To Kill a King

By A.S. Ali

When the Prince of Meridian, Maxwell is assigned a bodyguard after a failed assassination attempt on his life, the last thing he expects is to meet Sun. Highly skilled, mysterious, and twice the size of any woman he's ever seen before Maxwell instantly dislikes her, refusing to rely on a woman for protection.

But with the threat on Maxwell still at large Sun has no choice but to go to great lengths to earn his trust

• Language: English
• Publisher: A.S. Ali
• Release date: Apr 30, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005773625

Book preview

To kill a king

By A.S.Ali

Copyright © 2022 by A.S.Ali

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review

Prologue

He watched the girl standing by the embankment, washing her bloodied hands in the river. She was only 11 years old, too young for the pressure she was under, too young to train to be a faithful soldier. As if she could sense he was watching her, she looked up. Her eyes were glazed red, but it wasn’t from crying, it was a sign she hadn’t been sleeping well. But then that was no surprise, even as a baby she barely slept. She was a restless and eager child; her father had her throwing knives at the age of two.

As he looked at her now he thought how different her life would have been if he had given her away like Spasitel, her father, had insisted at the start. Spasitel did not want a child and had no means to raise her. The girl’s mother came to live in the little compound in the forest that he lived, carrying the child 5 months before her arrival. She was a serving girl of the Queen.

The first time he saw her, he thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. She was younger than him, which made her naïve, she thought she could raise the child on her own. When the fateful day came that she gave birth, she lost too much blood and her heart stopped. He buried her on the outskirts of the compound, where a big willow tree grew.

The baby girl she gave birth to was perfect, she had Spasitel’s eyes but she looked exactly like her mother. He knew he couldn’t give her away, and despite Spasitel’s wishes, as the girl’s Uncle he made it his duty to raise her.

It was 3 months into her life that Spasitel saw her for the first time, and his mind changed. He saw something in her and decided to raise her with the sole purpose that she would one day work as a knight in the palace with him. Her Uncle laughed at the notion, there had never been any female knights, yet Spasitel insisted that Sun would be the first.

She gestured for him to come closer and he did, sitting on the embankment next to her as she continued to wash her hands, turning the deep blue of the river, red. She had been hitting the oak trees again, a punishment given to her by her father to make her stronger.

Spasitel said I was ready to move onto our next phase of training, she spoke, her voice soft. An uneasy feeling settled through him. She knew what she would eventually be trained for, a warrior with no thoughts or feelings of her own.

It was then he made the plan that he would take her away, he wanted her to have a different life, a simple one where she could grow to be anyone she wanted. It wasn’t the life for a woman, she should be longing for marriage and a child, not for swords and battle and blood. He would not let her grow up to be a soldier, someone only for Spasitel’s gain.

He waited until the girl was asleep before he started packing their things. She would have questions, none of which he wanted to answer. She was wise, she would know he was taking her away against Spasitel’s orders for her to stay there. She would refuse to go, to protect her Uncle, knowing the outcome of what could happen if they left.

They didn’t have much, most of it barely fit into his roll up bag. It was a small treasury of items, the real load was the weapons, but he had leave most of them behind. They had to be light on their feet, once Spasitel realised they were missing he would come for her, and he wouldn’t stop until he found her. She was his prodigy, his perfect soldier born from his blood, he wasn’t about to let her just disappear. Whilst the child slept, he collected water from the river only a couple of metres from the compound, it was there he saw his brother on his way back in the dead of the night. It was then he knew that there was no escape, they could run as far as they could and he would always find them. He loved the little girl like his own, more than Spasitel ever could.

Spasitel would never let her be free, which is then he knew that the only way for her to be free, was for him to die.

In bed we shall stay

Maxwell…. Maxwell. I roll onto my left side, burying my head under my pillow in hopes to drown my main lady servant, Melrose out. We do this song and dance every morning where she wants me to wake up but I spent last night drinking pints of mead in the tavern till the early hours of the morning and getting up at dawn is the last thing I want to do. It’s a tiring job being a Prince and I value my sleep, something she knows but tends to ignore.

Maxwell, come on you can’t do this every morning, she sighs. I try not to laugh but she doesn’t make it easy on herself. She is one of the most mellow and tedious woman I’ve ever met. Had she not have been my servant since birth she would no longer be in my charge, but as the King’s son, the heir and Prince of Meridian I do not trust people easily. I will only ever be wanted for two thing, my money and my title. Any woman fortunate to be with me will have a very easy life, it’s not a privilege I will bestow on those who are not worthy.

Her constant badgering stops as I hear her leave the room, cursing me. I smile to myself, she doesn’t usually give up this easily which means I’m starting to wear her down. I have a gala tonight and was planning to skip it, though someone told me that the Princess of Ternova, the King Johnson’s daughter, Lillian Rose would be attending, and though the last time we met we had a lot of fun, after we lay down together she clung onto me like some overbearing child, desperate for affection.

She’s sent me at least a dozen letters since our last encounter, no doubt declarations of love and sweet nothings. She was good, but before I left she seemed to have the impression that because we laid down together I would be asking for her hand in marriage which is far from the case. If I asked every women I slept with for her hand, Meridian would have hundreds of future Queen. Though the thought of having multiple wives does appeal to me, I’m not the kind of man to be satisfied with just one woman.

