The evening sun receded as Justin stepped out of the mausoleum where King Alexander was sleeping eternally. He had not seen time pass as he wiped a tear in the corner of his eye. He tread slowly as he walked back home. He was all alone now, fatherless and motherless. But some people had it worse. He stopped looking downwards and put on a straight face. Shadows started looming along the castle’s walls and Justin looked at the unlit entrance. He noticed something flicker in the fraction of a second and froze.

“Who goes there?” he asked. 

No answer. It could be an animal. Still, a shiver had rolled down his spine and he placed his hands around his arms. He fastened the pace until he reached the entrance. He loosened his arms and sighed before turning around to look at his father’s final resting place. What he saw instead made his heart skip a beat. A caped figure held a dagger above him and made its move. Justin grabbed the attacker’s wrist as his heart raced. The assassin pressed forward, hell-bent on killing him. The struggle was real and Justin held back the assassin’s dagger for dear life. But the clanking of metal in the distance surprised both him and the killer. They paused for one second until the assassin tried to break free.

“Guards!” shouted Justin.

“Let me go!” hissed the assassin.

Justin stared at the assassin with surprise. It was a woman’s voice. But he held on firmly to her wrist in spite of her desperation. The clanking became faster and louder. 

“King Justin!” exclaimed the guards.

Two guards bolted towards the king and grabbed the assassin. One of them tossed away her dagger while the other forced her on her knees and pulled off her cape. Strands of long blonde hair fell loosely on her face and she lifted a cold blue gaze at Justin. 

“Speak now! Who sends you?” Justin asked. 

The female assassin kept her lips shut tight and stared at him without flinching.

“Send her to jail for questioning,” he said.

***

Moonlight now reflected on the cold gray stone of Istus castle. Not a sound could be heard in the city. But Justin sat on the edge of his bed and had not even bothered to dress accordingly for the night. He closed his eyes, but his thoughts would not stop rushing in his head. Who could have sent an assassin? And why? Justin opened his eyes slowly and stood up. He walked back and forth in his room before stopping by a tall window to gaze at the blue moon.