Kingdom

Chapter 2 – Life of the Lesser.

Shadow's POV, The Commonwealth.

Laying against one of the four thin metal walls I called a home. I could only think about that girl. Who was she? Her grace was only matched by her beauty. She must be a royal, nothing more. A woman beyond my stature. Someone I'm never meant to even see in my pathetic life as a bum. A criminal. And if it's true, a rat such as myself will never be able to even approach her. It's not meant to be.

With a small serving of bread and musky water between my worn legs, I did my best to eat. Us lesser don't deserve to eat the finer things according to King Rose. That man is a monster. He dictates our lives according to how we are as people. He sees us as nothing more then the common trash of the commonwealth. He doesn't give us food. He doesn't protect us from the real criminals. Hell he doesn't even bother to come out of his mighty castle above our land. He's a self proclaimed god, and the betters follow him for it.

Finishing the small cup of brown water I owned, I rubbed behind my ears to hear someone enter my container.

"Hey Shadow? You have to come with me brother."

Raising my head, I rested my weary eyes on my best friend and only other believer that things should be different in the world, Silver. He was a hedgehog such as myself. Tall and very smart. Or at least we believe we are considering the king hasn't caught us yet for our crimes against his kingdom.

"What's going on?" I wondered to him as he urged me to get up with a movement of his hand.

"King Rose is at the courthouse. He addressing the concerns of the people."

"No way." I stated as he smiled and nodded.

"He's there right now with his centurions."

"Well let's go." I urged him as he nodded and let me run by him and out of my home.

With Silver right behind me in full, we soon approached the courthouse where many had crowded around to hear the mighty king himself.

King Rose stood tall on the stand. His guards at every corner, watching every move that was made.

"To address the food concerns my dear followers. With the recent lack of rain the land has become too dry for farming. You are not the only area to be affected by this. Even myself. Food is becoming scare. Or at least until the gods bless us with their tears.

Shaking my head, I said to Silver who stood next to me.

"That's a lie. The other day I saw tons of food crates being prepared for movement from within the royal farms."

"Then we have too find them Shadow." Stated Silver as I nodded and looked back to the king to hear his next statement.

"As for the crime going on around the commonwealth, I am simply unable to shift my attention. I have much greater things to focus on then a few thieves and assaulters. That is simply the life you all face together down here. Or at least until we have a standing with the other villages to the west and the east. The leaders of Overdrum and Evergreen have already promised our kingdom more support if we are to come together as a nation. That is why this weekend I'm hosting a royal party. Where all lands alike will come together to discuss merging. And if this is to happen I need not only from the royals, but yourselves, the commonwealth. To abide by my laws and stick to what has always worked. Work hard, and you will be noticed. Work less, and you will be weeded."

Silver and myself growled as the king looked our way. I swear his eyes glanced to me as I gave him a glare he would never forget.

Gently pulling his eyes away, the king then said.

"The food will be coming as soon as the rain does my good people. Do what you do best and survive this travesty. And remember it's not just you who are affected by it. We need to work together in order to provide a better future for the kingdom alike.

Pulling away from his stand without a further word said, King Rose ordered his men to move out.

Silver quickly bumped my elbow to state.

"King Rose is heading for the judge's quarters. Let's follow him and find out what he's up to."

Nodding my head, Silver lead the way through the crowd and towards the backdoor of the courthouse. Once outside, we found ourselves next to a pile of wooden crates.

"Let's go Shadow." He urged as he began to climb up to the roof.

Following behind him, I soon found myself above the judge's quarters. Silver always had a plan. It was why he was the brains and I was the muscle to our little gang. We could hear voices below us through the thin concrete ceiling, and in reaction Silver pulled out a small knife his father gave him to try and make a small hole for our ears to listen.

Poking out a small dent, Silver put away his blade and pinned his head against the roof.

"I can hear him. Listen. Tell me what you hear."

Nodding and moving my ear towards the hole, I listened closely as King Rose came through in clarity.

"Those dirty peasants are nothing more then gullible. They will believe anything. Now, where is my shipment?"

Shutting my eyes tight in focus, I overheard.

"It's on it's way to the gates now sir. Overdrum and Evergreen will have their food within a few hours."

"Good. Send a patrol with them to be sure it gets there safely. And I want the party to be perfect. No one is allowed in unless they have the proper attire and the proper entrance fee. You be sure to set up security. I don't want any trouble from anyone. Understand?"

"Yes lord."

"Be sure of it. Now come on. We have to get back. I can't stand the waste down here."

