Casspian
I walked quickly down the long hallway.
The stone floor felt cold under my leather shoes.
The palace was empty and quiet.
Servants were not carrying trays through the Hallway.
Guards were not standing at their posts along the corridor.
Nobles were not gathering near the stairwells to talk about taxes or land.
I enjoyed the silence.
I preferred it when no one was around to watch me.
When I reached the wooden door at the end of the hall.
I turned the metal handle, pushed the door open, and stepped into the small corner room.
I walked straight to the large glass window that faced west.
From this window, I could see almost the entire city of La Fita.
Hundreds of small stone houses stretched out toward the river.
Narrow streets cut through the neighborhoods.
Small green leaves hung from the trees along the main roads.
Carts loaded with grain moved slowly across the open square, looking small from where I stood.
My lips pulled back, showing my teeth as I looked down at the city.
All of this belonged to me now.
Not just this building.
Not just the halls and the gardens.
Everything.
The town square.
The tax records.
The army.
The throne.
I had spent months setting every piece in place.
Now i have finally won.
The old Kingmaker bloodline was dead.
Every last person who carried that blood was gone.
No one remained to stop me.
No one remained to say I had no right to sit on the throne.
I stood by the window for several minutes, watching a horse move down a sandy lane near the outer gate.
Behind me, the latch lifted with a sharp click.
I did not turn around immediately.
I stayed facing the window, keeping my hands folded behind my back.
Whoever which i know was my ally stepped inside quickly, closed the door, and turned the brass key in the lock.
“Your Highness,” Corvin said, his voice low in the quiet room.
“I am back.”
I turned around slowly.
Corvin stood near the locked door.
His gray coat was dusty around the hem.
His brown hair stuck to his forehead with sweat.
We grew up in the same house, ate at the same table, and learned to ride horses on the same paths.
Over the years, he became the only man I used for tasks that required silence and dead men.
I looked at his face.
“How did it go?”
“Everything went smoothly,” Corvin said.
He wiped his palms on the front of his pants.
“Is the area clear?” I asked.
“Yes,” Corvin said.
“There are no tracks left. I made sure I cleared everything and cleaned up properly”
The smile returned to my face.
“And the two men?”
Corvin raised his eyes to meet mine.
“The two men who set the fires,” I said.
“The ones who did the actual work. How sure are you that they will not talk when they run out of silver coins?”
Corvin shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
“They took the money and left the city hours ago. But I cannot say for certain that they will stay quiet forever.”
I walked toward him.
My shoes made a steady sound on the rug.
“If there is anything you want me to do, just tell me,” Corvin said, standing still as I approached.
I stopped right in front of him.
I raised my hand and placed my palm flat against his shoulder.
“You already know what needs to be done.”
Corvin waited.
He did not blink.
“The two of them,” I said, looking into his eyes.
“Make sure to get rid of them.”
His jaw tightened.
“Understood.”
“And I am not talking only about those two men,” I said.
I patted his shoulder twice, leaving my hand resting on his coat.
“Their wives,” I said.
“Their brothers. Their cousins in the village. Every single person who shares their name or lives in their house.”
Corvin remained quiet for three long seconds.
“Clear the whole house,” I said.
My fingers tightened on his wool coat.
“I do not want one soul left alive to remember what happened.”
“Yes, Majesty,” Corvin said.
“I want their entire family line erased,” I said.
Corvin nodded his head.
“I will take care of it before night.”
“Good,” I said.
I took my hand off his shoulder and turned toward the door.
I walked three steps before I stopped and turned my head back toward him.
“Yes, Majesty?” he asked, his hands hanging stiffly at his sides.
“No loose ends,” I said.
He did not answer.
I turned my body completely so I faced him again.
“I do not care that we shared a room when we were boys. I do not care that we drank wine together last night. If you become a loose end, I will put a blade through your neck myself.”
Corvin lowered his eyes to the floor.
“Understood, Majesty.”
I unlocked the door, stepped out into the hallway, and closed it behind me.
As I walked down the corridor toward the main staircase, I could not hide my mood.
A wide grin broke across my face.
I felt lighter than I had in years.
I rubbed my thumb against my fingers as I walked, barely able to keep my feet from moving fast.
It was over.
The Kingmakers were gone.
For generations, that family had claimed the throne belonged to them because of their name and the useless curse.
They held the council in their hands.
They told my father what laws he could sign.
They told me who I had to marry to become king.
Now every one of them was dead.
There was no Kingmaker left to challenge me.
No old lord to raise an army.
No priest to read from old books and claim my crown was invalid.
I was free to rule La Fita as I saw fit.
I could raise taxes, build walls, or destroy towns without asking for permission from a council of old men.
I was still walking down the main staircase when I saw a young servant standing at the bottom.
I stopped on the fourth step.
I smoothed my face instantly, pulling my lips into a straight line.
The servant wore the blue tunic of the royal household.
As soon as he saw me, he dropped to one knee and pressed his hands against the floor.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“Your Majesty,” the servant said, looking up with wide eyes.
“Your presence is needed in the main hall immediately.”
I pulled my eyebrows together, making a deep line on my forehead.
“Immediately?”
“Yes, your Majesty,” he said.
“Who called for me?” I asked.
“Your uncle, Lord Logan,” the servant said.
“He asked for you as soon as the nobles arrived.”
My heart gave a quick thump against my ribs.
My first thought went to Corvin.
Did someone spot him near the queen’s wing?
Did the two men get caught at the city gates before they could leave?
Did someone find a letter?
I forced my hands to stay steady at my sides.
I breathed slowly through my nose.