After explaining what I had learned from taking Better off Dead Ned, I almost laughed out loud at Reggie’s first response, “You know Mind Magic too?!”
Reggie had to sit down when I told him about how I used Mind Magic to rip the information from the necromancer’s mind, and I do mean rip as I was not gentle.
Reggie continued speaking after taking a moment to accept yet another rare ability Prince James possessed. “Mind magic is one of the rarer talents, even rarer than battle magic or healing affinities. For you to be able to break an enemy mage’s mind so easily, speaks clearly on how skilled you are with such a magic. You keep surprising me with how capable you are with such a wide range of diverse talents. How many other tricks do you have hidden away?” Shaking his head and raising his hand, “Nope, do not tell me. I do not want to know. It is better you keep such things to yourself. It is clear you gained much from John and Susan.”
“Indeed, I did, they were both very capable mages and fighters.” I replied.
“Yes, their deaths are a great loss to our kingdom, your parents and others will be saddened when they hear of their passing. I fear it will only further embolden the other factions against your family.”
“Really? Why is that?” I asked Reggie.
“Part of what caused some of these factions to grow in influence was your parents’ ordering our two most prominent adventurers to discard everything to care for a sick child even the royal family abandoned.” Reggie explained as he winced with his final words.
Trying to recover, Reggie continued, “Please do not take my words as my thoughts on this matter. I believed what your parents did was a sign of love, to send the best to look after their child, what parent would not do such a thing.”
“I did not take offense Reggie. You are telling me why these factions grew in power. I need to know these things if I am to help my family and this kingdom. Go on, do not sugarcoat anything.”
‘Once again, he shows a level of maturity so rarely found in the nobles. If we are lucky, my father will appreciate that.’ Reggie thought as he continued his explanation. “Many nobles and commoners saw what your parents did as foolish and selfish.”
“How so?” I asked.
“Think about it from their perspective. The King and Queen exiled their only son because he was frail and sent our best and most powerful mages and fighters to care for the child. This left the kingdom vulnerable.”
“Vulnerable?” I voiced in confusion.
“Yes, vulnerable. John and Susan were known throughout the continent. Other nations knew if they went to war with our kingdom, John and Susan would be there to help our people. It was a deterrent. When other nations heard of what had happened, several took it as a sign of weak leadership.”
“Ah, they saw what parents did as a weakness and add in John and Susan being seen as the big guns used to defend the kingdom, they saw it as an opportunity to push their agendas.”
“Big guns?” Reggie asked, not familiar with that phrase.
‘Damn idioms!’ I thought as I tried to figure out how best to get out of this one. “A phrase I learned. It just means they were seen as the big weapons our kingdom had to defend itself.”
“Ah yes. That is true. My apologies James, I had never heard that term. You must have learned much indeed from John and Susan.”
‘Whew, he bought it.’ I thought, doing my best to keep a straight face. “Yes, I did learn much from them. Now back to these kingdoms and factions. How bad is it?”
“Luckily for the kingdom, your parents and your uncle are smart and clever people.” Reggie stated.
“OK that is good to know but please explain in a bit more detail.” I said with a bit of frustration. ‘Like, how am I supposed to know what the heck that means without more context.’
Reggie continued, “Ah, my apologies James. It is such common knowledge I forget you have no real knowledge of how your family is. Your Uncle Marcus is the General of our Kingdom’s Army, he is an honorable and brilliant tactician. His skills have led our kingdom to several key victories in our past wars and border issues. Many in the army are extremely loyal to your uncle as it is clear he cares for those under his command.”
“That is good to know he is so well liked and respected.” I commented.
Nodding, Reggie went on, “Indeed. Your father, the king, negotiated several treaties and in his younger years won various victories in battle. Your father and uncle are as close as two brothers can be. Such a relationship shows others how family should treat each other.”
‘Sounds like there is something there in the way he said that about family. I wonder if things are not good with his own family?’ I thought but did not want to pry so I kept quiet.
“That brings me to your mother, the Queen. She is a light in this world. Your mother is bright and very politically savvy. Her ability to shame the pompous female nobles to do the right thing without slander or tearing them down, it is masterful to watch. Queen Sophia cares deeply for the people of the kingdom and worked very closely with the Church of Light to help as they can.”
“The Church of Light supports my family?” I asked.
Reggie’s facial expression told me otherwise. “Not exactly. High Priest Cendrin is close friends with your mother and works closely with her on relief efforts, but the church is not exactly an ally. They do not exactly boast or speak well of the royal family. General Marcus has made his displeasure known at the church’s lack of support for your family. The church of course maintains its separate autonomy and focus on the light.”
“Interesting, sounds like the Church has much sway with the people.” I stated.
“Very much so James. In fact, I would caution you as there are several in the royal knights and the kingdom’s army that are devout believers. Though they took oaths of service, they have an out clause that allows them to leave their service if it conflicts with their service to the Light.” Reggie explained.
“That is good to know Reggie, thank you for sharing your knowledge.”
“I will freely give my knowledge any time you require it.” Reggie answered giving me a slight bow of his head.
“Knowing now what you have shared, it seems unwise for the information I obtained from the necromancer to be shared with anyone but my family at this time.” I shared my thoughts, bringing us back to what started this conversation in the first place.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
“I agree James. Several of the factions would use it to point fingers and just create more division within the kingdom.” Reggie shared his assessment of the situation if this information got out.
We agreed to keep what we had learned quiet for now, until we got back to the capital and could inform the king and queen. I had used Magic to keep our prisoner in a deep sleep/coma like state which made it easier to not worry about any nonsense from him. Plus, with his connection to his magic severed he wasn’t exactly much of a physical threat to well-trained knights and soldiers.
We had used my royal carriage as it was shielded from surveillance magic. Leaving the carriage after our talk as we both agreed it would be good to celebrate our victory with the men. Speaking loud enough for all to hear I called out to LT Simmons and Sergeant Callus who were standing nearby as guards.
“Both Captain Spears and I agree, we should celebrate our victory here today! Lieutenant, Sergeant, please arrange for everything!”
LT Simmons was the first to speak up. “You heard Prince James, what are you doing just standing there! Crack open the caskets of ale and mead we have on hand and let us celebrate!”
“Right away Lieutenant!” Sergeant Callus answered as he took off with gusto to see his orders completed.
Cheers of appreciation could be heard across the camp at our exchange.
“Yes Sir!”
“Thank you, your majesty!”
“Our prince is a godsend!”
“Here, here!”
I made a point to do at least one round around the camp making sure to at least make my presence known and more importantly show my appreciation for everyone putting their life on the line for me. Of course, I got plenty of “thank you” and “Thank you for the mead, you are the best!” comments. I also received many offers from knights and soldiers to join my personal guard. It warmed my heart to be a part of a celebration and comradery that can only come after surviving a life-or-death battle together.
As I walked through the camp I came upon LT Simmons as he was recounting his rendition of the story of what he witnessed in the battle.
“Then after he tells us to follow him, he literally blows up a giant undead ogre and the surrounding undead with one fireball! I mean one fireball! I nearly lost my eyebrows I could feel the heat from where I was in the back trying to catch up to our Prince.”
One of the royal knights in the crowd sitting there listening to his lieutenant tell his tale spoke up. “I was too close, and I did lose all my facial hair including my eyebrows! The healer had to help me grow my eyebrows back. Still worth it though, that undead ogre was a beast to fight.”
Several of the people listening laughed good naturedly.
“Hahaha!”
“I do not think that helped your looks any!”
“You needed a shave anyway! Hahaha!”
LT Simmons chuckled a bit as he continued telling his story. “I am figuring he is checking out his handywork but no, Prince James stops off at what was left of the corpse just long enough to pick up what’s left of the ogre’s leg, and he uses said leg as a magical club to bash his way through the enemy ranks like they were nothing! He did this all the way to the enemy commander! We kept having to fight the undead that would swarm away from him and then move in behind him. Even undead morons knew not to mess with our prince!”
LT Simmons had gathered a good part of the camp at this point as people laughed or looked over at me with awe-struck eyes. It was clear the lieutenant loved an audience.
“We finally catch up to our prince after he wiped the floor with two undead trolls who dared to strike our beloved prince…”
The crowd booed at that part of the story.
“BOO!”
“How dare they strike our prince!”
“If they were still around, I would make them pay!”
Raising his hand to quiet down the crowd, LT Simmons continued his story. “I know, I know my friends. I too was furious when I saw our prince knocked into a tree. My heart fell at such a sight! I thought to myself, I have failed our kingdom but then…”
He paused for dramatic effect, “…Then Prince James just walks out of the man-sized dent in the tree shakes himself off a bit and smacking them around like they were ragdolls for daring to harm him!”
More cheering went up.
“Hurray!”
“That is our prince!”
“Light be praised!”
