The castle was lost. It's defenders put to the sword, and its wealth, being carried away. The city was being sacked by the victorious army. I wandered through the halls of the castle, looking for anything of value that had been left behind after the knights had carried out what they wanted.

In a hall at the back of the Keep, I found an old man at a window, staring down at the burning town. I slung my crossbow over my back. "You should find somewhere safe, old man."

His head didn't move. "I was somewhere safe," he replied. "When everything you helped build is burning, what good is surviving?"

"I suppose, to live another day?" I offer.

The old man sighed. "I'm fifty and four, I've not much life left ahead of me. None worth living anyway."

Not much in the way of optimism. "What, um...where you one of the servants or something?"

"I served the kingdom," he said grimly. "And now you people are destroying my legacy."

The king? My hand moved to my dagger. "King Phillip?" The old man finally turned, his eyes were full of sorrow, trying to hold back tears. "What are you doing here?"

"I was hidden when the castle fell. No matter what happens, I'm not making it out alive," said Phillip resolutely. Words seemed to fall out of my head. I wanted to say something, something tough or even reassuring to the old man. Walking up, I look out the window next to him. The lower levels of the city were in a panic. Citizens ran through the streets, pursued by men-at-arms. Those that weren't quick enough were stabbed. Those that escaped down alleys were only safe for the moment.

Smoke billowed from the districts near the breach, made by our trebuchets. It had been hard won and now the soldiers felt they were owed something for their efforts, that and the feeling of overwhelming power that our soldiers had, now that no one could stop them from doing anything they wanted. The city would suffer because they resisted.

"Do you see that cathedral?" asked Phillip. I followed his bony finger and nodded. The building was grand and dwarfed the structures around it. "I commissioned it forty-three years ago. It took seventeen years to complete and is the biggest one for a thousand miles. The giant stained glass window above its door exploded as flames poured through, reaching up to the roof. "Now, I expect the statues of the saints to be melted down and made into coins."

He looked at me, tears leaving wet lines down his face. Somehow, the proudest day of my life had become a tragedy. Phillip's eyes looked deep into mine. "I'm sorry," I said. "It's...it's not fair something so beautiful should be destroyed."

After a long sigh, the king made a supplicating gesture. "Please, help me save the last thing that I love."

"How am...I'll do my best," I said. "That's all I can promise."

"Alexia!" A little girl, maybe ten years old came in from another room. Her eyes were jumpy with fear. "Please," said Phillip. "Please escort my granddaughter down to the cellars. There's a secret passage leading out of the castle. There will be people I trust waiting there, my nephew among them."

That was a tall order. I looked around for an excuse but none came to me. "Why not take her yourself? That way you both can escape."

"I'm not leaving my capital, not now, not ever," he replied. "I'll die here, today."

"I promise, I'll take her to safety," I said.

"Alexia," Phillip bent down on one knee. "This man will take you to safety, do exactly what he says." She was frightened but nodded her head. "God bless you, soldier."

"Jean," I said. "My name is Jean."

I grabbed Alexia by her little hand and guided her to the stairs. She tried to pull back. On the floor was a burlap sack. It looked large enough for a child. "Alexia, you need to trust me," I pleaded. "I"m going to put you in this sack so no one knows I have you, alright? I'm taking you to your uncle." She reluctantly nodded.

Carefully, I had her sit in the sack and pulled it up around her. I worked the tip of my knife in the side and made a couple small holes for what I thought could be ventilation and hoped the sack wouldn't rip. I walked down the stairs with Alexia's disguise draped over my shoulder. Reaching the bottom, two spearmen pushed into me, trying to get up the stairs. I turned to keep my bag behind me and they continued up into the castle.

Down in the cellar, I set the bag down and freed Alexia. "Where's the passage?" I asked her.

"It's this way," she said in a tiny voice. I followed her to what looked like a wooden wall and found the spacing of wooden panels toward the end seemed to be the size needed for people to enter. My fingers found purchase on the edges, and I was able to pull the heavy door open.

On the other side, a woman held a crossbow pointed at me. Fear filled her eyes. I held my hands out, not really knowing what to do. With a metallic clink, the bolt released and buried itself in my chest. Laying on my back, I watched the woman call to Alexia and the little girl carefully stepping over my body and running into the tunnel, briefly looking back and mouthing 'thank you.'