Chapter V

"Your brother is in grave danger."

Keith was sitting at the table while Carolyn was preparing some tea. The young man made sure to keep his voice low as the little boy was sleeping.

It was late at night, and Keith could not keep his worries to himself. Another person close to Alec was his younger sister, and she needed to know that something was wrong.

"What's going on? Why do you say that?" asked Carolyn with a shaky voice. "Did he do something wrong?"

Keith pressed his lips nervously and waited for her to take a seat.

"He, uh, used to run errands for some bad people." replied the swordsman. He could not tell her about the murders he committed as Carolyn always considered her older brother as her role model. She would be so disappointed if she knew about his night job.

"The palace guards are looking for him. I have seen them a lot lately in the village. They have been searching for days which means that he must be far from here."

"Where do you think he went?" asked the young woman worriedly. "He has nowhere to go and doesn't have enough coins to survive."

Keith sighed and looked down. He felt a little guilty because he should have stopped him from doing the dirty task for the noblemen. He has never liked his night job but could not oppose him as he knew he needed more coins to keep feeding his family.

"We need to find him," said Carolyn. Keith was surprised by her determination. Her fists were clenched, and there was a serious look in her eyes. He had never realized how fast the young woman had grown up.

"He doesn't have many coins nor provisions. He can't be that far. I believe we can find him before the palace guards." added Carolyn.

Keith nodded slowly and smiled at her, "You are so much like him." he patted her head gently. "The same fire is burning in your eyes."

It was dark outside, and the Mad King has just had his dinner. Alec watched the maids leave his chambers with trays full of empty plates and glasses.

He scoffed and shook his head as he thought it was cruel of him to leave his people to die from hunger while he was enjoying so many foods.

The lights were dimmed inside the king's room as it was time for him to sleep. He has had so many wine glasses that Alec wondered how he could still be conscious.

Alec was standing outside the door, guarding it. He has tried several jobs before like acting in a play, cleaning houses and even killing people, but he has never imagined that he could become the King's Guard.

"Kill me."

Alec heard whispers come from inside the room. He hurried to open the door to find the king sleeping on his bed.

"They are going to kill me."

mumbled the king in his sleep. It seemed like he was having a nightmare judging from the sweat dripping from his face and neck.

"Kill me."

Alec frowned as he did not understand why the king would have nightmares when he is one himself. The Mad King was the one people should be afraid of, the one who kills and never gets killed.

The young guard rolled his eyes and was ready to walk out of the room when a hand suddenly grabbed his wrist. Soon he was on the ground, and his arms were pinned above his head.

"You are here to kill me, aren't you?" muttered the king as he climbed on top of him. "You waited for me to sleep so that you can attack me."

"What are you saying?" Alec frowned and tried to free himself from the king's grip. "Have you forgotten that you are the one who made me your personal guard? I may not like you, but I intend to do my job."

The Mad King did not say a word, and he kept looking at him with cold and tired eyes. He was drunk and had no idea what he was doing or whom he was talking to.

"If only you were that easy to kill," mumbled Alec as he pushed the king gently on his bed. "But I know you have many people behind you. One move from me and my family would be in danger. So, no, there is no way I am going to kill you if it meant putting my family in danger."

Alec helped the king back on his mattress. He did not bother to place his head on his pillow or cover him as he cared less about him. He mumbled a curse and left the room.

"They are killing me." he heard him say again, but this time he stayed outside and wished for his nightmare not to end for the whole night as he wanted the king to suffer more.

The next morning, Alec followed the king to the dining room where was going to have breakfast with the queen. The king looked tired as he must not have slept well the night before, and Alec was more than happy about it. He has taken his freedom and comfort, so he must suffer the same fate.

The dining room was as larger than the entire village centre. The merchants were complaining about the lack of space when their king had such a large room only for a large table and chairs.

"Good morning, my king." a feminine surged once they stepped inside. Alec looked at the woman and found himself astonished by her incredible beauty. Her brown eyes were large and shone brightly, the beautiful golden dress she was wearing traced her body perfectly, and the crown on her head complimented everything.

Alec bowed to her and kept walking as he could not take his eyes off her until one of the guards grabbed his arm and pushed him toward the door where he should be.

"I heard you have found your brother." added the queen after she took a seat at the large marbled table.

"News travels fast." mumbled the king coldly. "But no, I still have not found him."

Alec sighed from relief as his best friend was still safe. He has seen guards leave the palace every morning to go look for Keith, but they came back unsuccessful every night. Keith had a way to go unnoticed in the village, something he had learned through the many years of training to become a soldier.

"That is too bad." the queen pouted and looked around the room until her eyes rested on Alec. "I heard that he killed your last guard. That is impressive." she smiled.

Alec cleared his throat and straightened his back as he smiled proudly at the beautiful woman.

"You should give him to me. My guards are getting old and tired. I need a young and strong man to protect me."

"That is not your decision to make." muttered the king before he took a sip of tea. "Alec and I have made a deal, and I believe he will respect it." he looked at the guard and smirked.

Alec frowned and shot him a glare. It seemed like the Mad King enjoyed the fact that he could not disobey his orders as he had full control of his family's safety.

Sometimes, he wished he could add another scar around the king's left eye, but then he would think about Carolyn and his little brother, and he would calm himself down.

"Why are you always so grumpy, Kenneth?" asked the queen with a sad voice. "I was just joking with you."

Kenneth.

Alec lifted his head, surprised, as he had never heard the king's real name. For years he had known him as the Mad King but the villagers rarely mentioned him as it was prohibited to talk about him. People knew nothing about their king; his face, his name or his story. 

"I heard you are friends with the king's brother." the queen told Alec. "How is he like?"

The king gulped and kept looking at his plate while waiting for his guard to answer her question. Normally, he would never let his guards near her, let alone have a conversation with her. But her question was one he wanted to ask so badly but could not do so.

"He's the best person I've ever met," answered Alec, surprising the couple. "He's brave, kind and generous," he added as he looked at the king. "He's very different."

Kenneth clenched his fists as he knew Alec was looking at him.

"Is that why you refused to tell the king and my father about his whereabouts?" asked the queen with a playful tone. "He must be very special to you."

"He is, indeed." nodded Alec. "He has taken care of me since we were children, and I don't intend to deliver him to the Mad King."

After he pronounced the last words, Kenneth left the table and slammed his chair violently before he pushed Alec on the wall and placed both his hand around his neck, choking him.

"How many times am I going to repeat myself?" he mumbled coldly. 

"I am your king, and you do not talk to me this way!"

"Or what?" Alec raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to hurt me? Me, the best swordsman in this palace." he scoffed and looked straight at his eyes before he whispered, "We have made a deal as you said, and I believe you, my dear king, to respect it."