I inhaled deeply letting the cold morning air fill my lungs, raising my shield I took a low stance leveling my sword next to my shield with this my shield could work for offensive purposes as well as being in a prime position to block my front and one of my flanks while my sword was held in reserve to parry any strike that would come towards my other flank. I looked at my instructor, with short brown hair a unkempt beard and built like a stone wall, he was the spitting image of a man of the kingdom of Suthra. The wild kingdom many called it nestled in the deep south of the continent of Fior or The Forge in common tongue, for only the fiercest of beasts are born in the land of Fior and the men who live there are made by dragons fire.

I charged forward planning to use the momentum to unbalance my foe and then drive my pratice sword home. As I neared him though he took a single step to the side and struck me in the back sending me to the dirt. "Something less direct might serve one of your stature better" he spoke. Rolling onto my back I looked up at the sky and let a sigh escape. " You mean might serve the scrawniest kid ever to live in the history of Suthra better, I never got why my Mom named me Wuthred." Wuthred a name meaning strong blood and strong was definitely something I was not. I Wuthred Dragoncrux second prince to the kingdom of Suthra had to be the smallest, scrawniest and weakest kid ever to be born a Suthrian and in a kingdom of strength weakness was not looked upon kindly. "Your only thirteen my lord you have many years yet to live up to the name but even if you grow as large as a ash giant different tactics is still good to learn, You know what they say arrows always hit the dumb ones first." Standing up I pat down my sparring leathers to clear them of dirt then looking up at my instructor with a smirk." And here I thought it was all just so I could learn to sneak my way through the night to do things to the head chefs only daughter while my wife was asleep like you Master." I said in my most innocent voice possible. The look on my teachers face on having been caught in his illicit behavior especially by one as young as I, almost made up for the taste of dirt still permeating my mouth. If Tarnis has a weakness it was his lack of restraint when it came to women and I'm not so kind as to not capitalize on said weakness. "Excuse me Instructor Tarnis, the young lord has been summoned by his father King Madlan" said a cold yet commanding voice. Swiftly turning like a puppet on taught strings clearly showing how unbalanced my little discovery of his secret escapade made him he left himself open, seizing the moment I struck my wooden sword clean into the back of his knee with all my strength and body weight sending him to a kneel with a grunt. Dropping the sword I quickly made my way over to the owner of the voice to seek cover. Sharing a nice glare with my now highly agitated instructor, I decided to add a little insult to his injury. "Excellent timing Mythra. Master Tarnis just finished teaching me the advantages to subtlety on the battlefield , I think I mastered his teaching quite admirably don't you?" my voice as sweet as any child as if showing off to a parent. "Very well then young lord lets be off, good day Instructor Tarnis" with a quick bow she turned and began to leave, following close behind to insure my safety from Tarnis and any revenge he might try and implicate we headed to the throne room.

Looking up at Mythra I try making several faces to elicit some conversation but as usual not even the slightest response from her no matter what I say she always keeps a passive if not frozen expression never giving in to my antics. Not that I minded too much she is this way with everyone a perfect moving statue to all those around her. This way at least I could pretend she liked me besides her and Master Tarnis none of the other servants did. They never dared treat me badly or say anything since I was royalty but they didn't need too it was on their faces like horrible masks painted in depictions disgust they let their hatred be known in silence. It's not that I could blame them. I was the a constant reminder of the disparity between them and those of a higher class and the cruelty that came with living in a land such as Fior.

Here in the Kingdom of Suthra at the age of one children are evaluated and given a name if found suitable. If they are found weak or to small they are left to die in the woods, so that the resources of the kingdom can be better spent on the more promising children. Yet I was allowed to live while others where killed off because my mother refused to let my father be rid of me she even went as far as to name me herself instead of letting the elders do so as is custom. I never knew how my mother got her way in keeping me for it was not out of love that my father had married my mother. His rage over this "insult" was well known and so many followed suit in my fathers' hatred including my older brother. Though I believe his ire stems more from jealousy, ever since my mothers rebellion to my fathers wishes she had doted on me without end. Well at least she did until last year. She had been growing more sickly over the years and no cure could be found if one had even been looked for at all. Then finally a cold winter night reclaimed her body to the land of Fiore leaving me alone within a country and family that never even wanted me to begin with.

