Elise Huscher

Mr. Kristalyn

English 8

October 30, 2018

Betrayed

      As she reached the village she skittered to a stop and put her cape’s hood up, she stretched out her hand to rattle a knock on the hard wooden door. As she did this, the handle turned as if someone was on the other side, but as she walked in, there was no one to be found. She turned around just as the heavy door slammed shut and the candle in the window flickered out. She grabbed her knife ready for what was waiting.

     King Peter of Vicksland and his queen Eleanor were just about to have their first child. The baby was coming soon and the queen was very ill. Her sister Evelyn, had grown worried and stayed by her all day and went with her wherever she went.  Death threats were spreading against the King and his family. He was running out of time, and rumors of a planned assassination were spreading like a wildfire.

     Peter was around twenty-five when he became king, his father King Jarin and older brother Henry had died side by side during a battle against the Carps. The former king had three sons, Henry, Peter and Cedric. The kingdoms had been allies, but ever since trading had stopped, a two year war raged on between the kingdoms. The war was won by the Vicks and peace was brought through the kingdoms. After the king and his first son were killed, the second son took the crown.

     At the age of 21, Cedric is furious that he will never be king and is plotting to murder his brother and take the throne. The king suspicion for his brother had began to grow but he kept quiet for he was too afraid that they were true. Cedric has been planning to assassinate the royal family during the presentation of the new baby. He has been greedy for the King’s power and has wanted it ever since he was a small boy. He had gathered allies from in and out of the country. One of these allies just so happens to be the 18 year old Lady Evelyn. Cedric and her have been tight friends ever since their families were young.  But what Cedric didn’t know, was that Evelyn was a spy for the King. She had been pretending to be working for the prince. She had kept a list of names of all the King’s enemies, and had shown it to the King. When the King saw his brothers name, his heart was broken. The king’s suspicions were now true and he planned to track Cedric down and kill him before things got any worse.

       Evelyn had been desperate to walk the kingdom she loved but wasn’t allowed to leave the castle grounds for it wasn’t safe for her to be out all alone. She hadn’t heard from Cedric or any of the others for a while and she began to worry. She worried if they had found out that she was really working for the king and not them? Or that they had they found the list of names she had given to the King? The day before her the baby’s birth, Evelyn was preparing to see her elder sister, when a house midwife handed her a crumpled note and told to her to read it in secret. After she had eaten her supper that evening she quietly dismissed herself from the table, and slipped to her grand room to read the note. It read, “ Meet at the corner of Huntings Row, at the house with the candle in the window. Come alone tomorrow morning, we have plans to discuss.” Signed Ced.

     It was winter and it seemed like the snow had thrown a white blanket over the city. Evelyn knew that this was her last chance to save her country and her king. She packed a bag with clothing and some food, knowing she might not ever come back. The king had told her if she had any word from Cedric, to tell him immediately. But now that the moment had come, she decided to take matters in her own hands and find a way to kill him herself.  

     She took off the next morning with her bag, coat and freshly sharpened knife concealed in her boot. She briskly strode out the gates into the city beyond.  There were hardly any guards out for today was the day that baby would arrive. She trampled down the slick marble stones along the castle grounds. Dawn was soon approaching and Evelyn was running out of time. She tripped over her own feet as she jumped over the peasant’s carts that were set up for the new day’s profits. As she reached the village Evelyn skittered to a stop and put her cape’s hood up, she stretched out her hand to rattle a knock on a hard wooden door. As she did this, the handle turned as if someone was on the other side, but as she walked in, there was no one to be found. She turned around just as the heavy door slammed shut and the candle in the window flickered out. She grabbed her knife ready for what was waiting.

     She turned as she heard steps coming down from the staircase and a man with blonde hair came to view, it was Cedric. She quickly stuffed her knife into her sleeve and approached him. He looked stern and worried. He embraced Evelyn and led her to a room upstairs where a group was gathered. “ I am so relieved that you have arrived, I was beginning to wonder if you were even coming” Cedric said. “ Well I had a hard time getting passed the guards, Peter has very tight security today, you know with the delivery and all.” Evelyn lied in reply as they entered the vast room with a crowd of people. “ Well now that you’re here we can all get down to business,” said Cedric notioned. “We all know that the new baby of Peter’s will be here quite soon, so that means that it’s presentation to the public will be here by tomorrow or later. We cannot wait that long, for we have waited long enough to be rid of this king. There is no time to wait we must kill them all immediately. Only one person will be able to kill them, it can’t be me for the King does not trust me, but he does trust Lady Evelyn.” Cedric said. Evelyn’s heart sunk deep into her stomach, for she knew what he was going to ask of her next.

     He turned to her and said “So with that, I need you to hurry back as fast as you can  to the Castle and wait for the child’s arrival. After you’ve killed them, go straight to your room and I will be there underneath your window on my horse. Any questions?” Asked Cedric. Evelyn could feel her blood drain from her face and become dizzy. She tried to comprehend what he was asking her to do. He wanted her to kill her own family? The ones she loved? Her beloved sister? The mighty King? Their newborn child? Had she not heard in right? Was she not thinking clearly? And what was this all for? She remembered suddenly why and thought,“ I must kill Cedric now before I am forced to do this.” She thought to herself. She reached into her sleeve and threw the golden knife right at his heart.