The Hanged King Novels & Stories

she continued to shock him. King Maxwell was already flying to the dungeon by the time Lady Mary completed her sentence. The guards bowed respectfully when they saw him approaching. “Where is the ranger?” The guards exchanged worried looks before one came forward to respond. “He hung himself this morning, Sire. He left this,” the guard explained before passing on the suicide note to the king.

That made it worse. Elowen picked up the linen. The cloth was plain, but the thread used to stitch the message into its surface was not. It shimmered faintly, dyed with foxfire sap and blood. His people’s work. His fingers shook once before he stilled them. He unfolded the linen. The message was short. There was no poetry or room for interpretation in it. Kill the king before the coronation anniversary. No more delays. No more excuses. Refusal means exile.

His armor looked duller now, as if the war itself had worn it down. “The men need direction,” he said. “They’re asking if we’re going home.” “Home,” I repeated softly, the word strange in my mouth. “Is that what’s left waiting for us?” He hesitated, then lowered his gaze. “There’s more, Your Majesty. A rider came from the capital this morning. The King…” He didn’t need to finish. I already knew. The candle flickered. A drop of wax slid down its side like a tear. The King was dead.

Instead, the former king studied me carefully. Evaluating. Assessing. Looking for damage. Finally, he nodded. "You look thin." I blinked. That wasn't what I'd expected. At all. The older king frowned. "Have you been eating properly?" I stared. Then laughed again. A real laugh this time. The tension shattered instantly. Elias looked satisfied. "Good." Apparently his inspection was complete. Then chaos arrived. Lyra launched herself at me. Literally. I barely managed to catch her.

No match for all that coldness and power that held nothing but terror pinned on him. “Hang him outside the eastern gate. Alive. Let vultures feed on him and let everyone here remember the cost of betrayal.” The words fell lightly from the king, like he hadn’t just sentenced someone to death. Evren’s empty stomach lurched as the collector shoved him forward while the guards dragged the nobleman out of the throne, his blood staining the Marble floor. “Your Majesty!” The collector muttered, falling on one knee, his head bowed. “StoneRidge’s tribute to the Crown,” the collector announced.

The silence that followed was absolute. Slowly, Karlo turned around. The expression on his face wasn't anger, it was a completely blank, hollow, void of pure, unadulterated carnage. The ruthless king who had built an empire on blood had finally revealed his single, fatal weakness to the world. He had tried to hide his little bird, but the hunters had smelled the gold on her gown.

I have to admit, he's a slightly good king. "Ha! I guess you used your brain well, then. But still, no is the answer. You're a disgusting person because who didn't even apologize after ordering the killing of two innocent women and one baby." Dylan turns to me sharply, and so does the king. "What are you talking about?" Dylan asked. “I said that I faked my death, didn't I? But even before I faked my death, they did plan to kill me.” Dylan pressed the tip of his spear against the king's forehead. The action made the atmosphere even tenser, but no one dared to move. Even the king's aide was only able to throw sharp eyes at us.

" Come on mum you know ok can't, am too young for that, I just turned twenty last two week and if it says they are looking for maiden close to twenty eight year old, it means the king might be very old. Since I had been in the kingdom I have never seen the king nor a sketch of him am sure that goes for others, since it was said that the King hated public attention and like walking around is people freely going around to inspect their daily living without them noticing that he was around. So even if the king where to walk pass me I wouldn't have recognize him. He was also said to be very ruthless and it was said that he killed his own bride to be a while back because she kind off cheated on h

We took down the Vampires. I head back into the living area to give everyone an update; the cheers echo around the large room as the celebrations begin. I smile as I watch, but I cannot find it within myself to celebrate; we must visit the high Witch of Eden Forest first, and we have no idea what the outcome of that visit will be. The King has been kept under lock and key whilst in pure silver chains, with two guards on him at all times. Where he's concerned, you can never be too careful.

Who knew I would be with my kids after refusing the throne through my blunt resentment. The next development answered my query, the living room shook with the earth-shattering growls of King Edgar. He clutched Edith’s neck in his deadly claws, he was hung in the air like a painting on the wall. “Don’t dare to ignore your King’s words. I’m talking to you, young man.” Nova displayed her toothy smile and pointed at that father-son duo. “Just replace yourself with Edith and imagine, will you survive this strong grip of those claws?”