I'm so so so sorry I didn't update on friday! I totally forgot!
Ok, so this chapter is a short one, but some things need to be done :P - Yeah, Alex got frustrated and did this, so you can all love her.
Anyway, enjoy!
Vicky and Alex
No sound was heard through the castle's hallways. The people knew about the events that had taken place during the festival, and they knew that the King was not happy about it. Luckily for everyone, if you kept your head down and didn't cross the King's path you could avoid a painful situation. Everyone, that is, expect the Sheriff.
"This is the final straw! I will not have that imbecilic, irrational woman storming into my city and threatening my people!"
"We can't stop her, sire." Sheriff Lockwood winced as King William swept the papers off his desk angrily and spun to point an accusing finger at his deputy.
"No. You can't stop her," he hissed. "Your men are supposed to be the elite of this kingdom, yet they are nowhere to be seen when those outlawed nitwits threaten my own guard – the guard that has more important things to do than retaliate to threats from breathing twigs who have the nerve to attack one of my sergeants!"
Lockwood stood still, helmet held at his side.
"Sire-"
The sole candle flame that was the only source of light in the poorly lit room flickered, making the King's irked face even fiercer. William Bracken was not a merciful man, and even the bravest men in the kingdom would be terrified if they were in Lockwood's place.
"You have a man on the inside who could tell you nothing. What does that say about my elite soldiers, Sheriff?" William's voice dropped to a low growl as he caressed the sword at his side. "Does that fit the honor of a spy? Does that show a man who is willing to risk his life for his king? Does it? Answer me!"
Lockwood swallowed and kept his gaze fixed on the far wall. "No, sire."
"No, it doesn't, Sheriff. Tell me: do you think you are worthy of this post?" With an almost nonchalant flourish, the king unsheathed his sword and inspected the gleaming surface with a curled fingertip.
"I – I – yes," the taller man stuttered. "Yes, I am. You have known me for years, sire, and I have never once let you down-"
"You have let me down now!" The pacing monarch was no longer passive, brandishing his weapon so that the tip released a small bead of crimson at his deputy's neck. "The only enemy I cannot kill is Katherine Beckett, and you have had more than enough opportunities to eliminate her! One man, Lockwood, one man. That's all it takes. And you have failed me!"
"Sire!" Lockwood protested. "Richard Castle is one of my best – he's getting close to Beckett, and he has successfully been inducted into the Merry Men-"
"But he has not brought her to me!" William roared.
Lockwood gulped and looked from the King's weapon to his flashing eyes.
"He is biding his time-"
"He is doing nothing!"
"Sire, I assure you-" The Sheriff broke off as the sword pressed further into his throat.
"No. No – you have had your chance. I should never have trusted you with something this important."
"Please." The whispered word dissipated into the air like a puff of steam.
The king walked away from the moribund person and rang a bell to call his butler, who came into the room immediately, as expected.
"James, please tell Coonan that he is the new sheriff," Bracken said ignoring the dying man's moans. "And that I have an announcement to make."
James nodded without questions and bowed before exiting the room. The monarch walked towards his late deputy and knelt next to him, a sinister smile appearing on his face.
"I'll be sure to remember your loyal service, Sheriff."
And as the light died in Hal Lockwood's eyes, so did the hope in the hearts of Bracken's people.