The thought of losing my mother still made me want to crawl under my bed and cry till the sun refused to rise. I could not even attend her burial for fear of my fathers wrath. I had always tried to avoid my father and brother as much as possible staying away from areas in the castle that I knew them to favor, taking food from the pantry at night, despite Tarnis's advice I was already well versed in subtlety if I did not willingly show up for sword practice I imagine no one could even find me in this castle. I sometimes thought myself the Prince of shadows instead of Suthra for if I belonged anywhere it was in the dark hidden and safe, yes the title shadow prince suited me well always here but never in sight that was my life. Being summoned by my father could only mean that he had grown tired of my presence or that he finally remember my existence at all.

Mythra's steps can no longer be heard stopping in my tracks I focus my gaze on the giant door before me. My short journey through the halls has ended and what I fear the most my own blood waits beyond. I look to Mythra and with a last bow she turns and leaves. I can't blame her for leaving me to face them alone, I would do the same if I could. My hands shaking I grab the handle and put my weight into the door as it slowly creaks open just enough for me to slip inside.

I slowly begin walking forward my eyes downcast as I could not bring myself to look to where I am heading and there is nothing to see in the throne room otherwise. Like the rest of the castle the throne room is barren nothing but stonework and torches and the occasional slit in the walls from which to fire arrows. Many believe we live like this because we are poor and uncultured but the truth is different it creates a focus point out of the only thing really present in the castle, Soldiers bigger then any man from other lands and more wild in appearance. Fear is sown into any would be enemy of the kingdom. Even the maids and other servants are fitted in weapons and armor, and without such items as plush chairs and fine wines comfort is something not to be found, for they would recieve none as kindness was not the way of Suthra.

As I reached a suitable distance I knelt down to show respect. Only then did I dare raise my head . At first my gaze was drawn to the throne a fearsome sight to any who looked upon it. Every king of Suthra must build his own throne as a testament to his power and right to rule. My father had chosen Jatton tusks for this role. He had them placed to appear as if they where not tusks at all but the bones of a great clawed hand stretching upwards. Jattons are great lumbering beast covered in thick bristled fur with four tusks that could span the length of two or more men, they are highly aggressive to anything besides themselves. Young males are known to kill themselves by ramming against boulders until they're skulls break purely out of rage. They are a beast to be feared and that spoke of everything about my father. With dark brown and graying hair sheared to an inch, with a short beard that framed a cruel but robust face my father glared down at me. Large for even Suthrian standards Madlan was a living giant with strength and a ego that followed close after. The only thing that even made it possible to think we where related was our eyes. We both shared the same green splotched with burnt orange eyes that In the right light looked a forest aflame.

"Finally here are you boy? Good you're brother Thoirn has reminded me that you'll be turning fourteen soon. Fourteen years of feeding and caring I've done for you boy and not much to show for it, so I've decided if we're gonna keep feeding a whelp like you, you're gonna have to earn it. So luck will have it a opportunity has arisen, a group of trolls have been seen in the caves to the north of here. We can't well leave them alone to cause havoc so close to the city. So I'll be sending you out to hunt them. Of course anyone willing to accompany you may do so. I'm sure many warriors will be eager for the glory to fight beside a Suthran such as yourself" The grin on his face made me want to vomit, my father was sentencing me to death.

"H-ho-how long do I have to pr-prepare?" I couldn't stop my stutter my father was having me killed and I couldn't even run away to avoid it. There was no chance of me surviving on my own out in the wilderness. "Normally a man would be given a week to get everything in order, but since you're a Dragoncrux trolls should be no problem for you. You leave in the morning boy prepared or not. Now begone I've wasted enough day already." I couldn't even respond, standing up I stumbled my way to the door and left.

