by Jamie Gandy
“This conversation is real cute and all, but can we get back to the issue at hand?” Liraz steps forward, a bit more irritated then he probably meant to sound. “What do you two plan on doing from here? The King is going to hang us the moment he can get his hands on us.”
“He is right… what are we going to do?” Catherine inquires.
“Son, what is going on?” I look around near the entrance to the Courtyard to see my uncle. “I saw you running down the halls, what is wrong?”
“The King wants us killed for… confronting him,” Hector briefly explains.
“Confronting him about what?” he questions. “What are you not telling me?”
We exchange looks of uncertainty. “It is probably better you do not know, brother. For your safety you should not get involved.” Liraz remarks.
“My safety?” Anger instantly flares in the Duke’s gemstone green eyes. “These are my sons you are talking about that are in danger, it is their safety that matters to me. Whatever it is I need to know about it if it threatens their lives.”
Even though I try to hide it, a smile stretches across my face. Before I can change my mind, I explain everything to him about the King’s corruption.
“I can bring it to the attention of the council of elders and nobles. We can get his crimes punished,” he says.
“That will not be necessary.” Kage states as he walks towards us. The dark haze that had been surrounding him earlier is now gone, and the demonic blade is sheathed in his holster. “For now, I have taken care of the King, so you will remain safe.” The sorrow and regret fill his expression as he looks from the Duke to Hector, Catherine and I. “I will eventually set things right with Kallai, and I will take the Throne from my father. Just not yet.” I watch him clench his fists, as if he is forcing himself to say his next words. “For each of your safety, you must leave our Kingdom.”
“What are you talking about? We cannot leave Kallai!” Catherine speaks up this time. “I will not leave Esther!”
The faintest of smiles lift Kage’s lips as he breaks the distance to his cousin. Tenderly he touches her cheek. “I will make her understand why it had to be done. Your safety is far more important than anything else. Please, cousin, just this once do as I say…” he pauses until she slowly responds by nodding her head into the palm of his hand. “Our mothers were from a Kingdom to the East, the Kingdom of Renil. I want you all to go there. Our Uncle, Renil’s King, will, hopefully, welcome you with open arms.” He pulls something out of his pocket and hands it to her. “This is my father’s brooch, a seal to prove who you are and where you came from.”
“Are you banishing us?” Liraz demands.
“If that is the way you want to see it, Liraz. I honestly do not care what happens to you, but for them…” He looks from his father’s spy over to us. “I do not want any harm to befall them, and as long as they are here, I cannot guarantee their safety. They will be better off in Renil. My mother used to speak highly about her homeland.”
“He is right,” I speak up. “We will be better off far away from the Prince, he is nothing but bad luck,” my comment makes us both break out into wide grins. “You have been nothing but a pain since the day you made Gideon and me fight each other.”
“What can I say? You two were the perfect match, such hotheads,” he pauses for a few seconds before adding somberly. “I am trusting you to keep her safe, no matter what happens next. Please promise me this one thing.”
I look at Catherine, our eyes briefly locking. “I promise, on my sword and on my life, that I will always protect her.” When I look back to Kage his smile is back.
“Thank you.” I watch as he turns to face my brother. “Hector…”
“Shut up, I do not want to hear whatever crap you are about to say.” He breaks the distance to the Prince, and they embrace each other, like Hector and I had just done.
“You are truly the best friend I have ever had, and I am grateful to have known you, even for as short a time as it was. Thank you.” They break apart, both of their expressions are solemn with remorse. “I hope one day you can forgive me.”
“I will, one day.” Hector’s voice is pitiful.
“I have one more thing for you…” Kage withdrawls the Hell’s DragonBlade and instantly the dark haze surrounds it. From within the blackness a creature begins to appear. It is not until the haze disappears that we can see the Unicorn standing before us. Her coat is as black as the midnight sky, yet her simmering white mane is the exact same. Her once large beautiful horn now sparks with an orange flame. Her empowering neigh fills the sky and shakes my soul. Her once beautiful large brown eyes flare with an eternal golden blaze. At the sight of her most would shiver in fear, but none of us do. As I approach her, she neighs once again, this time with excitement. Her long snout nuzzles against the palm of my hand as I touch her. “Ziv?”
