Alderman Robert Fedlow rode his horse down an empty dirt road. He tried spurring the mount to go faster, but it refused. Even as the sharp spikes bit into its sides, the animal kept walking at the same speed, swaying.

  The nobleman sighed. He knew the horse wouldn’t last much longer. After all, he’s had to replace it three times already since leaving the capital. He’s seen the signs. He should have bought another one in the previous village, but decided against it. He was already so close after all.

  It was the fourth day since he left Westbridge. Since he poisoned the king. Since his betrayal.

  Three days, since Mikkel III’s untimely demise.

  He had no way of knowing that for certain, of course. Perhaps the butler ended up fessing up before the dinner. Perhaps the king miraculously survived. Perhaps some other element he hadn’t foreseen went wrong, but he couldn’t think about that right now.

  It was already too late to back out. The die was cast.

  Whether Mikkel was dead or alive, it was only a matter of time until the Alderman’s plot was uncovered. There was only one way left for the nobleman to survive now. Stick to the plan.

  Before he knew it, he was already riding through the gate of the Fedlow estate. The serfs laboring in the orchard stopped to stare at the nobleman. Many probably recognized him, but he had no time to yell at them to get back to work. The manor was already within sight.

  The stableboy panicked when his lord suddenly entered the courtyard, on top of a half dead horse. He ran up to the nobleman, just in time to catch the carelessly thrown reins. The Alderman was too busy to even look at the poor boy. He did look at the stables though. That’s a lot of horses, he thought to himself, this means we have guests. Good. That will make things easier.

  He entered the manor and walked straight through the entry hall, uncaring that his spurs clicked on the stone floors. The scared servants tried to approach him and help him get undressed, but his furious gaze forced them back. If his wife was entertaining guests, then everyone would be sitting in the drawing room.

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  He slammed the doors open, earning him a few surprised gasps from the gathered crowd. He quickly glanced at the guests. On top of his closest family, he recognized some of the local nobility. Even an influential baron. He couldn’t have hoped for a better audience to his scheme.

  “Robert?” his wife asked with a concerned expression, “what happened to you? You look so…”

  “I bring dire news his from the capital,” he interrupted her. He knew that his disheveled appearance would only improve his credibility, “the king was murdered!”

  “What?” Baron Cropredy stood up from his seat, “what are you saying Robert!?”

  Fedlow didn’t even have time to chastise the baron for forgetting to use the proper title. “I’m serious. Someone, I don’t know who, but someone has poisoned king Mikkel. His majesty, along with most of his dynasty perished.”

  “Who could have done this?!” one of the present knights yelled out.

  “I don’t know. I barely escaped with my own life,” the Alderman theatrically sat down on one of the sofas, playing up his exhaustion, “but I know one thing. Whoever did this cannot get away with such a crime!”

  Screams of, “never!” and, “we’ll avenge the king!” rang out throughout the room.

  Good, Robert thought to himself, everything is going according to plan. He only managed to suppress his smile thanks to decades of dealing with the kingdom’s nobility.

  “But Count Fedlow,” Baron Cropredy asked, “what are we supposed to do now?”

  The Alderman reached for a nearby pitcher of wine and poured himself a glass. “Like I said, I don’t know who could have done this. Yet. It was pure chaos out there. I had to get out of the capital, before they’d get to me too. But I know one thing. Whoever did this, had a meticulous plan. The killer…” he paused to drink from his glass, “is whoever ended up surviving the massacre and getting crowned.”

  More yelling rang out throughout the room. “Traitors!” and “this cannot stand!”

  Fedlow silenced them with his hand. “There’s little time to waste, friends. I’m sure the tyrant has already squashed down all resistance in the capital and is preparing an army to go after us. We have to act faster. Spread the news to all of us still loyal to the rightful king!” he waited for the cheers to die down, “we need to get out there! Arm yourselves brothers! And let everyone know! We will not allow the tyrant to get away with this. War is coming! And righteousness is on our side!”

  I figured it would be nice to see what our good friend Fedlow was up to, since news traveled slowly back in those days.