"As much as I would love to leave you here and not have to deal with you, I'd also love to finally have father's approval back, even if it meant pretending like I give a shit about you enough to wake you from your eternal slumber."
Kai's contemptuous tone was something Kion did not miss.
"Get up. There are more pressing matters currently. It's unfortunate that you almost got yourself killed during the mercenary attack."
Kai helped Kion to his feet, as he took in his surroundings.
The first big shock was that it was already nightfall.
Kion realised that he must have been knocked out for hours.
The carriages that they had used for travel were wrecked beyond repair. Most likely a parting gift from Mouse and her mercenaries after they had stolen from them.
Around them were knights and soldiers who still seemed groggy from the last battle. Kion also noticed that the priests had finally made their appearance.
"We're happy to have you back with us, your highness." The head priest said as he noticed Kion standing.
"Forgive me for the confusion." The Priest bowed with his apology. "We were actually on pilgrimage at a nearby town. We thought we'd send word to your caravan of our impromptu but imminent departure. Turned out, that the message owl we had used was killed along the way by your assailants. Struck down by an arrow with an aim so true."
"So your message never really got to us, and we walked headfirst into a trap." Kion concluded.
"We had no information on the intrusion or whatsoever. I was at a loss when I stumbled upon my temple and saw you all sprawled across the street like abandoned puppets. This temple zone is a restricted area as well, so nobody usually comes here. Those mercenaries must've been really bold to vilify sacred ground like this."
"It's alright, priest." Kion said as he lay a hand upon his shoulder. "We'll take it from here. But if I may ask, you don't happen to have any talent scrolls for a lightning sub domain do you?"
"Your highness this is a temple, not a battle workshop."
"Then you're as useless to me as are your excuses."
The priest blinked in shock.
Kion walked out on him back to where Kai was. He needed to assess the damage fast, and get leads as to where the new Sacrilax gang has gone.
Meanwhile, Kai's nose was buried deep in a piece of parchment.
"What is that?"
Kai looked up with a sneer.
"Well why you were busy taking a nap, I took the liberty of sending word back to the castle for more food supply coin, and a new carriage. Father just sent back his response."
"What's it say?" Kion asked.
"Well why don't you see it for yourself?" Kai handed him the piece of paper.
Kion felt a knot form in his throat as he read through the words.
The message in the paper was clear. They were not getting so much as a nickel from the castle. King Aurelius had boldly stated that. What intrigued him though, were the words marked in red ink at the bottom of the page.
It went like this:
"Do not message me ever again until you've completed the mission. This initial failure just shows that you both are a bunch of ROYAL CLOWNS!"
***
The communion with the priests went by faster than expected.
It was normally a procession that would take hours, as the head priest and his acolytes blessed the mission with the favour of the Old Gods by conducting numerous rituals and prayers, ensuring every piece of equipment, from the carriage to the smallest weapon, was sanctified in holy waters before anything was to be done.
But given the theft and destruction that had ensued earlier, there turned out to be not much to pray over.
And Kai's mood was not helping one bit.
He had been the most rattled out of the pair ever since the inception of the letter they had received from the castle. The letter that would change everything.
Even upon their status as the royal princes, they were not getting any further help from Stormholt.
"That arrogant bastard!" Kai screamed as he punched a wall for the fifth time.
"Who does he think he is? Condemning us to such dire circumstances? If he wants to get rid of us—to get rid of me—he should just get on with it already!"
"Ughhhh! I can't with this!" Kai said with a hint of finality as he settled down by the fire. The remaining soldiers and knights that surrounded them as well hadn't said a word, but the tension was still very much palpable in their bodies.
This mission was already a suicide mission, but with no supplies, resources, or barely even any weapons since most of everything had been stolen…
It was basically a suicide mission.
And then there was Kion, who leaned on a broken piece of the carriage, watching his brother's temper tantrums unfold with an expressionless gaze.
Kai shivered near the fire, but when he spotted his brother's eyes locked on him, he suddenly looked stoic.
"And what's it to you?" He asked. "Father might have found you in his favour but it doesn't mean you get to judge me, okay?! I had no idea that any of this would happen!" Kai continued, waving his arms wildly in the air.
Kion knew he had to take hold of the situation. It wasn't a good thing for their subordinates to see them in such disarray.
He calmly walked to where his brother sat, talking in a voice that only he could hear.
"Last I remember, the King called us both clowns. He doesn't favour me any more than he does you. And that's saying something. On the other hand, you're scaring our cavalry even more with your performances."
"And what do you suggest I do? I'm meant to be leading this mission and I can't even get aid from my own kingdom as custom demands." Kai retorted.
"Maybe it's time we stopped following the book. We have to work together, but for now, just follow my lead so we can get back on track."
Upon hearing those words, Kai turned a glare in Kion's direction but the younger prince was already mobilising his new plan.
"Sir Gaius!" He called.
The knight walked over without hesitation.
"Before we got sidetracked we were originally heading east, correct?"
"Yes sire."
"Okay I want you to fetch your most skilled scouts from the remaining soldiers we have here and order them to go through every inch of Styria and mark every landmark there is. They should also ask travelling locals on the directions to leave the city if one may wish to travel eastwards. They should be back before sunrise. And as for supplies…"
Kion slipped off the signet ring on his finger. The very one Mouse had attempted to steal before he burnt her wrists.
He squeezed it into Sir Gaius' palm.
"Sir I can't take this." The knight interjected.
"Well, this is the only valuable thing I have left. And what is the use flaunting my status with a ring when my belly makes noises like a swamp hog? Thsi would cost a fortune in the market. Ensure you get this to a proper merchant that will fetch a good price for it. I'm entrusting this task with you. Can I trust you on this, Gaius?"
Sir Gaius blinked rapidly, partly out of surprise that Kion would be willing to sell of his legacy for their sake and partly out of his disbelief that the young prince could handle crisis so well.
He was sure Kion would make for a good leader.
"Yes, your highness. I am yours to command."
Sir Gaius bowed.
"Alright boys, you heard the prince. Get moving!"
And just like that, order finally began to establish itself through the tension as soldiers prepared themselves for their respective tasks, their purpose clear now that commands had been given.
Meanwhile, Kion turned to his brother, who watched everything unfold weary-eyed.
"And what are we going to be doing?" Kai questioned.
Kion stared him down for a moment, before finally speaking.
"Proving to dear old father that we are not royal clowns."