LT Simmons began again after the cheers died down. “Then as we arrive to help our prince, the necromancer sends his dark bolt at us, Prince James uses said makeshift club to literally hit the attack, sending the dark blot right back at him! You should’ve seen the look on that necro’s face.”
Laughing a bit at his own memory of that moment, “HAHAHA! The only words he got out was ‘What the…”
The lieutenant made a face that was a mix of slacked jawed shock look combined with the lights on, but no one was home. “The dark bolt hits the idiot square in his chest knocking him on his back and smacking his head on the forest floor.”
Wiping a tear from his eye while laughing as others joined in, “I tell you I laughed so hard I couldn’t barely hold on to my war hammer! Out of nowhere roots shot out of the ground and bind the necro’ before he even had a chance to clear the dazed look from his face. After that Prince James rushes over, taps the jerk on the head and all the undead just collapse like the lifeless corpses they should be!”
As the story went on, I could see the awe and admiration of people in the convoy grow. Sure, they were laughing and celebrating their victory, but they all knew the main cause of that victory against such an overwhelming force without casualties was due to my efforts in the battle. The royal knights and soldiers knew they could’ve overcome such a force on their own but not without casualties, perhaps even significant ones, when dealing with the larger undead ogres and trolls.
Of course, LT Simmons just kept going, “Our Prince then heads straight back to camp, stares back down at the captain, mind you this is as our captain is trying to stare him down for leaving.”
Looking over to Captain Spears, LT Simmons says, “Sorry Captain, I mean no offense!” LT Simmons just puts up his hands and shrugs.
Reggie takes it in good stride and just replies, “No offense taken, our Prince has balls, like Adamantine ones for sure!” As Reggie just laughs, everyone else joins in, my face starting to turn a good shade of pink from embarrassment.
LT Simmons took Reggie’s response as approval to continue, “Our Prince demands to see our wounded and heads straight for the triage tent. He takes one look at our people’s suffering and just casually says he will heal everyone in the tent...EVERYONE! Can you believe it?!”
After giving another shocked look and murmurs from the crowd he went on. “I just about fell over, I think some of the healers thought Prince James must’ve hit his head or something, hahaha. Yet before our very eyes he brings people back from the brink of death! Of course, not to be out done and prove us all wrong, he proceeds to heal broken bones, and other wounded! Keep in mind this after using some impressive battle magic! Both Kira and Mira wanted to...”
Both Kira and Mira flashed daggers in their hands giving LT Simmons a warning look. LT Simmons caught the implied threat in an instant, “No worries, Mira I was just going to say show your appreciation and devotion to our prince.”
Cracking a winning smile at her, “WE ALL DO! DON’T WE EVERYONE!? LETS HEAR IT FOR PRINCE JAMES! This kingdom could not have asked for a better prince!”
“Yea let’s hear it for Prince James!”
“Light be praised!”
“Hurray!”
“Thank you for saving us Prince James!”
“Thank you for healing me!”
The cheers and appreciation all blended into a cacophony of sound and emotion. I just smiled and raised my arm and hand in appreciation for their kind words and replied, “We are in this together my people, never forget that!”
I heard some cheers after I made that statement. Afterwards I stood up, said my goodnights, and retired for the evening in my tent. I was exhausted, not physically, as my stats and abilities seemed to do wonders for my stamina and energy levels. The exhaustion felt more from the emotional experience and dealing with so many people’s admiration. This is definitely not something I’m used to. I mean I know my charisma stat is through the roof but come on!
As this journey progressed, I could see their admiration grow, first in how I treated them and showed genuine interest in their lives as I got to know them. Then I beat Reggie in our sword match and Reggie made a point that everyone understood I won even though I felt it was more of a draw. After tonight though, and what I did in the battle and after, Reggie was right, these people seem to have rallied behind me. The admiration and awkward behavior just exploded like a mushroom cloud. I think I liked it when they were just respectful but cautious, not knowing what to expect, now the way some of them look at me is like hero worship. ‘It’s ONLY been 3 DAYS!’
Oh well, adapt and move forward James. Like grandpappy used to say, ‘You either adapt or die, no point in fussing over it!’ Though my other grandfather’s advice seems to fit here too, ‘Always look for the good in every situation! Even in tragedy there is good, you just have to look for it!’
Saying a silent prayer of appreciation, I embraced both men’s words of wisdom. I plan on fully embracing this life. I’d rather them respect me for my deeds than anything else. Perhaps this will help combat the nonsense I might have to deal with when it comes to interacting with nobles and the various factions out there.