Leo II

“More guests are arriving for the party.” Sandra said looking up from her book in front of the fire.

“So I have been told, I only hope we have enough room to accommodate everyone.” Leo replied.

“Is everything okay?” Sandra replied.

Leo’s mind was still plagued with thoughts of Lucas Boarman and the Taylors, turning to look at his wife, her compassionate eyes forcing him to open up to her. Leo knew the game of being King well, who to trust, who to tell secrets to. There are many times Leo feels alone, except for Sandra, no matter what was happening, she was always there for him.

“The Lucas Boarman murder.” He bluntly replied.

He watched as his wife stood up from her seat and moved herself next to Leo, placing her hand into his she asked him.

“Any word from Marley?”

“Nothing yet, He left just over a week ago. Chances are he will not have arrived yet.” Leo told her, every day feeling longer than the last waiting for news.

“It will be okay my love.” Sandra told him, lightly planting her soft lips against her husbands cheek.

“For all our sakes, I hope so.” Leo replied. Try as he might, his entire being was worried of what will happen should Marley not find anything and if it is revealed that the Taylors did kill the Boarman boy.

“What do you make of the Bowan’s?” Sandra asked.

Leo knows that she is attempting to distract him, although he knows it will fail he goes along with her anyway, hoping at least he will stop her from worrying about him.

“They seem nice enough, people from the Isle-Of-Erst have strange customs compared to us.” He replied.

“That is very true, last time we were on the Isle was many years ago and I could barely believe my eyes.” Sandra said with a laugh.

“Do you remember the feast we had whilst there?” Leo asked, the mere thought of the story making him laugh already.

“Half way through the evening we realised that many of the guests had disappeared.” Sandra laughed back obviously remembering the occasion.

“Then we explore the castle and found the guests in another dark room.” Leo continued.

“That was by far the most naked bodies I have ever seen in one place!” Sandra burst out laughing.

As the couple carried on laughing together, Sandra managed to get out.

“Do you think Harry will be okay with that Hera as his wife? She would not lead him into such parties, would she?” She asked.

“Harry is a good lad, honourable and brave. Yet he has very rarely left the capital,” Leo said, “He could do with an outsider to help him grow as a man and test him.”

“She seems fairly well mannered to me, are you sure she will push him that much?” Sandra asked.

“Trust me, she is a feisty one. Although she knows how to hide it when she needs to.” Leo replied. He knew he had a gift of reading people and he was very rarely wrong. A skill that has proved very useful during his lifetime as king.

“We will see.” Sandra replied.

“Plus, an alliance with the Bowan’s will do well for the Empire. When she is the ruler of the Isle-Of-Erst and Harry is king it will stop any thoughts they have of expansion to the mainland.” Leo replied.

“It still baffles me that she is the heir to the Isle.” Sandra said.

It was true, all of the other Kingdoms rulers fell to the eldest son, however the Isle-Of-Erst did not put limitations on gender for such rules. The eldest child becomes the heir, regardless of gender.

“As I said, strange customs.” Leo replied.

As the dim candlelight began to die out, Leo and Sandra made their way into bed, although since the news of Lucas arrived Leo’s nights have been restless.

The next day Leo woke up and went into the dining hall to join his family for breakfast, the Bowan family were no where to be seen but Leo enjoyed this opportunity to speak to his children. With the many guests arriving for the party he knew there would not be a lot of free time coming up.

“Harry, are you planning on speaking to Hera today?” Leo asked.

“I do not know.” He bluntly replied, not looking up from his plate.

Hera is a beautiful young woman, why is he not jumping at the opportunity to spend time with her? Leo asked himself.

“You should go on a walk with her, get to know each other more.” Leo suggested.

“I do not want to get to know her father. She is outspoken and unladylike.” He argued back.

“She will be your wife son. You will do what you are told.” Leo shot back, not taking his son’s bad attitude.

“Why do I have to be betrothed to her, I should be married to a noble woman from Mansstel, not a foreigner that has no respect for our values!” Harry shouted back.

“Do not you speak to your father like that!” Sandra argued back to him.

With anger filling his eyes, Harry rose from his seat and charged out of the dining room.

“Sit back down!” Leo shouted.

“Let him go.” Sandra quickly whispered, placing her hand onto Leo’s thigh.

“He is to be King, he cannot act so stupidly.” Leo argued.

“And we will show him the right way, but right now he needs to calm down.” Sandra replied.

No son of mine will be so quick to jump to anger! Leo thought.

