The sound of footsteps echoed through the vast hallway but the thudding of my heart drowned them out. Two guards stood either side of me, gripping my arms as if their goal was to break bone, as they occasionally poked my with the tip of a sword if I slowed down. My blood dripped onto the marble floor, staining the purity of the white below our feet.

Rage clogged within my throat. Nothing could calm my bitter determination.

We turned a right and passed through a gaudy set of doors which stood at an unnecesary ten feet. Paintings and statues lined every wall, all labelled with long paragraphs written in gold ink. I didn’t need to be able to read to tell that they were listing every valiant, noble or small selfless act that the art displayed. I scowled. Many weren’t signed, meaning they were the handiwork of slaves.

Finally, we entered a smaller room, with simple wooden doors. There he sat peacefully. Quill in hand, scratching at a piece of parchment on his desk. He wore extravagant clothing, dyed an emerald green, gold thread stitching together every seem. I felt sick.

Elias. My old friend.

One of the guards pushed me forward, announcing, “My lord, you have a visitor.” I grit my teeth. Whatever he said now would dertemine if I would kill him or not.

He stood, ever so slowly and calmly. He still hadn’t looked at me. When he did, his expression was blank and unreadable.

Looking me up and down, he spoke, voice low and smooth. “Who are you?” - those were the hardest three words to hear in my life.

Rage roared within me and I lashed out, trying to break from the guard’s grip, screaming, “You bastard!” I almost got a hand free when they snatched it back, pressing a sword to my throat. “Our clan are dead because of you!”

“Our clan?” The Lord, Elias, asked quietly.

“You betrayed me! You left me for dead!” I spat at his feet. “And whilst you were getting fame and glory, they came and slaughtered our only family! You ruined my life! And you don’t even remember my name.”

He waved a dismissive hand, no guild evident in his face, merely frustration. “Take her away.”

I lashed out once more, managing to disarm the sword from a guards hand and kick the other in the stomach, freeing myself. Pouncing, I jumped over the desk which separated my from him, and grabbed the collar of his tunic, lifting him from the floor. I pulled my face closer to his, narrowing my eyes. The guards made a move to intervene but the lord raised a hand to stop them.

“Who are you?” He whispered looking me straight in the eyes.

I had had enough. “I’m the one who kills the lord for betraying their loyal friend!” Suddenly, I clamped my hand around his throat and squeezed it tight. “It’s a shame, Elias, you could never remember anything to save your life.”

“Wait!” He croaked, desperately trying to draw in breath. I let go reluctantly, throwing him on the floor. Dropping to his knees, he coughed, saliva and blood leaving his lips to stain the carpet. “Ryn, is that you?”

(Don’t worry, there’s a part 2!) :)