King Eric looked at Becca with sad eyes; he could tell she was trying to save her brother's life. Of what use would it be to the kingdom for her to save the life of that weakling?
If she were to marry the barbarian prince, then maybe she would have a chance to regain the honor of their kingdom and save her people. King Eric thought sadly.
"Dead? When did she die?" King Robin asked, eyeing Becca suspiciously.
"Had you not been too busy planning on launching an attack on people who mean you no harm, you would have known the kingdom was grieving their dead princess," Becca said, looking at him hatefully.
"Please don't kill my son, do not wipe out my entire generation. Please show me mercy," King Eric pleaded, making Becca despise the barbarian King more as she heard him roar with laughter.
"I will burn your kingdom to the ground, and I will take your women and children as my slaves. I will take your jewelries and weapons as my spoils of war. I will take your horses and oxen, and I will behead you," King Robin said boastfully.
"However, because you have begged me for mercy, I will take your son with me. He will serve my brother instead of his sister, who would have been his bride," He said with a grin at Becca, revealing his crooked and dirty teeth.
"You better kill me today, or else I will murder your brother in his sleep if you take me to him, and I will kill you afterward," Becca threatened, making him laugh some more.
"I like the lad. It would be my pleasure to have you kill that brother of mine," He said, laughing hard. She missed the slight change in his eyes, and before she knew it, her father's head was on the ground.
"Father!" She cried in anguish.
"Burn down the village and bring every woman and child along with you," He said before wiping the blood on his sword on King Eric's clothes.
"I, King Robin, is now your Lord and King," He said before seizing Becca by the collar of her embroidered tunic and dragging her outside.
"What about the castle milord?" One of the men asked.
"Search every corner and kill everyone in it. But leave it standing for history's sake. I want it to be known that this was once a kingdom which was conquered by me," He said without turning around.
*************
"I heard about your father's death. Accept my deepest condolences," Charles, who was Ian's best friend, said to him over a glass of ale.
"Thank you, my friend. He was pretty frail and old, so it was expected, I suppose," Prince Ian said to him with a light shrug.
He had traveled for days to get here to see his friend. He needed a little break from the affairs of the palace and his hateful brother's presence.
"I take it Robin is now King?" Charles asked, looking at Ian curiously.
"You know he always wanted to be king. I can only pray that he has the wisdom to rule," Prince Ian said and gulped down a glass of ale.
"How far do you intend to travel this time? Especially as your father is no longer around to hold you back?" Charles asked, watching him keenly.
"You know my father never held me back. It is my mother who I'm worried about. I'm even more worried now that my father is gone," Prince Ian said before running his fingers through his long blonde hair.
"I was going to tell you this. I don't think this is the right time to travel. You need to be at the palace until things settle down fully, and you're sure your brother won't make a mess of things," Charles said with a sigh.
"I'll hang around here a couple of days. You know how restless I can be. I'll return in a few days."
Just then, one of Charles' servants came and bent to whisper something into his ears. He turned to look at Ian immediately.
"What is wrong?" Prince Ian asked in alarm. He could tell the news wasn't good.
"There is news from the merchants that your brother has attacked the kingdom across the southern border yesterday. News has it that he beheaded their king," Charles announced sadly.