Mason heaved indecisive, he tapped his fingers on the desk to a rhythm only he knew. Coffin watched his hand with unsteady eyes, he was also looking at his face to see his expression, and it was no beautiful sight. But for his master, his ugly was another person's beauty. Coffin knew Mason just enough, a man not of his word, and at the same time of his word. One could never say they knew him too well. A man so beautiful and graceful, yet a devil on the inside. A whole lot of people were blinded by the grand prince's charm; his beautiful smile, his tender looking wave, his graceful walking, as well as his intelligence. They all did not know about the brutality, the uncontrollable temperament, the hate that was piled up inside and the never failing pretence. His master was a sly fox. Everyone saw him as a saint, speak of how he barely had a mutual relationship with women 'what a saint' , if they knew it was because he could not bear anyone asides his mother, sisters and brother. His father he hated grievously. Asides his closest family, Mason wished to burn the whole world at least, for making life unbearable for Reginald who was just too good. Reginald was the beast in eyes, people liked to compare; 'the ruthless crown prince, or the tender grand prince'. 'Tender... prince Mason has been mistaken for a lot...'
"You stare at me like you have something to tell" Mason said Coffin widened his eyes, Mason nodded confirming what he heard. Coffin chuckled bashfully
"Certainly not your grace..." "go on...is it about your second cousin?" Mason asked Coffin nodded quickly glad he had an option "It is saddening your grace, I am sorry if I disrespected you." Coffin said bowing fully. Mason nodded slowly "sir Floyd was a good man. It is a pity that we cannot mourn him fully" he said. Coffin stood upright thanking his stars.
'it would definitely be thrilling to hear what you think of me' Mason thought to
****
"...And there is...I visited Northumberland, his highness certainly did not even pay her a visit... neither did he visit; Cumbria, nor county Durham. We can say his journey ended right here in the Northern Yorkshire...Your county." Inspector John stated blatantly. Lincoln was confused, he stared at John amiss
"Are you being serious inspector?" Lincoln asked, John nodded in confirmation. "And what gave you such guts? Do you think I am a joke or some lowly official you can intimidate?" Lincoln asked sitting up. John shook his head.
"I am only carrying out orders from my superior sire" he said Lincoln scoffed "minister Ky?,
what makes him think he can suspect me?" Lincoln asked, John tilted his head slightly to the right and nodded slowly "well, I do have an imperial decree here that gives me permission to inspect your premises as well as the whole of the Northern Yorkshire." he said removing a scroll from the interior pocket of his coat. Lincoln stared at it with scrutinizing eyes, it beared the imperial seal.
"Well-well-well... you should learn how well to respect officials in a higher position than yourself..." "and I am doing just that sire by carrying out the orders given to me by the war and security minister." John said 'where does decency take anyone?' Lincoln asked himself.
"May I carry out orders sire?" John asked, Lincoln gave a bashful laugh and said; "we can talk, can we not?" he asked ending with a chuckle "Of course sire, I'll be delighted." John said shrugging. Lincoln nodding indistinctly.
"I will rather have it you do not do the inspection." He said wearing a hard earned smile making John nod slowly in realization "and why should I not?...sire". Lincoln moped glancing around "you came alone, didn't you?"he asked "yes...and why do you ask?" John asked "there will be no witnesses..." Replied Lincoln, John furrowed his brows "and what do you mean by that, sire?" he said getting really uncomfortable, he was certainly not comfortable from the beginning. Lincoln chuckled
"Can you imagine...your head only worth your silence..." He chuckled some more "but your silence is worth anything. promotion... you definitely don't want to go through this next time... inspector to...deputy security minister...you deserve it do you not??...Deere is only playing about with the title...with this amount of diligence and honesty, no one else is more deserving." Lincoln said pointing at John who chuckled dryly "I like due process" he plastered a smile on, but reverse-- Lincoln grimaced 'oh what a bother' "it is a really good offer inspector" he said keeping cool. John nodded "my head must be worth a lot then, if this is what my silence has to offer...since my head is worth my silence" his said "of course" Lincoln muttered "interesting prize for an undeserving head..." "Grateful sire that you called it a prize not a price. A prize is a prize no matter it's value, but a price...no, certainly not..." "Name your price then inspector,the value that can buy you and your silence" Lincoln said shrugging "I cannot be bought...nor my silence." John said with finality. Lincoln nodded, then wore a mope "of course, carry out orders inspector" he said gesturing at the door.
