The rebels followed as Joshua led them across the draw bridge over the moat, once in the castle, it’s self they were met by the palace guards, now under the control of Lou Pearlman.
Allowing the troops to take care of the palace guards, Joshua fought his way the long corridors towards the throne room where he knew his father would be waiting. However when he threw opened the large doors to the room, all he found was Edgar kneeing next to their father’s body with tears streaming down his face.
“He killed him,” sobbed Edgar looking up at his older brother. “Lou killed him.”
“Where is he?”
“The tower,” replied Edgar quickly. “He fled there when you attacked. He wasn’t expecting you this soon.”
“Did he hurt you?”
“No, he doesn’t know that I know he killed father. He wants me to become king, thinking I’ll do anything he says and he’ll have more power over me than he did with father.”
“Okay, stay here then,” ordered Joshua. “The guards won’t harm you if they think you’re with Lou and my troops know not to harm you so you’ll be safe.”
“What are you going to do then?” asked Edgar but he knew what Joshua had in mind.
“I’m going after Lou!”
*~*~*
Lance was worried.
When they had entered the castle Joshua had been by his side, but now he didn’t know where the young prince had gone too.
Knowing that Joshua was planning on challenging his father and Lou head on, which worried Lance, the mercenary raced down the hall towards the throne room stumbling upon same scene that Joshua had just moments ago.
“Where’s Josh?” he barked.
“The tower,” replied a scared Edgar.
“Which one?”
“The big one. Go back down the hall and up the staircase at the end. Lou’s there.”
Racing out of the room and down the hall without another word, Lance began the long climb to the top of the tower praying that he wasn’t too late.
*~*~*
“Hello Lou,” spoke Joshua coldly as he reached the top of the tower, his sword ready in his hand, his hair blowing in the breeze.
“Prince Joshua,” smiled Lou evilly. “It’s nice to see you again. Although it would have been nicer to find you already dead.”
“You’re finished,” hissed Joshua. “My troops are taking the castle as we speak. Game over.”
“No I don’t think I’ll be doing that,” replied Lou walking closer to Joshua. “You see, you caused me a lot of trouble. Even more trouble than your sister. So I’m not giving up until you’re dead.”
“And just how are you planning on doing that?”
“With this,” replied Lou stopping in front of a large basket. Removing the top, Lou pulled out a very large, very poisonous snake.
“Meet Ace, my pet,” smiled Lou. “Ace is the most poisonous snake in the world. One bite from Ace is instant death.”
“And just what are you planning on doing with that?” asked Joshua.
“This,” smiled Lou before throwing the snake at Joshua.
Reacting quickly, Joshua slashed at the snake, while stumbling backwards towards the edge of tower.
Fortunately for Joshua, his slash split the snake in two and it fell safely to the floor. Unfortunately however Lou took advantage of the distraction and the stumble to push the prince over the edge of tower and watched with an evil smile as Joshua’s body fell towards the surface and landed in the cold water of the moat.
“No!” cried Lance, reaching the top seeing what that happened.
“Huh?” asked Lou in surprise, not expecting anyone else.
Catching Lou off-guard, Lance swung his sword and beheaded the fat, evil man and before Lou’s head hit the ground Lance was already running back down the stairs to see if his lover somehow survived the fall.
*~*~*
Long after the battle was over and the rebels had won, no sign was found of Joshua’s body.
Lance however reused to give up and was finally physically dragged away by Chris and Justin.
That night, the young mercenary cried himself to sleep, already missing the young prince.