Malkyer
31-10-2004, 04:55
It was about 10:30 in the evening when Comanelle heard the shots. He and two other Black Eye guards were laughing around a poker game when they heard the unmistakable sound of gunshots. Instantly all joviality vanished, and the men's face were masks of stone as they ran to where the sounds had come from.
He saw a man (or maybe woman, he couldn't tell at this distance) fleeing down the corridor. "Rayan! Follow them!" As the Black Eye pursued the gunman, Comanelle and Faroc looked at the victim. When Comanelle recognized who it was, he almost vomited.
"Your Highness," he murmured, stunned. Behind him, Faroc fell to his knees with a whimper. Here was King Layman Saarad II, the man they were sworn to protect with their lives, lying against the wall, hand clutched to his belly.
"Faroc, fetch doctors! Don't worry, my lord. We'll get you to the hospital soon enough. You'll be fine."
Surprisingly, Layman lifted his head and smiled weakly.
"Comanelle...always the...optimist. I thought you took oaths not to lie?" He said this with another weak grin.
"My lord, we'll find the would-be assassin; Rayan's chasing him now."
"Not him...her...Sa...no...can't remember her name."
"Sir? What do you mean?" Then Layman's eyes started to cloud, and with a tone of urgency in his voice, he grabbed Comanelle's collar and pulled him close.
"Find Angela...find her and tell her...that she's not...the...heir apparent anymore." With that last breath, King Layman Saarad II, Lord of the Realm of Malkyer and High Seat of House Saarad, closed his eyes and died.
Comanelle was quiet for a moment. "Faroc, find the Princess. Go! And alert the other guards!" As Faroc turned and ran, Comanelle began to weep.
****
Rayan sprinted after the assassin. He was closing the gap, and could now see that it was a woman. She was fast, but not fast enough to escape the vengenance of the Black Eyes, the royal death guard. He followed her onto a balcony, where she turned and tried to shoot at him while still running. He easily avoided the clumsy shots. Cold fire spread across his face when she started to slow around a corner. The fire turned to a mix of relief and disappointment when he rounded the corner and saw Hallec standing over her body with a bloody knife. The guard looked at Rayan, saw him sweating and dagger drawn, then looked at his knife, as if just noticing it. He looked at Rayan again, and said:
"What's wrong?"
****
AP-King Layman was assassinated last night at 10:38 by an unknown woman. Official reports say he died of two gunshots to the abdomen. The assassin was killed minutes later by one of the elite royal guards, the Black Eyes. As of yet, there is no evidence to link to any group or organization; we will inform you of any new details.
Crown Princess Angela Saarad has declared a ten-day national mourning period, after which she will be coronated as Queen. The late king will be buried in a state funeral on the 3rd, at 2:30. Several foreign dignitaries are expected. She has begun an investigation into the assassination, but thanks to the efficiency of the Black Eyes in dealing with the assassin, there is very little evidence to go on.
He saw a man (or maybe woman, he couldn't tell at this distance) fleeing down the corridor. "Rayan! Follow them!" As the Black Eye pursued the gunman, Comanelle and Faroc looked at the victim. When Comanelle recognized who it was, he almost vomited.
"Your Highness," he murmured, stunned. Behind him, Faroc fell to his knees with a whimper. Here was King Layman Saarad II, the man they were sworn to protect with their lives, lying against the wall, hand clutched to his belly.
"Faroc, fetch doctors! Don't worry, my lord. We'll get you to the hospital soon enough. You'll be fine."
Surprisingly, Layman lifted his head and smiled weakly.
"Comanelle...always the...optimist. I thought you took oaths not to lie?" He said this with another weak grin.
"My lord, we'll find the would-be assassin; Rayan's chasing him now."
"Not him...her...Sa...no...can't remember her name."
"Sir? What do you mean?" Then Layman's eyes started to cloud, and with a tone of urgency in his voice, he grabbed Comanelle's collar and pulled him close.
"Find Angela...find her and tell her...that she's not...the...heir apparent anymore." With that last breath, King Layman Saarad II, Lord of the Realm of Malkyer and High Seat of House Saarad, closed his eyes and died.
Comanelle was quiet for a moment. "Faroc, find the Princess. Go! And alert the other guards!" As Faroc turned and ran, Comanelle began to weep.
****
Rayan sprinted after the assassin. He was closing the gap, and could now see that it was a woman. She was fast, but not fast enough to escape the vengenance of the Black Eyes, the royal death guard. He followed her onto a balcony, where she turned and tried to shoot at him while still running. He easily avoided the clumsy shots. Cold fire spread across his face when she started to slow around a corner. The fire turned to a mix of relief and disappointment when he rounded the corner and saw Hallec standing over her body with a bloody knife. The guard looked at Rayan, saw him sweating and dagger drawn, then looked at his knife, as if just noticing it. He looked at Rayan again, and said:
"What's wrong?"
****
AP-King Layman was assassinated last night at 10:38 by an unknown woman. Official reports say he died of two gunshots to the abdomen. The assassin was killed minutes later by one of the elite royal guards, the Black Eyes. As of yet, there is no evidence to link to any group or organization; we will inform you of any new details.
Crown Princess Angela Saarad has declared a ten-day national mourning period, after which she will be coronated as Queen. The late king will be buried in a state funeral on the 3rd, at 2:30. Several foreign dignitaries are expected. She has begun an investigation into the assassination, but thanks to the efficiency of the Black Eyes in dealing with the assassin, there is very little evidence to go on.