Indiscretion

I turned back to the discussion at hand, all part of my ploy to put my enemies at ease. The games and dancing were ongoing, laughter and music filled the hall.

Nicholas on my cue had rejoined the festivities and I searched the room for Hershey who was standing against the far wall with his eyes ever about the room. At my silent nod he inclined his head slightly, before moving off of the wall and approaching the two men.

I made my excuses and moved off as if I would join another conversation, making my way closer to the exit. Once there I once again slipped from the room and headed to the secret chamber where I awaited the others. I poured cups of wine and blew out all but one of the candles there before taking my seat at the head of the table.

It wasn’t long before I heard them arrive and I ran my finger along the blade of the dagger, testing its sharpness.

The four men entered the room. The guilty stopped short, their laughter dying when they saw me waiting there. Lord Crompton looked back over his shoulder but his way, was blocked by Nicholas, and Hershey, while his son took a little longer to catch on.

“Your majesty?” I did not answer the older man, but kept my eyes on his son. “Come in gentlemen.” I indicated the cups on the table as they were led to their seats. My two coconspirators stood back against the wall as I studied my prey.

“Do not fear; it is not poisoned.” I lifted my own cup for a sip, and they followed suit. “Tell me, did you really think to take my kingdom for a child?” The elder lord Crompton opened his mouth to speak but I cut him off.

“Before you open your lips to lie to me farther, the child is about seven in years is he not? So you were going to rule in his name I presume, since I can’t see you letting your milquetoast son rule so much as your livestock.” I turned my glare to the son now.

“You killed my brother. Admit it.” I wanted to hear him say it out loud before I dispatched him to the hereafter. His sudden outbreak of the sweats and the fear I saw roiling in his eyes were not answer enough for me.

“Your majesty it was…an accident.” He swallowed around the lie and turned pale when I lifted the hand with the dagger into view. He would’ve fair flew out of his chair had Nicholas not moved forward to hold him pinned there by his shoulders.

“Please your majesty, I beg of you, my son had nothing to do with this. It was I. I am the one who foolishly joined with the remnant of Whitley’s men…”

“Yes, but he was the one who put the arrow through my brother’s heart.” I stood then and walked around the table until I stood behind young lord Crompton.

“There was one thing my father taught my brother and I as young men that we held to. Never go on the hunt with anything but a clear head. Your lie that day that my brother was in his cups sealed your fate, all that was left was to find out the whys since I knew you were too much of a fool to have dared.”

He shook and blubbered out excuses, but there was only one thing I wanted to hear. “Did you murder my brother?” I pressed the blade against his flesh until I drew blood.

“Yes.” It was a squeak but it was all I needed. I said no more words as I lifted his head by the hair, pulled it back and slashed the knife across his throat.

Blood sprayed across the room and warmed my hands. The father was in shock and all that emitted from him were croaking sounds as if he choked on his own bile. The pig.

“See what you have done to your son? See what your greed and deceit has wrought? You may join those other men in hell where they await you bastard.”

I made swift work of taking his head, his pleas dying beneath the sting of the blade.

“Hang their heads on the palace gates for all to see.” I directed this to Hershey who had turned just a little green.

“Sire?” He looked rather aghast.

“You heard me.” I left the room for my chambers and put the matter behind me. I am sick to my soul of lies and deceit.

My brother for all that he was a disappointment in many ways was still my blood. We had shared much as young lads until our sire’s death had changed him, even more so than that of our mother’s had.

I had not allowed myself to mourn him properly, not until I had satisfied myself that he was indeed murdered and taken care of the ones responsible.