“What in the dimgate was that?” the young king asked the unresponsive air around him, hoping for a response. “Whatever it was, it was awful close. I better get some security.”
He got up and raced toward the door, placing his emergency com link on his head in the process. “Talon!” he barked. “I need you over by my chambers at once!” The device was made of Sigmonium, one of the few coms to be made out of such pricey material. It ensured a flawless connection.
“Yes, of course, my liege, right away!” Talon answered quickly, panting as he ran.
Christopher waited the next few seconds impatiently, wondering why his bodyguard wasn’t there yet. “Get yourself over here, now, Talon!” he screamed. “There’s been a security breach of some kind over here, and I need you!”
King Christopher took in a deep breath so he could yell some more, but never got the chance. The next instant, a dead body fell through his now-open door and splayed out onto the ground.
He recoiled in horror. He looked down at the carpet and was instantly outraged at the blood that was spilling on it, ruining the fabric. Then he turned his gaze to look at the dead body only to find that it was that of his assistant, Adam. He had obviously run to the young king’s door after being stabbed, hoping to show him the results of whatever test he had been running that day.
Adam’s hands were clutched around a small, broken vial. Undoubtedly it contained vital information about his father’s killer, but there was no time to check it right now.
“Loyal to the last,” the young king whispered, bowing his head in a sign of respect.
Christopher’s com link was still on so Talon heard him. “Your Highness?” he asked tentatively.
“Oh, sorry Talon. Didn’t want to disturb you, it’s just that Adam has been brutally murdered right in front of me. NOW GET OVER HERE, DAMN YOU!”
* * * * * * * * * *
“I’ll be right over, Your Highness,” Talon quipped, dropping the emergency-com link to the ground as he did so.
Talon put all his power into reaching the king’s chamber, and he moved so fast that he didn’t see the crimson-robed form of the assassin slinking away from the scene. When he reached the king’s door, he found Christopher bent over Adam’s dead body, crying.
Talon’s presence startled the young man, who looked up from the dead body of his advisor, rage plain in his eyes. The king broke his com link in two with his bare hands.
“Your Highness, what are you doing?!” Talon asked, eyes wide in amazement. “And how did you break the Sigmonium?”
“You like it? You keep it!” Christopher shouted, throwing the two pieces in Talon’s direction.
The big man wasn’t too worried about the shards of the com link, being well versed in the art of the Dragon. He simply batted them away with his hand and tried to find something to calm down Christopher with. Soon, he found the broken vial in Adam’s hands and picked it up.
“Your Highness,” Talon said, holding the broken vial and pointing at it to try and get his attention.
“What?” the young king demanded, an icy coldness in his eyes.
Feeling compelled to answer him and tell the truth, he did so. “This vial Adam had, sir, it contains that evidence you wanted. And this paper here contains some sort of identification.”
“Really? Let me see that,” Christopher demanded, ripping the paper out of his hands. “Hmm . . . if I didn’t know better, I would have to say that these are the structures of . . . of . . . they are!”
The king paced a bit, a look of consternation on his face. “That traitor was probably on his way to kill me, too! Looks like someone got to him, first. That man must be praised!”
“I am confused, Your Highness,” Talon admitted. “Who is this traitor?”
“Isn’t it painfully obvious by now, Talon?” Christopher asked, blinking and shaking his head. “The traitor is none other than my once-trusted advisor Adam. Someone must have known this and killed him for me. This is a glorious day! We shall make it a holiday, the day my father’s assassin was finally brought to justice!”
Talon did a double-take. “Your Highness, I find that unlikely. Adam was extremely loyal. He spent years trying to find this killer without a single complaint.”
“That must have been a distraction!” Christopher insisted. “He obviously delayed and hampered the investigation, dragging it out to keep us from finding the truth.”
Talon had to admit that made sense, even if it seemed extremely unlikely. “Yes, of course, Your Highness. I see now. I shall go make the announcement to the public at once,” he said, turning to leave.
“No, no, I think I’ll make this announcement myself,” King Christopher insisted.
“Of course you will, Your Majesty.” He gave a slight bow. “How could I have been so foolish? May I be permitted to leave, Your Highness?”
“Yes, why don’t you just go get some sleep so you can be of use tomorrow,” the young king replied. “Maybe you can even keep everyone alive next time.”
Talon winced at the chastisement and turned to leave. But Christopher was right. He had failed him today, and he resolved to do better.
* * * * * * * * * *
At last, the day the whole country had been waiting for had arrived, the day of King Christopher’s birthday. The message had been spread about Adam’s death, lighting up com links all across the country, small celebrations breaking out in most of the larger cities.
More practically, the castle staff had stopped worrying about there being a killer in their midst. With all the tension gone, King Christopher could finally relax as he sat back in his throne awaiting the sign from Talon to give his Birthday Address.
Virtually every peasant in the country turned up to the festivities, this being the first time they could
