Plight of the Perfect Prince

by Jason Paul Rice

  The fluttering flurries reduced visibility and the dwarf had to lean heavily to his right just to see ahead. A peek to the left and right revealed the black and red dragons of the enemy as they glided through the clouds.

  Ikeros dipped under a red dragon and spat a condensed wad of fire into the unprotected belly region. A horrible shriek came from the injured dragon. Ikeros circled back and engulfed the left wing of the red beast in flames. The dragon crashed to the pink sand below, thrashing around before finally accepting death.

  Dragon-Eyes felt the thrill of a lifetime as Ikeros left the battle ground and headed for the coast. Dragon-Eyes didn’t know what he was doing until a fleet of docked boats came into view. A fly-over revealed two boats with enormous animals that were eating each other, and rocking the steel ships back and forth.

  Ikeros swooped down on the ships and closed in on one that had what appeared to be sacks of grain. He dropped down even further and shot fire at the food. The sacks erupted in flames and the sails caught soon after.

  They rose in the air and sped back over to the battle that appeared to be safely in the hands of the humans. The heavy wind resistance ruffled Dragon-Eyes’ clothes and he held on for dear life as he leaned to the right to see ahead.

  He noticed an enormous black dragon closing in on Riceros Colbert. The eleven-year-old’s golden wings only held him in place as the beast neared. Dragon-Eyes could feel them picking up more speed and Ikeros drove his shoulder into the hind-quarters of the demon’s dragon, spinning the beast in circles. Dragon-Eyes nearly fell off as the impact occurred just before the obsidian animal made contact with Riceros Colbert.

  Ikeros seized on the opportunity and lit up the discombobulated dragon’s wings and belly. Awful smells filled Dragon-Eyes’ nose along with horrid sounds that attacked his ears as the malevolent beast fluttered to the ground and flamed out.

  He heard a rumbling coming from the coast and drawing nearer by the moment. A wild pack of the animals from the demons’ boats were bearing down on the battle field. Dragon-Eyes had trouble watching the wild animals rip into humans and demons alike.

  They appeared to be cross-breeds of dangerous animals like wolves that walked upright, sharp-toothed stags and fire-breathing mountain lions. He also saw elk with flayed bodies and huge racks taller than a giant. The utter destruction caused Dragon-Eyes to look away again.

  Some of the humans had escaped the carnage and were hastily retreating to the School of the Learned Warrior. He felt the dragon turn in the air away from the battle field and they arrived at the entrance to the School in a few minutes. The golden dragon landed and crouched down to make it easier for his passenger to get off. Ikeros didn’t say a word. The dragon rose back into the air and flew away with the rest of the gold and silver dragons.

  This war with the demons wasn’t over. Dragon-Eyes knew that the humans would go after the demons again. He knew that he might die in the action. He also knew that if he did die, he would die as a man who had accomplished his dreams.

  IF YOU ENJOYED THIS prequel story, you should dive into the Pearl of Wisdom Saga to find out how it all ends. Flip ahead to an extended preview of the first book in the series. Link for U.S.

  Link for U.K.

  TWO HEADS TWO SPIKES

  VOLUME 1, PEARL OF WISDOM SAGA

  OLLOR

  THE STRANGER PUSHED the young boy into the thick shrubbery and marched forward. Three unarmored, sword wielding men appeared out of nowhere, approaching from the front.

  “That’s far enough right there,” said the first man.

  “I’m just trying to do a little fishing,” the stranger replied as he stopped and put his hands up.

  The second man barked, “Perhaps you haven’t heard then, the King don’t want anybody going near the river today, so you can turn right around now.”

  The outsider asked, “And the King sent you three to forestall intruders?”

  The men raised their swords in response. Ollor had invaded a foreign land, but he realized he was much larger than all three of these boys, who were tall, but not yet men. The troubled man stood tall and muscular, but sin still clung to his soul. He had greasy black hair that cascaded halfway down his back. His long beard and moustache cloaked most of his facial features. Ollor also wore the specially designed armor created by a wizard. But he did not want to kill these boys.