“How… is this possible?” Catherine’s questions in bewilderment.
“The how is not important,” Kage answers. “She will stay with you no matter where you go. She will guide you, and protect you, no matter what path you go down. You will never lose her again.” He gently rests a hand along her long neck when he moves in front of her. She snorts at him in annoyance. “I will never be able to undo what I did to you.” Ziv lowers her mouth and nips at his hair playfully. Her legs dance back and forth with eagerness as she turns her focus back to me.
“Are you ready to run?” I question her. She rears up onto her hind hooves and punches at the air in excitement. When she lands back down on all fours I move along her side, grab a fist full of her glistening mane before mounting up. I offer my hand down to Catherine to help her mount up behind me.
“Do not leave us yet, we need to get our horses!” Hector protests while turning to head towards the stables, Liraz and Richard following behind him.
“Goodbye, may life favor you from here on.” The rawness of his sorrow and pain overshadows the darkness growing within him.
I wait until my brother and the others are out of earshot before speaking. “I do not know what you are planning, or what darkness you have accepted for your future. I just hope you do not lose yourself within your pain…. Your act of kindness right now, by allowing us to live outside your realm… it is appreciated. Be well, Kage… my Prince.” I bow my head towards him before nudging Ziv, encouraging her to follow after the others.
“What do you think is going to happen to him?” Catherine quietly asks.
“I am not sure… but I do know he is way over his head.”
Epilogue:
♚ Kage Tora: ♚
♚ Four Years Later ♚
“You have been acting weird all morning, what is your deal?” Gideon inquiries from his spot leaning up against the door frame of my chambers. His arms cross over his chest as he watches me change into my black Royal Attire.
“I am just not excited about this evening; my father is playing matchmaker for Esther and I.” I shrug my shoulders in annoyance. I walk over to the nightstand and pick up the compass my mother had given me on my Thirteenth birthday. My greatest and most prized treasure. I run my thumb over the surface of my name.
“Come on, it will not be all that bad. At least you will be able to enjoy the company of the Princesses of the Kingdom of Kosher and the Kingdom’s of Spalding. I can think of a lot more annoying things than that. I have heard that they are very beautiful.” The teasing smirk on my Knight’s face irritates me even more.
“Can you just stop talking already? Go be useful and attend to Esther, I bet she will enjoy your presence much more than I am.” I carefully slid the compass in my pants pocket, but I glance over my shoulder at him.
“As you wish, Prince!” Gideon flashes me a grin as he straightens himself. “I will see you in the Ballroom.” Once he closes the door behind him, I release a sigh of relief. I quietly walk over to the small secret passage in the wall behind the tiger tapestry that hangs to the left of my bed. I push the taperasry aside and enter
the passageway to a small chamber. There another passage opens up, but I ignore it and walk over to my collection of weapons. My eyes instantly move to the Hell’s DragonBlade that rests on the mantle near the back of the small row. “I hope you are ready.” I reach out to graze my fingers along the black blade, enchanted by its beauty. “Today is the day we have been waiting for.”
“Are you sure you will actually be able to go through with it?”
“Absolutely,” I answer without hesitating. “I will retrieve you after the Ball.”
I silently exit the hidden passage and return to my chamber. I briefly check myself in the envy mirror once. ‘Tonight, everything is going to change.’
I leave my room and head down the hall towards the Ballroom. Two guards stand at the entrances to the room, which they open for me as I approach. “Good evening, Your Highness.”
“Good evening, Jack and Micheal.” They bow in unison to me as I walk past them into the large Ballroom. Sparkling lights crawl along the ceiling, making the massive chandelier look like the moon shining with the stars. Nobles throughout Kallai crowd the room, chattering amongst themselves. ‘Soon none of it will matter.’
