He stumbled up the stairs of the castle, anxiety coursing through him as he pulled his prized cow behind him. He had to know. He had to know. 

His shoes shifted back and forth on the stone steps as he tried not to pound on the door. It felt like electricity was coursing through his arms, tempting him to smash the door down. He shuffled back, fingers fiddling with the rope tethering the cow to him as the door swung open. 

“Mr. Brown?” A heavy voice pierced his ears. The man flinched at the sound of his name. He nodded his head, looking up at the guard who spoke.

“Yes sir,” his voice sounded feeble and small.

“Do you have your payment for the procedure?”  Mr. Brown nodded once again.

“Yes sir, I have it right here.” He shakily held up the bag of gold coins up to the guard. The guard lifted an eyebrow. 

“Follow me.” Without uttering another word, he left through the door of the castle inside. 

Mr. Brown followed the guard, tugging his cow along behind him. He couldn’t help but feel nervous, or was this excited? Was it dread or happiness?

The guard led him to a small, stone room. It was circular and bleak in its color. In the middle was a pedestal with a glass case covering the dagger, the Knife of a Thousand Kings. The man shivered at the thought of having to wield such a terrifying instrument. The guard held his hand up to stop Mr. Brown, and the man stopped so suddenly he almost fell. The guard rolled his eyes and he opened the door for the king. 

King Lionel Albrecht, a man vastly revered for his ruling over the kingdom, stepped out from behind a door. Mr. Brown’s eyes nearly popped out of his head at the sight of his king, and he stumbled to bow for him. 

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

“There is no need, Mr. Brown. For we are here for you this evening,” King Lionel held his hand up, the corners of his soft, brown eyes wrinkling as he smiled. The man furiously shook his head and held out his payment. The guard hastily took it and opened the case for the king. 

“T-thank you, m-my king…,” Mr. Brown stuttered, still in awe of being this close to whom he so heavily admired. 

“Of course.” King Lionel took the dagger by the hilt and strutted over to the man, who tried not to cower. “Now, have you decided where your scar will go?” He stopped right in front of him.

“Yes sir, I have. Right here.” Mr. Brown held out an arm and pointed to his forearm. The king nodded.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes, my king.” With a small slice, the dagger cut into the man’s forearm. Mr. Brown hissed in pain as King Lionel held the knife up against the cut. As the blood trickled down onto the dagger, Mr. Brown gasped. 

He crumpled to the floor, but the king just watched him fall. A guard caught the man as he seemed to writhe in pain. His pupils dilated and tears flowed from his eyes as he saw his prophecy. 

After a few more moments, Mr. Brown regained control over his body and shakily stood on both feet. 

“My king, is there anything I can do? I cannot live with that future!” The man pleaded, dropping to his knees. The king solemnly nodded. 

“Yes, there is, but are you willing to sacrifice it?”

“Anything, my king… I’ve brought my prized cow, my best companion. That, I am willing to sacrifice.” With an odd look at the cow, the king held the dagger out to the man, who looked at it with fear.

“You must sacrifice your companion yourself. It should go through the shoulder blades to the heart.” Shakily, the man took it. He rushed to hug his cow, crying with no shame. The guards exchanged glances. 

The man led the cow to the ground, holding her there. With a quick apology, the man lifted the dagger up into the air with two hands and thrust it down into the cow through the ribs. Tears rolled down his face as the cow cried out in pain. The man took the dagger out and thrust it back in again and again. Eventually… the cow lay still. 

The man, after handing the dagger back to the king, collapsed himself onto the cow, shaking with each heavy breath.

The king cleaned the blood off of the dagger.

“Do you wish to see your new prophecy?” The king asked quietly, placing a hand on the crying man’s back. Mr. Brown nodded and stood up. King Lionel created another small cut on the man’s forearm and once again, the man writhed on the ground. 

After a few more moments, the man stood up, profusely thanking the king for his better future. 

The guards started cleaning up the cow carcass and Mr. Brown was escorted out of the room, continuing to thank the king. 

King Lionel stared at his reflection in the dagger after cleaning it once more. He looked down at his scarred hand and found another place to cut. With another slice, he prophecy came to him once more.