he’d found out the whole truth?

  Still, he wished he could have gotten it out of the prince who’d told him what had happened to Gance. Someone out there knew what Dasety had done, and that was a danger to everything! If Luse found out, it would be the end of Dasety Trolthan.

  Still, he wished the prince hadn’t found out at all. After all, this time, he’d been sure Enrick was the Prince, but not now that he was dead, he couldn’t be. Dasety would just have to speak to Luse and start searching again.

  Deep in thought, Dasety was just about to turn a corner, when a cloaked figure stepped out of one of the dark doorways. He stopped short and reached for his sword.

  “Hello, Dasety.” The figure said, pulling his hood down. Dasety sucked in a breath of air. “Not who you were expecting?”

  “How?” Dasety whispered, staring at him. “How are you here?”

  “Come, I’ll tell you, but not here.” He said, glancing around as if he expected someone else to pop out of the shadows. “Take me to your chamber, it’s the only safe place for me right now.”

  Dasety bowed his head. “Yes, my lord.”

  Chapter 21

  Epherny

  Dregana's eyes flickered open and she sat up. A strange thudding sound came from the floor below her. It wasn’t a very loud sound, but during her time in Epherny, she’d grown used to the quiet of the place and anything seemed to awaken her.

  Sitting up, she quickly pulled on her boots and grabbed her jacket off the ground, as the thudding continued, growing fainter with every passing second. She crept forwards, and towards the door.

  Silently, she stepped out of her chamber and into the corridor. She waited, but there wasn’t any more noise. She closed her eyes, and focused on the chambers further down from hers. As far as she could tell, none of the Karliens were up yet.

  So, what was the sound she’d heard? She wondered, opening her eyes again. That’s when it hit her, someone else was in the city. She could feel it now; someone was deeper down in the city.

  Someone with a foul reason for being there.

  Dregana knew she should wake up the warriors and tell them what she felt, but she also knew they wouldn’t believe her without proof. Instead of wasting her time with the Loyal Warriors, they were only lazy goons when there wasn’t anyone to command them anyways.

  Instead, she hurried back into her chamber and retrieved her sword and scepter.

  She wasn’t a fool who would just go storming down into the deeper parts of the city without at least taking a weapon to defend herself. Who knew what might await her?

  Dregana held the Sea Heart Scepter in one hand and her sword in the other. Taking a deep breath, she started forwards and, in the direction, she was sure she’d find the intruder. It wasn’t long, before she came to the part of the city not lit by fire.

  Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes again. Where did they go? She wondered. Dregana could feel that this was the way they’d gone. Holding her hand out in front of her, Dregana stepped forwards with her eyes squeezed tightly shut. This was the only way she could make sure she was going the right way.

  Hopefully, she didn’t end up getting herself killed instead. The longer Dregana walked with her eyes closed, the easier she found it. Soon, she was walking at a normal pace. But when she felt only air with the tip of her foot, she stopped short and took a step back.

  She knew what it was, it was a staircase, going down into the darkest part of the city. But what did the stranger want? As far as she knew, there was nothing but empty rooms down there.

  There was only one way to find out, she was going to have to go down there and find out for herself. She thought about opening her eyes, but Dregana doubted there was enough light to see anything anyways. She was just going to have to be careful, and take every step slowly.

  With her eyes still closed, she took a step down the spiraling stairs, the tip of her boot brushing against the edge of it. Holding her hands out on both sides of the spiral stairs, while still holding her sword and scepter, she hurried down them, faster than she probably should have. One wrong move and she was sure to break her neck.

  She wasn’t sure how many floors she’d gone down. Three? Four? Maybe five. This deep down, even the air itself grew colder and a chill ran up and down her spine. She had a nagging feeling it had nothing to do with the cold, but something else that lay in the darkness before her.

  Finally, she reached the bottom and placed her foot on the solid ground again. Dregana sighed, and let her body relax for a moment. At least she’d made it this far.

  “Where’d you go from here?” She mumbled to whomever she was following, starting forwards again. Dregana could hear the crunch of dirt under her feet, then the tips of her fingers brushed against the cold stone wall in front of her, as she slowly opened her eyes again.

  Quickly, she scanned the room around her. Dregana had never been this deep inside the city before, she could almost feel the weight of the city pressing down on her. Digging her nails into the palm of her hand, she fought the urge to run back up the stairs and into her chamber, where she’d be safe. At least, as safe as she�
��d ever been.

  No, she would find this intruder! She looked around her, but it seemed like this was the end of the path. Dregana knew it wasn’t, she could feel that they were still there. She hadn’t come upon the stranger. Dregana was missing something!

  It was in that moment, she saw a flicker of light at her feet.

  Kneeling down, she ran her finger along the bottom edge of the wall. There was a thin crack between the bottom of the wall and the floor. Dregana could feel a breeze coming from the hole. This wasn’t a wall!

  Dregana quickly stood up straight again. Gently, she pushed against the stone wall and it gave way to her, revealing another corridor hidden behind it. If she didn’t know about this being here, how did the intruder? She wondered, biting her bottom lip. Something strange is going on. Dregana thought to herself, as she looked down the path.

  The biggest difference between the corridor Dregana was still standing in, and the other one, was a light at the end of it. Silently gliding through the hall, Dregana made her way towards the light.

  Even before she reached the end, Dregana was sure she could hear something was going on down there. Carefully and quietly, she crept forwards and pressed herself against the wall, peeking around the edge of the door, into the room.

  Torches lined the walls of the circular room, lighting it up nearly as bright as day.

  There was only one person in the room, and it was a man. She could tell by his clothing that he was Karlien. Dregana had seen enough of them lately to know when she saw one.

  But the oddest part about the whole thing, was the doorway the man stood in front of, in the center of the room. Whoever he was, seemed to be studying the frame of the door, for some unknown reason. He ran his hand along it, and Dregana was sure she could hear him mumbling to himself.

  Dregana wasn’t going to just stand there and watch him all night. She hadn’t come all the way in the darkness, just for that. Steeling herself, she stepped into the light.

  “Who are you and what are you doing here?” Dregana asked, stepping into the room. She gripped her sword and scepter tighter as she edged towards the man. “I asked you a question!”