“Ahri, shut up, don’t be the reason we’re caught.” A young boy with white hair whispered. His sharp words cut through the darkness. He repositioned himself as he pulled his knees closer to his chest. Soft footsteps could be heard just beyond the wall. The boy took note of each footstep. How close are they to finding us? How many are there? Are they wearing armor? He had to keep track of every noise, every movement, every detail. Their survival depended on it. The footsteps got closer. He tapped a shoulder to the left of himself. The sound of metal sliding out of a leather sheath was faintly heard. They were nearly at the wall. The boy tensed as he closed his fist. His calves tightened. He was ready to run as soon as he saw a sliver of light emerge from the darkness.

The wall slid open revealing the light of day. A silver knife was at the smiling man’s throat before their eyes had adjusted to the new light.

“Orion, you can put the knife down. It’s just me.” Orion turned his head to the boy behind him who gave him a nod of relief. Pulling the knife back Orion hastily resheathed it. The man stepped back and glanced behind himself. He wore a black tunic with gold lacing at the neck and sleeves with trousers of a similar fashion. The man had a regal aura about himself. Smoothing back his black hair, he leaned down again and offered a woven basket of food from his right hand.

Orion received a swift smack on the back, “You dolt you were about to stab the prince.”

Orion frowned in frustration, “Eren, you were the one who tapped my shoulder.” His frustration turned to tones of mocking as he raised his eyebrows. “You said whenever I give you the signal get ready to stab whoever is on the other side of the wall.”

Ahri’s long white hair passed Eren’s vision as she grabbed a slice of bread from the basket. She took a bite. “You did say that.”

Eren’s face reddened. “I was just trying to protect everyone. Lilith, back me up.” Another girl stepped over Ahri as she reached for the basket.

“Orion was just following what you said. If anyone is the dolt it’s you.” She sat back down smoothing her gray dress with one hand and popping a piece of cheese in her mouth with the other. “Plus, this is the first time Orion has even seen Calder. I don’t blame him for being so cautious.”

Calder raised his hands slightly to signal an end to the bickering. “Now, now. Eren had good intentions in protecting each of you. There was no harm done to me so there’s no use in arguing over it anymore.”

Orion picked through the basket. “Is this all that there is?”

Calder’s smile diminished. “I’m afraid so. The outside is not faring much better. My father’s war efforts have not ceased.”

Orion gingerly grabbed a piece of bread and started to nibble on it. Eren tore his slice of bread in half and stuffed one-half into his mouth. He groaned in displeasure as he leaned against the back wall.

Calder paced back and forth as the five of them ate. Just as the silence had started to settle in, the prince pipped up. “Although, I believe his war efforts won’t last much longer.” He stopped in place letting the rigid tension drain from his body. “I have a meeting with diplomats from Mareion this afternoon. The field reports say their capital has been under siege since yesterday. It seems the nobles only poke their heads out when reality is at their front door. I think. I hope the negotiations will go smoothly.”

“That’s great to hear.” Ahri let a feeble smile grace her lips.

“Yes, it is great news.” Calder rubbed his knuckles as he stared down at his hands. “The only issue is that I have not informed my father of this news yet.”

Eren blew out an arrogant grunt as he cast his eyes up at the prince. “He can shove this war up his ass for all I care.”

Calder chuckled. “I’m not sure how kindly he would take to those words of yours. But I’m sure you are not the only one feeling that way.” He yawned and then took a step towards the door. “I will notify my father of my efforts. Even if he disapproves I intend to go forward with the peace talks. Keep hidden, I will be back this evening. Do not leave your hiding spot and under no circumstances do you leave this room.”

“And if we are found?” Eren said.

“Don’t be.” Calder closed the door gently. The lock clicked and Eren pulled the sliding wall back in place. Enveloped in darkness once again Eren regained his focus. His stomach growled. Ignoring it, he waited and listened.

Stolen story; please report.

Each footstep echoed and then dissipated off the charcoal-colored walls. He felt the urge to look back at the room but he knew that would be fruitless reassurance. The issue of his father was all he needed to worry about now. The halls of the palace were especially empty these days. It was a sign of things his father had long denied. Strength, power. Those were the ideals his father so desperately clung to.

A deep crack snaked its way along the wall to the left of Calder. He followed it with his eyes as he made his way down the hall. Even the palace that was meant to be a symbol of strength was crumbling. This war effort was all a farce to show strength and he wanted to rip that illusion from beneath his father’s feet. The conversation ahead was not going to be easy.

