THE KING'S POSSESSION
With a swift, decisive motion, he drew his sword and flung the scabbard aside, its metallic clang echoing through the courtyard.
"Speak now, or face the consequences!" His voice was a roar of fury, reverberating through the assembled crowd. "If you value your lives, you will tell me everything you know. Failure to do so will not be forgiven."
The threat was unmistakable, the king's fury was obvious. The murmurs quieted to anxious shuffling.
Amidst the tense silence, a lone guard fell to his knees, his armor clinking with the movement. "It was the queen... Sire! I am begging you, spare us. It was the queen," he pleaded, his voice trembling with fear.