In every new generation some of the great shall rise, and some of the greater shall fall.

~ Sebastian ~

        Drip.... Drip..... Drip..... Drip..... The warmth of the blood dripped down into the purity of the white snow. At its touch the snow sunk deeper to the forest floor melting away its innocence.

        A body hung by its feet from the sturdy oaks branches. The lone tree stood dead in center of the clearing with nothing for twenty paces away. It's position was one to be made known.

        I squinted my eyes and peered up at the body. Its face appeared blurry, white washed and unclear. The bodies hands were bound behind the back, twisted and bent unnaturally as if the bones had been broken.

        A black crows screech echoed through the dead silence of the forest. I looked over my shoulder to see where my companion was located. His black beating wings brought him swooping through the branches to where I stood. He landed in the tree across the clearing and his brilliant blue eyes were watching.

        "Hello old friend," I said greeting him like I did every night we met.

        Caw-caw.

        "Do you know who this is, Galanos?" I pointed up to the tree and spoke to him. His reply was with another ear piercing screech as he flew to a branch that was closer.

        I shook my head and looked back to the body. I could not explain why I could not make out this mans face. Physically the body was there, yet mentally I could not make out the features.

        The blood kept dripping. With each drop it sounded louder than the past. Drip. Drip. Drip. I focused my eyes on the source in which the blood flow dripped from. It was the bodies neck that was slit open with various marks.
        From that wound the blood trickled down the length of the neck and up the face, dripping from the hair.

        I stepped underneath the dead body to try and get a better look at the face. Galanos let out a warning call diving at me trying to get me away.

        "Galanos," I shouted and waved my hands wildly around to deflect away his sharp beak and claws. A sudden warmth of liquid hit my cheek distracting me from him. I brought my hand up touching the sticky substance of blood, then another drop came only this time on my forehead.

        It was hard to ignore as more blood rained down on my face but I needed to see who this was... yet this person wore no face.

        Galanos now screamed from a branch above the body, his blue eyes widened in fear and anxiety of what would be revealed.

        My eyes traveled to the trees base where a rope was tied off. I drew my sword cutting cleanly through the twine, and let the body drop heavily to the ground.

        Slowly I rolled the swollen body over onto it's back noticing its beard. I sighed in frustration. I did not have much time in these woods, and Galanos's cries for attention were not helping my patience.

        Do you know how many men in the court have beards? I stood rubbing the back of my neck angry. How was it to be of use?

        A loud snap sounded behind me.  

        Caw-caw.

        Galanos circled me from ahead, something wasn't right.

        "Who's there?" I called out tightening my grip on my sword. There was more than one person, I could tell by the vacant sound of the fallen leaves crunching. Whoever it was, they were circling me.

        A rustle sounded close behind and I twisted around ready to strike until a jolt of pain exploded in my stomach. I gasped trying to catch my breath as I lost what grip I had on my sword.

        The blade burrowed itself deeper into my torso as hot breath whispered a foreign message into my ear, "مع دم الأخوين سوف تأتي لنا."

~

        My lungs gasped for air as I sat upright pulling back the covers clasping my hand over my stomach. I breathed heavily looking around, birds could be heard chirping in the early dawn light. I was back in the castle, back in my luxurious room, back bound to the life of being second choice.

        I rubbed a hand over my neck where I had felt the hot breath of my assailant whispering the words of a language I did not know. Slowly regaining my sanity I moved to get up and heard a soft groan of protest. With urgency to speak to my father I swung my feet over the side looking for my shirt I had worn last night.

        "Bass don't go..." her voice was groggy from sleep, slowly she reached out her arm trailing her fingertips along my bare back.

        Immediately I stood gathering my white cotton shirt pulling it down over my head. She was an easy distraction for any man in the palace. It only took one lingering stare and a passing whisper in their ear before she had them doing whatever it was she said.

        "Bass, please for once be a gentleman and keep a lady company for more than one night," she whined as she propped herself up on her elbow.

        It was a tempting offer that most men of the court would not pass up, but grudgingly I had to... looking down at her small figure in the large bed a small smirk crept across my lips.

        "You know well love, that I have my duties," I said laying back on the bed, my head resting on her stomach.

        She ran her fingertips through my black hair gazing admiringly down into my sea blue eyes, "Though," her words were an inviting whisper, "I thought you were the rebellious son who didn't have a care for his father's orders...."

        "Sarah," I pulled her hand away from my face as she started to trace along my jawline. "Love, do not mistake my leaving as one for following my father. It is for something else that I can not speak of."

        No one in the court knew of my precognition other than my father Durante, King of France. Though I may be the oldest I was not in line for the throne do to my lack of pure blood.... So my father allowed me to go off and do what I wanted having no restrictions unlike my younger half-brother, Deveron.  

        "Fine, I'll just find someone else. Someone more of a man than you," Sarah said simply as I sat up pulling on leather boots. I knew it was her jealousy act to make me stay, but in all honesty there were plenty of other women in the court who were available to me.

        I stood collecting my jacket from the chair along with my scabbard, "I expect you will love, now enjoy the rest of your day."

        Those words were what I departed with as I walked out leaving the door ajar as a silent motivation for her to get out of my room before the maids came around.

