*
Octavius and Mellem had moved far from the alcove. They were both fatigued by the long fight. The king was bleeding on his left leg just above the knee where his foe had cut him. His mind raced back to when he use to play with this ‘stranger’ he was fighting. “Why, Mellem? Why? Why did you pursue this course in your life?” Octavius realized that he had actually uttered the words. Mellem’s voice brought him back to the moment at hand.
“You always had everything you wanted, Octavius. Everything came to you with ease. After my wife died, I felt very empty. It was on a trip to Cole that Prince Edwin seduced me with his plan. I had hesitated at first, but the temptation grew greater when I found out that I would have control over everything I surveyed. You weren’t supposed to escape the night of the ball. Everything would be different now…” Mellem charged forward with a new ferocity.
Octavius found himself trying to ward off the attack. “You always were a good swordsman, Mellem, but I was always better…” Octavius threw himself wholeheartedly into the fight and started pushing Mellem back. They were out in the middle of the great room, sparring back and forth, the only ones left fighting. Once again, Mellen went on the offensive, swinging his sword with great speed. Octavius was tiring and his injured leg gave way beneath him.
“Goodbye, old friend...” Mellem raised his sword above his head. “I have finally done something better than yo…. .. “Mellem saw the glint of steel, but could not react in time to avoid it. A small dagger found Mellem’s throat with deadly accuracy. He fell to the floor with a ‘thud!’ a look of pained horror frozen on his face.