Darkthorn’s Blog

The assassin had just escaped from the castle when he saw the barracks light up with inner fire. The general had just heard the news of the king’s death and was prepared to search for the killer, even as the Queen planted the false clues.

Blackmain walked out into the night, pausing to remove his cloak and crossbow and hide them under a small bridge. He headed for a small tavern, where light and noise spilled out, the people blissfully unaware of the search that was wracking the castle. The music was low, but still people danced with the fluidity often granted by a long night of drinking. He sat in a corner and ordered some soup and beer, the night having tired him more than he would like to admit. Perhaps it was time to take an apprentice. Blackmain regretted now that he hadn’t married his love while he had had the chance, but his life was no life for a noble lady. He was sitting quietly contemplating these thoughts when a woman came over and asked him to dance. There was no chance for him to say no, he was pulled onto the dance floor and into a smooth ballad before he knew it. He relaxed – these people meant him no harm, there was no way they could know what he had done, the new blood staining his hands. The feeling was short lived as a tall man pushed him aside to grab his lady. He was going to stand up to the man but thought better of it. It wasn’t worth it, he could feel that his strength would required later. Anyway, his winning was best done in stealth. He left as soon as he politely could, and started the long journey home.

+++++

“Wake up you!”

Julia found herself surrounded by guards, and sat up instantly, clutching the sheet to her chest.

“What has happened now?” she whispered softly.

Soldiers were looking through her clothes drawers and tossing all her neatly pressed clothes onto the floor.

“Get out of there! What right have you to search my belongings? Who gave you permission?”

They took no notice of her and kept looking. Julia attempted to get out of bed, but was pushed back down. She felt surprised that she was calm.

“Ah hah! Found it just as a thought! I knew she was good for nothing, take her to the tower.” The general said, brandishing a crossbow.

Julia was allowed to sit up, but as she turned to face the general a sweet-smelling cloth was forced into her mouth. She fell, sweeping towards the floor, caught by the young guard.

+++++

The general had of course planted the crossbow in Julia’s drawer during the night when she did get some sleep. He and the queen had originally planned to frame Julia for the killing of an official, but as the king had been murdered it was more convenient to place the blame for that on her shoulders. The two conspirators were willing to go to war on Wayland, just to get rid of her.

The general had planned everything beforehand; the council had been paid off and offered prime farming land in the countryside. The guards who had seen the king die were given healthy sums of money to forget what they saw, an act a young woman such as Julia could not have committed.

Julia was to be taken out into the woods, tied to a tree and left to die. The council had been told to say that because of Julia’s position in the household she would not be given a public execution. Within days, the announcement had been given to the people about the king’s death and Julia’s role. Quietly, the people could not believe what they were told. Their mousy, but beautiful queen had killed the king? Their other thoughts were less benevolent, the king was dead and good riddance.

The general was to have his revenge on Julia, the glorified whore who thought so highly of herself. He and his four most trusted men would wait until night, and then take Julia to her painful death in the woods. When he finished this job he would be free from Julia forever.