Just as I am about to stir onto my right side, a gush of cold-water lands on my face and I sit up abruptly, my heart racing from the sheer shock of it. Bringing my hands to my face, and wiping the water down, I lock eyes with the perpetrator and instantly soften. Standing before me, is my 6-year-old sister Evangeline Maximus. She’s smiles sweetly, no doubt, feigning innocence though I can see the pot she used to throw the water over me right behind her.

Eva, I retort, sending her a stern look.

It wasn’t me, it was Crooks, she remarks softly. Crooks is the name of her imaginary being that apparently follows her around. He’s gotten a little too naughty for my liking over the past couple of months.

Well tell crooks if he ever does that again I’ll chop off his head. She gasps, looking at me in surprise. You can’t do that to crooks.

I can do anything, I’m the king’s son.

I’m the king’s daughter, she huffs and stomps out of the room. I watch her retreating figure with a smile, how such a small person can carry around such an attitude is beyond me.

I pull off my covers and go to stand, when I hear someone rolling behind me. Looking down, I had forgotten that I had some company last night. She is a friend of a friend, I think, I can’t recall her name. Last night was a mixture of too much mead and bad decisions. It wasn’t long to get her into bed, she was almost too eager. I don’t bother waking her, one of my servants will do that. I get out of the covers, for my morning stretch when I hear someone shriek behind me. I turn around to see Melrose with her hand clapped over her eyes. Maxwell, you really should close the door before you change, she hisses. I look down feigning a surprised look when I see I am completely naked.

Why? I’m sure the servants would love a show, I remark and hear her sigh of disapproval. Your father wishes to see you in the study, she tells me. I frown. Whenever my father wants to see me it’s never anything good. About what?.

Possibly something to do with what happened last week. It’s my turn to sigh.

Everyone is getting over active because of this damned assassination attempt. My father has sent at least 3 of the kings guards, to the slaughter because of what happened. It wasn’t my fault when I woke up someone was trying to stab me with a blunt sword. It was carelessly taken out and if anything gave me good target practise. I had already sliced a line into his neck by the time the guards came rushing in. Ever since then I’ve been put under lock and key, with me being the only heir to the Meridian throne, I have no short of enemies. We are the largest kingdom in all of the seven nations, which makes my family the biggest target. Rule Meridian and you rule the world.

Tell him I will see him later. I have other things to attend to. She sets her lips into a thin line. I have been informed to tell you, if you do not attend, he will send Hiram to get you. Hiram is my father’s brother, and my mortal enemy. We have never liked each other, with the reasoning that he tried to kill me when I was 7 years old, and no one believes me.

Hiram was always away on business in the citadel and negotiating trade deals with the rest of the Kingdoms in the Seven nations that I rarely saw him as a child. He returned a little while after my 7th Summer and took me on a ride out to one of the local villages.

My father didn’t like me going anywhere beyond the palace gates but I can only assume that he thought I would be safe in Hiram’s care. Little did I know how wrong he’d been. Hiram told me he had to talk to some of the local people and so left me in a little cabin on the outskirts of the village with the promise that he would be back. I waited for over an hour when the place went up in flames.

I managed to get out and when I told my father what had happened, Hiram denied ever taking me out of the palace. I have no authority now, but my father won’t hold the throne forever and as soon as he’s gone, Hiram will receive the same fate he once served me.

Send the servants in, I hiss, and she nods, pleased and claps her hand. A flurry of people come into my room, 3 coming towards me with armfuls of robes, I notice a small timid servant. She looks ragged and must be only of age, I have no servants that are below age. A rule my father made.

I catch her staring and smirk; she shies her eyes away, her cheeks blushing red. Her features are bony, with wispy light brown hair and her eyebrows so faded from afar you would think she had none. Her lips are thin making her look plain. She isn’t pretty, but her obvious fear of me is attraction enough. She helps dress me with shaking fingers, every time I make an attempt to look at her, her eyes are glued to the floor.

Once I’ve been dressed, she scurries away though I notice she takes one last look at me before she leaves. A ghost of a smile plays on my lips, and I work hard to let it show. It has to be said there is something about the quiet one’s. Something alluring about their nature, if she’s made herself that way in order to catch my eye, it worked.

The long walk across the palace to my father’s quarters isn’t long enough. If I could be in a separate palace I would. I see Hiram first, standing guard outside the door and grimace when he smiles. Another day, your highness. He’s got a vicious smile on his face causing my hands to curl up into balls at my side.

Hiram haven’t died in your sleep yet, his smile falls. I could kill him, just as he could kill me. We both have the connections and the access, but he’s waiting and so am I, for the victory of seeing the reaction on the other’s faces when the other loses. Only then will I have my justice. He steps to the side, and I follow through the door to my father’s chambers seeing him sat down on his armchair, reading a transcript. He doesn’t drop it, even when I sit. His frown line is prominent on his forehead, an indicator that whatever’s he’s reading he doesn’t take too kindly to it. I clear my throat, wanting to get this over and done with so I can go about my day.