        My pace was brisk and when I passed every door my head jerked in its direction to see where exactly my father was. The tapestries hung brightly from each side of the halls showing symbols of past rulers and battles won. One day, I'd have one of my own hanging on the wall leaving my mark.

        On the marble floor my boots echoed with each step. Where was everyone? I let my left hand rest casually on the hilt of my sword trying to slow my gaining heart rate.

        You're not in danger Bass, you're fine.... Most are probably in the dining hall for breakfast. It was hard to not feel overbearing when France was getting threats of war from Spain. Our country had materials and money, but lacked armed soldiers.

        Laughter shook me from my thoughts. It was a bellow of a laughter that could not be mistaken as anyones but my fathers. I turned down the East hallway that led to the dining hall.

        Two guards were posted outside in chain linked metal armor, arms hung tense by their sides. I nodded to them as I passed by and pushed open both hall doors to make my entrance known.

        To my surprise it was Deveron and father fighting with wooden swords. Both were on the table swinging and lunging at each others open figures. The candles were burning giving off a glow casting their larger that life shadows onto the stone walls.

        Deveron saw me and lowered his sword only to be kicked square in the chest down off the table onto the white washed floor by father. Father held up his fist in victory and jumped down off the table still having not seen me.

        Aggravated at his lack of senses I cleared my throat, "Father?"

        At his name he looked over his shoulder smiling, "Ah, there's my boy Sebastian. What do you say you and I have a round?" he tossed me his wooden sword.

        I caught it with ease watching as Deveron got up brushing himself off. Anyone could tell he how he felt towards me, we had our brotherly moments but most of our relationship was filled with bitterness fighting for our fathers praises.

        "Wooden swords are for child's play," I said laying the training sword down upon the table knowing Deveron would burn with hatred at being called what he really was, a child.

        Father chuckled in agreement, "You're most certainly right son. I like to hear the sound of cockiness when we're nearing war."

        "We can not rush this war father, what weapons we have would not break past first lines." Deveron stepped forward, his voice even with hidden authority.

        "Of course little brother," I said challenging his gaze my voice raisin. "Why don't we sit back waiting for the Queen of Italy, who may never arrive and watch Spain come slaughter us all? When I could be out there gathering and training our men."

        "Enough of this nonsense," hissed Vivian who came from the servants door across the hall. She walked with confidence, too much confidence, and held a gray stare that seemed to steal your soul.

        Her dark purple silk dress skimmed the floors while jewelry cloaked her pale skin. She was the Queen who my father married though did not love at night. It was no secret, everyone in the court knew of my fathers affairs.

        Deveron turned to his mother who nodded for him to leave. As he left he met my eyes and then adverted them just as quickly.

        "Father may I have a word with you – alone?" I asked nodding my head to doors behind me resting my hand back on the hilt of my sword.

        He saw the brief importance of the matter in my eyes and nodded knowing I had saw something, "Of course son."

Before I could follow him out the door Vivian gripped my forearm calling out to my father, "He'll be along in a minute Durante."

        "My chambers," he said closing the doors behind him.

        As soon as my father had left the room I roughly pulled my arm out of her grip.

        "You'll do well not to touch me," I warned her, these past weeks she had been putting her nose where it hadn't belonged and my biggest fear was that my precognition would be found out by her. Only God knew what she'd do if she ever found out.

        "And you seem to forget who really runs this palace Sebastian," she said and stepped closer to me, her pinned up curls swayed with the motion.

        I matched her steps backing away feeling the cold smooth surface of a pillar press into my back. This woman radiated darkness and I was here alone with her. The grip I held on the hilt of my sword tightened as she further approached.

        She reached out to adjust my shirt then started to button the ones that had fallen open revealing my chest. I tensed at her touch and Vivian noticed the change looking up with a smug look.

        "Does this bother you?" she asked as she clasped the last button.

        I hit her hand away narrowing my gaze.

        "I'll take that as a yes," she stepped away crossing her arms. "Why must you speak to Durante?"

        "He's my father," I shrugged ready to leave until her words made me stop.

        "It would be a shame if people found out about last night, hmm?"

        "What do you know?" I looked over my shoulder to her, how could she know anything?

        "I know that Sarah is now to be married in a weeks time and I happened to see her coming out of your room this morning half dressed. Word travels fast, and if your father found out about you sleeping with a promised woman..." she shook her head. "Well lets just say your reputation will only become worse."

        "I do not fear you Vivian, therefore take your threats elsewhere," I started for the door again.

        "Make yourself scarce these next few days and last nights events will be overlooked," she said to my back as I stopped at the door hand resting on the handle.

        "If I do not?" my jaw clenched as I tried to control my anger.

        "Then I will make sure your life is a living nightmare," her voice was filled with contempt.

        I lost what control I had contained as I pulled my sword from its sheath. "It already is,"  I snarled turning on my heels striking downward, but she was gone.

        Confusion became of me, my blade had only met air when the blow, if had made contact, would have sliced through her torso. Slowly I overlooked the room, at least no one had seen my act of violence as I could easily have been charged with treason. Her words still echoed in around me, a living nightmare.... If only she knew how much it already was.