Prologue to possible story.

aPrologue

 

The faint creaking of wooden floorboards outside of his room awakes Lipod. Lipod attempts to recall who is on guard tonight, all the while the creaking is edging closer. His room is a simple bedchamber. Containing a single bed with goose feather pillows and a thick woolen quilt. Standing by the door is a tall wardrobe that consists of one white linen shirt and some fine black trousers. The creaking is continuing to get louder. Through the only window in the room you can see into the corridor. A single torch gives a broad silhouette of the burly, Agda. Agda is one of Lipod’s guards. Him and his twin brother Agdi take it in turns to stand watch outside of the room. With the knowledge that Agda is outside, Lipod begins to ease back into a light sleep when the creaking gets even louder. Agda’s silhouette does not seem to be moving from his standing position making him almost look like a statue in front of the stained glass window. Lipod grasps at his necklace.

 

Knowing that his necklace is safe, Lipod begins to move from under the thick covers, the creaking gets even louder still. When Lipod’s foot touches the floor the creaking stops. His second foot is then placed along side. Rising from his woolen nest, Lipod stumbles over a bunch of rushes on the floor. Still with this commotion, Agda does not move. Lipod makes it halfway across his room when the large oak door opens a jar, in strolls the castle cat. Lipod calls him Jon, but his father tells him not to give a name to such a filthy creature. As Jon pads across the room, Agda’s silhouette springs into life and disappears from view followed by a large sigh when he takes his seat. Lipod copies Agda in this manner.

 

Lipod manages to get himself back under the covers, and in the right state of mind to drift into a deep sleep. Just as Lipod’s eyes close Jon then pounces on him. Lipod instantly throws Jon back down to the floor. This process is repeated until Jon finally gets the message. As Lipod opens his eyes to check if Jon is preparing for another leap the stray cat is no longer a cat. He is instead a tall, sturdy, black hooded man. Only bright blue eyes that are burning a hole in Lipod’s head are visible. The hooded man’s right hand is clutching a dagger that seems to be constantly moving, giving the impression it has a life of its own.

 

Lipod attempts to scream, instead of noise coming from his lips, blood trickles from the side. He tries again, resulting in more blood. All the while the hooded figure watches, unmoving in the shadows of the corner. Lipod begins to cry out more intently, only then does he realize that his once white, thick, woolen sheet is now a sodden, dark crimson pool of blood. As Lipod begins to drift in to that ever lasting sleep his only thoughts are on the fact he will not be able to eat his birthday celebrations in the morning.

 

As dawn vast approaches the hooded man begins to step out of the shadows, he bends over the red stained bed and rips the necklace from the lifeless corpse of Lipod. As soon as the necklace is within the firm grasp of the hooded figure a blinding light attempts to break free from his fist. Outside Agda begins to stir, he calls out “Lipod, what is that light?” before the door is opened again the stray cat has made a return. This time he is sporting a new necklace. Easily passing by the un-knowing Agda the cat exits the kill room and begins to take the stairs. At that moment he is frozen in position. No longer is he a cat, he is once again the hooded man, still unable to move. “You thought you could kill the boy and take the necklace that easily?” The burly figure of Agda is standing behind the hooded man when he replies, “nothing gets past you does it old man?” the hooded man crack open a smile and takes in a deep breath.

 

On the exhale the force that is holding him in place disappears. In one swift movement he is no longer on the stairs but instead behind Agda, clutching the old man’s hair in his large fist, the moving dagger touching his throat. Before Agda can speak the hooded man has began to move leaving a decapitated body behind, the arms of the headless body flailing, attempting to grab the shadow of a man. Patting the fresh wound at the centre of the torso, searching for the head. However, the head isn’t in sight, in fact the head is not even within the castle. It is still clutched in the fist of the hooded man as he dives through the second of three stained glass windows looking out into the courtyard. Only then is the head released, as a wing replaces the tight fist and an eagle takes form, flying into the distance with a shining pendant hanging around its feathered neck.

 

As the eagle soars towards the rising sun the falling head of Agda can only gaze in astonishment. He almost begins to smile until the ground greats him with a good morning kiss.