****
First and foremost, John began inspecting the government house. Rufus followed him from behind for a reason that was not so clear to him. Lincoln's home was clean, but the crown prince was still missing. And if Lincoln wanted to buy his silence, it was clear the man had a skull in his cupboard.
He strolled out of the storage which was the last place he visited, the storage was full of wood. 'Lincoln lives even more lavish than the king ' John thought.
"Hmmm" he heaved then something rattled inside the storage, he gripped his sword tightly and walked back inside.
"Only a rat" he said quite disappointed. He heard the unsheathing of a blade, and before he could turn, he felt a sharp pain through his back to his chest; Rufus had stabbed him with his blade, and was twisting the blade. John gaggled and coughed blood, blood was almost everywhere. He pulled the blade out and wiped it with a handkerchief.
"It is done" said Rufus bowing, Lincoln nodded standing up "lead the way"
"You should have been more careful to not make a mess Rufus" Lincoln said kicking John's dead body. He stretched his hand to Rufus who handed him his sword, Lincoln cut John's head off.
"How much did your blade worth Rufus?" Lincoln asked "eight shillings and four pennies, my lord" Rufus replied with a full bow. Lincoln scoffed
" 'my head must be worth a lot...' filthy prat...it only cost me hundred pennies."
****
Lincoln scoffed, Nicholas surely underestimated him, because if he did not; a trivial matter like John would not be part of their discussion.
"You should know Nicholas that this is not the first time I am getting rid of an official, did you not see what I recently just handled?...the inspector is only a joke." Lincoln said boastfully. Nicholas nodded "but... the grand duke (the prime minister: Luther) did not seem so pleased yesternight" he said, Lincoln furrowed his brows "yesternight??...there was a meeting yesternight and I was exempted?" he asked "If you put it that way, fine...I will say uninvited...for an exemption, you were quite the topic" Nicholas said nodding. Lincoln sat up "what did yous talk about?" Lincoln asked curiosity clear in his voice "how you failed to carry out simple instructions" Nicholas said shutting one eye Lincoln gasped he sat up "how dare that greedy nutter refer to me in such a manner?" Lincoln asked clearly offended, Nicholas plaited his fingers "well... he made some solid points" he said nodding, Lincoln glared at the latter "I'm just speaking truth..." "well then king of honesty...why don't you tell your grand duke he reeked of fear and cowardice when he spoke to the pope?" Lincoln asked crossing his hand to his chest "that is the Pope... everyone fears him..." "Whatever...lord Luther might intimidate me now, but very soon, I will show yous..." "We are in a new generation Lincoln, no one uses 'yous' anymore"
****
Charlotte dragged herself along. It was a cold morning, but there was no snow. She held unto the pack basket she carried on her back, grumbling as she went.
Lincoln was a wicked man, and nothing could change that about him... nor the hatred Charlotte had for him. How could he make her gather wood for a crown prince who would never show up... how long have she been gathering wood?. All the time she could use in making money, whilst doing what she loved to do best; she was stuck gathering wood.
Crashing her train of thoughts, a stick cracked. Charlotte almost shrieked, but she held herself together. They were two options: a person, or a wild animal. Definitely not a ghost, Charlotte did not believe in ghosts. 'what if bad old Lincoln sent someone to assassinate me?' Charlotte thought. She gripped the axe tightly. 'If it is a wild animal, it would certainly be a wolf' Charlotte thought to herself. The wisest thing to do was run. Run without looking back, she had no martial skills and could not dare challenge her unknown predator.
"Hi" a voice greeted before Charlotte could take to her heels. The voice belonged to a young girl...one Charlotte knew too well; 'Chi'. Her neighbour.