“Try not to frown so much, your face might stay that way,” my father comments from his spot on the Throne. I climb the steps and take my seat next to him. I play along by flashing him a grin. “”Your mother would have loved this…”
I bite my lower lip to keep from responding with anything more than, “Yes, she would have.” I look away from him when I notice Esther entering the Ballroom on the arm of Adir. She is radiating in her beautiful purple gown, My gaze instantly notices the amethyst necklace perfectly resting above her heart. ‘I remember the day she gave that to you, on our thirteenth birthday.’ I quickly shake the thoughts away.
“She is as beautiful as ever!”
“She is a spitting image of the late Queen!”
“She will be married off by the time the Ball ends!”
Several of the Noble women senselessly chatter with each other as Esther glides towards us with Adir and Gideon at her side. ‘She does look just like mother, has it really already been four years?...‘ I swallow back the wall of emotion that threatens to consume me. ‘It is not time to get sentimental.’
Adir releases Esther’s arm and instantly kneels to his King, Gideon quickly follows suit. “Your Majesty, Her Highness has arrived,” Adir announces.
Our father rises from his Throne and lifts the Royal Scepter he clings to in his hand. Instantly the Ballroom grows silent as all eyes turn to him. Esther walks up to our father’s side before she turns to face the crowd of people. Taking my cue I rise from my seat and move forward until I am standing alongside my father as well. “My stunning daughter has graced our presence,” he chuckles lightly. The crowd echo his laughter. “Is she not the most beautiful of all creation?” In response they shout out their agreement. I glance over at my sister to see her beautiful royal blue eyes glistening with nervousness, until her focus rests on our two Knights, Adir and Gideon. “The King of Steelborn has sent his sons in good faith to meet my daughter. Princes,” he pauses until his gaze falls on the four Princes of the Northern territory. “Welcome to Tigerskeep, may this gathering be of great fortune for both of our Kingdoms.” They each bow in turn to the King. My father then motions to me. “One of the Kingdom’s to the west and one of the Kingdom’s to the east have also sent potential brides for our Prince. Princesses, we welcome you as well to our Kingdom.” He motions to the two beautiful young Princesses that stand on opposite sides of the Ballroom. “May fortune find you.”
I send them both a big smile, which they blush in response as their gazes shyly move away from my intimidating, yet sincere gaze. ‘How amusing,” I catch my sister staring at me, as if lost in thought. I catch her gaze and allow my plastered-on smile to disappear long enough for her to see a scowl briefly across my face. The King raises his scepter and summons the musicians to begin playing.
“Try not to scare them off with that look of yours,” he chuckles.
I ignore his words and make my way down the steps, and head over to the Princess along the left side of the room. Once reaching her I bow my head and offer out my hand. ‘I might play along, for now.’ I allow a charming grin to stretch along my lips. “Shall we dance, Princess…” I trail off a moment to rack my brain for her name. “Princess Heather of Kosher?” the blush darkens across her cheeks as she slowly places her fingers into the palm of my hand.
I guide her onto the dance floor and bow to her once again before carefully placing a hand on the small of her back, and keeping her hand gently clasped within my own. I grin down into her pretty hazel eyes. “You look beautiful tonight, my Lady,” I compliment her.
Her cheeks grow another shade of pink at my words. “Thank you, Your Highness. You look handsome as well,” she replies. She glances around the Ballroom. “This room is magnificent.”
“The servants did an amazing,” I agree. Effortlessly I lead her across the dance floor, all the while keeping my gaze locked on her.
“I am pleasantly surprised by your dancing, Your Highness. How long have you been practicing?”
“My mother made me start learning when I was fairly young, after she passed away, I almost gave it up entirely. However, I kept up with my lessons every so often to keep myself from getting rusty.” I shrug my shoulders a little. “It helps me stay close to her memory as well.” It is the truth, a truth that makes the Princess’ smile grow a little more across her face.
“That is a really sweet way to keep her memory alive.”
