Chapter 4

As Sir Adam and the rest of the guards made their way up the last hill they would finally be able to the keeps gate and with that a point of no return for the plan they settled on. He could tell everyone behind him was also uneasy due to the fact that on their way they were talking among themselves and cheering each other on. All that could be heard was the sound of their collective footsteps onto the soft dirt and the glowing sound of the dining hall having yet another party.

Even in sight there was still a noticeable distance between the top of the hill and where the hill sat. Sir Adam had heard one day’s serval years ago from some stonemasons doing repair work that they thought the current and only stone standing building was merely the first stage of a much grander project. With an area that could be said to match the town below the guess came as little surprise. Just like the keep there where many likely such projects of the empire that use to rule these lands and have long since been forgotten.

Finally nearing it the finer details of the imposing keep came into place and he was not sure if the only thing that made it seem imposing was the King who ruled inside it. There were two guards at the front gates in the same attire Sir Adam and the rest of the guards behind him wore with just a single difference. On their chest they wore a badge that singled they were the kings most trusted guards: the Royal Guards. The Badge looked simple, in the shape of a diamond with a ‘RG’ in the inside made of wood.

As the King kept increasing taxes and worried about even his guards turning on him he separated the guards into two groups. Those the King saw as most loyal would be protecting him inside the keep and oversaw the other group of guard (Sir Adams’s) as they carried out their duties in the town. The ones picked as royal guards were also given extra pay in order to secure their loyalty.

At the front gates one of the guards stepped forward in order to see which group of guards they belonged to.

“What do you want?”

With an annoyed voice the shorter, overweight guard deemed Sir Adam not worth his time since there difference was clear. But this was the easy part, they had already planned for a way to get past the two of them.

“I and all the men with me finally see the wrongs we have made and hope this will make up for them. These are for just you two and the guards in the waiting room inside. We figured with that many votes we could all be accepted.”

Two men from the middle of the lines behind Sir Adam come to the front with a small chest. The two gate guards whispered to each other but their minds were already made up.

“Hold it up higher”

The other guard commander, with a look to Sir Adam who gave a nod the raised the chest higher and the latch unlocked. The first guard slowly opened it to reveal a variety of valuable goods and sliver. The town had pooled together what they had in order to come up with admittedly slim offering if this had been a more relaxed taxed town.

Their eyes were brighter then the sliver inside the chest, a hunger that had grown from watching over the Kings riches. Two sets of hands dated into the chest weighing the objects in their hands and trying to price it out.

“So does this mean we can come in and show the Royal guards in the waiting room?”

Sir Adams knew that if he waited much longer those two would try to convince them they alone could sway the other members. With that comment they remembered what was talked about earlier and their hands slowly crept back to where they were before.

“Yes you and the rest of the guards can come in but only for a short time you got that?”

With Sir Adams nod the gates were opened and everyone went in starting the second part of the plan. Inside had more than enough room for Sir Adams group along with the dozen Royal Guards that stood at attention. Directly to the left and right were stairs leading to the large guards post at the second level and the doors were locked to only those guards and the king himself. Arches lined the ceiling and sides with banners of the same symbol as the badges.

“What are some many of those guards doing here? Adam you should know you place already”

The man who spoke was named Gaven and of a similar age to Sir Adam, his hair was now entirely gray and weight and commonly known as one of the more corrupt Royal guards. He was there when Gaven suggested to the King that they guard should be separated to those

“Only truly loyal and those who just want money”

On that day he gave up on the King and worked to do what he could to ease the suffering on those living in the town.

“My Lord, Adams some of the other guards have brought us… I mean you sliver and other things in order to join the Royal Guard”

Lately Gaven had ordered he himself be called a Lord to those in the Royal Guard and it would not be a stretch to say in time he would want to be king for himself. They were the only group that had access to the King and who was leading them only thought of himself.

“Give the chest to my men, you two come hold it. Adam you and the rest of yours can just stand there and wait until I decide how good of an offering this is”

Gaven did not to think anything in the chest was Adams or the rest anymore and had the men guarding the inner doors to hold it. When Gaven opened the chest the Royal Guards around him sounded excited as the ones outside causing the rest of the ones standing at their post to look what was inside. Now all there back were turned to Sir Adam and there would be no better time to take them all out since even Gaven now was only focused on the riches.

