96 After The Fact

The days that followed the death of Konstantin were one of the darkest of Gavadiol’s life. No one could get through to him. Not even his father. He still got up and did his tasks normally; patrolling, attending the war council meetings and checking to be sure that everything was in order. But it was clear that he was not there. They had buried Konstantin under a tree close to where he had been shot. Later that night, all the archers had been rounded up and made to kneel before Gavadiol and Sorrentino. They swore that they had nothing to do with Prima and that they should please not be turned away as they had nowhere else to go. Sorrentino was of the opinion that they should all be executed right away. But his son disagreed. “If they say they are not with her, then they aren't.” He had said blandly. “Let them be. All they need to know is that I won't be so careless anymore.” Anyone who knew Gavadiol would know exactly what was going on. They would know that the prince was in fac