I can’t remember when I first realized what I planned to do. It wasn’t when I first learned of the death of our king, nor when I learned his killer had imprisoned the queen. Maybe it was when I learned that the scum had claimed the throne and started raising taxes. Might have even been when he started peace talks with our long time enemy to the north.

All I know for sure, it didn’t take long to decide that this usurper was evil. Like any evil-doer, he had to be brought to justice. And I was going to do my best to make sure that happened.

My mission, of course, was not going to be an easy one. I was just a country boy. But that didn’t matter to me. All that mattered was getting there, and getting the job done. I could figure out the rest as I went along.

My journey began two months after the new king, Marcus, took the throne. My parents had just been forced to sell part of our land due to the increase in taxes. Father was heartbroken- The farm had been in his family for five generations. We had worked hard to keep it as successful as it had been. Mother was equally upset- Along with the land, we’d had to sell some animals, including her favorite horse. She had raised it from an orphaned foal.

I could hardly stand it. If these new taxes were hurting farmers so badly, what were they doing to those without enough to make ends meet as it was? The poorest of the poor folks, the single parents, the homeless- All of them had to be on their last legs after two months of this nonsense.

“Ma, Pa, I can’t sit idly by and watch this… This monster destroy our kingdom. I’ve got to do something,” I told them at breakfast one morning.

“Eli, dear, what can you do? You’re just a country boy- You don’t have the training to fight a power-mad king!” My mother protested. “Best to just stay here and let the nobles handle it.”

“Nonsense, love. The boy’s passionate- The nobles will need strong arms and hands. They can only do so much with money, and that’s only if they have much left with this Marcus fella taxing everyone blind. Elliot, you do what you need to, boy. You’re 18 now, you an make your own decisions. I’ll help much as I can with provisions, but… You’ll be on your own heading to the capital. Can’t rightly leave you Ma and the farm here alone.” Pa always was the sensible one. Ma thought too much with her heart, not her head. Pa could get emotional, but he was careful to think before he acted or spoke. That’s how he kept the farm running so well for all these years.

I nodded my appreciation to Pa, and smiled to Ma. “I’ll be fine, Ma. I can handle myself, and I’m sure whoever I join up with along the way will teach me anything I need to know. Don’t worry about me.”

“Oh, my baby boy, all grown and taking on his own journeys as a man!” Ma was nearly in tears. I couldn’t tell if she was sad I was an adult now, or happy. It might have been a bit of both, thinking about it.

It only took a couple days to get myself around and for Pa to get me some provisions packed. Once that was done and my goodbyes were said, I set off for the capital. The roads were clear, weather was nice, and the only blight on my trip that I could see was the man sitting on the throne.

If only I knew how much more vile the man could be than I already suspected. In the coming days, conversations with folks along the route to the capital would reveal new injustices. This was only the beginning.

—————–

“Marcus, perhaps you should slow down on these reforms? A number of people already think poorly of you. You will only get yourself killed should you continue at this pace,” an older man lectured to a young one. The young man wore nice but worn clothing, his light brown hair well maintained and his bright green eyes clear and steady as they gazed out a window.

“I cannot. If I do not get these changes made quickly, people will never begin to see what I am doing. Everything must be in place quickly, or all of this risks failure… Whether I am killed or overthrown, or left to rule.” The voice coming from the young man was light, calm, and steady. Even given a possible threat to his life, it was clear he was a man on a mission. The older man sighed and walked over, placing a hand on Marcus’ shoulder lightly.

“My boy, you are young and strong. You will throw your life away for this plan of yours. Is that what you want?”

“I want to succeed, Lord Edward. If I die in the process, then so be it,” Marcus replied simply. “This is simply the next step- And I will face any challenges as I take it with courage, strength, and skill.”

“If you insist, your majesty… Though I still think this will end in ruin, you already know you have my full support,” The older man sighed. “You always were stubborn once you’d set your mind, even as a toddler.”

“Now to see if that stubbornness is a gift or a curse,” Marcus replied, favoring the older man with a small smile.