Bishop could barely hear King Aaron, as he spoke blood began to fill his mouth. Blackthorn had broken something inside him during the beating. Lord Blackthorn still kneeling next to the dying King put one hand over his mouth and the other held the King’s nose closed. King Aaron’s eyes bulged, he looked at the Bishop as he tried to paw at Lord Blackthorn’s hands.
“Bandara will be restored to her greatness, Albana, and you can rot in hell. The King’s body quivered for a few moments and went still. Lord Blackthorn stood up and looked at the Bishop. “Done and done, Father. Now help me get him back on the divan.”
“You are a monster, William,” the Bishop said looking at the Lord with revulsion.
“Yes, yes, I know I’m a monster, but this monster has just rid you of the pig that would have destroyed our country.”
The two men put King Aaron back on the divan, taking care to smooth out his clothing. They tipped his head forward and let the blood drain on to the front of the dead King’s shirt.
“Someone come quick, we need a healer in here. Hurry,” Blackthorn began to shout. The door opened after several seconds and the young surgeon and the two guards raced into the room.
“The Father and I were talking to him and blood began to pour out of his mouth. I fear his heart may have ruptured,” Lord Blackthorn said with feigned panic.
Averton looked at Bishop Lyfair, he reluctantly nodded his head for the young man to proceed. The healer bent down and examined the King. “Yes, I do believe something has ruptured, he is bleeding on the inside. The healer listened to the King’s chest and felt for a pulse. There is nothing I can do the King is dead, my lord.”
“God forgive me,” the Bishop whispered to himself.
***
William Blackthorn had returned to his quarters, he had left orders for what was to be done by morning. He hoped the idiots could handle it without him for a few hours, he needed some sleep. Killing the King had been exhausting. The old King had finally caught on but far too late to do anything to stop them. Trying to proclaim his daughter as heir could be a slight problem but nothing that couldn’t be handled.
The girl had no ambition and no one would support her if she did try for the throne. Blackthorn had to admit the girl had charisma, he wished her brother had her flair for inspiring people’s devotion. If he did there would be no problem securing the loyalty of everyone in the Kingdom.
The nobles could be appeased, it was the commoners that could come to be a thorn in their side if the girl ever tried to make a claim. If Raygan ever became too much trouble, William would see to it she met the same fate as her father.
A knock came on his door. He pulled it open, irritated by the disturbance. Lady Cort stood in his doorway.
Why would the Princess’s attendant be bothering him? “Can I help you, Lady Cort?”
“Yes, Lord Blackthorn, I have been trying to find someone to speak to about the Princess. Then, I just heard about the King and what happened between the Prince and Princess. What a terrible business.”
William didn’t want to have this conversation. In fact, he didn’t want to talk to this stone-faced woman at all. “Yes it is all very tragic, but I am sure things will work out, now if you will excuse me I’m very tired.” William started to close the door, Agnes stepped in not taking his hint to leave.
“Since you’re on the council, I would like to speak with you on how the Princess should assert her right for the throne. After all it was the King’s last wish to have her rule the Kingdom.”
Well this was what she wanted. To meddle in things that didn’t concern her. “The Princess will never rule Bandara. Cain is the heir and that’s the end of it. Now run along, I’m sure the girl needs to be tended to.” He gently pushed the woman towards the door.
She shook his hand off her and narrowed her eyes. “You can’t just ignore what the King said because the Princess is a little scatterbrained. The whole throne room heard it. She is the heir and I will see to it her claim is heard.”
William grabbed the woman by the throat and kicked his door shut. The look of surprise