“We do it now, we take back what should never have been lost”

With Sir Adams whisper all of his guards pulled out their knifes so as to make as little sound as possible and walked behind them. One did notice what was happening but by then they were surrounded. Twenty knifes went into fifteen men killing most of them near instantly, only Gaven and a few of the bigger ones tried to fight back. Sir Adam pulled out his sword first and pierced his heart with him now the only holdout of what remind of the guards in the room. In all their actions had taken less than one minute but now the only ones alive were Sir Adam and the fake guards.

“Brent Grab your bow and send the Signal to Lord Jake, I want two people on the inner gate and one on each side door with the rest bring the bodies outside. Also move that red rug over here since there is no way to hide all of this blood”

As the Evidence was hidden as best they could of people who ever did this before Bret ran outside and pulled back a special arrow after lighting it on fire. Tilting the bow so it was nearly straight up he let the arrow go.

“There it is”

Jake looked at the sky to see a pillar of light starting to fall down showing that Sir Adam had down his work and now it was there turn. Jake stood up from where he was hiding at the edge of the hill just before the top and waved his sword. Two hundred men stood up. Pulling out there swords and raising their shields the time for hiding what was happening had ended.

“Remember why we are doing this, to take back your home!”

Jakes group broke into a jog and quickly made their way to the now opened gate and when they neared he once again held his sword high to make them stop.

“The group I talked to earlier now is the time to start throwing the oil into the second from the outside. Bret? Bret there you are, wait a few seconds after they start throwing and keep shooting more of those fire arrows inside to light the arrows”

A dozen men made a right angle outside the keep facing a window for each of them while Bret stood behind one of them. They throwers started to spin at rope which held the oil at the end and at once let go causing all of them to break through the windows glass. Yells could be heard but before anyone could look and see what was happening outside Bret started shooting his fire arrows again while the other men again started to throw another volley.

“My Lord Jake what would you have of us?”

Sir Adams walked next to Jake outside as he watched fires starting to catch on the upper level.

“I want you with me along with a dozen of your men while the rest keeps those doors leading to the outside closed so those guards on the next floor cannot get out. I don’t want to hear what he has to say so as soon as we get in just start attacking”

Sir Adam picked up a shield and walked next to Jake as they walked to the inner gate. With his sword pointed at the Gate it was opened and armed villagers from behind rushed around the two of them. Inside there were dozens of guards and people with the King sitting alone on his throne. He was a thin, frail looking man with white hair that shot in all directions, with a grin on his faced for only a moment before he saw what was happening. Quickly rising out of his throne the Kings darted to the door behind him with two Royal Guards while the rest fought the armed villagers and fake guards led by Jake. No one who was already in that room before they got in were innocent. These were the people who had stepped on and abused the rest in order to get where they were now.

Jake did not know at all at all how to fight so he just stood there and acted like he was a proven commander who did not shy away from what was happening before him. His eyes focused on the wall and he hummed a song in vain in blocking out what he was hearing.

“Lord Jake the King has escaped it seems”

“He does not matter now that he does not control anyone anymore. I am sure the world will give him what he is owned for what he has done here as ruler. Take the keys from one of the dead Royal Guards and free the children.”

Jake padded Sir Adams shoulder with a small smile so that they could focus on something good. All around them the battle was drawing to a close, many had died and not just the Royal Guards. Bodies were everywhere and even the noises from the locked doors were starting to end. With the battle over it was now time to rebuild.

Riding his horse as he could into the forest he saw guards waiting up ahead with torches.

“We must leave at once the peasants have attacked and taken over the keep”

The riders were silent as they moved there horses to either side of him with a torch still in one of their hands. When they were face to face the King noticed to his horror they were both women. Before the King could cry out two daggers went into both of his sides.

“Lord Jake thought this might happen and left it up to us to decide your fate. He let us chose, I want you to know that’s why you died because given the choice we will always pick to kill you”

They left the daggers inside him not wanting to have anything that touched him. When the Kings body fell the women dropped their torches on it and grabbed the reins of his horse leaving the area without another word.