BRETVER 30TH YEAR 552 ASMERIAN CALENDAR.
King Xavier's caravan stopped just outside of the main gate, the sudden jolt of the carriage master throwing the brake lever forward caught King Xavier by surprise as he rocked forward. The guards standing outside were in a panic, not one paid any attention to the King's men who were now dismounted and calling out to the gatekeepers. Among the chaos were two knights who were busy trying their damndest to control their men. He opened the door of his carriage and stepped outside; two soldiers immediately followed him to the gate. There were several men hanging from the gatehouse; they had signs with the words assassin and traitor written on them. King Xavier signaled to a soldier who promptly took out a brass horn and blew the horn to get everyone's attention. Everyone who was in a panic froze and looked to see the Lord of Asmeria standing in disbelief at the gate. A knight ran forwards and knelt before the king and bowed his head. "Forgive us, your grace, for not welcoming you properly but something terrible has befallen the keep." The knight pleaded.
"Tell me what happened that sent an entire castle into such a frenzy, were you attacked?" He demanded, his arms crossed, and his expression was stern. The fact that his men were acting in such disarray sent his temper through the roof with anger. Heads would roll if this chaos was not brought to order.
"N- well maybe, we don't know your majesty. All we know is that Lord and Lady Daniels are dead, they were cut down in their room sometime yesterday or maybe the day before. The last man to see them was a guard by the name of Ramz but he killed himself not long after us capturing him."
"What's your name, Sir?" The king demanded as his voice grumbled as he refrained from adding to any chaos of the situation.
"Fjord, your majesty."
"Tell me Sir Fjord, who do you suspect in this?" Xavier asked as he put his hands on his hips now taking direct control of the castle guard.
"I suspect either a Western Isle assassin or Jackson Scottkey who was last seen yesterday and was the last known person other than the guard I mentioned."
Xavier stepped back and turned his back to Sir Fjord. Catherine was still sitting in the carriage and was quite aware of what was happening. He looked around at everyone standing in place, they were all still in shock. No one knew about the King's visit, that much was clear. "Everyone, may I have your utmost attention!" Xavier shouted; some men flinched at the sound of the king's thunderous voice. "Find Jackson Scottkey and bring him to me! He is the sole suspect for your Lord and Lady Daniels untimely deaths. I want him alive and unharmed,"
The men quietly got to work forming several squads for searching parties and heading out on horseback. Xavier turned his attention back to Sir Fjord. "Take me to them, Catherine, please come with me." He saw Catherine's expression of shock and it made him shiver. To lose family in such an unexpected way would cause anyone to react in such a way. Then again, the same
They followed Sir Fjord to the undertaker and were presented the bodies of Alexander Daniels and Zena Daniels, lifeless on two unceremonious wooden benches and dirty tablecloths draped over their faces. It was unsightly, to say the least, and as Catherine entered behind him he embraced her. "Catherine, I want you to know that there will be justice for this."
She stepped into the room, looked at her sister's lifeless corpse, and started to weep. The room was barren of any other objects to distract her from her sister. She broke down in his arms, completely inconsolable. The soldiers accompanying the king shut the door to the morgue and stood watch outside, not even the undertaker was allowed inside the room.
Hours passed but eventually, the King and Catherine exited the morgue. There were streaks on her face and her eyes were bloodshot. She held her hand to her stomach, she looked sickly, like an old dog about to keel over and die. He pulled her close and walked with her to the keep. There were soldiers from the King's caravan all over the place. It seemed like the company commander took things into his own hands and ordered his men to screen everyone.
The Asmerian Army held status over the king's guard and thus, could take command even if the soldier was of lesser rank and grade. This caused a lot of strife between the two branches. Many officers in the guard hated this while the Army would always compare them to the sheriffs of Asmeria and regulated the guard to policing duties or civil duties. A long call away from what the king's guard was when it was first founded by the mage Henry Scottkey in the year 12 of the Asmerian calendar.
Xavier walked with Catherine back to the caravan where Nancy Daniels was waiting in the royal carriage. Xavier dreaded telling the girl that her parents were murdered, even if she was only a three-year-old. The lieutenant standing next to the carriage saluted and opened the door for the king. Inside was Nancy, she was asleep. He reached in and shook her awake. "Come on, wake up miss Nancy, you need to wake up." He said softly.
She forced herself up and rubbed her eyes. "What is it, your majesty?" She asked nearly fumbling up her words.
"I have something to tell you miss Nancy." Xavier entered the carriage and sat across from her. "I want you to pay close attention to what I say, okay?" He took a really deep breath and clasped his hands together as if he was in prayer.
"Is someting wrong?" She asked innocently.
"Yes, something very wrong happened. You see, well, how do I put this. Um, your mother and your father aren't alive any-" He swallowed, unable to force the words out. "They're dead, they're not with us anymore and you'll never be able to see them again miss Nancy."
She just sat there, not understanding what he was saying, She only understood that she wouldn't ever see her parents again. "Then I get to stay with you majesty, you're really nice." Xavier nodded his head and embraced Nancy, he was barely able to hold his emotions back. He helped her down from the carriage once he calmed down and walked her into the castle holding her hand all of the way to the keep where Catherine was waiting. The sun was already below the horizon and the sky was a dark lavender color.
Nancy went back to bed for the night with little trouble and Xavier sat in the Lord's seat of the great hall. He was alone in the massive hall, the empty seats lining the aisles brought some peace to his mind. The silence was all he needed at that moment and he relished it while it lasted. The large wooden door creaked open and several guards entered the hall in formation. They were clad in armor, but none of them were armed. Then, two Asmerian soldiers entered behind them, they were officer's and finally, Sir Fjord entered.
Sir Fjord noticed the King's expression of surprise as the guards came to a stop in front of him. There were twenty men guards in total in four columns of five men each. They all removed their helmets, knelt, bowed their heads, and them every last one started to apologize profusely. King Xavier couldn't make out one man from the other, he stood up and stomped down on the wooden floor that echoed throughout the hall. "Silence!" He commanded. "What the hell is this? Sir Fjord, please tell me what these men are doing!"
Sir Fjord stepped in front of the men. "I apologize, your grace, these men felt personally responsible for the death of Lord and Lady Daniels. I urged them to not bother you, but they wouldn't listen to what I said. I'll punish them all at once, just give the command your grace."
Xavier stayed silent for a moment before walking out onto the floor. "No need for that kind of punishment, all they did was apologize which I appreciate but, I do not condone insubordination from any man when it concerns one of my knights. Now, what should be done about that?"
"I'll have them all lashed if that's suitable enough for you, my grace."
"No, lashing should only be used for the most violent or evil men in Asmeria, like Jackson Scottkey for example, though he was lashed for months on end before becoming a murderer."
"Do you think that's what led Jackson Scottkey to murder?"
"Yes, that and he probably knew I was coming."
"I don't think he did your grace, Lord Daniels told very few people that you were arriving today and even then, he wouldn't mention your name. I believe I was the only one outside of his family that knew you were coming by your grace." Sir Fjord said respectfully. "I know Jackson Scottkey should be returning tomorrow if he is in fact not guilty."
"Very well, we shall wait for him, but my warrant still stands." The king said as he looked around at the state of things. There was nothing that piqued his interest and so he returned to his carriage. Days passed and Jackson Scottkey never did return. That next day nor the day after.