Chapter IV of "A Darker Story"

Appropriate for all ages. Here's Chapter IV (4), might be a bit boring for you guys, since it's mostly dialogue, but EXTREMELY important to the story!

Chapter IV

            Thorn’s legs felt as if they where moving on their own. He stared blankly ahead as he moved forward. The murmuring of the villagers was drowned out in his own nonexistent thoughts. The stern faces of the high ranking soldiers surrounded him, the general in the lead of the parade of shame. The castle gates became closer and closer, and soon the soldiers where traded off for scary looking guards.

            Thorn watched the passing patterns of the castle floor as the guards pushed him along, soon facing a massive, imposing figure. The figure’s eyes gleamed at turned towards one of the guards. “Is this the losing general? My, it didn’t take long for the Fire Foot Kingdom to surrender their general. I thought they had no honor…?”

            The guard swallowed and began. “Unfortunately, Sire, the code of honor has been broken. Instead of the losing kingdom surrendering their general to us… the general has been killed.”

            King Malicis’s gleaming eyes grew wide. “What!” He screeched. Through his fury, all he could manage to say was “Wh-pp-o?!”

            Before the guards could shakily step back to point at Thorn, the deep red snow leopard shouldered his way to the front. “I did,” he said casually, licking his blood caked fur.

            King Malicis sat there in shock as the general told him the story of the murder of the Fire Foot general. When the general finished, the king’s gaping mouth took up most of his face. King Malicis found himself struggling to get a grasp on words. Finally, he spoke.

            “That-that- that was… vicious… and great…”

            Shock was apparent through the crowd. Malicis leaped off his throne to face Thorn. “How did you manage? You may have been disloyal but… you showed true bravery and most importantly… savagery!” Malicis sat back. “How would you like to become a castle guard?”

            Thorn gasped, lost for words. “I-it-it’s so soon-I-I just b-b-barely started, I mean, so soon, and…”

            Malicis glared at Thorn.

            Thorn straightened up. “Yes, Sire. It would be an honor to serve as a castle guard.”

            “Good.” Malicis nodded. “You start in a week, take a rest…” He eyed Thorn’s coat. “It looks as if you took a massive blow there. How long do you need to recover from that?”

            Thorn glanced at his pelt casually and laughed. “No, sire. All the blood you see is not mine. It is from my enemies!”

End Chapter IV

  -Frost