“Adelhelm, I heard of your injury and great acts claiming lands for our king. Very admirable but at such a high cost.” Havadr sat beside the makeshift bed stroking his beard, his tone was filled with respect and worry.

“I don’t think the king will be pleased, will he?” Adelhelm was still very weak even though he had recovered.

“He is overshadowed by his father, not being able to attain any land by himself but has been a man stuck in that dark throne.” Havadr did not look at Adelhelm, “It does not matter what celebration he throws at this new claim, not how many times he calls the council, for he knows this is all you. You claimed the land, Your name is praised, You formed the council. He is a mere puppet in your game isn’t he?”

“I am a loyal servant if that is what you’re implying.” Adelhelm squinted his eyes feeling his muscles tensing.

“You are the one implying, I’m simply stating your accomplishments. But what if I were to tell you that there is a rumour of a coup against the king? Would you choose the right side?”

“It depends on what the right side is, but Thankmar is our king and the rightful ruler of these lands.”

“He has no son, nor daughter to replace him.”

“You are implying my loyalty is on the line, Havadr I do not like where you are going with this!”

Havadr stood up from the stool and spoke with a hoarse angry voice, “Can’t you see who should be a ruler? Not Thankmar the incompetent, but YOU! Adelhelm the right!”

“I want no part of this!”

“You will be whether you like it or not, but I question not your loyalty but your fidelity to your people and their wellbeing… I shall await your presence when you’ve returned back to health.” Havadr left the small room making for the exit along a narrow crowded corridor.

However he had not ventured far before he heard a moaning, he quickly made it back to find a servant with a bloody knife enveloped in cloth standing near the bloody corpse of Adelhelm. Havadr threw a hissyfit and cried out in fear as he formed a fist and slammed it into the servants temple knocking him out. The servant was later executed for murder by the order of Havadr whose bloody hands were an expression of him laying himself atop the bloody corpse of Adelhelm, too staining his impeccable white cloak. The raindrops fell hard as a storm passed by, drowning the drones of Havadr, watering the fields with his sin as it dripped from his hands.