Photo credit: Jim Anzalone
Fir hobbled toward the bridge, his cart piled high. The line was short for market day, but extra security slowed it down. Farmers whispered of the Usurper returning, gathering his armies downriver.
Fir knew the farmers had been better off under the “Usurper” than his brother, but nobody dared speak aloud against the legitimate crown.
Finally, Fir was next. He shuffled forward, shakily handing his permit to the guard. “I’m to take these cakes to the kitchens.”
One guard laughed, showed the parchment to the other. “This says go straight to the guard house, old wretch.”
Fir protested, meekly. After searching the cart, they waved him on, over the bridge and into the city.
At the guard house, they teased, grabbing the cakes. Nobody recognized him; they were all too young, except Anser.
He bleated, almost crying: “But who pays me?”
Pushing past his comrades, Anser barked, “No need to be rude, boys. Here, I’ll take you.”
Once inside the castle, Fir stood straight. His face reassembled, losing years and gaining determination. “Don’t eat the cakes.”
Anser snickered.
“How fares my brother?”
“Death looms, your majesty.”
“Good. Pour me a bath. This time, I want the transition to go cleanly.”
Word count: 200. Written for this week’s Sunday Photo Fiction challenge. Big thanks to Al Forbes for hosting, and to John Robinson for providing the original photo prompt, below. Click the link to read the rules and join in, or click here to skip straight to reading the other stories.
Photo © John Robinson
Tales from Eneana 
An interesting twist. But that’s to be expected from your writings.
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Thank you, how nice of you to say! Glad you liked the twist; it took my whole morning walk to come up with that one. 🙂
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Oh, I like this…the fantasy, the double cross…
Is this part of a series then?
If not I think it could be 😉
Thanks for stopping by my post on the prompt.
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No, it’s not part of a series… Yet! I keep track of all the names I mention in these flash fiction pieces, though. We might hear more about Amartafir (that’s what I’ve decided his full name is) and how he wrestled power away from his tyrant brother, only to be named the Usurper and exiled… But now he’s back!
Glad you enjoyed it – thanks for stopping by!
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I have too many series I’ve started and left hanging…they are at the top of my fiction site – so yep, I know how that can go. Good luck with it all 🙂
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Indeed! I already have many works in progress, and need to concentrate on those. But since all my stories take place in the same world, I like to incorporate characters and events that arise in these flash fiction challenges. Instant backstory. 😉
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Well that was certainly interesting. The Usurper is back and no one even noticed. Well played.
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They haven’t noticed yet — but I would bet they’re going to notice pretty soon. 🙂 Thanks for reading, James!
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Well done. Seems treachery is in the air.
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Whether you think Fir is the treacherous Usurper or the rightful leader of the people depends on what side you’re on, but yes, Fir is clearly willing to sneak behind his brother’s (tyrannical?) back to regain power. 😉 Thanks for reading!
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Nicely woven, Joy
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Thanks CE!
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I liked the plot twist! Thanks for the link back to my blog.
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Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for stopping by! And of course you get a link: thanks for providing the photo this time!
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Ooh, that cheeky usurper sneaks in under their noses – love it. Love the misdirection too, how your talk of the usurper makes us think he’s a third party, at least until close to the end. Lovely tale, Joy
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Thanks Lynn! In one of the earlier drafts, I had him giving a line at the end about how he had some “re-usurping” to do. But the more I worked with it, the more I thought that “usurper” is in the eye of the beholder. To his supporters (and to him), he’s just as legitimate of a leader, and a savior compared to the tyrant who’s currently crowned.
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Yep, usurpation is in the eye of the beholder. Just as one man’s freedom fighter is another’s terrorist
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Exactly. Although either way, you’re right: he’s a cheeky one. 😉
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Glad they didn’t have a wizard at the gate looking for magics. Looks like the realm will be getting back to the way it should be. Good story Joy
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Hm, good point. Although if the cakes had regular old poison in them, that wouldn’t show up with magic detection. So maybe they actually did have a wizard there, and he or she just wasn’t looking for poison.
And yes, I think the place will be better off with this ruler than with the last one. Thanks for reading, Al!
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