《Hawkstone(Tentative Title)》 Prologue: Funeral Author''s Note: Third story I''ve started. Will be updated every Sunday. This one is more political . As always reviews,ratings,Recommendations,Corrections,Questions and comments are greatly appreciated ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Prologue: Funeral --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The funeral was held in the capital rather than at their ancestral home. He had an idea as to why his grandfather had wanted it this way. ¡°My condolences, your grandfather was a good man.¡± This was the 15th one so far, and like the rest, McNeal answered with a smile. ¡°Thank you Baron Jiner.¡± His grandfather saw his own funeral as a way for McNeal to start making connections with people. His grandfather had once said, ¡°No matter what rank they may hold it¡¯s best to treat them all as potential allies.It¡¯s best to have the right friends in the right places.¡± So he smiled, even to merchants who held no noble titles. He thanked them all for attending his grandfather¡¯s funeral. Many of the people who had shown up couldn¡¯t care less about his grandfather¡¯s death. They were all here to catch a glimpse of the new young head of House Hawkstone. The last living person of House Hawkstone, one of the four pillars of the Thisadora Kingdom. McNeal Hendrick Hawkstone was the last of his kin. He had no brothers or sisters nor any cousins or uncles, even the bloodlines of the branch houses had died out. His grandfather was 50 at the time of his death. Since birth he had been sick and weakly and was always bedridden, but he managed to get his wife pregnant. However, McNeal¡¯s father had died at the age of 20. His grandfather had been lucky that Mcneil had been conceived as his father was more fond of young men. Now the fate of his House rested upon the shoulders of a fifteen year old. "Young master." Called a man in a butler uniform who was surprisingly young opposing all the stereotypes that placed butlers as old men. McNeal turned to him. "What is it?" "Shall I bring the carriage around?" Asked the butler a bit scared at McNeal''s tone of voice. The funeral proceedings finished and most of the attendants had left. He turned to stare at his grandfather''s tombstone. "Please do so" answered McNeal. The butler nodded and left leaving McNeal alone. "I''m sorry about your grandfather." Ugh another annoyance He turned with an annoyed look only for his expression to change instantly to one of surprise and enlightenment. "We¡¯re you not expecting a beautiful young woman or perhaps you were expecting an old man? " Said the young brunette girl while smiling. McNeal returned to his serious expression. "No, I could tell by your voice that you weren''t an old man." Lied McNeal. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. "Liar." He stared at the girl. Brown doe like eyes with her brown hair tied up in a bun. The dress she wore spoke of her status. She was definitely a member of high nobility. It wouldn''t surprise McNeal if she were a daughter of one of the four great houses. "Princess!" Hmm? Did she call someone princess? Surely she''s not referring to this girl. An elderly maid ran up to them breathing in large amounts of air. Sweat ran down her forehead even though the weather was cloudy and grey. It occurred to him that she had been running after the girl. The maid steadied her breath and said "Princess please don''t jump of the carriage like that." The maid sternly scolded the princess The princess frowned."I was still late Matilda. Even after ditching the carriage and royal escort I still arrived late. " "Well, the traffic on the main roads was heavy so it couldn''t be helped to be a tad late." Explained the maid " A tad bit late!? The procession is already over!" Complained the princess While the two women continued to bicker McNeal''s mind was confused. Princess. It''s The princess. He hadn''t addressed the princess as befitted her status. The princess finally noticed McNeal''s expression and smiled. She stood there as if waiting for something. He noticed her stare and they each continued to stare at each other''s eyes. Neither backing down. McNeal''s right eye twitched in irritation. The princess was amused and continued to wait and stare at him. Slowly as if being forced to eat off the floor he bowed down to her. "It''s