Today on Drabble Wednesday we hobnob with royalty. Be
careful or it could be off with your head…
Dark Queen Rising
She smiled, this bride of the crown prince, and placed a
finger under the wine merchant’s chin. “Would you like a kiss as reward for
your service?” Without waiting for an answer the raven-haired beauty kissed
him, the flavour of plum and deadly magic on her lips.
The man’s last moments in the realm of the living were of
bliss and a woman’s touch.
The Crown Prince emerged from his shadowed concealment,
clapping. “Well done, my love. You’re certain the poisoned wine’s been
delivered?”
“Oh yes. The king will drink his last tonight, and this fool
will take the blame.”
~*~
Madness Reigns
In front of the throne, the bloodied bodies of his four sons
sprawled across the marble floor, staining the alabaster crimson. The king
surveyed his carnage, the sword in his hand still wet and red with mortality. The
fingers of his other hand clutched an eldritch rune, the cause of this
murderous rampage against his heirs.
A moan broke the silence of the room; one youth clung to
life. With a crooked smile plastered on his face, the king moved to his living
son and drew his blade across his throat. The moaning ceased in a gurgling cry
of death...
(This drabble is also a snippet from a book idea I’m working on.)
~*~
The Decision
Choose an heir. Name
you successor.
This was the refrain his advisors whispered in his ear.
So here he sat on his throne, his family waiting patiently.
The king looked upon his three sons with displeasure and
regret. None of this trio could be called worthy, none had achieved, well, anything.
His eldest, Eric, drowned his days in wine, his brother Karl
spent his hours on his knees in prayer, and Stavros looked to bed every wife in
the kingdom.
Yes, his sons were disappointments.
He had no choice.
“I name Katarina, Crown Princess of the Realm as my heir.”
© A. F. Stewart 2016
All Rights Reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment