RAVENNA 733 AD

  Hector despised two things. The poor and the paperwork that was coming from them. Why were there so many poor people in the capital of the Western Roman empire? Maybe they should have never broken with the east. Now, the entire capital was stinking with beggars and hazbins. But it was not his place to speak. He was just the advisor of the king of Lombards and now, the one taking charge as he was getting sicker.

  The palace in the night was a stoic place with no celebrations, or people to bother him. That was the moment that made Hector gloat and take a small bottle of wine and few poppy seeds to inhale.

  He kept walking to the king’s chambers where two guards were supposed to be there to guard him. And yet, there was none to be found. Nevertheless, he entered with a bow and smiled at the sigh of his kind king

  ‘’Your grace’’ He spoke with his husky voice.

  ‘’Hector, is that you?’’ Liutprand spoke shakily. His auburn hair was losing the bright color slowly, with his eyes fading their bright light. Hector hated the state of his king.

  And so, he stood up, showing the wine and poppy seeds.

  ‘’The apothecary said no-’’ The king tried to stop the man who was pouring wine into the cups.

  ‘’The apothecary is a poor, uneducated man.’’He cut him off. ‘’Raised from the slums.’’

  But the king smiled.’’ And yet, he had studied more than you.’’

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Hector raised his brow. ‘’Drink or not drink, you can inhale a few seeds’’He showed the small batch he had gathered. The king fixed his moustache and nodded.

  ‘’I suppose-’’ He was about to speak but he was now coughing dry, spitting heavy blood. Terror appeared on Hector’s face when he saw the crimson on the man’s rich sheets and rushed closer to him.

  ‘’My king’’He gasped but Liutprand coughed him off.

  ‘’Where are my guards?’’ He asked. And Hector turned the other way and tried now to find them.

  A few hours later, pale Hector was facing his king with all his fear. Liutprand, the just, was still facing him steadily. How could he say to his king what he saw? His guards, his soldiers that were supposed to protect him, all dead? In one of the gardens there they were, a vile mountain of corpses, painted red. Nobody heard them scream, plead or fight. But the stench was there.

  Hector remained silent but the king nodded, realising what happened. ‘’I see…do not worry’’

  How could he not worry? When people swore to protect the king failed so miserably.

  ‘’One friend of mine will come soon’’

  Friend? Kings had no friends. Was he already loose from the seeds? Did he drink the wine? And what kind of man was this friend that will help for this massacre.

  ‘’I shall tell every guard of Ravenna then to look out for him then’’Hector bowed and tried to walk away.

  ‘’You insolent fool.’’Liutpand coughed up again and wiped the saliva with his sheet. ‘’You may be a kid.’’

  ‘’I am four and thirty’’ Hector reminded him.

  ‘’But you have a close mind. Well, ‘’He shrugged. ‘’No need for any guards. She will appear when we need her.’’

  And Hector’s mouth opened wide with his blue eyes darting.

  ‘’It’s a woman?’’