Chapter 7

Rordan and Garret rushed down the hall and up the stairs, praying that it wasn't too late.

They burst open the door to see Phoenix standing on top of her bed with a crazed look in her eyes.

"Kill it! KILL IT!" She screamed in terror. The King and his Lieutenant looked around for what was causing the chaos.

A little mouse, no bigger than the king's hand, went scampering across the floor. Rordan ordered a servant to catch it while Garrett burst out in raucous laughter.

"You mean this," he said, desperately trying to catch his breath, "Is what the Assassin of Lennox fears? This little fur ball?"

He ducked as a white pillow flew toward his head, "SHUT UP!" she jumped off the bed and launched herself at the soldier. He fell to the ground, still laughing. She straddled him and grabbed his wrists, looking into his brown eyes with contempt.

She bent her torso and whispered into his ears, "Stop laughing at me, please."

He swallowed slowly, feeling the blood rush to his tanned face. Her weight on him was too much to bear and feelings of desire arose in places they shouldn't be. He nodded and she jumped off him. She straightened up and began to smooth out the wrinkles in her night dress.

"Now if you gentlemen would please excuse me, I have some things to do." Phoenix gently, but firmly, pushed them out of her room.

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"Did you see her, Garret?" Rordan asked as they quickly made their way to the throne room. Garret nodded quickly, keeping his eyes downcast. All he could think of was Phoenix. Phoenix and her weight on top of him. Phoenix and her sable hair brushing against his face. Phoenix and her warm body pressed against his…

"Garret, are you listening?"

"Yes, majesty I am alert," the soldier said quietly, returning to reality.

Rordan, satisfied, continued, "We will send her in two months. Of course we will provide her with all the things she will need to carry out her deed." The golden King sneered.

"And when she returns?"

"Why, she will rule as my wife and queen of course."

"But of course." Garret answered politely, but he thought other wise. Rordan only wanted what he couldn't get. Every birthday he would beg for a new pony or whistle or sword and would play with it for a week and then discard of it like trash. Phoenix would be no different. Rordan would soon find pleasure else where and the assassin would be left alone, untouchable and fragile.

Garret sighed and entered the grand room. He made his way past the royal advisors and seers and stood next to the throne, hand on the hilt of his sword. Garret had always been glad Father had chosen him for military life and left Rordan to assume the throne. Garret was too soft hearted and kind to ever make a good ruler. Rordan on the other hand was just what a troubled kingdom needed. Beautiful, extravagant, cruel…

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Rordan sat down on his large, cushioned throne. He waited for Garret to take his position to the right of the throne before he began the daily court rituals. These usually consisted of village leaders bringing forth any complaints to the king and waiting for a decision to be made. The day proceeded as usual. Villagers came, Rordan decided.

Near high noon, however, something unusual did happen. A scarred, thin man with weathered skin and rough hands came forth, bringing 10 dark women forward, all bound in iron chains. He bowed before the throne and yanked on the chain, forcing all ten women to bow as well.

"Highness, I bear tidings and greetings from your southern most province, Gonda. We would like to present to you these ten women as a gift to you, for your greatness." The leathery man said with a yellow grin.

Rordan looked down and nodded his head nobly, "My good man, tell your people that I accept their gift and that they have the kings favor."

The man bowed one more time and walked out, leaving the women to a guard, who began leading them away. Rordan smiled kindly as they passed in front of him, eyeing their full bodies and long limbs.

Suddenly, a woman, taller than the rest, yanked her chains and broke free from the guard. With sheer strength and determination she pulled the line of women with her as she made her way toward Rordan. Before Garret could move, the dark woman had placed her chains around the king's neck and began choking him, much like Phoenix had done to an unlucky prisoner.

Garret quickly put his arms around the prisoner and tried to yank her off his brother. But her grip remained firm. Rordan began to turn an unhealthy shade of blue. His lusty eyes began to pop out of his head as he took his last breathe.

The captive bent down and whispered in his ear, "This is for the Princess of Sinbadda. This is for her daughter, Sieglinde…"