I have always craved knowledge. I cared little for anything else. I traveled, I conquered, I killed, all for the sake of knowledge. So where did it go wrong. I wasn't cruel nor harsh, I suppose i wasn't kind nor compassionate either, perhaps it was my indifference that led to this. I look down from my throne “hello henry, how long has it been since you began your service as my knight.” I smile at him. I hear a solitary raven crow in the distance.

“Don't” he seems growls at me “don't smile, you never cared so don't act as if you do now.” he was right so i let my indifference show. “Aren't you afraid? i have killed all of your followers, the corrupt nobles you have led are dead at your side yet you still show nothing.” I laugh it echos through the empty hallowed halls. I stood up holding my composure. I hold out my hand

“walk with me as you did before, just one last time.” my hand is pushed away and a blade pointed toward me in its place. I walk forward understanding what he means. “Henry, what did I spend my life collecting?” I turn to him.

“Books and scripture, you always preached that one should not only keep their blade sharp but their mind as well.” I nod . He learned well.

“ yes, i cherish no i crave knowledge so much so i conquered the nations for it. You see, I crave knowledge like men crave power and so I killed my father, the king , my brothers ,my sisters and took the throne and army for it. But everyone cheered for me even blessed me for killing my tyrannical family, but they never saw what you see before you henry because they never sought out the truth . I am just as much of a monster as the rest of my family. I have killed and maimed and sold and bought people just the same.”

I can see the look of disgust on his face as I speak. “ I have never cared for others and perhaps never will , only the pursuit of knowledge. You see Henry, my boy, I have found in my years, knowledge is always followed by power; you can not have one without the other. For if you can seek out and control the information that others have you can control their minds henry. If you control the minds of people you can control what they think and therefore it is power.” We have arrive at my most prized possession, the royal library. I push open the door and usher him in.

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“ So Henry, what will you do with the knowledge you have gained.” I sit and wait. Henry is tall and fair with lean shouldered he resembles me far too much but his face was soft thin just like his father perhaps that's where his compassion came from. His hair ,which held the hue of cider, was no longer as it was when he was a child . when did he grow it out, no the question is when did he grow up. His clothes stained in blood that was not his own but somehow he looked as though he had lost a great war “Why do you cry now tyrant.”

i look at him, “what?” I touch my cheek and my finger when i pull them away glisten with salty water. I laugh “ perhaps now i have finally learned i don't know everything cause i never thought it would be you henry holding the blade pointed at me perhaps your elder brother Jonathan or your little sister Elisabet but not you henry. You were small and full of wonder. You craved knowledge just as much as me and you ate the words I gave you as though you were starving and they sated you ,so tell me When did you grow up I have found I missed it.” I laugh but it doesn’t sound like laughter but my body shakes with it anyway. I shake and shake ,the blade falls from his hand and it echos ‘ting’ . I look up and my eyes must have be fooling me. Perhaps it is the water in them that is doing it but i hold out my hand and cradle his face “ halcyon i am sorry” but i know the face i hold is not my sister who gave me my first taste of knowledge. Perhaps that was when it all went wrong , when I killed my her, the one person i loved. “

“You look just like her, how did I not see it? If I had , I might have known you would hold the sword that would end me.”

I stand once more and pick up the blade and hand it to him and kneel before . “ long live the emperor.” I move my hair and bow my head. He takes the blade from my hand. I can hear the faint woosh as he raises it. “No mother ,long live the empress,'' I look up in shock at what he said “Henry why di……”