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Once I was in the hallway things only got worse. "Oh brother I see you've heard the good news! Finally going to be worthy of family are you and trolls as your first hunt at that!" Snickering right in front of me was Thiorn. A carbon copy of our father in almost every way he looked almost exactly like Madlan even keeping his hair in the same short manner. Only two things separated them in looks first was his hair color like mine it was black as ink something we both got from mother. Then there where his eyes something neither of our parents possessed. Encompassed of almost every color his eyes swirled like a vortex one could not discern where a color began or ended. The eyes of a mage my brother had been the apple of my fathers eye since birth. The first prince, the storm prince he was everything I was not. His lightning magic had been strong since birth and his ability to actually create storms has caused him to be seen as nothing but exceptional. His only faults where like Madlan a bad temper and a ego to match. "It is a bit insulting that you get to go hunting before me little brother even though I'm almost two years older. However I will allow you this one it's what mother would of wanted after all." The venom in his voice was more then clear, but there is nothing I can do to him so I just have to bite my tongue. I can't slim my chances even more by starting out already beaten up. "No words then brother? Very well then, be sure to get plenty of sleep tonight your going to need it." He even smiles the same sick smile as father. Part of me wishes I will die on this hunt just so I never have to see them again. Shaking my head to rid myself of such thoughts I left to go make preparations for tomorrow.

Laying in bed I stared into the darkness of my room contemplating my task. Trolls are vile creatures said to be the corpses of old hags come to wreak revenge on the children that tormented them. They look like starved humans in shape and size, except they have grey rubbery skin covered in slime. Possessing no eyes either, they instead have large slits in the front of their face giving them a extreme sense of smell. Once they catch scent of you they will tap their long claws against the ground and walls to hone in on you like a bat. Luckily they only ever come out to hunt when in rains for they would dry up otherwise. The down side is that because of this when ever they do hunt it is with frenzied abandon. Once they sink their large maws filled with rows of serrated teeth into a prey object they lose all control . Sometimes devouring members of their own pack in the process.

My door began to creak open and I just about hit the ceiling in fright, quickly reaching for the dagger I keep under my pillow I all but sqeak out "Who's there?". "I would say you deserved that for earlier with your little stunt, but there's no time so get dressed and be damn quick about it." With the low light of the torches to his back I could make out a large figure in the doorway. "Wait Tarnis is that you what are you doing here?" With a grunt he moves forward and all but throws me towards my dresser. "No time just hurry up and put on your gear. We have to be far gone before sunrise or you won't be seeing anymore of them." Understanding the urgency in his tone I hurriedly threw on my leather armor over it was nothing lavish but that was our ways it was at least made of thick hide that would provide good protection from danger and the cold. Strapping on my boots, slinging a short sword and buckler on my back that where more like a full on shield and long sword for me, I was ready to go. Once I informed Tarnis of such he grabbed my arm and all but carried down the halls. Instead of heading for the gates to the town like I expected we where know ascending the northwestern tower of the keep.

Upon reaching the top of the tower Tarnis did not slow even slightly and so panic induced humor was the only thing I could accomplish in sight of this. "Tarnis I know you're scared of what your wife is going to do when she finds out about you and your trysts but you still have so much to live for!." All I could see was a smile plastered across his face as he leaped at full sprint straight from the edge of the tower. I would have screamed if the air had entered my lungs to do so but all I could manage was a fish like gasping as we plummeted to our deaths. As we fell I soon realized we where taking a bit to long in our fall. I looked up to see we where slowing in descent as he gripped tightly onto a rope that was secured to the top of the tower. Looking at his face I see that his grin had not only grown wider but he even chuckling. "Your sword instructor didn't live long enough to grow a beard this fine without picking up a few tricks or two." he said with barely contained mirth. Refusing to let myself be the butt of a joke, my impish nature struck back. "Hah! I know your room is in the southwest tower so don't lie to me! You learned this purely just to escape from your bedroom window to go fraternize with the girls in town!." That managed to put a scowl on his face and a smile on mine, even more so since we finally reached the ground.

