Swords with Souls
A Medieval Fantasy Fiction Story
(Adult Content)
By Dan Watt
(Author of BARD series)
(Author of the Plagueborn series)
Regicide?
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As Madame Swan rides with Crimthann into Kingstown she trembles with an immediate sense of dread. Everything seems more enclosed in the drizzle that is common here. Covered in rivulets of rain water are the relatives of Sir Ganbold. Most are strung up on crosses, including children. Their eyes lifeless and their chests sunk and breathless. She gasps. She halts her horse as Crimthann rides a short distance ahead. For a moment she sees his face full of an expression twisted with grief and rage. One young woman, if not still a teen, lies with her upper body on a kitchen table with her skirt pulled over her bottom while her feet rest on the ground. Crimthann waves for her to move ahead. Together they encourage their mounts to trot past the corpses.
There is more confusion when they see a few soldiers led by the new royal guard, the one hand picked by Sir Olaf, standing around Savory Moments. She remembers now, his name is Sir Emil. He’s a hulking figure with blue topaz eyes that seem to sit too close to his long, narrow nose. His reddish blond hair is tied back and his long beard is tied just below the chin. She hears him calling out commands in a deep yet subtly winy voice. A man whose presence will draw respect from smaller men but without the powerful voice of Sir Olaf. Sir Olaf is a man to fear and respect, with a presence that people want to be near. This man would only ever be his weaker representative. She hears Crimthann talking to her.
“We should leave,” he warns.
“I need to check on the girls,” she says with trepidation. And she needs to dig up a few items buried by a specific birch tree. She counts four soldiers with Sir Emil as she checks on the knives hidden at the waist of her riding dress. There doesn’t seem to be anyone else around.
As she rides up to Sir Emil, she notices Crimthann does not follow. She glances back and sees him nudge his horse towards an outhouse surrounded by spruce near a stream. Once there he takes his bow out.
“Sir Emil,” she says with a weary smile.
“Madame Swan,” Sir Emil replies. “You have heard the news?”
“No, I just returned now,” she says with true concern.
“The traitor, Sir Ganbold sent assassins to kill our most beloved king with poison. Sir Olaf is now regent until the prince is old enough to rule.”
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