In case you missed it, here is the link to Chapter One: Homo Fuge, and here is the link to Chapter Two: What Happened After Sunrise

“Did he say anything?” I asked, not fighting the numb that seemed to take over my body and mind.

“He wished to have loved you better. But he is happy to return to your mother; he missed her.”

“Anything else?”

Tobias began to speak but someone banged a fist on the door. “Princess Kynder? Is everything okay in there?”

I checked to make sure I didn’t have any blood on my clothing and realized that my shoulder was covered in it. Tobias took one of my father’s cloaks that hung over the bedside table and handed it to me. I concealed the red stain and opened the door a crack. Nathan, the captain of the guard and one of my father’s most trusted advisors, stood at attention.

“Nathan, my father has been murdered. Please send messengers throughout the castle. There will be a funeral service the day after tomorrow. Also, please call a meeting of my father’s advisors and whoever was over the writing of his will. And find the undertaker.”

Nathan bowed and took the guards from the door with him. I began to feel a tightness across my temples and tried to ignore it. Tobias closed the door and led me to sit on the edge of the bed.

“Kynder, what are we going to do?” he kneeled so that he was looking up to me.

“You’ll be crowned king at a coronation ceremony exactly one month after my father’s funeral. During that month you’ll be briefed on all the information that you’re now privy to as king. You’ll go through some basic skills training- speech giving, law making, how to act among the ‘commoners’, and-”

“That’s not what I was talking about, although that’s helpful to know. I meant in the next few days.”

“I’ll have my father’s body prepared for a funeral, which will take place the day after tomorrow. One of my father’s advisors will be in charge of that. The day after the funeral, there will be a small ceremony of sorts for the reading of his will. And, of course, during this time Nathan and his men will be trying to figure out who killed my father and if this ‘Homo Fuge’ on my hand is related to his death in any way.”

“If someone killed your father, wouldn’t it follow that they want to kill you as well?”

“Yes, but you’re the one I’m more concerned about. Even though I’m the princess, you’re the king, now. Even though it’s possible that I’m the next target, you’re the more likely figure.” I felt the keys brush against my leg and slipped them from my wrist. “These are yours.”

He wiped the blood from them and hung the chain on his neck. Nathan knocked and entered, removing his own key and closing the door behind him. He bowed to Tobias, acknowledging his new king, then turned to me.

“Your instructions have been followed. Your father’s advisors are in their meeting room. The undertaker is outside the door.”

I nodded and walked to exit the room, followed by Nathan and Tobias. “Thank you, Nathan. I will accompany Tobias to the meeting. Please stay with the undertaker unless you have more pressing matters to attend to.”

He nodded and bowed as we left the room, passing by the undertaker. He was a tall, thin man with “Homo Fuge” on his palm.

“Your palm…” my voice trailed off.

He quickly clenched his hand, pressing his lips together in a frustrated line. “It happened last night.”