I wait in my father’s throne room for his choosing of an heir. I am the youngest of four, there is no way he will choose me to lead our clan. My three brothers are strong and have the loyalty of the people, the army, and other clans. I have myself and no one else. I’ve spent my entire life in our great library studying. My world is that of history and fantasy.

The door behind us swings open. When we turn around before us is a man dressed in black with a sword in each hand. Instinctively my brothers draw their own swords. I merely withdraw to behind the throne.

“The princes of Hangar, I think it’s time to test your skills,” the man in black says as he advances towards my brothers.

The oldest of my brothers runs straight for him, sword raised by his head ready to swing. When he’s in striking range he swings at the man’s head. But he’s much to fast and ducks before the blade even gets close. And before my brother can recover for a second strike a sword is driven up through his neck and out his scalp.

The assassin leaves the sword in my Mathew as my second oldest brother, Andrew, slashes down at his exposed arm. But this man-of-nothing is just too fast. Before the sword gets to his arm he drives his second sword into Andrew’s stomach. And as the man stands he pulls it up into his chin.

My closest brother, Chermos, stands rooted to the ground. He always was the smartest of the three. The assassin draws a strange curved dagger from his boot and takes a low charge at my brother. He darts left and right trying to find a good angle of attack, but my brother just backs farther away. As he back away he turns to his right making a large circle. Unfortunately he doesn’t watch his footing and slips in Andrew’s blood. And the dagger was there to break his fall.

Now the assassin faces me. I cower behind the throne. His footsteps draw closer. They are like an ominous clock ticking away my last minutes of life. They stop just in front of the throne. I hear the sound of steel leaving its scabbard.

I close my eyes and await my fate. But it doesn’t come. I peek around the side of the gilt chair. And there’s nothing, no blood, no bodies, and the assassin is gone. I’m left in the throne room alone. I inspect the floor but I find nothing. It’s as if nothing happened, like that assassin was never here.

The doors open and my father comes in beside mother. They’re followed by the lords and ladies of their court. My father was laughing and smiling until he just saw me. His face became stricken.

“Where are your brothers?” he asks.

“I don’t know, father. But I think they’re dead,” I reply.

“Dead! How can they be dead, they were this clan’s best fighters? Who killed them, and where are their bodies?” he inquires.

“I don’t know, father. A man in black came through the door and drew swords against them. He slaughtered them, it was like an ant against a bull. And then he just vanished along with all traces of them,” I say.

“A master,” my father whispers, and then more clearly, “in light of recent developments you are now heir. As your first duty find this assassin and bring him before me.”

“Of course, father,” I say as I bow.

I walk out towards the stables and ask one of the stable boys to ready my horse. Meanwhile I retreat back to my room and pack a few changes of clothes, food, books, maps, and a sword and dagger from the armory.

When I’m out on my horse I head for the Tagar border. The technique of that assassin resembled their elite training styles. Even if it wasn’t one of them they should at least know who it was. And if not I’ll try my luck with the Nocturnous, maybe his black clothes were their handy work.

But either way, I have to try my luck with the different clans. I just hope Gradius hasn’t gone home, and we still have some standing with the Nocturnous. And my answers come sooner than expected. As I near the border the gate slid up and a single knight, dressed for battle, stands below it.

I reign up before him, “Please, get out of the way. I have business with your king.”

“If you wish to speak with the king you’ll need a friend in court Jeremiuth. Lucky for you I’m here to save the day once again,” he pulls off his helmet to reveal a black mask with diagonally red strips.

“And who might you be? And when did you save the day?” I ask with disgust at his arrogance.

“It hasn’t been that long has it? I saved you on the great hunt,” he laughs and continues, “you were treed by one of the forest protectors. I drove him off. I guess that was the last time you saw me wasn’t it?”

“Hey I was never treed by any…..Gradius? It is you, how’d you know I was coming?” I ask and ride forward to get a better look at him.

“I saw you coming up the road. I’ve been posted here for the last week. So do you want some help in court or not? I’m supposed to go back today and report.”

“Of course I want help. I’m looking for a man and I thought your king could provide light on his skill.”

“Oh ho, and what did this man do that’s gotten you out of the palace? And good gods man do you really need all of that stuff?”

“He killed my brothers, and yes I do need all of this stuff. I’m not as tough as you, nor do I have as many friends with debts.”

“Oh,” He looks away briefly before turning back, “well if you want to make it to the capital before sundown we’d better be going,” he says as he turns about and rides off through the gate.

“So, what else have you been up to lately?” I ask.

“Oh, fighting war after war, looking for someone who matches my skill, the usual. How about you, what’s the last prince of Hangar been up to?”

“Much the same, reading over old texts, translating books, trying to avoid my father’s watching eye, the usual.”

He chuckles, “well, let’s hope you live up to his expectations then. Now come on, if we’re going to make it to the castle this week you’ll have to pick up the pace,” he spurs his horse far in front of me.

“No fair, you got a head-start,” I put spur to horse and chase after him.