For the next few minutes, the three remaining family members continued to eat in silence. Until Fleor broke that silence.

“Mother, will you help me with my dress today?”

Leo gave a slight smile at this, although his son may be acting up he can count on his little girl to behave well.

“Of course my dear.” Sandra replied, “Actually, there is something we must discuss with you.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“What is it?” Fleor asked, her eyes darting between the two parents.

“Well, you are turning sixteen soon. That means you are becoming a woman.” Sandra said.

With a sigh Fleor replied.

“I know mother, although I do not understand why that is such a big deal.”

“As a woman, you will be expected to take on a husband.” Leo told her. Although the thought of marrying off his daughter was not a pleasant one, it is something that must be done.

“A husband?” Fleor replied clearly shocked by the news, “What if I do not want a husband?”

“As a woman,” Sandra said, “You will have more responsibilities than you do now. You will take on a husband and you will have to do your duty as a wife.”

“What do you mean?” Fleor asked.

Although Leo disliked the conversation with his little girl, he knows that she has lived a sheltered life and that she needs to learn what it is to be a woman.

“When we find you a husband, he will be a high-born man with lands to rule. You will be tasked with helping rule those lands.” Leo told her, “You will have to do right by your husband and be a loyal wife.”

“I do not understand.” Fleor said.

“Being a ruler is a tough task, your duty will be to ease that task.” Sandra told her, “You will no longer be a little girl, you will have to start acting as such.”

Fleor still had a confused look on her face and Leo knew that she did not understand what they were saying, turning to his wife Leo told her.

“Maybe this is a conversation best saved for when you two are alone, woman to woman.”

“Perhaps.” Sandra agreed.

After that, Leo finished his meal and left the two girls in peace. Residing to his meeting room, Leo sat looking over the map table. Planning the most strategic locations should a war break out.

“My King?”

Leo jumped back, startled by the voice of a man who seemed to have appeared out of thin air. Turning back he saw the intruder, an unknown man to Leo, dressed in all black. He had a short, jet black moustache and neatly combed back, black hair.

Who is this man?! Leo thought.

“How did you get in here?” Leo quickly asked.

“I wanted to have a private word with you.” He replied, standing up right and his voice stern.

“You have thirty seconds to explain who you are and how you got into here.” Leo threatened.

“I simply walked in my King.” He replied, not wavered by the threat and taking a seat by the map table. Then he continued, “Consider me, a friend. I have valuable information that I am sure you will want to hear.”

“If you do not explain yourself you will not live long enough to tell me.” Leo threatened once more.

“It is information on the Boarman boy who was murdered.”

How does he know about that? Leo questioned.

Rage boiling through his body, Leo stormed and stood over the strange man who sat perfectly still with a grin on his face.

“Who told you about that?” Leo questioned.

“I am the owner of multiple homesteads, with many people coming and going I hear various rumours and facts. Let’s just say, I keep my ears open.” He said.

Leo could not believe the bravery in this man to speak to his King in such manor. He was torn, one side wanting to call the guards in and have this man executed on the spot, the other side wanting to hear what he knew about the Lucas murder. The later argument won.

Turning back and sitting down opposite the strange man, Leo asked him.

“What do you know about Lucas Boarman?”

“I know he was not killed by the Taylors.” He said.

“How do you know this?” Leo asked leaning forward, this man well and truly piquing his interest.

“There was one person left alive in the town of Wigstan, a woman by the name of Sherry. As it happens, she stayed in one of my homesteads. One of my people heard her discussing the massacre.” He said ominously.

“Do not speak in riddles to me.” Leo said, frustrated by the man’s lack of substance.

“She spoke of multiple men, dressed entirely in black, covering them from head to toe with magical weapons that cut through bone as if it were butter.” He continued to explain, “I know of one man that matches this sort of description with the skill to pull off such a task.”

When he paused and leaned back on his chair, Leo slammed his fist onto the table and shouted.

“Who is this man? No games, give me a name!”

“One must play the game my King, I have this information that you require, and in return, I wish for something that I require.” He said.

“What is it you want?” Leo asked, growing tired of this man.

“I have many homesteads throughout the continent, yet I am unable to acquire land in the Faire.” He explained.

The Faire have a dislike of outsiders, it is no surprise they would not allow a foreigner to buy their land. Leo thought.

“I want you to grant me a plot of land for me to build upon.” He said.

Leo did not want to give this man anything, however simply giving him the right to some land was an easy task in return for such valuable information.