  If they don’t attack, I can talk some sense into them. Oh Gods, too late.

  All three men rushed Ollor from the front. In one swift motion he drew his sword and took the first attacker’s left sword arm off along with half of his shoulder. As quick as the sword went down, it flashed upward, the furious metal thrusting between the young man’s ribs and into his heart. Like lightning, Ollor pulled out the sword, spun around deftly, and took the second attacker’s head clean off. The third boy ran for his life away from the river, down a beaten trail. The warrior reached behind him for the longbow that always graced his back and plucked out an arrow with a broad, barbed head.

  He closed one eye, drew back, steadied his hand and said, “Sorry young man, but I cannot have you running off and alerting any real guards.”

  The arrow sizzled through the air, slicing straight through the third boy’s neck, dropping him to his knees immediately. He reached up with his right hand and felt the arrow tip dripping with his own blood. Ollor noticed that the blood coming from the back of the boy’s neck was black. The dying boy muttered some incomprehensible words as he gagged. He finally fell flat on his face, splintering the arrow and choking to death. He suddenly dissolved into a black liquid and melted into the ground. Ollor had never seen a coldomore before, but had heard stories of the demon skin changers turning into black blood and sinking into the ground after death. They were known to take over the body of a human or animal. Ollor froze in his tracks, staring at the shattered arrow on the ground. He quickly remembered the closing window of opportunity and focused again. He reached into his pocket to feel for the dragon coin; it was still there.

  Ollor hastily made his way back down the path. In the past he had never felt bad after killing but this time he fought mixed emotions. Ollor was searching for resurrection of his buried soul and didn’t believe killing the young men would help matters. He knew he had to do it for the greater good of all, but for the first time the confused man felt remorse for his actions. Ollor bent down and pulled back the bramble. The young boy that he called Sunny was still there with both hands covering his mouth.

  “You wanted to scream, didn’t you?”

  The red-headed little boy nodded up and down, still with his hands over his mouth.

  “It’s alright now, you can take your hands away,” Ollor reassured the boy.

  He was starving and knew the boy must be too. His dark bluish-grey eyes peered up at the sky as he whistled gently. A huge black falcon with red eyes descended in a circular downward path. It released something from its claws just before landing on the man’s shoulder onto its customary perch. Ollor incurred permanent piercing on his right shoulder from the razor-sharp claws. The hairy, grisly man pounced on the rabbit that the falcon had dropped. The King’s river guards had left a fire burning nearby so Ollor, along with the boy and the falcon, went over to the swaying flames. He fell to his knees and butchered the meager prey. Shortly thereafter, he served charred meat to the boy and let the falcon feast on the remaining carcass and entrails.

  Nightfall approached rapidly, multiplying the difficulties involved in this effort. Spotting a tiny basket in the Rushing River was not an easy task, even in broad daylight. Strangely this sudden burden soothed the hardened warrior’s soul. He had never imagined raising one child, let alone two, but redemption can prove a powerful motivation.

  He closed his eyes and started to shake wildly as his arm rose up and touched the falcon. It launched itself into the air, rising quickly. It then took flight upstream along the river bank. The long-haired man and boy rushed out of the woods toward the river. The falcon returned quickly,
squawking several times upon landing.

  She is still on the way, more redemption. My soul may be saved. What kind of king casts away a child? I know it is customary, but still rather cruel. Just because she was born toeless? Now I have to find the third piece.

  It was almost impossible to see anything as the sun strayed behind the rolling mountains faster than expected. Suddenly, the big onyx falcon took flight and screeched again. It glided close to the river and hovered over what appeared to be the cradle. The falcon clutched a large branch of the basket with its claws and fought the strong river current to pull it ashore.

