Dullahan: The Headless Knight

Part 2

The hour was late and all were tired, but they were summoned one last time before the day had passed. Princess Sasha stood next to a villager. She was battered and bruised, and was covered by the royal robe of Felix's Kingdom, that robe belonged to the princess.

“It's alright, tell him what you told me,” Sasha said.

“It happened so quickly . . . but those bandits attacked us, they gave no warnings or requests, they were there simply to butcher us. My family and my home, were all either killed or burned down with the reminder of the village.”

The King sighed deeply, sitting on his throne. “What is your name?”

“Lia of Wynkester, my lord.” She wiped the sweat off of her forehead.

“Wynkester?” the King repeated. “But Wynkester does not lie in my kingdom, have you spoken to your lord about this?”

“He would not listen to us. He is too busy fighting in the north, so to allocate a patrol to come and save us would cost him dearly. He left us be . . .” Lia said before her words stuttered. She began to choke up. “You are our last hope, my lord.”

The King's eyes darted back and forth and he began to tap the edge of the throne with his fingers. He sighed. “Allocating a force to deal with these bandits is no problem,” he said. “However, doing so would be perceived as an act of war. That is something I cannot risk—”

“Father!” Sasha interrupted, taking a few steps ahead. “We are to sit idle while they get butchered? And you call yourself King!”

Whatever emotions brew on Felix's face, they faded away in an instant. He locked his gaze with his daughter and leaned back in his chair. “Hold your tongue.”

“My liege, perhaps there is an alternative—”

“Silence!” the King interrupted Roger. He turned his face toward him. “My decision is final. That will be the end of it. See to it that our guest here is taken care of until the break of dawn. Tomorrow she is to go back where she came from.” Felix said before he began to descend.

Roger faced a couple of guards that stood next to them and nodded.

The guards moved toward the girl and placed their hands gently on her. She frowned as she gazed upon the King who had let them down. She couldn't help but feel that they were forgotten as she burst into tears.

“Roger, wait,” Sasha said. She stepped close to her and lifted her chin up. “I promise you, we'll figure it out, okay?” she said to the women.

Sasha then stood up and turned to face her father. “I'll walk her out myself, if that is okay with you,” she said as she gazed upon his eyes.

Felix didn't make much of it and made his way back to the corridor, he ignored Sasha as much as he could, lest his anger get the better of his judgment. He was truly in a position where he couldn't help. The thought of starting another war would cause more lives than the ones he would save in the first place. None would envy him at times like this. Felix was a good person at heart.

It wasn't long before he reached his chambers; he turned toward the guards accompanying him. “Thank you.” H retired on his bed. He closed his eyes and had trouble sleeping with his thoughts haunting him. It was the right thing to do he wondered and gently whispered to himself. I promised you to be just, and that is what I will become.

***

It was in the dead of the night, when the doors of the King's room were barged open. The sound shook his chambers and broke him free from the world of dreams. He jumped out of bed panting heavily. “What is the meaning of this?” he cried before he squinted his eyes to make the details of a few guards accompanying Roger.

“My liege, Sasha did not return,” Roger said.

“What!” the King spat as he got on his feet. “What do you mean she did not return.”

“She showed that girl out, and insisted to be left alone with her, by the time the guards realized it, she was already gone, my liege.”

The King's face heated, and rivaled the absent sun. He balled his hands into fists. “Get every knight available at once; she must've gone for that damned village after all.” He shouted and then rushed outside.

“My lord,” Roger pleaded but to no avail, the King would just not hear him. Roger grabbed the King's left arm. “Felix, would you listen to me?” Roger grabbed the King's arm.

The King's gaze fell upon the arm that grabbed him and then strolled his eyes towards Roger. “I have not the time, surely you will understand.”

“No, I do not understand. This is exactly why Sasha ran away, it is because you refuse to listen to anyone but yourself.”

“Careful, Roger,” the King said as his tone turned sour. “You are a dear friend of mine, but alas, that will only protect you for so long.”

“I mean no harm Felix, but you were right before, there must be a better way than to instigate a war with a neighboring kingdom . . .”

“She is my daughter!”

“I will not judge you; nor will I tell you that you're wrong” Roger said before he paused. He took a deep breath and swallowed. “But you know what this will bring; you remember the oath that you heard during the old war . . . that cursed soul that stalks your lands waiting for you to slip up . . . a headless knight, that does speak nor pause to reason.”

“For your sake, I pray that you keep your mouth shut before I do something I truly regret!”

The King ignored the cries of his friend and made way to the court. He gave the command, and for the first time since the old war ended, the bells rang clear and loud waking all of those who slept.