I cautiously picked up the soup, intimidated by the towering man before me.
"What do you mean? Isn't the king running things properly?"
"Properly? Bah! Tell me lass what do you know of the rulers before our current king?"
"Well, they were my parents. They disappeared when the fires started 10 years ago. As far as i know they were fair rulers."
"You mean to tell me you don't know what happened to them?"
"Well, no. when the fires started my uncle threw me into prison, so I'm not sure what happened after that. Why? Do you know where they are?"
"I think it'd be best if you heard if from someone who saw the whole thing." he said as his eyes scanned the small crowd that littered the area around us. "Mary!"
he waved over an elderly woman with burn marks on her arms.
"Frank dear, how are we doing?" she looks down at me with caring eyes.
"She needs to know what happened that night in the palace." he tells her, a hint of sadness in his voice as he gets up to leave.
"Oh." a haze overtakes her bright eyes as she remembers the events. " Are you sure you want to know? It's not a pretty picture."
"I think i need to know don't i?"
"Sigh...I suppose you do. It was a normal night like most others, I was the servant for your parents' quarters although you probably don't remember me, do you?"
"No, I can't say I do."
"Well, I was making my rounds one evening when I heard a scuffle. I went to go investigate; in your parents' room I came across your mother first. There was so much blood covering her gown and the floor around her. Her throat had been slit; your father still in bed, but someone was over him strangling him. I guess I let out a scream because the person above him turned to me, releasing your father for a brief moment. He tried to get away, but the assailant charged at him with a knife and stabbed him in the back. I was so terrified i fled the room, that's when the fires started, they engulfed everything. If it wasn't for Frank, I would've burned alive in that place. I'm so sorry dear."
"I..." speechless i tried to say something, "w-who was it?"
"Pardon?"
"Who was the person that was attacking them?"
"It was your uncle. I wonder why he left you alive, truly it makes little sense. Even after your parents are gone, you're still the rightful heir. He must've known that right?"
"I don't know..." I whispered; how could he do this? why would he do this?
"Well dear either way..."
"I'm sorry," I interrupt her "I suddenly feel very tired, can we continue this conversation at a different time?"
"Oh, I hadn't realized. Yes, dear take as much time as you need, I'm happy you're alright." she patted my shoulder before walking away and joining another group in conversation.