  Ollor and the boy were waiting. There she was, vanished toes as forewarned, but an innocent looking baby girl otherwise. The man pried the newborn from the makeshift raft. The basket washed back into the river when the boy snatched it. Ollor grabbed it from the boy and inspected the raft. He couldn’t understand how the bassinet had made it miles and miles down the extremely powerful river. He tossed it back into the river but a large beast of the water surged up and devoured the basket. The darkening sky made visibility poor so Ollor couldn’t figure out what he had just witnessed. It looked bigger than any river creature he had seen. He remembered tales he’d heard while growing up, about the river dragons in far-off lands, but he didn’t know what they actually looked like.

  This is a real miracle. The first rescue was amazing and this one defied all logic. That raft should have sunk or been eaten by a river dragon within the first hundred feet. I have to find a sympathetic village away from any cities. Sin flows freely through dark city nights. The deep woods are no place for one child, let alone two and the baby will need shelter soon enough so we must move on. WE.

  That was a good sensation. Now the man had a family to take care of, a new purpose in life. Ollor peered down at Sunny’s upper lip and reminisced about the boy’s mystical birth six years ago.

  Ollor had been wronged by an evil woman and vowed revenge. He even faked his own death and lay low for a while. Then, the celebrated ex-soldier went on a gruesome and murderous campaign, heading straight for the Capitol of the kingdom. Therefore, he traveled as a marked man in these parts, but he had the most important mission of his life to carry out. Therefore, the outlaw plastered dank mud onto his shaggy face, disguising most of his distinguishable features. Detection spelled instant death.

  The wayward drifter had recently altered his image and went by the name of Ollor. He had used a dull dagger blade to cut two self-imposed scars on both cheeks of his face. Ollor thought this would flush the bloody sin and hide his real identity. He had just turned over a new leaf and realized the error in his brutal ways. It took some heartfelt conversations with the wizard who had sent him on this soul-redeeming voyage. Ollor was in his late thirties and he tried to only speak to those necessary for his mission.

  It felt like a warm summer day in the Capitol, even under the canopy of the surrounding forest. Ollor didn’t detect any danger from the King’s Guard as he surveyed the situation. He looked around for the baby boy that the wizard had told him to find. He received very few clues to go upon, so he followed his nose and the unusual smell of burning hair.

  What in the Hells could be burning around here?

  He reached into his pocket to feel the silver dragon coin. It was almost as big as his palm with a little pearl embedded in the dragon’s hand, right in the middle of the coin. He would need to show the coin to the school-master to gain entry for the children. The little wizard had instructed Ollor to find the boy and girl, then take them to the School of the Learned Warrior to learn physical skill and mental will. The wizard revealed to Ollor that the third piece of the plan would find him at the school.

  Is this worth it? Is salvation really going to find its way into my polluted soul? I was told this is my destiny, and so it shall be. For betterment or death.

  The stench grew stronger by the step, but eerily coupled with the smell of scorched flesh. His pace quickened as he heard the growl of an angry woods wolf nearby. That sound suddenly turned into painful shrieks from what seemed like the same animal. He hopped over a golden snake on the path as he drew closer to some smoke that billowed into the air. Ollor pulled aside a branch with different colored leaves to see the redemption of life.

  A naked newborn baby lay alone on the rough forest floor. The tiny creature smiled and gurgled. A closer look showed a cleft palate and a recent cut on his tiny foot caused by a sharp blade.

  How cruel can one be? To heave a defenseless baby to the jaws and claws of nature is torture enough without bleeding the poor kid. All because of a missing lip? I hope his father lives long enough for our homecoming.

  He picked up the kid and clutched the baby to his chest. The corners of Ollor’s mouth curled up, almost smiling, for the first time in years. The area surrounding the child was unimaginable.

  There were ten or fifteen charred animal carcasses around the sanguine baby. Most were still smoldering as if the baby was protected by the spirit of a fire breathing dragon. It looked like the remains of giant foxes, woods wolves, boars and a falcon burned beyond recognition.

  What in all the Hells happened here? This baby surely cannot have the power to harness fire. I guess the little man warned me, unfathomable events will unfold before me.

