The grand doors of the royal chamber had barely closed behind Jamie when the king's left hand rose in a subtle gesture. Almost immediately, a figure of middle build materialized from the shadows beside the throne, bowing deeply with practiced grace.
"My king! Do you wish for the brat's assassination?" The question hung in the air, heavy with deadly promise.
The king's response came with calculated cruelty, his voice still tight with humiliation. "Not an easy death. Instead, I want you to find his weak spot and hit them with all you've got till he begs for death and asks for forgiveness."
"As per your wish, my king!" The assassin melted back into the shadows, leaving behind a king whose teeth were gritted in barely contained rage. The monarch's expression was dark with thoughts of vengeance against the vile creature who had dared to humiliate him in his own court. The humiliation of being challenged by someone he had previously cast out burned like acid in his veins.
