Chapter #4The Tale of Frago Anaximander by: CJ Reddick  
Once upon a time, there was a boy. He lived in the palace, and he played with the king's sons like his own brothers. Then, one day, the boy's father died. The boy was heartbroken. But, never fear, the king adopted him. As the boy became a man, he began to realize his potential. He was in a position to be in great power. The only thing standing in his way were his playmates.
That was an easy fix. One hunting accident and one poisoned goblet later, there was only one man waiting anxiously for the throne.
Frago Anaximander.
***
I was really trying to cry. I knew there was a part of me that loved the old king, even though I had ordered his assassination. But as I gazed into the casket on the dais, I could only feel one emotion.
Anger.
This man, who had adopted me at age eleven, loved me as his own son, had not declared me king! Of course, I knew this was coming. This was why I had ordered his assassination in the first place. But perhaps my secret meetings aroused too much suspicion, or perhaps the assassins had sold me out for higher pay.
The assassins. There was another group of people to blame for this. I had sent clear instructions: unfit to name a successor. And what did they do? Leave him alive long enough to declare that no name Tyrl as the king!
Speak of the devil, here approaches Tyrl now. He looks so unseemly in his kingly vestments.
"Frago, I am deeply sorry for your loss."
"Thank you. The pain of losing one father was enough, two fathers is too much to bear."
"Yes, well, you may live in the castle for as long as you need. I'm sure you have some inheritance somewhere, but I know transitions can be difficult whilst grieving a loss."
"Thank you, my liege."
I kissed his hand and walked away, barely containing my rage. I stalked out of the hall, done with my viewing of the king, although I'm sure everyone thought I could not bear the sight of my dead adopted father. I retreated to my room in the southern tower. Within moments, a knocking on my window came. I opened it.
"Asafan. You have failed me."
The assassin bowed before me. "I apologize, my lord. The assassin sent failed her job."
"Her?"
"One of our best, before she gave birth."
"An assassin as a mother? The poor child."
"What's more, no father to speak of."
"Oh," I let loose a devious grin, "Nasty, are we?"
"I have my suspicions on who it is but she will not say."
"And has she been punished?"
"I have told her to fix it. I don't know how she plans to do so, but her infant's life hangs in the balance so I imagine she'll work out something."
"Excellent," I smiled. "In the meantime."
I withdrew a dagger from my robe and stabbed the assassin in the stomach. He collapsed, clutching his belly.
"I do apologize, but there must be someone to distract the guard from this mother assassin. What was her name?"
Asafan refused to answer. I kicked him and he winced. "The name, or I kick again."
"R... Reesa Hav... Havensporth."
"Reesa Havensporth. I will have to send someone to pay her a visit. Until then... GUARDS!!!"
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