Alfred’s next thought was, Revolutionaries.
This had all the hallmarks of one of their attacks.
The boy had never met anyone from this top-secret organisation, but the Lord Protector had taught him much about them. From what Alfred had been told, the revolutionaries hated the fact that power had returned to the King. They wanted to overthrow him, and behead him, just like the Roundheads had done to Charles I during the English Civil War.
These revolutionaries stood only for death and destruction. That is why the Lord Protector said they needed to be crushed at all costs.
RAT! TAT! TAT!
There was a burst of machine-gun fire.
“NOOO!”
The distant sound of shouts.
“ARGH!”
Was that a scream?
Alfred shivered. As much as he wanted to look away, he couldn’t. Every day there were attacks all over London, but explosions on this scale were rare. The boy pressed his hand up against the cold, thick glass and looked out at the devastation.
This was the kingdom Alfred would one day inherit.
Alfred was as far from an ordinary twelve-year-old boy as you could imagine. Inside he felt ordinary, but he’d been told time and time again by grown-ups that he was anything but.
Alfred was not just plain old “Alfred”.
He was “Prince Alfred”.
His father was the King.
One day he himself would be crowned King.
King Alfred II, ruler of Britain and all its people.
The strange thing was that he would become king of a kingdom he had never set foot in. Not once had he been outside Buckingham Palace.
The boy’s sad face could often be glimpsed at his bedroom window at the very top of the building. Just above his window, a flag flew on the roof of the palace. For hundreds of years it had been the Union Jack, the red, white and blue flag of the United Kingdom. Now a very different flag flew, one that the Lord Protector himself had instigated. It was a black flag, with a golden griffin at its centre. This was the symbol of the new order of things. Britain now had no government, so no prime minister or politicians representing the people. It also had no police force. Instead, the King’s personal army, the royal guards, enforced the rule of law.
Buckingham Palace had been home to the British royal family for centuries, since the time of George III. From his history books, Alfred had learned that it had become a royal residence way back in 1761.
The palace used to be a sanctuary.
Now it was a fortress.
Members of the royal guard were stationed all along the perimeter wall. The soldiers were instantly recognisable by their long flowing red robes, hoods and horrifying gold skull masks. On their arms they wore black bands, with the golden griffin at the centre, just like on the flag. Despite looking almost medieval, the royal guards were armed with laser guns. Just one zap was enough to blast someone into oblivion. These soldiers guarded those who lived inside Buckingham Palace.
The palace had seen better days. The carpets were worn and the wallpaper was peeling off the walls, but it was still a special place. The prince’s bedroom was furnished only with antiques. He slept on a four-poster bed in silk pyjamas, though the bed creaked and the pyjamas had holes in them.
The palace kitchen was stocked with every dish imaginable, as long as it came out of a tin. There were food stocks to last a hundred years or more.
Alfred was safe inside the palace. Or so he thought.
The boy pressed his face closer to the window as the domed roof of St Paul’s Cathedral caved in. Despite the horror, Alfred couldn’t look away. Then, in an instant, he became distracted. There was a commotion in the corridor. He could hear a struggle and shouts just beyond his bedroom door.
“TAKE YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF ME! HOW DARE YOU! I AM YOUR QUEEN!”
It was his mother’s voice.
As fast as he could, which wasn’t very fast, Alfred limped across his bedroom, and opened the door. The Queen was being held roughly by two members of the royal guard. They were meant to protect the royal family, so why were they dragging her along as if she were a criminal?
These were strange times, but this was the strangest time of all.
“MAMA!” cried Alfred after her.
The Queen was wearing her long lace nightdress and one slipper. Even though she was being manhandled, she was trying to maintain some sense of dignity. This was a lady who prided herself on never having a hair out of place.
Alfred had not seen his mother without her hair perfectly lacquered in a “do” and her face painted with make-up. Right now, her do was unravelling fast. Instead of make-up her face was covered with thick night cream. She looked a sight. Alfred idolised his mother, and it was weird seeing her like this.
“ALFRED!” she shouted over her shoulder, struggling with the soldiers to make them stop.
Because their faces were hidden behind gold skull masks, it was impossible to guess what they were thinking. The royal guards remained silent throughout, which only added to the sense that this was a nightmare.
“Mama! Where are they taking you?” demanded Alfred.
“GET BACK INSIDE YOUR ROOM, ALFRED! AND LOCK THE DOOR!” she shouted back.
“But…!”
“NOW! AND PROMISE ME YOU’LL STAY THERE!”
The boy did not reply.
“Promise!” she pleaded.
“I promise!” he mumbled.
Shocked at what he’d just witnessed, Alfred retreated and slammed his bedroom door shut.
SCHTUM!
He stood dead still, unable to move. It was as if he were underwater. That too made it feel like being in a nightmare.
But this was no nightmare. This was really happening.
As if to prove that, tears welled in the boy’s eyes, then streamed down his face. His mother, who he loved more than anyone, was
