The Kings Men


There once was a fine lad named Ron who lived in the Kingdom of Avon. He worked a small wheat farm, selling his grain at the local market in Whitecliff Castle. His father, Aldrad, was once a knight of the kings Army. By the King’s orders, Ron’s mother had been hanged for treating rebel soldiers wounds during the rebellion. Aldrad became a drunkard and a thief after the rebellion, leaving Ron, merely a one year old at the time, to the care on a farmer named John Smith. Ron grew up believing his mother had died in childbirth, and that Aldrad, had always been a scoundrel. Now, sixteen years later, Ron was seventeen and stood about five foot five. He was well built from working the farm. One weekend Ron’s journey began:

At the market stalls, Ron stood as he does every weekend, selling grain. His day started out like any other, a few merchants here and there. Ron was friends with the cook of Whitecliff’s son, Eddard, so he always had him as a buyer. All of the real money in the food side of the market was made in meats and animal skins. In his spare time Ron hunted with a longbow he had bought, but he never killed enough to sell, mainly enough just to provide for himself. After his day, Ron started on his way home with his donkey and unsold grain.
“Maybe I should buy some bread for father,” he thought.
He purchased one loaf and proceeded to head to the inn where Aldrad spent most his time. Ron could smell his father before he could see him. Lying there next in the door of the Brushwick Inn Aldrad was snoring away without a care to the world. Aldrad was a massive man; having once been a knight he was built to kill, and could still swing a sword better than most men, despite his now overweight figure. It was because of this that the inn keepers were always afraid to ask him to leave. The city guard never wanted to bother with the man, so everyone just let him lye. As Ron approached his intoxicated father, he could see the scars Aldrad had suffered from the rebellion.
“Dad, wake up!” Ron said
“What do you want boy!”
“I have some bread for you.”
“I can feed myself I don’t need you to do it for me!”
“Father, I am just trying to show some kindness.”
“You want to show me kindness? Let me sleep in that fancy cabin of yours!”
“All right, come on.”
Ron helped his father up. As he stood, Aldrad stumbled and almost fell down. Ron’s cabin was about two miles from the castle next to the Black River, named after the color of the rocks and sand along its banks. His small cabin lay nestled in a small grove of trees. The cabin has a small kitchen, connecting the bedroom and kitchen was an even smaller dining room, containing a two-person table, and a set of rocking chairs next to the fireplace. When they arrived Ron helped Aldrad into his bed and then sat down in one of the chairs by the fireplace. The next morning after Aldrad had sobered up, he awoke to find Ron cooking some ham from a wild boar he had killed. Ron convinces his father to stay and speak with him. The two spent the day catching up. Aldrad told Ron of his true past as a knight, his duties, training, and so on.

“What about you and mother?” Ron asked.

Why don’t you tell me what you know about your mother.”

“All I know is she died when I was born.”

“Who told you that?”

“John the Farmer.”

“Well, your mother did not die in childbirth, Ron. She was murdered when you were just an infant. I was away fighting for the king, fighting the rebellion.”

“Who killed her?” Ron said shocked.

“She was hanged by the king’s orders for helping wounded rebel soldiers. It wasn’t just rebels she was helping! She was helping the king’s men too!”

At this time Ron and Aldrad heard screams coming from outside. The two rush to investigate. It was Eddard. He had a young woman with him.

“The castle is under attack!” exclaimed Eddard.

“By whom?!” asked Aldrad.

“The king’s men!” said the woman.