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THE KING'S HAND:

Second in command of the Kingdom, after the King.

Archives of History

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[GRAYDON COLLINS]

MY BREATHING was low, hollow, and shallow-paced whilst my vision crossed through the holes of my mask, but I was able to see my opponent. Standing with impeccable form as always, his deadly eyes set calmly on me.

I grinned through my mask.

"En garde!" I rasped, lunging forward to which he moved swiftly with each joust, the tingling of two metal parts ringing through the air as we glided down the Aluminium piste.

I swung my arm to which he parried my saber with ease, light on his feet as I resumed my position.

"Elegantly done, Master Graydon, the ladies of the Fang court would be proud," he mocked lowly.

"Gorgeous form Eldon, their mothers would consider you a gem," I scoffed back, lunging forward yet again, this time perfectly swinging all around.

In quick strides, a hand placed calmly behind my back, I treaded in rhythm to his, looking for that one opening I had noticed he had left out on the first try.

I finally scored, knocking his weapon out of his hand, and he tripped falling to the floor, the tip of my saber landing squarely in the center of his chest.

His eyes trailed down to it, then back up to me in surprise, chuckling lowly.

"You saw the opening," he grinned, taking off his mask, revealing his brown hair littered in grey strands tied up in a bun, with bushy eyebrows and a heavy beard.

I nodded, giving him a hand up as he tucked his mask beneath his arm, stepping back with a low bow, before looking back up at me, his eyes shining with pride.

"You will do well in Fang Court, Master Graydon."

I grinned at this, taking off my mask.

"Come on now, young Lord. It is important to rehydrate after every workout," Eldon reminded walking to the end of the room.

I nodded, running a hand through my thick locks of hair that tumbled in a curly mess, wiping my sweaty brow as we walked over to the guard in blue, standing still in a corner, with refreshments on a tray in his arms.

Eldon placed his mask and saber down, and I followed watching as he took the bottle, eyes trailing over the label.

"Blood Red wine. Type O," he commented, raising an eyebrow, "the finest."

He glanced over at me with a slight chuckle, before pouring down the thick red liquid into the wine glasses handing one over to me.

I took a sip, savoring the feel of it at the tip of my fangs. My immortal satisfied.

"Has there been any word from the High Lord and Duke about his endorsement?" Eldon asked as we settled down on the bench.

My eyes shifted down to the swishing of the liquid in my glass, gulping down the rest of it.

"I am yet to inquire," I replied.  "Father says the High Lord is a hard man to please," I grunted.

Eldon chuckled at this, "Of course, just as hard of a man as the King himself," he grunted looking back at me, "but they love each other dearly, and an endorsement from King's Brother will surely set you as the forerunner to becoming the new Kings Hand when the heir succeeds his father."

I nodded at this, quite aware of its importance.

"High Lord Valcon is indeed a man of..." he paused as if searching for the right word, "excellence, therefore naturally, his standards are quite hard to appease. However, if he journeyed here from his region with his family, it means his relationship with your father is as dear to him as it is possible for a man like him," he reasoned and I acknowledged this with a grunt, thinking it over.

"Father had said he and Lord Valcon had once shared the battlefield, in the Fang War."

Eldon nodded, his bushy eyebrows relaxing as if he knew something I had not, "many men build good relationships on a battlefield. Even men as hard as the Duke."

I nodded at this, about to speak further when the door of the training room opened and a red guard stiffly walked in, bowing low, "Master Graydon, Sir Eldon," he greeted per custom.

"State your matter," I replied, watching his face.

"His grace, High Lord and Duke Valcon, His high Lady, the Young Lord, and your father have returned. Lord Azrak requests your presence in the study immediately."

I paused at this, feeling a slight discomfort within me, knowing exactly why he sent for me.

"Thank you, Holden, I will be there momentarily," I replied.

He nodded, bowing low, before exiting the room.

I took a low breath out, before standing to my feet, Eldon chuckling, "You are worried boy, I can see it in your eyes," he grunted as I got up with a huff.

I rolled my eyes, "Of course I am worried," I huffed taking off my gloves, "his endorsement is needed if I am to qualify as a runner for the King's Hand."

"I find it amusing you doubt your worth," Eldon replied getting up to his feet. His firm hand landed on my shoulder, "besides the fact that you fought in the lost world, led legions of your troops to safety, won the tournaments of swords, and are the current champion of fencing, do you not know what they call me?" he asked.

"Sir Eldon," I muttered with a chuckle, "one of the greatest Knights of the Fang War," I replied with a heavy sigh, having repeated this to him before.