“I will give you this land.” Leo told him, “But know, if the information you give me proves wrong. I will come for you.” Leo said, wanting to show this man the risk he would be taking.

The strange man’s smile never leaving his face, sitting forward he said.

“The man you seek is an assassin of sorts. A Rakhai.”

“Rakhai? There is no possible situation where a Rakhai would be assassinating in the continent without me knowing.” Leo replied.

Rakhai’s rarely left their home of Mid-Hurst and with their tall stature and yellow skin they are easy spotted and words quickly spreads around the continent.

“As mentioned, this man dressed head to toe in black and he lives his life in the shadows. And as you would know, he possesses a sword made of Rakhai Iron. Which would match her description of a magic weapon.”

Rakhai Iron, I have only seen two weapons made of this in my lifetime. Leo thought.

“This may be true,” Leo said, “However it does not help me. You do not have a deal.”

“He is currently located in one of my homesteads in a village near to Warringston.” He told him.

This information, Leo could use. Not wanting to waste any time, Leo rose from his feet and said.

“If that is all, I need to be going. Consider our deal made.”

The man rose to his feet and walked towards the door.

“What is your name?” Leo called out before he left.

The man turned around and gave a wicked grin to the King before saying.

“Should you need me again, ask your guards for The Legette.” Then he turned around, opened the door where a soldier was stood on guard and un-flinched to the door opening. Leo watched as this man placed a tied up bag into the guards hands and walked past.

He bribed my guards. Leo thought, realising he needed to tighten up on his security.

Quickly, Leo began to walk down the halls of his castle, coming up with a plan for the new information that he has. Although he was met with Harold suddenly walking besides him.

“Leo, I need to speak to you.” He said joining in the walk.

“I do not have time for you right now Harold.” Leo said not turning to look at him.

“It is about Waterstint.” He argued back.

“Not now Harold!” Leo shouted stopping in his tracks and facing Harold, looking up at the larger man he ordered, “I am too busy to discuss this again with you. Now leave!”

“What has happened?” Harold asked.

Leo knew Harold would love to have this information, however Leo did not want him to possess it.

“Nothing, I am just too busy.” Leo replied, although Harold did not look happy with the answer.

“So be it.” Harold said and turned around to walk away before Leo shouted.

“Harold, have you heard of a man that goes by the name, The Legette?”

“The Legette?” Harold repeated, “Not that I know of. Do you want me to look into it?”

“No.” Leo quickly replied, “Nevermind.” And then he continued his march through the corridor.

When he reached the entrance of the castle, Mattheon was stood at the front with another of the Elite Guards.

“Mattheon, with me.” He ordered and the two walked back into the castle.

Finding themselves to a smaller meeting room, Leo sat down on one side of the desk and Mattheon stood on the other.

“First things first, I want a member of the Elite Guard on mine and my families protection at all times, no longer an army soldier.” He said, knowing now how easily they are bribed.

“Of course my King.” Mattheon replied.

“Good, now a more important matter.” Leo said and signalled for Mattheon to take a seat.

Pulling up his red cape, Mattheon took a seat and sat silently waiting for his king to speak.

“I need you and a handful of your most trusted soldiers to travel to a village near the town of Warringston.” Leo told him.

“When do you need me to leave?” Mattheon asked.

“Tomorrow at the latest.” Leo told him, knowing that Mattheon was the best fighter and leader of the Elite Guard, he was the best man for the job.

“I will have it done, what am I doing when I arrive?” He asked.

“This is where it complicated, I cannot tell you everything. I have reason to believe that an assassin is staying there. I need you to find him and bring him to me alive.” Leo told him, knowing that Mattheon did not know about the murder of Lucas Boarman.

“Is there any way that I can find out this assassin? A description?” Mattheon asked.

“He is a Rakhai.” Leo told him and watched his shock reaction, knowing that taking down a Rakhai is an extremely hard task.

“I have never come across a Rakhai before.” Mattheon said, his eyes clearly worried.

“You know what they look like though?” Leo asked.

“I have been told yes.” Mattheon replied, Leo could hear the slight worry in his voice. Trying to encourage him Leo said.

“There is no one else I can trust this mission to. You are the best I have.”

“Thank you, my King.” Mattheon said.

“You do not need to thank me my friend. Now got and make preparations.” Leo told him.

Mattheon rose, gave his King a bow and left him alone in the meeting room.

A Rakhai assassin. Why would he be hired to kill Lucas Boarman and kill the entire town? This does not make any sense. Leo thought.

Looking at his desk, Leo hated that right now, everything was just a waiting game.