The village was quiet for a beautiful fall afternoon. It wasn't too hot or too cold and a light breeze swept in between the small wooden houses. Villagers would normally be out selling goods, gambling with cards, working the docks, and chatting with one another. Children would be running the dirt roads looking for easy work or playing.
Instead, the village was silent.
A young man passing through, took note of the villagers absence. He had passed through this village before and has never found it empty. He slowly made his way through, looking in every direction for any sign as to what has happened to them... nothing. There was nothing but abandoned animals, farms, work, and boats at the dock.
With no luck of finding anyone outside, the man then decided to look into homes and shops. That was when he found them, the villagers. They were all dead. It was as if it had happened in the middle of the night while everyone slept. All were dead in their beds and night clothes. Blood covered them head to toe. It seemed They all had been slaughtered with a sword. Men, woman, and children. Dead.
The man ran through the village frantically trying to escape the horrors as fast as he can. By the time he made it out, he was out of breath and sick. He wiped his mouth on his tunic sleeve after heaving his empty stomach in some bushes.
"Who would do such a sickening thing?" The man whispered to himself. Steps sounded from behind him, and he quickly turned to find an older man, clad in gold, standing before him.
"Who are you? Do you know what happened here?" The young man asked.
"I know very well what happened here." The older man smirked.
"We must go and tell the surrounding villages. They may be in danger." The young man said as he started to head in the direction of the next village.
"I don't believe that's necessary. I have it all taken care of." The older man said.
The young man stopped in his tracks and slowly turned around and looked the older man up and down before pulling a dagger out from inside his tunic sleeve.
"Am I a threat to you?" The older man asks, pointing at the dagger.
"Perhaps you are. Anyone else, including myself, would have ran to the nearest village for help. But you, you chose to stay. You say you have it all taken care of, maybe you do, but something about this whole situation seems off to me." The young man said.
"Well aren't you a smart one. Here I thought I was going to kill you, but you just proved yourself useful. I shall spare you for a favor in return. Do we have a deal?" The older man smiled.
"What if I choose death over this deal?"
"That would be a waste. I offer you life and you think death would be best? Now, now. I thought you smarter than that."
"Maybe I'm not."
"Maybe, but I doubt that. You are a very smart young man. You will do as I say or become my prisoner for life. I don't think death will be an option for you. Now, do as I say. Spread word that there is a new king. A rightful king. Tell anyone and everyone that the Gold King is ready for his reign." The older man said.
"The Gold King?"
"What is your name young man?" The older man asked, ignoring his question. The young man hesitated, but answered after a couple of seconds.
"My name is Ollie Endromen."
"Spread word, Ollie. For the Gold King has arrived." The older man said, turning to leave.
"What's your name?" Ollie asked.
"You can Call me the Goldie." Goldie said never stopping and never looking back.
Ollie watched Goldie until he disappeared.
"Goldie. Such a strange name." Ollie said to himself aloud as he started to make his way to the next village.
The name sounded strange to him, off even. Something was wrong with the name the Older man gave him.
Goldie.
Gold armor.
The Gold King.
Goldie.
Ollie stopped dead in his tracks. Goldie wasn't just a weird name for this older man. It was a hint.
Goldie was the Golden King.