Chapter 21 - Killers

The screams echoed throughout the city, the people rounded up, drunks, whores, the homeless, and wanting. The square was packed as Daemon ordered, with people of all kinds, my eyes slowly scanning the square as I watched people be pulled from homes, horses chasing those who tried to flee, my ears picking up a collective voice, of men yelling nonsense.

"Murderer!"

"Thief! The echoing sound of self-righteous accusations pounded my mind as I looked on, watching as Daemon spun, his face calm, a look of nothing in his eyes, as people's body parts were cut like cattle ripe for slaughter.

"Let her be, she along with her family.. there is no need." I said, standing in front of a few people, I had seen nothing wrong, for fucks sake the woman didn't even have legs anymore.

My voice carried to a soldier who was trying to grab at the families behind me, his face a mess of blood and spit as I spoke my words.

"Move aside lord Maliketh, Commander Daemon had ordered everyone to be brought together in the square." The soldier said, his face trying to remain calm, reaching out as I pushed him.

"That is not what I said, go about what you were doing, these people are fine here.." My face calm, my voice even calmer as I pushed the man back.

"We do not mean any disrespect, but orders are orders.." The soldier stood, his face twisted, it seems I hurt his pride a little.

This time I said nothing, placing my hands to rest atop my claymores hilt, my eyes looking at soldiers around me taking joy in this, I can not say I was moved by the killings. Yet how they went about it was laughable, soldiers who take joy in enforcing whatever law they threw at someone, I rather it be blind murder than self-entitlement.

"Grab them, move them to the square.." The soldier said, it seems he did not understand me, as more gold cloaks walked passed him to the people. The soldier in question tried to brush passed me as I grabbed his arm, kicking his knee in from behind as he fell to his knees.

"It seems my words are not held as my brother's, or was it I misspoke?" My claymore already leaving my side, my hand swinging beside me, separating another soldier's lower leg from his body.

"Brother, what are you doing.." Daemon said, breaking through the crowd of gold cloaks who stopped there duties.

"Nothing brother, this is what you call hounds?" My claymore coming to the man's neck below me, my knee at his back as I pulled. My blade drawing blood as it sank into his neck slightly.

"What is it brother, why is there no celebration? I don't care who this soldier is, just like your soldiers care not for who they kill.." My words fell, making the gold cloaks, who had their swords at ready, freeze up for a second, yet their eyes were itching to jump if given the order.

"A pack of hounds..I'd say, more like a group of children happy to swing their father's sword around.." Each word made Daemon's face twist slightly, my eyes watching the carts of bodies and various parts be pulled out of the square.

"I expected as much, but I rather it be wanten murder then self entitled killing.. or was I mistaken Daemon?" I said, my smirk lingering on my lips for a moment, my hand letting go of the man as Daemon sighed.

*Sfx for cutting

The man at my feet struggled to get up, only for my sword to fall, cutting the man's arm from his shoulder. My gloves covered in blood as he screamed, gently reaching down to the muddy road as I picked up the arm.

"Add it to your pile brother.." I said, throwing it to his feet. "Men are made to be monsters when they no longer regard another person as human, you merely gave power to a bunch of children.." Walking up to the group, I watch the faces of the gold cloaks, I could see twists of anger in their eyes, but it changed nothing, leaning down as I whispered in Daemon's ear.

My eyes were lazy, while I looked at the men who tried to block my way, my head tilting sideways at Daemon who waved his hand. "Let him pass.." were the only words he said as he walked away.

Daemon swung Is cloak over his arm, kicking the arm on the ground at the man who lost it, "Pick him up, and get him out of my sight.." he said, walking passed the man without giving him a single look, his eyes watching the people I had saved, "There's nothing more for us left here.. let's go.." He finished, tilting his head to me slightly as the gold cloaks followed.

'Still living in a shadow, yet it is one you placed yourself under..' I thought, tapping the point of my sword on the ground, getting the attention of the people I saved, flicking my sword in a direction, as they nodded and started to disperse.

"They make good foot soldiers, but nothing beyond that.." I said, turning down the twisted streets, the echoing of drips from my hands, only mixed with the sea of blood at my feet. My hand pushed back my hair, not caring for the blood on my gloves.

The clear stones of the now clean road I walked on, cast marks of my bloody boots, my head to the sky as I looked at the darkness, it seems even the stars did not wish to bare witness. My thoughts roamed the darkest parts of my mind, my eyes shining lightly as I remembered the past.

The cacophony of sounds within my mind did not drown out, my feet moving along the dark roads, my mind a blur as I heard, crying, roars, the sounds of fire, and whispers both fresh and old.

"Quiet!!" I yelled, yet I felt my head leaning forward, my hair hanging from my head, floated on top of the water, now dyed with blood. My hands gripped the sides of the tub as I placed my hand in the water, bringing up the water to my face as I felt it cool my skin.

"My prince.." Then a gentle touch brought the blurr of the world into focus, Alicent's voice in my ear as she touched my back, caressing the tattoo.

Yet I said nothing, pulling her closer as I brought her hand to my lips, kissing it lightly as she moved in front of me, the world was peaceful, the flames flicking in the candles around us, my head laying in her chest as she kissed my forehead, yet neither of us spoke a word.