Truth

She slithered into the great room on a cloud of loathing. She watched him speak, ‘protect the people’ he said again and again.

                “What about my people?” she shouted across the space, and he faltered. He met her burning gaze as she continued her route.

                “Lady Atlanta? Do you have words with this council?”

                “No, I have words with you,” she replied as she thrust her sword towards him. “What of my people, oh great and merciful king?”

                He seemed surprised and it maddened her futher that he hadn't seen this coming knowing what he had done to her. She continued her march until she was within striking distance of the King. She thrust her blade but he parried it with his own.

                “It was you,” she said as she struck again pushing him back, “You did it all.”

                “Did what brave knight,” he said hoping to quell her anger.

                “It was you that attacked my home…” the clash of swords rang again, “You that killed my father…” again, “You that burnt my hovel to the ground…” again, “You that stole my mother from me…” again, “that killed our livestock, burned our crops, and left me to die…” again, again, again, she pushed him back. “You took everything from me.”

                She struck out so viciously against him that he lost his sword, but still she pushed him back until he was against the wall. It was not fear that filled his eyes. It was a darkness that she had never before seen in him.

                “Yes, I have done all this to you,” he replied in naught but a whisper, “But I did not kill you there on the hill where you stood, even knowing that this day would come. Instead I let you live and gave you a place in my house.”

                “You used me as a tool of death, and when that was not enough you asked me to be a whore for on behalf of your court. You have done nothing for me except dirty me, and further dishonor my parents as they rest in their graves.”

                He seemed to smile, he was goading her. “Then kill me since I have done you so wrong.”

                She put the sword to his neck, “I had you at the end of my blade once before, my king, and let you go, I shalln’t make the same mistake again.”