an honor to meet you, your highness Izabella" he said with great reluctance "Likewise," she answered happily "I am Duke McNeal of House Hawkstone." She continued to smile and extended her hand to him. Perhaps she intended for him to kiss her hand but he simply shook her hand as if in defiance. A small smile crept up his face as he won the small victory. Although others might argue that he was actually a loser for not kissing such a beautiful hand. "Well, you''re not Duke yet until you meet my father, the king... And then there''s the whole ceremony, and the seal and all that boring stuff." He frowned and turned to look at an approaching carriage on the road. "Ah, If you''ll excuse me my carriage is here so I bid you goodbye." He walked briskly to the carriage and entered the adorned carriage. The princess stood there bewildered without offering a goodbye. Usually anyone near her age would talk to her endlessly with sweet words to the point of annoyance. No it wasn''t just those her age even older gentlemen constantly jumped at the chance to conversate with her. Weird Thought both the maid and princess as the carriage pulled away. Prologue: Part Two Author''s Note: Hmm this Fiction will be more politics and sex. Summoned prince will be more action and some drama. The third one will be more mellow and slow. As always reviews,ratings,Recommendations,Corrections,Questions and comments are greatly appreciated ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prologue: Part Two ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª He groaned and held his head while sitting inside the elegant carriage with pillowed seating. ¡°Young master, are you in pain?¡± asked the young butler. ¡°I¡¯m fine it''s just things are troublesome.¡± he sighed when the carriage suddenly hit something. he heard a scream. ¡°Hmm? Belio find out what happened.¡± he ordered the butler ¡°Yes,my lord.¡± said Belio as he stepped out of the carriage. After a short while Belio returned and moved the curtain of the carriage that hid the interior from the outside world. ¡°It seems we''ve hit something, my lord. The driver is currently getting it out of the way,¡± explained Belio. McNeal exhaled through his nose. ¡°I¡¯ve said it once and I¡¯ll say it again. I hate troublesome things,¡± he said as he stepped out of the carriage. ¡°Yes , young master.¡± ¡°Also stop it with that. Grandfather¡¯s dead so it¡¯s Duke or Lord. Got it?¡± ¡°Yes, youn...ahem I mean Young Lord.¡± McNeal grunted and towards the front of the carriage. ¡°I¡¯ll pay 1 silver to whoever gets this brat out of the way!¡± screamed the carriage driver to the crowd that had formed. A few people started to slowly step forward. ¡°Stop! don¡¯t move!¡± McNeal turned down to see a young boy no older than 10 with his leg broken. He turned to the Carriage driver with a questioning stare. ¡°He jumped out of nowhere, M¡¯lord!¡± The driver explained ¡°Find me a doctor.¡± said McNeal as he picked the child up. A younger boy came closer and McNeal assumed he was a young brother to the injured boy. ¡°My lord?¡± asked the carriage driver confused McNeal breathed in deeply annoyed¡± If you don¡¯t find me a doctor in five minutes you are fired! understood?¡± The man nodded and ran off. ¡°Hey kid stop crying.¡± McNeal¡¯s attempt to calm down the crying child backfired and caused the child to cry even louder. He sighed again and turned to the other young boy. ¡°Kid what¡¯s your name?¡± the child avoided McNeal¡¯s gaze. He¡¯s scary! Sadly the child misunderstood McNeal¡¯s normal expression for one of anger. As the young lord of Hawkstone always seemed serious and sometimes pissed off. ¡°It¡¯s connor.¡± said the boy in a whisper ¡°what was that?¡± ¡°ah um it¡¯s connor.¡± ¡°Speak louder. I can¡¯t hear you!¡± McNeal slightly raised his voice The little boy started to shake while holding back tears. ¡°No don¡¯t cry please.¡± The surrounding crowd started to think that the noble was purposely making the children cry. Flustered Mcneal churned his head for a solution. ah where the hell is that doctor!? ¡°um if both of you stop crying I¡¯ll buy you a pony.¡± Slowly both boys understood the implications of those words. *sniffle* As the children began to quiet down. The carriage driver returned accompanied by an older man who carried a large leather. ¡°My lord there¡¯s a slight problem.