His eyes shoot up, dropping the transcript down on the table, and moving forward in his chair. It causes the embellished gold crown with rubies welded to it to slip forward. He pushes it back, his green glaring eyes boring into me.

You’re late. I sent for you an hour ago.

Blame Melrose, the servants have only just finished dressing me. His expression hardens, as he rubs his forefinger and thumb together, it’s a tell, something he does when he’s trying to restrain his anger. He rubs them in circles when he’s stressed.

I have something I have to discuss with you. I fight the urge to roll my eyes, he needn’t bother speaking at all, he’s told me on many occasions since the attempt on my life that I shouldn’t leave the palace and I’m starting to get sick of hearing it. So sick in fact, that last week I took my horse on a ride on the outskirts of the palace walls, the King’s guard found me within ten minutes and dragged me back. To say he was angry would be an understatement, his face was beetroot with rage by the time I had been taken to his chambers.

Father if this is about what happened last week….

I do not want to discuss what happened again Maxwell. You were being dull witted and impulsive. It’s a wonder I don’t chain you to the door of your chambers for your own safety.

I cannot stay within these walls. I want to resume my normal duties of training the young knights and taking trips into the citadel, I protest.

You are making yourself a target.

I have the guard.

Which you managed to fool. I won’t have it Maximus, his slams his fist down on the table with a thud, before glaring at me through his prosthetic eye. From afar you wouldn’t notice, but up close you can see how it shines in the sun and how even though they are almost identical in colour, his real eye is a more prominent green.

I have yet to know the story of how he lost his eye, I’ve asked him a dozen of times and every time he makes an excuse as to why he can’t tell me. You are my only son, Maxwell and the only heir to Meridian.

You have Evangeline. His eyes darken. You and I both know a girl would never handle the running of a kingdom. Besides your sister is not of age and she is already promised to the King of Caldwell’s son, Thierry. Fire burns in my lungs when I think of the fool my father had promised Eva too, he is 18 now and she is only 6. They will get married in ten years time on the evening of the day she was born.

We have enemies Maxwell. People who wish to see this Kingdom burn.

I was going for a ride on my horse, father. I had my sword with me, I would have been in no harm. He straightens, clearing his throat.

I will allow you to carry on your normal duties. I would be happy if I wasn’t so suspicious. But you will not be alone.

I furrow my brows. What do you mean?.

Send in sun, he says to one of the servants who scurries away. Sun?.

Maxwell, I cannot guarantee that you will not keep trying to fool the knights so you have left me with no choice.

I only realise what he means when a girl walks in. She had dark brown eyes, and thick bushy brows. Her dark brown hair is wrapped in a large bun that sits on top of her head. She’s twice, almost three times the size of any girl I’ve ever seen. Who is this elephant?, I mutter. He sends a stern look my way. This is Sun, you’re Oksana.

You can’t be serious. Oksana’s in our language is what we call royal protector. Unlike the king’s guard an Oksana, is a constant companion. They are with you for every second of the day. I look at the frumpy girl he’s pushed in here with disapproval. Despite her carrying more weight than I thought humanely possible she is pretty, with long lashes, and a haunting look about her. Her face is stoic, her eyes impassive. She doesn’t look afraid, she should be. I will not. She is a girl.

She is off age. She’s the best we have.

I doubt a woman can do what a man can.

She has the necessary training. I scoff. There is no way this girl is fit enough to serve as my Oksana. It will be me protecting her. The first sign of trouble and she will cower, I spit.

She is Spasitel’s daughter. I gasp in shock, averting my eyes back to her and scanning her features with much more precision. It’s only then I realise the resemblance. She has his eyes. Spasitel’s was my father’s Oksana, he was the best fighter we had before he was killed in the night of Shira, a battle between Meridian and Avalon, a small neighbouring Kingdom. I knew Spasitel well and he never spoke of having any children.

It doesn’t matter. She is still a girl.

She has been training since she was a new born. No other fighters have that level of training or the likes of Spasitel as a trainer.

She is….. I search for the word for use. We do not have a word for women that are larger in the kingdom as they are so rare. She looks lazy.

I can assure you I would not give you an Oksana who is incapable. This is not up for discussion Maxwell, he barks.

I grit my teeth together. A woman father. People will talk.

She will where the proper uniform, no one will talk.

For how long?, I ask, doing well to hide the desperation in my voice. Until the threat of you has been eliminated, he mumbles, and I huff in my chair. That could be weeks, even months and he knows it. He’s doing this to punish me for being so defiant. I look at her and for the first time she looks at me, I narrow my eyes together. She may be Spasitel’s child, but that doesn’t mistake the fact she isn’t a man. I will not be made a fool of, and if I have to, for the sake of my image, I will kill her.

Arrogance of a Prince

I didn’t expect the King’s son, the prince and the heir to the Meridian throne to be so handsome. I wanted him to be ugly because of all the horrible things I’ve heard about him. That he is arrogant and big headed and relies on his servants for everything. He stays up in those safe walls of the Palace his whole life, he’s got no idea about the dangerous world that lives on the other side of it. There is a word the local people use for the pompous Prince, Dioth, which