"Exactly, therefore you cannot fail boy. I trained you myself." He merely explained.

I chuckled at this and so did he, patting my shoulder, "There is no one in the kingdom more deserving of the title and no one who could live up to it as you can.  I have passed my wisdom, the wisdom of 3 lifetimes to you. There is good news awaiting you. Do not keep your father waiting."

I nodded slowly, taking my saber and my mask, before walking out the door, before leaving I saluted to the knight and he grinned raising a glass.

I turned away, a guard immediately tumbling after me the moment I left the room.

-------

After changing out of my Fencing attire, I stood outside my father's study straightening out my velvet coat as the Red Guard joined the other guard on his post at my father's door.

I knocked twice, my immortal's senses already picking up the sound of his gruff voice bidding me to come in.

Steadying myself, I opened the door, walking into my father's study. My eyes trailed over the wide finish discovering it to be empty except that of his lingering scent I had picked up.

His body was slightly hidden by the light curtains of the balcony.

"Join me, Graydon," he requested.

Grunting in reply, I moved toward the balcony taking my place at his side, glancing and glancing over at him momentarily.

His  side profile revealed the youth still in his face despite his many years, his hair sleekly laid back, jaw clean as he disliked keeping a beard per request of my mother.

My gaze trailed over the estate, past the evening that set upon us and into the foggy gardens. I could quite very well see the flowers and the trimmed hedges, despite the fading light, and red guards at every spot.

I could feel my father's eyes on the side of my face and I felt my undead heart clench, my fangs biting hard on my tongue, anticipating his disappointment.

"High Lord and Duke Valcon has agreed to endorse you in the race of the King's Hand."

I froze at this, turning to him surprised, and he grinned.

"It seems he has kept an eye on your accomplishments through the years, and the young Lord is a fan of your sword and saber skills," he added, pride radiating on his face, "it didn't take any negotiations for his endorsements, he made the trip to show his support for you."

I breathed out in relief, shaking my head unable to say anything more, and father chuckled, "did you doubt yourself? You are the son of Lord Azrak and Lady Catherine, True born of the house of Collin and the protégé of Sir Eldon himself. It is your birthright," he added, patting my back as I grinned widely.

I nodded at this, shaking my head, "I do not know what to say, I must express my gratitude to the Duke."

"Lord Valcon is well aware," Father chuckled, "you will be making the trip to the Fang Court in a day. Your mother will be happy to see you, and do not forget to send her my love," he replied.

"Of course, father, she would have both our heads on a silver platter, had I not," I grinned looking back down at him.

He nodded, his smile refusing to leave his face, "There is a dinner I have set to prepare tomorrow night before you leave. You can express your gratitude there."

I acknowledged this with a low grunt, bowing lowly, "Thank you father, I will take my leave-" I announced to which he nodded.

As I turned to leave walking away from the balcony intent on sharing the news with Eldon, he suddenly spoke up again, " oh, before I forget," he grunted, causing me to turn as he did, " there wasa Burner attack in Crescent," he began.

My eyebrows furrowed at this, taking a step back to him, 'A Burner? It must have been one. Surely A fleet cannot have traveled from the lost world to Crescent-" I grunted.

"Yes, only one," my father sighed, "but we can't be too sure about the damned, there is too much we do not know," he stated.

I nodded at this. I had my fair share of experiences with the damned, and they were certainly hard to kill.

"The girl," father continued, "was a Sworn who just turned twelve today."

Confusion spread through me, "A Burner for a Sworn? On the date of her turning?" I grunted out, piecing the two together-

"Indeed," father replied, "she must be fated to a True high born, therefore she currently resides in the west wing of the estate. She will be traveling to the West House Fang Court on the day you will. I trust that you will keep her safe, hence she will be riding with you, just in case of another Dammed attack," he replied.

I took this all by surprise. It had been five years since we had a Sworn in my father's region, and at least 8, since one was found to be sworn to a true highborn.

"Also," he began his eyes trailing up to me, "her strike has surfaced."

If I had been in a hole of confusion, I was now in a pit, "so soon? What was it?"

"She is a Blood Bender, and a Ripper," he huffed, shaking his head, "she's most definitely fated to a Trueborn."

"There hasn't been a Sworn with a strike like that since-" I stopped myself, leaving my sentence hanging.

"Yes, hence why she is special," he paused, looking at me, "it may be wise to see if she's sworn to you- "

I froze at this, my throat dry

"- keep her in the west wing, I do not want any disturbance or mischief as children are known to do. Our guest is of high importance," he replied in a gruff voice.

"Very well Father, I will keep an eye on her... and check," I added with a low gulp.

