Soldier King: A King Arthur Retelling

By Wysteria Black

“People are going missing!” The merchant warned. If only we had heeded his warning when we had the chance.

I woke up that morning with the day going as normal until a merchant came through town telling us a town nearby was completely deserted. We all thought he was crazy but just to make sure everything was alright we went and found exactly what he had described, no one in sight.

When we got home no one was left. Our families, our friends, all gone. Only horseshoe markings lead the way to the captors.

I had set off in hot pursuit with my friend at my side. We both got captured in the process but where we were brought changed this country forever, for everyone’s fate was cast in stone.

Soldier King is a short MG Christian fantasy adventure novella. It is also a retelling of King Arthur.

*Content warning- mild violence

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wysteria Black
• Release date: Apr 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005456580

Wysteria Black

Hello, my name is Wysteria Black but you can call me Wysty!My goal in writing is to create something people enjoy, to create a story that takes you to another world where the characters are real (you're sure of it) and where you are a hero saving the day.I love reading and writing books about characters we know and love! I also like to write books that tell the story in a way we never knew or characters that we never got to know.I really hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy creating them!

Book preview

Soldier King

By Wysteria Black

copyright 2022 by Wysteria Black

Cover Design copyright 2022 by Ana Ristovska

Smashwords Edition

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, copied in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise transmitted without written permission from the publisher. You must not circulate this book in any format.

The characters and events in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental.

Chapter One

Sunlight pierced my eyes. All around me, birds sang, and further down the street, I could see people talking here and there. I put a hand over my eyes and looked on my town.

It was full of life but sadly not the life I wanted.

I walked outside of my family’s cottage, ready to start work at the blacksmith’s shop. Even though most would say that we lived in one of the smallest villages in Avon, it felt like a bustling city. Everyone waking up at the same time, going to work at the same time; it was rather dull. I walked across the way with all of the little cottages and businesses lining it.

This was my life. All I had ever seen since I was born. It wasn’t bad, I mean; the village was a sweet one with wonderful people. It took good care if itself, and anything we didn’t make we bought from Steven the merchant. I just wanted to see more of Dyem, which is where Avon was located. Avon was just a little country in the land of Dyem, and all I had ever seen of it was a small little village that most probably wouldn’t even know existed.

Finally, I arrived at the blacksmith’s shop, put on my apron, grabbed a hammer and a piece of metal, and began hammering. Clank! Clonk!

My friend and co-worker, George, came in. George was twenty years old which surpassed my seventeen years and sometimes he wanted to make sure I remembered that. He sported blonde hair and blue eyes that made him every girl's dream. He grabbed his apron hanging on the hook on the wall and then he took a horseshoe off the table that had been bent out of shape. You know, Thomas, Steven will be coming this evening if you had anything you want to buy. Clank! Clank! He banged on the horseshoe. You know instead of food, or horseshoes, he said, chuckling.

All I really want is to get out of this town and see more of Dyem, but we both know my mother and grandmother wouldn’t be able to live a decent life if I wasn’t working, I said. Clink! Clink! Besides, I don’t have enough money to spend on the things Steven brings over.

It is not just you. It’s everybody, but everyone at least tries to get one thing for the people they love.

I did get something for them, I said, meaning my mother and grandmother. I got a couple yards of red fabric with some lace trimming, and I am going to give it to Marcy to make for mother. I also got grandmother a metal necklace. It’s all I can afford.

Thomas, I think that they will be very happy.

Thanks, George. I appreciate that.

The sounds of a wagon came to my ears. George frowned. "Well, that must be Steven, but he wasn’t supposed to come this early

We ran out of the blacksmith’s shop. There was Steven, riding into town with his chestnut horses pulling him along.

I paused. Something about him seemed off today. Steven was always a cheerful fellow but not in the good way, always trying to get people to buy his rather expensive items, for he was a businessman wanting to get the biggest pay. So even though I had no intension of buying any of his items, George and I still walked over to his wagon.

Steven’s face was worried. Is there something wrong? I asked, genuinely concerned.

Yes, was his answer. I just had the strangest visit from Harleysville, for no one came to my cart. In fact, no one was there at all. Are they all out to see their neighbors and cousins or something?

Not that I know of especially since some of their relatives live here. Thomas said.

Are you sure there was no one there or were they just trying to hide from you? George said.

The crowd that had gathered to shop laughed.

No, he said grimly. I mean it. I could find no one. I even went house to house looking in the windows. No one was there.

Well, maybe a couple of men and I could go see if you really are telling the truth, George volunteered.

Most of the people thought that Steven was just trying to draw more attention and make more money, but I had never seen him like this. It was as if a bear had jumped out of the thick woods and tried to eat him.

George began to gather a couple of men who wanted to make sure there was nothing actually wrong. I stood there, feeling bad.

Should I stay and take care of my family, or should I run out on this wild goose chase? Money was already tight as it was. I couldn’t just take a day or more off of work when my mother and grandmother were counting on me to take care of them. On the other hand, going to Harleysville would also be an opportunity to talk to one of my cousins, if he was there, or at least getting out of the town for a day. That would be nice, would it?

So, Thomas, George called, startling me. We’ll meet here in twenty minutes?

I can’t, I sighed. I have work to get back to.

I thought you wanted to go on an adventure? George argued.

I shook my head. I bet Harleysville will be fine. And no, I don’t want an adventure. I said.

You do, Thomas, I can see it in your eyes, and we are going.

Alright I said, secretly hoping I wouldn’t regret this.

I don’t understand why we have to make sure these folks are alright when of course they are. Why would an entire village leave? I honestly think old Steven is losing it, Said one of the men as we began our walk to the next village.

"We are just going to