Growling as his voice went cold. I looked back to Silver who waited in anticipation.

"So? What did you hear?"

"I knew he was lying. He has a food shipment heading for the gates now. They will have a patrol escorting it."

Standing up, Silver then replied.

"This is our chance! We can steal that shipment and distribute it to the people! King Rose won't even know what hit him!"

Nodding, I then questioned.

"But how do we get it?"

Looking me in the eyes, Silver replied.

"We find that patrol, we steal their uniforms, then we escort the shipment out of town and jack it!"

"Then what?" I asked as Silver made his way to the edge of the roof to reply.

"One step at a time Shadow. Now come on. We need to find that patrol before it's too late."

Keeping up behind my friend, I followed him off the roof and back down to the street where King Rose was preparing to leave with his men.

"Look out for men who leave the convoy. The group that breaks off is our patrol."

Nodding once, I pushed Silver to the left and kept right as King Rose went to get in his wagon. I was no more then ten feet away as he got in to shut the door.

Silver was now on the other end of the street and we slowly began to follow as the convoy moved back out towards the castle.

For a time we followed closely, blending in with the crowd of onlookers as many of the guards seemed to stay in. But as we approached the crosswords leading off towards the main gate, I took notice to two men breaking off. Silver saw them as well and we knew this was our target.

Crossing the street to get behind the two guards, Silver watched from the other end as I made a move and ran right between them to steal both of their coin bags from off their waist belts.

"Hey!" One shouted as I made a run down the road with their cash.

As planned the guards came after me in haste and I knew just what to do to get them out of public eye.

Turning into a dead alley, I pinned my back to the wall and turned just in time to see them both enter in with drawn swords shouting.

"You have no where to go now you thief! Give us back our money and maybe we'll just kill you here to avoid a public execution for your crime!"

With a smile on my face, I looked behind them to see Silver coming from behind.

Nether of the guards noticed his footsteps until it was too late and he was close enough to attack.

Hitting one of the guards in the back of the head. Silver focused his attention to the other, and in speed he took him from under the waist and drove him into the nearby wall.

"Get him Shadow!" He ordered as I moved in to bring my fist across the top of his temple.

The guard soon found out he was screwed, and as my knuckles connected to his skull; he quickly fell over next to his friend who was out cold.

Taking a breath, Silver and I smiled and bumped hands.

"Nice job."

"You too." I replied as we both looked to the sleeping guards below our feet.

"Let's get their uniforms off and head for the gates."

Nodding, I followed my friend's lead and got dressed.

Truth be told, the uniforms were a little baggy, but no one would question us. And as soon as we were ready Silver urged.

"Alright let's go Shadow. We can't be late."

Making sure the sword I now carried was sheath, I looked back to Silver who was slowly making his way back out onto the street. Keeping up of course, I stayed in line as we headed for the gate to find a wagon being loaded up with unmarked crates. A man in a royal uniform monitored the loading and took notice to us as we approached.

"Are you my guards? This shipment needs to get to Overdrum."

Taking the lead, Silver replied.

"It's King Rose's command it shall be done. Where do you want us?"

Looking to me the man replied.

"One in the front and one in the rear. Make sure we get there safely."

"Not a problem." I replied as he slowly nodded and refocused on the men loading the crates.

"Let's go! We needed to be gone five minutes ago!"

Silver and I both continued to watch as the final crates were being finished.

Coming to my ear, Silver whispered.

"Wait till we're out of town, then follow my lead. We want them all alive."

"Got it." I whispered back as Silver gave me a nod to head for my post.

Getting behind the wagon, I waited for about another minute. As soon as it was passed the men to be coming along for the trip seemed to be a driver, a man in the back looking after the crates in case of faults, and the man in charge who decided to tag along with the driver on top of the wagon. As soon as he was seated he ordered.

"Open the gates!"

Silver calmly pushed them open just enough for the wagon to get by, then got back in his position in front of the wagon. I stayed in back as we slowly began to head out of the kingdom.

The heat was cooking. This armor just seemed to be a curse. And for the time it took for us to get out of town, I began to sweat and wonder when Silver was going to make his move. The man in charge kept looking back at me as I wiped my forehead off.

"What's your name soldier?" He asked me as I looked towards him in confusion to reply.

"Welcroft. Why you ask?"

Giving me a smile, he stated back.

"You seem a bit young for the royal guard is all."

"My age isn't a concern to you in all due respect sir. I'm just here to escort you to Overdrum. If you have a problem I suggest you leave it be till at the least the job is complete."

