midnight

36 days before

"Sheesh! Why they got me working out here so late? No one's going to attack--it's too difficult! First, you got to get across the moats, then there are the Archer towers past that! You don't need this many guards, but orders are orders I guess!"

Cole Thatcher's voice mumbled and grumbled low enough where the guards next to him could hear it, but his supervisor couldn't.

He couldn't stand this position! He had big dreams of fighting on the front lines as a Knight or Commander; but no matter the skill of the man, if he didn't have Royal blood, the best he could get was inner gates watchman. He had his opinion on the matter but he kept his mouth shut to avoid the sentence of going to the Black Coliseum. It was a ludicrous system and he was determined to break it!

"Be quiet, Thatcher, they might hear you,"

the young guard next to Cole whispered with an air of urgency. Thatcher glared at the younger guard with discontent and obvious disgruntlement.

"Cram it, Justus! What are you, my mother?"

Cole disliked Justus for being so cool-headed all the time and being the voice of reason between the two. Cole and Justus

were the opposite. Justus was quiet, of noble blood, mild-mannered, slow to anger, and seemed to have a fixed sense for what Cole was doing. Cole, on the other hand, was hot-headed, a commoner who didn't like to be ordered around, and had no filter when it came to his beliefs, yet he always seemed to end up on the same watch as Justus and it angered him.

"You didn't raise me. Don't talk like you're better than me."

Justus rolled his eyes at his compatriot's attitude and returned to his patrol route.

Cole Thatcher's disdain for Justus and the other members of the upper class was partly due to his sister's husband-- a man of poor character by Thatcher's standards; and she was one of sixteen women that that guy was married to.

That was one of many reasons he hated this position. He had to see that man every day going to and from the Inner Sanctum, walking with Cole's sister close behind, flaunting her in front of them like she was a trophy.

"Look at him and his smug look, walking like he owns the place! Well, I got news for you, blockhead, that's my sister! I should kill you for her sake!"

Cole's voice cut through the still night air and landed on the nobleman's ears who responded by looking directly at Cole, then turning to kiss his wife's lips tauntingly before speaking.

"Yeah, well she's my wife, so don't talk to one of the Council like that, you commoner! And have you forgotten your place? Remove your helmet before addressing your superior!"

Rollin Tikko was one of those Councilmen who believed that if you weren't of noble blood you were cattle to be devoured. He was the one who made absolutely sure that Cole's dream was crushed and was therefore just another obstacle in Thatcher's way.

"I'll do it you arrogant prick! And good evening to you!" Cole sneered, snapping the faceguard of his helmet firmly in its place.

This dismissive act on the part of a mere castle guard was considered an act of rebellion punishable by execution on the spot or an immediate sentence to the Black Coliseum. Rollin gritted his teeth and jerked his hand up to slide his thumb across his throat indicating decapitation.

"Kill him now!" Rollin ordered his guards.

Cole stepped forward and put his hand on his sword as if to draw it as two of the other guards stepped in between, blades were drawn. Suddenly, Cole's sister Salem jumped in front of Rollin gripping his arms with fear.

"Please have mercy, my Lord! He knows not what he does, for he is only a fool and speaks fool's words! Please spare him! Punish him any way you like, but just spare his life!"

Her voice quaked with fear and sadness as she desperately tried to protect her brother.

"Fine take him to await his sentence in a confinement cell for now."

Rollin's voice choked with rage as he waved his hand for Thatcher to be removed from his sight.

"You're very lucky your sister was here, commoner!"