Kill the King.

Everyone hated him. And many of them wanted him dead. They believed that he wielded some unholy power over the king.

But the poor man was just a dwarf and a petty clown.

Of course, he was the only person in the kingdom who enjoyed free access to every nook and corner of the palace including the king’s bed-chamber.

The wretched dwarf had no influence on the king whatsoever. On the contrary he was always scared that if the king ever got displeased, he would be beheaded. This fear made him miserable.

One day he mustered courage and requested the king to have mercy on him and release him from his bondage.

“Why? You still have many years to serve us,” the king asked.

“My Lord, I would like to spend my remaining days with….”

“If you utter one word more, I will have you beheaded right here,” the king said in a very casual tone.

On his way back he met a man who whispered in his ear, “Kill the king.”

Dwarf looked at the man. He recognised him and was petrified.

He had hardly entered his room when he was again summoned by the king.  

“Who was that man? What did he whisper in your ear?”

Dwarf was stunned. He knew his end was imminent because he could not tell the truth.

He could not tell the king that that man was king’s elder brother; the brother he had killed to grab the throne.

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A post for A to Z April Challenge

Today’s letter K

You can read my earlier posts here

H I J