The King Piece (event)
The next moments flash forward like roaring thunder, the impact of the event like lightning only flashing after the strike of the sound.
Rhesus continued kneeling, but I could see the flash out of the corner of my eyes. Far up upon the rafters, the glint of steel. Before the arrow is loosed I spin and duck, the air rushing out of my lungs as the barbarous shaft whizzes overhead and impacts somewhere off in the corner.
One of my men is the first to reach me, his hand reaching forward to drag me under the protection of his shield, when I spot yet another disturbance. One hand halfway hidden by his cloak, what it held was impossible to see, but I could see the outline of his fingers along the grip of the blade. On the streets as a boy we called it the Beggar's Chance, the hidden knife held in just the perfect fashion to be hidden by even the closest observer, but always ready...
Before the traitor can react, my sword is flying upward, impacting perfectly between the gap in his helmet. I can feel its wicked blade cleave the skin and flesh and then bounce off of the bone, only continuing its momentum with the force of my hand, my vision blinded by the burst of blood as the soldier rocks backward and topples down the stairs to the sounds of clattering cutlery.
The archer has the second arrow by now, my own with his crossbow only just now raising his, and I can only think of one thing to do...
Rhesus was surprised as I grabbed him, a thin and elegant blade falling out of his hand from where had half drawn it, and I spin him around in front of me just as the arrow slams through his chest and nestles threateningly against my own. The TWANG of the crossbow echoes through a moment after, and the archer topples and splatters against the fine stonework of the throneroom after a seconds pause. In my arms, Rhesus chuckles, coughs out a trifle of blood, and then breaths his last...
It's over.