Giving me another wicked smirk, the man then stated.

"You have quite some attitude on you for a royal, you know that?" He asked as I quickly replied.

"I know that very well sir."

"And now that I look at you closer you seem a bit dirty. And your uniform is a bit choppy. You know what I think? I think your not really a royal guard. How does that sound to you kid?"

Looking him in the eyes, I immediately drew my sword as I saw Silver take his to the lead horses of the wagon.

Slicing both horses front legs, the wagon came to a halt and in reaction the leader of the convoy panicked and shouted.

"Rebels!"

"Get off the wagon you whelps!" Ordered Silver as I made haste for the man in the back who was now scared for his life.

Drawing a knife on me, I quickly grabbed his scared body by the arm and yanked him out of the back and onto the ground; forcing the blade to scamper off into the nearby grassy fields that held to the sides of the roads.

Caught in the middle of it, the driver obeyed and got down, leaving the man who called me out on top by himself.

"Only warning you're going to get!" Stated Silver towards him as I watched the hostages.

Throwing down his clipboard, the man stated.

"I knew you weren't guards. Your nothing more then commonwealth trash trying to go against King Rose. Well I won't stand for it."

Heading for him, Silver took the man by his neck and tossed him down on the dirt road below the horses.

Landing on his back the man shouted.

"By the gods! You'll hang for this!"

Stepping on his neck, Silver replied.

"Not today we won't. This food is going to the people."

"You won't get away with this!" Stated the leader as Silver brought down his blade.

"Oh we will. You want to know why? Because we will set the example with you. Bring them over here!" Ordered Silver as I brought both the driver and the crate watcher forward.

Setting them down in front of Silver, I watched as he looked to me to ask.

"Are you with me?"

Nodding I replied.

"Of course."

Looking deeply into my eyes, Silver then said.

"Good, because we need to do something and I need you to understand why."

"What?" I wondered as he put his blade on the man's throat to reply.

"He's a royal. We let him leave he'll turn us in. We need to cover our tracks."

"But what about them?" I asked as I referred to the two civilians in front of me in fear.

"They're just workers. They have families and they will thank us for stealing this food. This man on the other hand can't be trusted. We need to silence him."

"But Silver?" I said in confusion as he shouted.

"But nothing Shadow! He lives, we die. That is how this goes. And if you trust me you'll do this."

"I understand the reason, but I'm not a killer Silver."

"Nether am I, but we must do what we have too in order to survive and make this a better kingdom. Not everything can be done through peace brother. He must die."

Nodding I replied.

"Okay."

"You can't be serious! What will killing me do!? You two will die ether way! You and all your loved ones!" Stated the man as Silver looked to him to reply.

"Your wrong. Killing you will start something better. This food is the start to a new kingdom. Something you won't be around to see." Watching as Silver raised the sword, I widened my eyes as the blade came down.

Amy's POV, The Royal Castle.

I sat at my window in awe at the people below. The night had came and everyone down there was out in the streets. My father had to dispatch guards to send them all home for whatever the reason. Something must have happened to get the people this excited. Everyone knows the curfew rules. Why go against them now? I wondered as Gavin came walking into my room to state.

"It's time for bed miss. Father's orders."

Ignoring the statement, I asked.

"What's going on down there Gavin? What happened?"

Approaching my side, Gavin replied.

"I do not know my lady. Something got the people all out there. I believe your father is investigating the cause as we speak. Ether way it won't affect us. I'm sure the people are just happy due to his clear care for coming to their requested court appearance. Seeing the king sure gets me going."

Looking back at Gavin in confusion, I stated.

"I don't believe that Gavin. Something sure happened today down there. And I want to know what."

Nodding to me, Gavin then replied.

"Well you can find out in the morning I'm sure my lady. Until then I think you should get to bed. You can't live off pure energy alone. No matter how much you think you have."

Ignoring Gavin, I continued to stare out into the slums below. Cheers could be heard from all over the kingdom tonight, and even if I could sleep I'm sure they would keep me up one way or another.

Shadow's POV, The Commonwealth.

Looking up at the castle above, I ignored Silver who was going through a crate of food we took for ourselves.

"You okay Shadow?" He wondered as I calmly replied.

"I'm just dreaming Silver. Just dreaming."

"Of what?" He asked in curiosity as I gently stated.

"Someone special."

Seems like things are going well so far. Let me know what you think and I'll have another chapter up soon.

mT Shadow.