Find Her
POV - KING RICHARD OF GILGUNRONH
The two soldiers in front of me are pathetic. One of them is clutching his arm like a wounded infant and the other refuses to meet my gaze.
"Well? Are the thieves destroyed?" My voice booms across the royal hall and I like the way it makes the soldiers shrink.
"N-no Sir. The mission failed and we were overrun. Jacks and I are the only two survivors," the wounded arm one speaks quickly, as if speaking faster will save him from his fate.
"You mean to tell me, that not only did you have the tactical advantage of surprise and proper planning and weapons, but that this failure of a mission has cost me twenty men." Disgust fills me. Is this the quality of my armed forces?
They both look away in shame. Pathetic. I don't suffer fools and these two are no exception. Without turning my head I gesture to Edmond, my advisor, to come to me.
He scrambles up the stage almost tripping on his long robes, "Yes Your Highness?"
"Exile these fools. Throw them into the forest and let the thieves finish them and have their belongings burned."
Jacks looks at me for the first time, eyes wide and panicked, "Wait Your Highness! We have information."
I pause looking at him. Information. These idiots are trying to bargain with me. I almost laugh but the part of me that takes immense pleasure in ripping hope away keeps my face neutral, if not a little intrigued. "Information?"
Jacks' face lights up with hope, "yes Your Highness. Information pertinent enough that perhaps... you would lift the exile?"
The other soldier looks at Jacks with wide eyes. At least one of them understands that no one bargains with me.
"Perhaps." My tone is cold.
Jacks continues despite the frost, "we saw the Princess of Murdoch! At first I almost didn't recognise her but it's definitely her. She's living with the thieves and dressing in peasant clothes."
Rage fills me, freezing my veins. The fucking insolent Princess of Murdoch who dared to run away from the palace the night we would consummate. She was the last on my bride list. The last of any royal family willing to promise their daughter to me and I still had no heir.
"And you let her go." It's not a question and my voice sounds deceptively calm.
Jacks nods as if the idiot doesn't understand the danger he's in right now, "we barely got away in time. We managed to take a horse from the carriage and escape together." He pauses as if considering his next words, "Is this information enough to lift the exile?"
I smile. "Yes. This information was definitely enough to lift the exile."
Jacks' shoulders sink in relief but the other soldier goes pale.
"Edmond. You got that?"
Edmond nods hurriedly, "yes Your Highness. The exile is lifted."
"Excellent." Cold satisfaction fills me and I look to the soldiers standing guard on either side of me, "Kill them."
Jacks' eyes widen as the guards stalk towards them, swords at the ready, "Wait please! I gave you the information you wanted!" His annoying voice is finally quietened as a sword sinks deep into his stomach and he collapses to the floor, blood gurgling out of his mouth.
The wounded soldier makes a run for the hall doors and I watch in glee as my guards catch up to him easily, sinking their swords into his back and killing him instantly.
I stand to my full height as I walk down the dais steps to stand above the dying Jacks. "You should thank me. Now you don't have to live as a disappointment for another moment."
Jacks meets my eyes, fear deep within them, before they glaze over and he finally stops choking on his own blood. Excellent.
I snap my fingers at Edmond who quickly comes to my side looking nauseous. He refuses to look at the bodies when he bows to me, "yes Your Highness?"
"Have someone clean this mess up." With that I turn and leave the royal hall.
The Princess of Murdoch was living with the Thieves of Sholle Forest. She ran away from me to go into the arms of savages living in dirt.
There was little chance she was still pure but regardless I still need her.
I need a bride and I need an heir. Once I get her back I'll have her checked and if she's pregnant with one of the thieves' bastards I'll just have to kill it. Easily solved.
Two guards open the large wooden doors leading into my personal sitting chambers. For a moment I stare at the portraits of my wives.
Vivienne, my first wife, and Princess of Boral. She was the only one I ever possibly loved. Her red hair, her fierce nature. I tolerated her infertility for years but not even love can overcome the need for an heir. Her death was... unfortunate. But necessary.
Lydia, my second wife. She was rebellious.
I had chosen her because of her blonde curls and blue eyes but her parents, King and Queen of Saelen, had refused to mention her nature.
Her attitude was completely unbecoming for a princess much less a queen and when it became clear she would never be pregnant she had to be replaced.
It would have been burdensome to have a child with her attitude anyway.
Finally Charlotte, my third wife. I'd learnt my lesson choosing wives based on appearance.
Her raven hair was unattractive but her parents had assured me of her submissive nature, which was key given she hailed from Tovsk, a poorer, southern province.
She wasn't a princess but a mayor's daughter was close enough to nobility that my people accepted her as Queen.
For her to also be infertile was an insult to my rule.
Juliette was my final hope for an heir. There were no other provinces or kingdoms in the country left that would accept my proposal.
Murdoch is a terrible kingdom - cold, isolated from most trade routes and a pain in my ass to travel.
King Frederick was also a complete annoyance to deal with.
He negotiated like his hand held excellent cards but flashed them obviously.
It was clear he was desperate. It was only unfortunate that so was I.
Someone knocks on the door to my personal sitting room and I sigh heavily at the interruption, "Enter."
Gregory, my primary advisor, walks in. He's older than Edmond and less skittish which I approve of greatly. "Your Highness." He bows his head, "The mess in the hall has been cleaned and the bodies disposed of."
"Good."
"Will there be anything else sir?" He waits expectantly and I almost smile at his competence. I appreciate when my servants already know when I want something done. It satisfies the part of me that craves control.
"Yes. Send several armed troops into Sholle Forest and find the thieves. I want the Princess of Murdoch captured alive but the rest can be disposed of. Find my bride."
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