The Judgement

MIQUEL'S POV

“The king is dead,” the guard repeated to me again, his head bowed like a scolded puppy. I had been so engulfed in my thoughts about what had just happened that when he said it, I almost missed it. I blinked at him for a few moments and then said aloud, “What?” My eyes flicked over his face, searching for anything, some sign of what he was saying. His gaze remained fixed on the ground, but he did not look back up. He seemed to be waiting for something, for me. I wondered if I should offer some kind of comfort or reassurance. “I don't mean…,” I paused and then shrugged helplessly. “I don't know what you mean. What happened?” I took a step towards him, putting out my hand as if to touch him, to confirm that he was real, to make sure this wasn't just some cruel dream. I stopped myself. I fell weakly on the cold ground. Why does this have to happen now that I just found him? I've always tried to remain strong, but I was too weak to keep that today. I cried bitterly. T