  Ollor snapped back to the present. He held the newborn close while he rubbed the boy’s auburn hair. Now that he captured the first two pieces, Ollor realized the journey was just beginning. As they walked downstream, just inside the cover of the woods, the young boy asked, “Is this my home?”

  The stunned man reflected for a moment and replied, “In some time, I think everywhere may be your home.”

  SIX YEARS LATER

  THE HAPPY COUPLE

  EDBURGH

  BANG! Edburgh booted open the door to his chambers harder than he wanted to due to his heavy wine consumption. The sudden, rattling report startled the naked being in his bed. The air of his chilly room was heavy with whorish smelling perfumes. He sauntered toward her slowly, sustaining constant eye contact. As Edburgh drew back the see-through bed shade, he noticed his wife’s nipples were extremely aroused. Absent spoken word Ed met her crimson shaded lips in passion. He softly kissed her neck and moved habitually to her breasts. The battle-roughened palm of Ed’s hand slid up her smooth thigh. Caroline radiated lust-filled heat from between her legs.

  Something is not right. What is she up to?

  Edburgh Etburn was an angular man of twenty-six. He possessed shaggy brown hair and a dark complexion, but his bright blue eyes still retained a look of innocence. He tried to remember the story book romance he had shared with Caroline Leeson.

  They grew up together in Waters Edge as members of separate affluent families. He loved her before he was old enough to know what love was. They fell deeper and deeper for each other as the years passed. However, Duke Tyus Etburn had other ideas. Duke Etburn had fixed a marriage pact for Edburgh with a very powerful family. Ed remembered how thrilled his father was about the match. But Edburgh turned down the marriage of convenience. Tyus Etburn didn’t speak to his son for months after the refusal. Ed was shocked when his father broke the silence by sending an assassin to his chambers. At least, he assumed it was his father who had sent the killer. Unfortunately, Ed dispatched the stout, pig-nosed killer before he could question him. But common sense had told him that he better flee Waters Edge until this blew over.

  He needed to see Caroline before he left. During their rendezvous, he disclosed to her that he had to go to Mattingly to handle business with the Colberts.

  Just before embarking on this trip, Edburgh whispered to his love, “You mean everything to me. I love you. When I return I will swear my allegiance to you by the Gods and take you as my bride.”

  Caroline hugged Ed tightly. She squeezed Edburgh with a strong, gripping hug. He recalled her warm face pressed against his and the tears of joy he felt from her eyes that streamed down his cheeks that day. He had extracted a sign of love from his pocket and sp
un Caroline around. He took the long silver necklace that had a crescent moon dangling from it and secured it around her neck. Ed turned her back around and held her like he would never let go, but his vessel was boarding.

  The journey down went according to plan, but the return excursion seemed to take ages. An awful sea tempest spun the boat every which way but home. He endured searing heat, starvation and his brain jesting him.

  I must return to Waters Edge, for I shall love Caroline like no other man has loved a woman.

  Ed’s loving thoughts were suddenly captured by a monstrous beast emerging from the murky waters.

  It was dark purple and black, like an old festering wound, with a neck that appeared twenty men high. The body equaled four large ships and looked to be protected by its scale-like armor, shingled from top to bottom. The two arms were half the size of its neck, and there were three spikes protruding from the tip of each hand. The beast had a bright blue head with fiery glowing eyes and curved dagger-like teeth. The monstrosity looked up to the sky and spewed green sea water high toward the heavens. The creature then let out a roar that sounded like thousands of men screaming painfully in unison. It rocked the boat with such force that several passengers were tossed into the deep green waters, plummeting to certain death. The monster could have crushed the vessel like a person flicking a bug.

  Abruptly, Edburgh looked up directly into the creature’s face that threatened impending doom. For a slight moment the humongous beast didn’t appear as intimidating and appeared to recede into the horizon.

  One of Edburgh’s shipmates looked at him and mysteriously said, “Sin lies and dies in the eyes of the beholder, my Lord.”