The night fortunately fades fairly quickly, thanks to the amusing company of the two Princesses and our dances. I make my way over to the side of the dance floor to grab a glass of wine. I take a sip while watching Esther be guided along the dance floor by the third Prince. “How unlucky,” I laugh.
“If she did not look so beautiful while dancing, I would save her from this fate.” Gideon smirks as he walks up from behind me.
“Is that why you have such a miserable look on your face right now?” I question him when I glance sideways at him. “Do you wish it was you?” I inquire.
“A little, yeah.” He shrugs his shoulder a bit indifferently, his hand naturally resting along the handle of his sword. I glance over his formal maroon attire, which seems to make his muscular body seem unnaturally restrained. Slung over his clothing is his dark navy-blue cloak. He honestly looks like a better suitor for my sister than any of the lousy Princes from Steelborn. I turn my gaze back to Esther and one of the Princes and this time do not stop the frown from crawling along my fsce. ‘This is so ridiculous, trying to marry her off to one of The Kingdom of Steelborn’s Princes. What about the years of war and sacrifice? Is all of the lives lost supposed to be erased because of selling her off to them?’ I have to shake my head a couple times to surpass the thoughts. ‘Stay focused, this night is about so much more than this petty stuff.’ My fist clench until my fingers dig into my palm. ‘Tonight, everything will be set into motion!’
“Are you alright, Prince?” Gideon inquires.
“Yes, I am perfectly fine,” I reassure him.
“If you say so, but it sure seems like you are bothered by something,” he comments.
I shrug his words off when I glance around the Ballroom. “Seriously, I am good. Today, it just…” I try to think of a word to satisfy him. “It makes me think about my mother, a lot,” I admit.
“I am sorry for pressing you.”
My eyes find him again and force a small smile. “Do not worry about it.”
The evening wears on for a few more hours, between merry chatter, gluntenish eating, and dancing that would make the most talented person dizzy. At a time when everyone is too engaged with their own conversations to notice, I slip out of the Ballroom. Torch light along the walls help guide me down the halls until I eventually reach the King’s chambers. Without hesitation I push open the large door and step inside. The big room is lit only by t
he dim flickering candlelight that sits on the desk. I step towards the desk and stare down at the letter sitting there. ‘The men are getting restless here in DragonsDome. They have heard about Her Highness’ possible marriage to one of the Princes of Steelborn. They are not happy about it. Not after so many years of fighting with the northern Kingdom, and our men giving up their lives for what, this? Pathetic. In regard to the issue you brought up, yes, we did attack a village in WolfCrest, it is nothing to worry about. Our men just have pent up energy because of boredom. I am backing my men on this issue, that is where I stand. Signed, Aeron.’ I pull out the chair and sit down while grabbing another letter, my eyes scanning the words. “I must admit I was shocked at your recent commands to pull back our men near the Northern border. Do you seriously believe that peace is going to happen with the Kingdom of Steelborn, and Kallai? We have been at war with each other my entire lifetime. You sending your daughter off to wed one of their Princes is not going to miraculously fix the conflict. However, my men will obey your command and ease up on protecting our border, for now. If they make the first move though, I will not hesitate for a moment to give my men the command to fight. Signed, Aeron.”
“What are you doing in here, Kage?” the sound of my father’s voice from behind me causes me to set the papers down to turn to face him.
“Just wasting time waiting for you,” I admit. I stretch out my hand and the Hell’s DragonBlade begins to materialize in the center of my palm. My fingers fold around the black handle. I move my hand in the direction of the door and clench my fists closed. The guards that are waiting right outside vanish. ‘I do not need anyone interrupting me!’
“What is that?!” A smirk lifts the edges of my lips at the sight of him trembling a little from the all consuming power the weapon possesses.
“Do you like it?” I shift the blade around in my hand a little. “It is my destiny to end your reign with this Legendary Sword.” I tap my finger on the top of the piece of paper on his desk. “Sir Aeron seems against your marriage plans for Esther.”