¡± said the driver. ¡°It¡¯s one gold coin for my services.¡± said the doctor arrogantly ¡°What!?¡± asked Mcneal angrily ¡°I¡¯m under the service of a lord after all.¡± ¡°Do you take me for a fool?¡¯ McNeal put down the boy. ¡°Five silvers is all I¡¯ll be paying and You¡¯d best remember who I am. I am the head of House Hawkstone.¡± The doctor gulped. House Hawkstone might not have much influence these days but their name still echoed in the kingdom''s history. The house of berserkers. Insult one of their own and your family was liable to being beheaded. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. ¡°Right then five silvers. Terra help the boy.¡± That was when McNeal noticed the girl behind the old Doctor. Black hair and a face slightly higher than average in looks. She knelt next to the buy and applied a splint. ¡°Luckily the fracture didn¡¯t break skin or he would have died of fever.¡± said the girl named Terra. McNeal called over Belio quietly and whispered to him. ¡° Make sure to find out everything about that girl.¡± ¡°Yes, My lord.¡± After she was done patching up the boy,McNeal walked up to the the small boys. ¡°You guys remember your way home?¡± They both nodded and McNeal carried the boy with the broken leg. ¡°Come on then I¡¯ll take you with my carriage.¡± He walked to the carriage carrying the boy while being followed by the younger brother connor. ¡°I never did catch your name.¡± he said to the boy in his arms. ¡°Is terry, sir¡± ¡°Well then terry please do tell my driver the way home.¡± It might not have been exciting to ride a carriage but it was a new experience for the boys giving them joy nonetheless. After a while the carriage entered the seedier parts of the city. People eyed the carriage as it was a strange sight to see such an ornate carriage around these parts. They finally pulled next to a small house. In front was a man as tall as McNeal and that''s saying something as McNeal was taller than average. ¡°It¡¯s father.¡± said connor depressingly. This thug looking man is their father? McNeal stepped out of the carriage while carrying Terry and Connor followed along. ¡°You¡¯re both late, your mother was worried you little shits!Hmm?¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Ah yes that would be my driver¡¯s fault.¡± explained McNeal. ¡°So then how much money do I get for compensation?¡± asked the boys¡¯ Father Hmm? ¡°Ah yes your son is fine. He¡¯ll just need a few weeks of rest.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care bout¡¯ that. How much money do I get?¡± At that time the door to the house was opened and a a women with a rather large bust stepped out. She had a great figure for a mother of two. ¡°My baby!¡± are you ok?¡± she ran up to McNeal ¡°Ah he¡¯s fine. A broken leg but a few weeks of rest and he¡¯ll be fine again.¡± ¡°Thank the gods.¡± She hugged her child while McNeal was still holding him. ¡°Ah erm is there somewhere I can set him down?¡± asked McNeal ¡°Hmm? ah yes please set him down inside.¡± The mother led him into the house and into a small room with a single bed. McNeal laid Terry down. McNeal left the room while the mother attended to her child. ¡°So then about that compensation.¡± McNeal observed the house. It was empty and had only the basic necessities and the area where they live in wasn¡¯t that great. Hmm does he think I¡¯m a merchant¡¯s son? ¡° Hmmhmm.¡± ¡°Do you know about the four families Mister um.¡± ¡°Sperkle is my Houses¡¯ name. I am a knight who serves one of the four so yes.¡± ¡°A knight? A knight should be providing with better conditions than this,¡± The man scowled ¡°Anywho Mr.Sperkle be glad that I didn¡¯t decide to take your son¡¯s head for getting in the way of my carriage.House Hawkstone isn¡¯t known for being very forgiving.¡± McNeal opened his coat and revealed an emblem sewn onto his shirt displaying a Hawk on a ridge. Mr.Sperkle stood there silently while McNeil left and entered his carriage. ¡°Let¡¯s go home Belio.¡± ¡°Um which home ? young lord.¡± McNeal¡¯s Grandfather spent his days at their Ancestral castle which was at the heart of their territories. It was weeks away from the capital. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the mansion obviously.¡± House Hawkstone also had a mansion in the capital. It is here where McNeil decided to live in order to reclaim his Houses fame.