The door to his father’s chambers lay ahead. Intricate decorations were carved across the entrance. Its handle was a gnarled mess of wood. A spear was inlaid upon the door. Its shaft was covered with intricate designs of curving lines that all led up to the spearhead. Jagged protrusions made up the sides of the head until the tip of the spear thinned into a deadly point. Calder took a deep breath and straightened his back. Then he reached for the handle and pulled.

A man in dark robes turned from his desk on the other side of the room. A face with a gray sharply cut beard and short hair returned a pleasant grin. He opened his arms wide as he approached the prince. “Calder, I was just about to call for you. The bloodletting ceremony begins in nigh an hour.”

“I will not be going to the ceremony today. I have other matters to attend to.”

“Whatever it is, it can wait. It is our duty to officiate the ceremony.” He embraced his son and then frowned as he let his wrinkled hand slide from Calder’s back. “It can wait. Calder?”

Calder maintained his composure and spoke in calm tones. “There are diplomats from Mareion waiting in the west tower as we speak.”

“My son.” The king let out an exasperated laugh. “You don’t mean to entertain them? They have no grounds to negotiate with us. Send them back to their country.”

“I do mean to negotiate with them. I was the one who invited them here.”

Any previous affection that the king had, left his face entirely. He stared at Calder with cold eyes as his lip quivered in anger. “Why are you doing this? Do you mean to mock me?” He slammed his fist into a wooden dresser beside him. “Have you not heard the reports,” His voice shook in sharp tones. “Their capital is under siege. Half of their countryside is in ruins, and their king’s head is promised to me by the morrow. And you mean to take that victory away from me by starting, p . . . p,” spittle flew from his mouth as rage swallowed his words, “peace talks with them.”

Calder looked his father in the eyes. “This has been a futile war. It has brought us nothing, and it is long past time we ended it.”

“Futile? Brought us nothing!” A deadly fire burned in the old man’s eyes. “This is the first time in three reigns that our kingdom has seen such success. Our neighbors have learned to fear us again. Obsidius is seen as the power it once was. We can finally regain the land lost to us two hundred and fifty years ago from that absurd civil war.” His voice softened as he placed his hands on Calder’s shoulders. “We can finally unite our people again. Isn’t that what your mother wanted? To be seen as one people. One nation.”

The prince’s eyebrows twitched as he let anger momentarily flash across his face. “Not like this, Father. You know she never wanted a war to bring us under one banner again.”

The king’s hands tightened their grip on Calder’s shoulders. “My son, your mother was a great woman. She had goals. No. Dreams greater than anyone else could imagine. But she did not have the strength to make them a reality. The people of Mareion are not so different too us. They are strong and proud people. They have been forged in similar trials of hardship, achievements, and victories. Your mother saw that. She spoke to me of the kinship that binds the hearts of the people of Obsidius of Mareion. But so too like us, they will not submit easily.”

Calder took hold of his father’s hands and lifted them from his shoulders. “Father they have submitted. These peace talks are a sign they are ready to submit.”

“This is where your inexperience shows my son.” He raised a bony finger. “These peace talks are nothing more than a way to prolong their independence. Your mother got nowhere when she spoke to them. They would send letters, diplomats, royal envoys, and anything that could be seen as a branch of peace. Until one day after a party of nobles from Mareion came to visit she was found dead in her bed chambers the next morning.”

“I know the anger you harbor against them, but the fact remains this war will not bring about a permanent union between us. Mother saw farther. She saw the lasting peace that could be brought about through peaceful means.” He emphasized the last two words. He knew it still would not get through to his father.

The king rested his hands on the desk on the far side of the room. He stared out into a courtyard below. “Why am I not allowed to kill those who killed my wife?”

Calder bit his lip unsure how to respond. Mother would know what to say. There was still so much he wanted to learn from her. “Let me simply speak to them. At the very least give mother’s ideals one more chance. Let me find that kinship she spoke so dearly of. We will not sign a treaty until you have put your seal on it.”

Sunlight enveloped the tired king’s face. The dark bags under his eyes accentuated how much this conversation had drained him. He pushed himself away from the desk. His dark robes flowed behind him as he passed Calder. “You may speak to them this once. If only to see how foolish this endeavor is.” He clasped the door handle. “This is why I insisted you come to the bloodletting. You do not understand the fundamental difference between us and them. Once you have tasted the blood of a Stellapuer you will see the ignorance of Mareion in abandoning those sacred gifts.” Letting out a deep sigh he grumbled a few more words. “It will not please the others to see you are missing the ceremony.” A loud crack was heard as the door slammed behind him.