MARKO
Seventeen Years Ago
I ran towards his chambers, not daring to believe they were dead. I ran until I reached the door leading into his chambers. I opened it, and there I saw the bloody body of a man lying on his stomach. I couldn't hold it any longer. The anxiety was burying itself deeper within my heart. I slowly walked towards the man. As I approached him, I heard a scuffle behind me. I quickly turned my head around. There he was, Prince Simon. A shiver ran down my spine as I saw the young boy standing over another immobile body. The scabbard in his hand glinted in the dim light, drenched in blood. No emotion was in the young boy's face as he stared down at the unmoving person. I carefully stepped closer, not wanting to frighten him in his… unsainted state. I knelt near the body and checked for a pulse. None. Shit… he killed someone. I shouldn't tell the queen, it'd be another reason for her to strip him of his title as crown prince. Blame it on the ten-year-old for trying to survive. I slowly got up and saw the coldness in the young prince's eyes. He should be frightened, or at least anything besides that expression… What happened while I was gone?
I stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Are you alright, my prince?" "What happened?" He asked, still stuck staring at the corpse. He doesn't know, I thought. "Someone is here to hurt you and your family," I explained as simply as possible, "The Queen, princes, and princess are okay, but the king is gone." "They killed him, didn't they, the Zarinoans?" He asked calmly as if he expected this, which made my fear of him losing himself worse. I denied it smoothly, refusing to tell him the truth. " Tell him the fucking truth already, Marko" I looked up to see Angus, a sneer across his face as he sees how soft I'm with the prince. I glared at him. "Hello, Angus," I answered. He nods curtly before stepping beside me and speaking to the prince. "Yes, Your Highness. The king has been killed. And it was… horrifying to say the least. But Marko is not wrong. Her Majesty and her children are alright in the stables. It is not your fault that you couldn't be there for your father. You are still a child." I could see the anger pass through his face as he stared at Angus, "I wish I were older. My father would still be alive…" I watch the way his facial features twitch with anger, and his frustration and irritation at his young age are palpable.
I felt bad for the young boy, who only wanted to make sure his father was still alive. The pity continued to grow as I finally understood that the law expects this child, not even near to being of age, to become king. He already shows great strength at his age, yet he is still a child and vulnerable to the likes of the court, and he would have to meet with the other kings from the rest of the continent. I don't take notice, as I contemplate what to do to help his highness with what's to come, the gash that trickles with blood, on his left bicep. That must hurt, I thought. I quickly grabbed the kit that we kept under his bed and tended to his wound. He barely flinched as I applied the healing tonic to the bleeding wound. The fear eats at me once again. This poor boy should not, by any standard, feel no pain. He is nothing but a child, a strong child, but still a youngster.
"We should get going, Your Highness," Angus calmly suggested, "It is getting too quiet, and we need to reunite you with the rest of your family." I nod in agreement. Simon sighs, not a sight of gladness on his face. He takes my hand, albeit reluctantly, and allows me to help him onto my back. I nod at Angus as he grabs the unlit torch off the wall. He flicks his right hand up, and it sparks to life, the warm embers lighting the room. "You're a mage?" Simon asks in a whisper as we walk down the dimly lit stairs. Angus nods, slightly opening another door to see if we can pass through safely. He turns back and nods. Simon continues, "So did you go to Malvrin to study?" "To study Magical Engineering and Mechanics? Hell no, Your Highness…" Angus stiffened as we heard the clattering of metal falling on the stone floor. I stop, waiting for his signal to turn, and run away with the prince. The young prince's hands dig into my shoulders, holding on tightly, awaiting my sudden turn and dash. Angus creeps inside the room where the noise comes from. We come back out, waving for us to follow.
After a while of running and dodging places with the enemy, we find the Queen, the princess, and the princes right where I left them in the stables. "Marko!" I turned to see my wife running towards me. "Solore!" I embrace her without another thought. The thought of losing her in this invasion had also plagued me as I was searching for Crown Prince Simon. Solore whispers as we hold each other tightly, "This is beyond what I can comprehend. The Zarinoans are not known to be this aggressive." "I do not understand this issue either, my sun. It seems we have been underestimating them."
Though the Zarinoans were currently attacking, Bromithel is known for its aggressive military tactics. The Zarinoans were known for their witchcraft, assassins, their healing powers, and for being a population of mostly elves. In the East, Malvrin was known for its Magical Engineering, allowing the mana stones to be purified for use. Finally, in the South, the Azmiths were known for their agriculture and for being the most peaceful of the four countries. Their army was the weakest because of the drought they went through ten years ago, which led to many of their people dying.
I snap out of my thoughts as I hear the shrill sound of the Queen's sobs. She seemed to be grieving for the late king. I pull away from my wife's embrace. The Queen's personal maid and four-year-old daughter, Yehna, started to comfort her. Angus tried his best to give comforting words to the grieving Queen, "The king died honorably. He stood his ground, and we would not be alive still if he had not used the last of the crown curse." Between her sobs and Angus trying to comfort her, I heard the twins whispering. Simon would be the next king. "Axl and Isorn are right," my eyes widen. "Yes," agreed Solore, "Simon should be the king now." I turn to her, pulling her aside, so the Queen does not overhear. "Sorry, my love, but I do not believe the Queen will come to accept this fact. Simon is the only true heir of the King and the late Queen, Revera. The rest of the children are from Queen Monarcha. It would drive her insane that he would take the crown and that her children would not be given the chance. You know how she's been asking the Imperial law to change so that any prince or princess could show their talents, and that the firstborn is not always placed as Crown Prince? Even though we know that all the firstborn children tend to be the strongest in the Royal Family, my Trinalo. We should be quiet for now…" "Shen de ni Vapola… You are right, my
The princes, both Axl and Isorn turn towards Simon and take a low bow. Smart boys for their age… The queen immediately started to shake her head, rejecting that it would not be one of her children usurping the throne. "No. No. No! NO! He has no right to take the throne. Just being the first child is not enough!" "He is the crown prince, maman," exclaimed the young prince, Axl. This is the first time she has acted up against Simon like this in a while… She would probably have had his title stripped from him if she could, but knowing that the King loved him dearly, that is nearly impossible.
I look at Solore, who is already tending to the crown prince's wounds. The Queen starts trying to tell Simon to back down, that he has no experience. He was visibly irritated. If he doesn't back down and she hurts him, this could mean he could finally tell her to back off, or worse, dethrone her.
"I have to, My Queen," Simon murmured to himself. "Speak up, boy," Angus growled. "AS FIRST IN LINE FOR THE THRONE, YOU MUST HONOR MY DECISION TO TAKE THE THRONE. I AM THE RIGHTFUL HEIR!" Simon yelled. I was taken aback by his outburst. He is usually a shy boy. "I believe he has had enough of his stepmother's torment…" Solore whispered. I nod briskly and step forward.
I give Simon a long and hard look, trying to decipher what is going to happen. When I found nothing, I bowed deeply, and everyone else followed suit. "Long live King Simon, the eternal flame of our land."