Long Live The King

It was over. After countless years of fighting death, fighting to survive, it was finally over. The crowd rejoiced around me, bodies swirling together as they celebrated. The cheers were deafening as I pushed past strangers, away from the throngs of people. I had to get out of here, out of these blood-stained clothes. Surrounded by commoners, I stuck out like a sore thumb, but first I needed a drink. A strong one.

There was only one tavern in this town, the cheering of the drunkards outside the small building a dead giveaway. Thankfully there was an empty stool in the corner of the bar, although no matter where you went there was no escaping the news. It spread like wildfire through the small streets, people in full festivities everywhere you looked. I scowled in my seat, as the barmaid gave me my drink. 

“Here’s your whiskey,” she said cheerfully, her pale cheeks flushed pink. “No need to pay today,” nodding her head to my outstretched hand holding two coins. I nodded back, and put the coins away. She left to go serve another patron, leaving me finally alone. Just how I liked it. 

After a few mindless hours sat there watching people drink the whole tavern empty, the parties seemingly endless, it was probably time to leave. My mission had not  changed just because of the news. Sure it made things a little easier but unlike the rest of the world, my sacrifice wasn’t over just yet. One last mission and then maybe I could reclaim back some of the life I had left behind, but first I had to make sure that their deaths meant something. 

The memory of my mother’s sacrifice flashed through my head, the alcohol numbing the pain it held if only a little. Her smile as she went down fighting, her long blonde hair in its usual braid swishing with every slash of her sword. She was a warrior, thriving on the battle, and she taught me to do the same. I drank the rest of my drink, welcoming the heat in the back of my throat. 

“Great day huh?” She sat next to me, her scarlet red nails gripping onto the cup in front of her. She took a sip, her eyes searching my face. 

“Going to guess you heard the news then?” I grunted, silently asking the barmaid for another drink. If I was going to have to sit here with her, have this conversation now then alcohol would be a good companion. 

“The whole country heard the news, if the festivities outside are anything to go by.” She snorted, her red lips the same shade as her nails smirking. “It’s not like they could hide it forever, play it off as an accident. He’s dead. Better yet, he was murdered.” 

Now it was my turn to smirk. “Careful now, if the nobles hear you they’ll have your head for being so unpatriotic.”My green eyes met her dark ones. “Although I’m pretty sure they helped kill him. The boy king they could not control, better off dead for them.”

“Better off dead for all of us,” she agreed. 

I never liked conversation, I found it a waste of time, and yet with her I felt at ease. I hated that she did this to me, even now after all this time. I sighed deeply, “Gaia, what are you doing here?” 

“Whatever do you mean, Daniel?” She feigned innocence, fluttering her eyelashes. “Can’t an old friend say hello, and celebrate such a joyous occasion? The tyrant who sent our young to their deaths, who let innocent men and women die in his name, is dead. Drink up!” She raised her glass of whiskey and winked.

I didn't reply, simply drank the dark gold liquid in my cup as I studied her face. Her dark skin lit up under the dim lights, the red of her full lips, now turned into a smile, looked striking against her skin, suiting her well. Her crown of curls had been braided expertly, and cut short in a bob shape, framing her face. Instead of her usual skin baring outfits, she had opted for a simple white dress, as if to try and blend into the crowd of commoners, although she still stuck out within their parties; she was deathly beautiful, and deathly dangerous. She was also hiding something; a thief could never kid another, not even one as good as Gaia. 

“You had something to do with this didn’t you?” I groaned, knowing she wouldn’t stay out of it. 

“By something, do you mean ‘did I kill him’ because if so the answer would be a solid yes,” she grinned wickedly, her brown eyes glinting mischievously. 

“I told you I had a plan.” I raked my hands through my hair, the curls atop my head matted with blood still. 

“It was a bad plan, and look at the state of you. If I left it to you we would never be so close,” Gaia tutted disapprovingly, pointing at my busted lip and bruised knuckles. She had a point, even if I would never admit it to her. 

“I just needed to blow off some steam okay, and he had it coming anyway,” trying to justify my sorry state. 

“What did he do this time, look too closely at your face?” She snorted, rolling her eyes. I glowered at her, my lack of reply, enough to make her laugh properly. 

“You may want to sort out those anger issues before you see Ace, he won’t play nicely unless you don’t.” 

“Frankly, I couldn’t care less what he of all people thinks right now.” 

“Well, you better because this won’t work without his help,” she says calmly, the flirtatious tone gone now. Now it was business. 

“You didn’t think I would kill the king if I didn’t have a plan on what to do next did you?” She smirked, her nails tapping against the wooden bar. “He has no heir of his own, but we however have just the right person to take control.” Her dark eyes pierced mine, and I dreaded the next words she spoke.

They couldn’t be serious. It had been too long, eradicated from the history books. There was no more proof, documents all burnt, and those who knew, well their corpses lay at the bottom of the ocean. It would never work. 

“The heir to the crown is you, Daniel.”