Moving to the wall he picked up two packs and tossed me one. "Supplies for the journey, lets get moving." Following close behind as we made our way north. I couldn't help but let my mouth run from nerves. "So why are we heading to the vale? I thought we where running away to escape the trolls not go towards them. Or do you mean to serve me to them on a platter as payback for all the years of pranks I've pulled!?" Sighing he looked back at me though his pace didn't slow. "Wuthred if you keep reminding me I may be less inclined to save your sorry hide. Also you know running away will start a manhunt for your head and they only place we have a chance of escaping is through the vale. Now be quite we're entering the vale now so stay on guard there are other things besides trolls here that would like to eat us."

The Vale is hard to describe. Where it begins and where it ends in Fiore is unknowable many have tried to map the great forest but none have succeeded and even fewer return. Only one thing is known where ever there is a Everwood tree there is the Vale and there are a lot of Everwoods in Fiore. It is said that magic made them that it pours from the earth and feeds the trees. They grow tall and fat like mountains with their branches long and wide that even men may run across them. The creatures of the Vale live off of the trees and the magic changes them. Only monsters live in the Vale.

We moved along in silence. My nerves on edge I twitched and turned at every sound and shadow. As we came deep into the Vale I could not handle the suspense any longer and had to know what we where doing. Tapping Tarnis on the shoulder to get his attention I whispered. "I know it's a bad time and all, but would you mind telling me where we are going?" Turning his head while not slowing. Which to be honest is a trick that kind of weirds me out he said in a hushed tone. "Deep in the Vale to the far northeast where me may find sanctuary." "Tarnis I know your getting forgetful in your old age, but there are monsters everywhere here not exactly a place to camp out at, besides how do you expect to find anywhere deep in the vale past the first few miles no one can find their way." Chuckling softly he looked forward again. "Don't worry, you'll see."

My feet where beginning to ache and my nerves had still not settled. This was going to be a long night yet it was probably one of the happiest of my life. I knew that Tarnis didn't necessarily hate me but I never realized he actually cared for me. Especially enough to risk his life to save me. It was shocking, my father had offered the job to any guard who was willing since he didn't want to add further disgrace to his name with a kid who was scrawny and couldn't fight, just scrawny was embarrassing enough I suppose. Tarnis just happened to be the only one willing to take the job. I was scared half to death the first time I met him standing in the courtyard like the hero Titan of old glowering down at me. Resigning myself to the idea that he only took the job for the free exscuse to beat the ill favored son of a king I decided to at least win the mental battle and so we went on like that for weeks he would beat me with a wooden sword and constantly tell me what I was doing wrong as he performed the former and I would yell insults and jibbing remarks at him, eventually he began returning my banter and I didn't suck as much with a sword as well, Tarnis was probably the closest thing I ever had to a real father figure. My thoughts where interrupted by the sudden pitter patter of water as it splashed onto the ground. Looking up to the tree canopy above I listened closer. It shouldn't be raining the sky had been clear before we entered the vale. Then I remembered the sick grin Thiorn had shown when he had told me to get a good nights sleep. "Thiorn summoned a storm! He knew this would happen!"

Tarnis's face turned worried for a second before he calmed."Relax Wuthred, we need to keep moving. We're going to have to run for it. The trolls won't take long on picking up on our scent." He took to a swift jog, I had to sprint just to keep up. We ran for what felt like eternity my legs screaming in agony with every step, my lungs felt like fire and I could barely see between the darkness and rain. Slowing down wasn't a option, trolls may be blind but they where fast. As we came to a creek I heard them with their nails tapping rapidly together. Communicating with each other as they closed in. We where running out of time. "Wuthred jump into the stream we will run in the water for a while hopefully it will throw them off our trail." The icy cold of the river reflected the dread I felt as we made our way downsteam. I could only hope we made it in time to where ever Tarnis meant to lead us, the idea of dying a no one with the stomach of a troll as grave is not exactly how I wished for my tale to end.