"Indeed,"

Bowing lowly, I exited the room.

-------

The air around me was stiff as I strode towards the west wing.

"Stay Mathew," I growled to the guard who moved to walk after me, taking quicker strides down the hallway alone, making my way to the west wing.

I was anxious to get there my heart thudding at the thought, or even the slightest possibility of finding my mate.

It was unfortunate that she was younger, but most Sworn found their mates before they hit fourteen. Of course, as law, I would have to wait for years to finally claim her, but that was nothing compared to the feeling of knowing exactly who your mate was and where she was at all times.

Slipping through the lightened halls of the west wing I reached my destination slowing down at the sight of a grey maid coming out of the room, a large empty tray in her hands.

Before I could catch a whiff of the scent inside, she closed the heavy double doors, almost dropping the trey when she turned around and saw me, her hands shaking, before bowing lowly,

"Master Graydon."

It was because she was human as all maids in grey were.  If she was a Fang she would have sensed my presence.  I nodded down at her, my jaw ticking.

"Is the Sworn in there?" I asked, glancing momentarily at the shut door.

"Indeed my Lord," she replied lowly, "I set the food on the table, she is fast asleep." She added.

I nodded at this and she bowed, moving down the hallway. I stared at the shut door for a moment. It would be so easy to open it and take a whiff just to see if she was mine, but I stopped shaking my head.

No matter the circumstances, such an action was improper.

Gritting my teeth I traveled back down the hallway, trying to stop myself from going back and relieving myself from the anticipation.

But I was well-trained in Patience.

I simply could not be impulsive about this, even if it was one of the only things excusable for a Fang to be impulsive over. 

I looked up, freezing when I saw the outline of a young boy standing in the middle of the hallway, doing nothing in particular, yet seemed to be searching.

I approached him to get a clearer view before finally stopping just as he turned to face me.

His dark forest green eyes raised to meet mine, brown locks falling to his shoulders, posture straight, dressed in a signature royal tunic decorated with embroidery, gold lacing, and the Fang symbol on the breastplate.

I immediately bowed lowly,

"Your Majesty, Lord Hunter," I breathed lowly, looking back up at the young lord and he grinned, his boyish face lighting up, green eyes turning into a soft hazel, as he smiled widely.

"It is you Lord Graydon," he replied, his tone posh and straight even for a boy of 4 years and a decade in human years.

I looked around for a moment before looking back down at the young lord, "is there something you are looking for in particular, my liege?" I asked respectfully.

He paused for a moment before shaking his head.

"I smelled something delicious; I must be hungry although I have already had my meal," he replied, "and please Lord Graydon, call me Hunter. I am quite in awe of your achievements in the lost world, and your skills in swordplay and Fencing." He confessed.

I chuckled at this moving closer to the young Lord.

"It is an honor to call royalty by name, I have found favor in your eyes, hence I thank you," I grunted with another bow before glancing up at him, "I suppose you have taken a fancy to these things?"

He nodded, "Indeed, Father says every Lord must be fluent in the language of the sword," he replied with a soft chuckle, "and whilst I first thought it was a punishment, I have grown to rather like it," he grinned for a second though his expression faltered, "though I-I am not as good as I would have hoped, not nearly as good as you either. It seems a sword or a saber does fit better in the hands of Vampires as we wolves aren't as quick on our feet," he finished.

"Not entirely," I chuckled along, "I shall tell you a secret Sir Eldon taught me, the one wolf that beat him in a dual,"

Hunter's eyebrows drew together seemingly invested, "in truth?" he asked seemingly curious but hesitant.

"He would not tell me of it until I bested him 300 times," I chuckled, "I suffered for it, so it must be."

He patiently awaited my explanation as I moved closer and we treaded back down the hallways to the East wing.

"It's all about the senses, my leige. True, we vampires have fast reflexes, strength, and super speed but Wolves are much stronger, and rare Arc Alpha Wolves such as yours are even stronger, their senses sharper than any other," I replied as we walked down the hallway- the young lord by my side, "the blade is not all about stance, it's about the strength of the hit, the bend of the sword, the swish of the air around the saber to indicate its next turn. All these things a Vampire must practice, but to a wolf, it comes naturally." I explained.

He looked at me seeming very invested, his hazel eyes turning to mine with a smirk, "teach me."

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Hey guys! It's the author here! Thanks for reading. If you're enjoying the book so far please leave me a comment and vote! Check out my other book,

MATED TO THE NIGHT WOLF

By the way, I was wondering if this chapter was clear. How old do you think Lord Hunter is?

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Word Count- 2888