“What in the Abyss?!” Lasair yelled, scattering a flock of birds perched on the nearby roofs, “You’re the crown prince?!”
Adrian turned around, spotted Lasair and his face morphed into a grin as he jogged over to the two men.
He greeted them with a cheery wave.
“Fancy meeting you here, Lasair. Oh, I haven’t got anything more on me, by the way,” Adrian joked, then looked over at the other man, “And this must be your… travelling companion?”
He nodded and stuck his hand out warily, “My name’s Kylian, your highness. Also… you seem awfully trusting of us, considering your status…”
Adrian’s grin faded slightly, but he shrugged and replied, “Yes, well… I choose to trust. If I cannot even trust my people, how can I one day rule over them?”
Lasair, sensing the opportunity, fumbled at his pocket and withdrew the royal emblem.
He handed it over sheepishly and muttered, “We brought it for you… since you dropped it…”
Kylian peered at Lasair, his face displaying awestruck disbelief at the sheer audacity of Lasair’s bare-faced lie in the face of the royal. Lasair merely plastered a smile on his face as Adrian plucked it from his outstretched hand and tossed it into a pouch dangling from his belt like it was loose change.
Adrian beamed and said, “Doesn’t that make me right about you guys? Thanks for bringing it back!”
By Pelos, I pray he never finds out we thought he was a thief! Lasair thought anxiously, maintaining a polite smile.
The booming tower bell could be heard dimly from the city centre.
Adrian jumped at the sound and yelped, “I’ve got to get going! I’m late!”
He said his hurried goodbyes and turned, sprinting back toward the castle.
<--<< >>-->
Adrian dashed up the grand staircase, passing a few surprised servants on the way. The castle was magnificently decorated on the inside, although the exterior was bare. Passed down through the generations, each inhabitant had added their own touch to the place, breathing life into the once-bare fortress. Rich tapestries and thick carpets littered the place, making it unbearable in the summer but comfy in the winter.
Thank Pelos I decided to have my room on the first floor, Adrian thought, Unlike Leyon… I mean, who wants to walk all the way up when you can have a closer room?!
He rushed to his room and threw open the doors of his wardrobe, grabbing a silky tunic and leggings. Quickly stripping off his old clothes, he changed into the new ones in a flash and tossed the old clothes in a corner behind some curtains.
He was just about to bolt out the door when he turned back, grabbed his circlet off his nightstand and stuck it firmly on his head.
A few moments and a quick sprint later, Adrian stood in front of a set of imposing double doors. He stood still for a moment, straightening his clothes and flattening his ruffled hair. Then, he took a deep breath and pushed open the doors.
<--<< >>-->
It was bright and warm inside the dining hall. Adrian’s family already sat at the table, and he felt all of their gazes directed to him as he walked in and took his seat at the table.
“Adrian, You’re late! Where have you been?” His mother asked, with a slight frown on her face.
Queen Elysadora was a beautiful woman with the signature pale blonde hair of the Ravenstorm family and striking blue eyes. Her husband was a bearish man with dark brown curls and similar hazel eyes. He had a thick beard run through with streaks of grey. Despite his imposing stature, he was a warm hearted man.
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His father sat at the end of the table and his mother sat on the right. Adrian’s seat was on the left and he was seated next to his brother. His sisters sat opposite of him. The table was decked in finery and it was lined with lavish dishes.
He replied curtly, “I’m sorry for being late… I lost track of time when I went to Sor’othi last night.”
I lost my emblem too, He remembered, but decided against mentioning it.
His mother drooped a little at his tone, and he immediately regretted it.
Get a grip! Adrian reminded himself, You’re still angry at her. You can’t just forgive everything… she took away your last bit of freedom!
Just as the silence became unbearable, his father cleared his throat loudly and waited for all eyes on him before he spoke.
“Adrian,” King Aeraias began, “Your engagement has been annulled. It seems like the elvish princess didn’t want to marry you, so it was called off.”
So the rumours were true!
“Father… what about the talk of King Darwond II’s debt?” Adrian asked cautiously.
Aeraias laughed out loud and replied, “That’s all it is, my son… a rumour.”
He leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially, “We may have spread that rumour around, but it was for the best. In this time of unrest, we don’t want to fuel the tensions further by publicly announcing our military alliance with the elves.”
“But… the engagement is off…” Adrian trailed off.
Have I sundered the kingdom’s alliance? He fretted.
Aeraias grinned and said, “Not to worry! The alliance was already in place before… it’s just that we had hoped to lock it in place with a political marriage. But after some deliberation between us, we decided that if you two were truly both against the idea, we would not force you…”
Adrian breathed a sigh of relief and, with the solemn topics out of the way, the family continued their meal with hearty appetites and chatter.
Just as they were nearly finished with their meal, the heavy doors to the dining hall were pushed open and a guard stumbled in.
“Y-Your Majesty!” He cried, “Demons have invaded! You m-must flee!”
The guard collapsed and they saw an arrow lodged in his back.
King Aeraias stood up immediately, rushed to the doors and shoved shut again. Then he checked on the guard, but soon shook his head and stood again.
He’s dead. Adrian thought, This doesn’t feel real… is this really happening?
Adrian sat in his seat, frozen in fear.
W-What do I do? He thought, I’ve never been trained for this!
He was snapped out of his thoughts when his father roared, “Everyone, up! Get up and follow me!”
The king drew the sword sheathed at his waist and stormed over to the back wall and pushed back a tapestry, revealing a door cleverly painted like the stone walls behind it. He opened it and waited for his family to enter first. Zaiela was first in, followed by Leyon and Queen Elysadora. Princess Elvina entered afterwards, the thirteen-year-old failing to hold back tears. Last through was Adrian and his father entered after him, closing the door firmly behind him. The tunnel was engulfed in darkness, but the king lit a torch and carefully handed it to his wife, who led the procession.
It felt like they’d been walking for an eternity, in suffocating silence broken only by their cautious huffing breaths. The tunnel was narrow—so narrow that the king at times had to turn sideways to squeeze his big frame through. Like a silent wisp, the queen led the way with the torch held aloft and her white gown eerily illuminated. No one uttered any complaints, though they all drew a breath of relief as they reached their destination and found themselves in a small shed adjacent to the stables in the castle. Within that small space were carefully hidden weapons and travelling gear. It was clear that king Aeraias had always been prepared for such a situation.
Within the stable stood the kingdom’s eight fastest horses, fed and groomed in preparation of such an event.
They rode on five of the horses, with the youngest—Elvina, riding with her mother. King Aeraias led the way as they sped over the cobbled courtyard and made a beeline for the open drawbridge of the castle. The sky was crimson—though from sunset or from flame, Adrian did not know.
They had barely made it past the gates and onto the drawbridge when they heard a guttural howl and thundering footsteps behind them.
“Don’t look back! Keep going!” King Aeraias yelled, urging his horse to greater speeds.
Adrian couldn’t resist and took a quick peek behind his shoulder. An icy feeling of dread spread through him as his eyes beheld the creature chasing them.
It was the size of a bear but built like a mutt. Crimson glowing eyes and a mouth full of crooked fangs—the creature itself had pure flame for pelt. With every step the cobblestone beneath its paws sparked and smoked. Atop the creature, seemingly unperturbed by the fire, sat a demon archer, who began firing shots at the royals.