Delvin Barnett

Regicide

In all my years of living in this grand palace filled with pretty things from jewels to people, I can honestly say that the thing I would miss the most before my timely death at the hands of those who dare to share my blood..is the pork. As a king, no service was denied me, whether it be a kiss from a fair maiden before her wedding vows or the blood of a fool who dared aim a strike at a defenseless child in my presence but I can honestly acclaim to the fact that I have never disgraced neither bride nor groom upon such a day or have I had to string up a child beater for such a cowardly act, but I could never resist Annie the cook masters slow-roasted pork rump sprinkled with winter herbs and potatoes cook in the fact. The smell is what hits first before the beautiful piece of cooked pig flesh reaches the table am already salivating like my hunting dogs who are always at my feet, they can't resist the pork either and I say with no guilt that I don't shy on feeding them morsels from my plate…but not this day no this day it was all for me. I can not fault my murders for the use of my favorite dish to deliver them their desired outcome for the night; in all honesty, if they didn't use such a method I would be rather disappointed for I taught them to never waste a good opportunity to advance in life, though I never suspect that they would adhere to such teachings so strongly. Yes, in a way you could say that I played a valuable part in the orchestration of my demise, for I am the one who drove my "family" to such drastic measures; for you see as long as my bloodline has sat upon the throne of this kingdom we who rule have always indulged to the fullest in the privileges that such titles as "King", or "Baron" have afforded us. From taking a poor peasant's wife to bed for not paying their taxes promptly, to becoming a drunken boar during a feast and shaming the family line in front of visiting foreign dignitaries. Yes, the Blackburns have truly drowned in the sweet triple concoction nectar that is self-importance, arrogance, and narcissism that is until I came along. My ascension to the throne was not some grand crusade of smashing my rivals under the hoofs of a marching host of warriors ready to die at my command, no nothing so grand. Nor was it a war of subterfuge and intrigue no my father god rest his soul for his was a just man even if he was unflinching in his opinion of how things should be run came down with the bloody flux; a nasty disease that caused blood to slowly flood the lungs or so I am told. It took him and my older brothers to an early grave thus leaving me as the only heir, now of course I had uncles and cousins older than me of lesser lines who could potentially sit upon the throne but my father had prepared encase an untimely demise came to him before he could properly pass the crown. He set up a system that all but ensured my placement upon the throne. I was eighteen winters with barely any stubble upon my chin when I was crowned lord of the lands and set about learning what it would take to rule this kingdom, rule does not mean the same as; advance for the term "why fix what is not broken" was a popular one amongst the nobles of my home and why wouldn't it? They enjoyed all the delights of privileged living at the expense of those under their supposed care and nurturing. So when I began my changing of laws and policies they were appalled by my brazen actions, it was quite funny to see the way their haughty faces twisted and scrunched whenever I snatched away a juicy morsel of land or right of action from them and gave upon someone more favorable. Yes in just a few short years I had completely turned the long-lasting traditions and favored treatment up the upper-class upside down like a buxom tavern whore who had just landed a big fish into her bed, and now they are going to kill me for it. Took them long enough quiet honestly am pushing sixty winters now; my bones ache in the morning and more so at night. Truthfully I am not long for this world but I guess they were tired of twiddling their thumbs while I imposed more rules upon their already dwindling independence, impatient vultures; can't wait to start picking over the corpse that is this kingdom when I am dead and gone. We sit at the table now they are arrayed on either side of me while I sit at the head. The sight of them almost makes my gut turn sour, sitting there making idle conversation while sneaking glances at me as I chew and swallow the delicious pork Annie had prepared. Poor sweet Annie I will dearly miss her. Luckily I've already set aside some wealth and land for her to retire to when all this mess is done; no reason for her to get caught up in family business such as this. I dismissed my poison taster as well. The lad was barely thirteen and was quite smart for his age, orphaned at a young age by a nasty winter. I think sending him across the seas for his education will be a good thing. I plan on sending Hugo and Dugo my hounds with him because they could not follow me on my final journey. I raised the two hounds from pups and they are almost as old as me but still have a puppy's energy to them; they enjoy the boy's company and I feel that they would protect him with their lives if the need called for it. Hopefully, it won't. I can feel it working now, my breathing is starting to slow and a tingling sensation is radiating up my fingertips, I see my cousin Derrick looking all too eager at me but he quickly averts his eyes when I stare at him the coward; he could never fight fairly he was braggart and womanizer who more than once had to be beaten within an inch of his life for the punishment of harming a young lady. I would have rather slit the bastard's throat myself but unfortunately, it is uncouth to kill one's own family not that these degenerate sucking leeches care about such things. Well, it doesn't matter Derrick will get his very soon after I'm gone, I planned for such things like my father did oh yes every one of the bastards who thought that they concocted such a clever poisoning demise for one such as I would get they're just rewards for such an act after all Regicide is a sin against God almighty and they were all going to suffer the consequences. My vision is blurry now and I can barely make out what the others are saying, they seem to be making a fuss now looks like it's time. In that brief moment, I could not lie. I felt a small pang of fear for what would await me on the other side, would I see my father, mother, and siblings; would I see my beautiful wife and child was taken from me during childbirth? Or was an eternal torment awaiting me for I was no saint myself, I have done bloody things to protect my people and land from those who wished to take it; I have indulged in drink and food to excess amounts at times. Was that enough to consign my soul to punishment? Who knows but I do know though is that as the last dregs of my life slowly faded away I found the strength to speak my final words to them, the vultures, the leeches, my family "Poison is such a cowardly form dear relatives guards arrest them" And with a smile upon my pale lips I sat back as those who had killed me were dragged away kicking and screaming by my guards all but one. A young girl who was no older than twenty summers was led to my side. I raised a shaking hand to her cheek and wiped away the tears running down them, she had the same eyes as her mother; "dear child do not grieve for I leave everything to you daughter of mine" and with those final words I died a good death.