“This is uniquely fitting for you, Henry,” I smiled. “You always kept yourself in the spotlight, while you locked me in a tower. Not very much fun, is it?” My half-brother glared at me.
“You’re not going to get away with this,” he warned confidently. “I’m the true king! Someone will remember me, and when I get loose, you’ll be the one in the cell.”
“You have to get out first,” I said tauntingly. I stepped forward, almost within his reach. “You’re chained. This cell used to be a cave; it’s solid stone for dozens of feet. The door is iron; only I have the key. This is the deepest cell, so nobody will come along here except for the gaoler, who is half-blind and deaf as a post. Besides, he only speaks Skordian, which you don’t understand.” I could see Henry’s defiance become a little feigned, and I smiled wider.
“Even assuming you get out, there is only one exit from the dungeons, which leads through the guardhouse. You’d have to fight your way past, oh, 30 men at any given time? That’s not even counting the men on guard at the wall or at the gate.” I laughed. “I’m afraid you’re going to be here for a very long time.” He spat at me, and I locked the door behind me as I left him alone in the blackness.
He was there for a long time. Years, in fact. But not forever. One of my guards was careless when locking up a thief, and the man got loose and hid in the depths of my dungeon. He discovered my brother, and picked all of the locks to get him out of the cell. Henry and the thief simply overpowered two guards on patrol, stole their uniforms, and walked out of the castle without anyone being the wiser.
True to his word, Henry gathered his scattered supporters, rallied the common folk against me, and returned to claim his throne. While his men tried to take the walls and guards, he and a group of his best fighters came directly into the main part of the castle. We came face to face in my throne room.
“I’m here to keep my promise,” he told me, drawing his sword. I flicked my own sword up to meet his gaze. “You’ll spend the rest of your miserable life in that cell.” I grinned viciously, knowing that he was the glue that held the rebellion together. If he died...
“The years haven’t been kind to you, brother,” I taunted. “You’re looking a little scrawny.” His imprisonment hadn’t changed him that much--he was still the vainest person I knew, and my comments stung his pride. He attacked, and I smiled. I’d spend the years getting stronger and faster, and he’d weakened. He was slower than I was now, so it was easy to dodge his blow.
“You’ll pay for what you did,” he growled, chopping down at me.
“I doubt that,” I said, and counterattacked. It wasn’t easy, but I was never really worried. Everyone, rebels and guards alike, stood around us, watching our fight; they knew of the ritual combat for the throne. I turned and twisted until I managed to maneuver him into a corner. He fought twice as hard, of course, but I didn’t let that bother me. He became tired and I shoved my blade in between his defences. He gasped as I sliced open his hand, and he instinctively dropped his sword.
“An honorable opponent would allow me to pick up my sword and continue,” he said cautiously. I snorted.
“Put your hands on your head and start walking,” I said, kicking his sword out of the way. My guards surrounded the rebels and ushered them out into the main courtyard as I forced Henry at sword-point to the center of the stone area. I prodded him in the back.
“What?” he said hostilely.
“Get on your knees and tell them to stop fighting,” I ordered him. Helplessly, he obeyed. Slowly, his men were gathered into a group in front of me. Corpses littered the ground; with irritation, I noticed that my men hadn’t fared as well as the rebels. However, they weren’t fighting now that Henry was under my control.
“Take these men into custody, Captain,” I said. The captain of my guard stepped forward, sporting bruises down the side of his face, and directed squads of soldiers to gather their weapons and bind their wrists. It took a long time, but I was perfectly willing to wait.
“Is the blacksmith here?” I demanded eventually, looking at the crowd surrounding me. A soldier ran off, returning seconds later with a large man in a leather apron.
“Yes, your Imperial Majesty?” said the blacksmith.
“These men have rebelled against my rule,” I said clearly so that everybody would hear my words. “It is within my rights to have them executed in any way I choose, but although they deserve death, I have decided to allow them to live.” I saw the large group of prisoners relax, and Henry sighed in relief.
“However, they cannot simply be allowed to return to their homes and their families without consequences,” I said. “Blacksmith, I wish them all to be branded.” It was a punishment that made its victims into second-class citizens. They no longer were allowed to enter shops or taverns, and a second offence of any kind meant that they would be executed. The punishment had only been used a few times in the last 50 years due to its severity.
“As your Imperial Majesty commands,” said the blacksmith slowly.
“You can’t do that, Adrienna!” burst out Henry. I glared, and my captain slapped him across the face, silencing him.
“As for you,” I said poisonously. “You know what happens now, right? Speak!” Despair crossed his face. He opened his mouth to answer, but nothing came out.
“I’m going back to that cell,” he said finally. I laughed. Of course not. I would not make the same mistake twice.
“I’m afraid that’s not quite right,” I said. “You see, many of my guards were killed in your little rebellion. A price must be paid.” With one powerful thrust, I stabbed my sword into his heart. I spat on it, then walked back towards my throne room.
“The corpse, your Majesty?” said the captain tentatively.
“Burn the body. Have the head displayed by the gates,” I said coldly, not stopping.
