《The Prince of Tansal》


 Where it all Started

    A scream bellowed through the stone castle; quickly followed by the rustling of bodies and shouts of people from all classes, servants through to royals. The long awaited day had finally arrived, the royals first born. A boy meant to lead a nation, to change the world as they knew it.


    Thick black hair clung to her sweat-slick brow.


    Another wave of pain crashed into her leaving bright white spots speckled through her vision. The numbing backache started at mid-morning then quickly accelerated to stomach-turning agony that left her speechless and gasping for air.


    A chill rolled up her spine as the constrictor tightening around her midsection loosened its grip ever so slightly. She collapsed back into her husband''s soiled shirt. Her favorite autumn dress is tattered around her legs. Her thighs were slick with scarlet.


    ¡°Darling, I know it hurts, but you have to keep going.¡±, her husband''s words fell on deaf ears as her stomach cramped tighter together.


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    Silent tears began to slide down her flushed cheeks, ¡°I can¡¯t do it.¡±Her whole body shook with the force of her ever-growing sobs, ¡°I can¡¯t do this, Jax. Not again.¡±


    Softly kissing her temples, he whispered into her skin, ¡°You have to, Ael. I¡¯ll be with you the whole time.¡±, he tightened his grip on her hand, ¡°I promise you can do this, just one more push.¡±


    Catching her breath, she inhaled one final gulp of air and pushed with all she had left in her. Fingers digging into her husband''s flesh a broken scream tore out her throat leaving the bedroom quiet. The constrictor loosened its grip in her womb, her whole body collapsed further into the cushions. The seconds ticked by what felt like hours, years waiting for the one sound she prayed for. That sweet simple sound.


    A sharp, angry cry tore from the bundle in the midwife''s arms, a world-shattering scream of triumph- He made it, and he wanted the whole world to know it.


    A small chuckle met her lips as the little boy was placed into her shaky arms. Her little prince.


    Rich black hair curled around his crown, his dark complexion glowing in the afternoon sun. Seemingly kissed by the God of fire leaving him both pure and beautiful. The king''s gasp of awe as he took in their son, filled her heart completely. Perfect. Her family was perfect.

 Chapter 1

    Hell.


    That¡¯s what it was.


    The darkness around every corner, pain filling every sense. What day was it again, how long had it been since I stepped outside?


    I can¡¯t even remember what the flowers smell like anymore. Four walls creeping ever closer with every minute. The slick stone was cold pooling with a sticky liquid coating my knees. What was it again? My blood or¡­


    Fuck I don¡¯t even want to think about it, when did I go to the bathroom last? I can¡¯t even remember that.


    The chains rattled as he shifted his weight, digging further into his wrists. There it was again that thick liquid dripping its way down his arms warming the cool skin below it. The only sounds were his ragged breath and the drips sliding from his arms to the pool of liquid beneath him. The pain pulled his eyes closed, bright white filled his eyelids, ¡°No!¡±


    Cold air bit his cheeks. The white in his vision faded slowly. Screams fell onto his ears growling louder and louder. His clothes felt heavy, but familiar they fit him in all the right places. Something large weighed his right hand down another familiar feeling. Fear and adrenaline rushed through his body. He hadn¡¯t realized he was looking at the sky till the blue filled his vision. Small specks of snow kissed his face.


    ¡°Captain!¡±, a scream bellowed next to his ear. Flicking his head quickly he saw a man, his pale complexion covered in dirt and filth. Armour atoned every inch of his body battered and bloody. Deep caramel eyes wide staring right at him, ¡°Captain Senestral what are you doing?!¡±


    Gripping even tighter on the thing in his hand he knew then it was a sword, his sword. Looking past the man next to him he saw a sea of bodies. Men moving like waves across a battlefield. Screams and clanking of metal on metal. Just above them specks flew through the skies.flashed of blue and green flew from the speck onto the wave below. Sheathing his sword he moved with grace, pulling a bow from his back and an arrow with it. Knocking the arrow in place he took a breath.


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    The arrow flew through the sky swiftly and fast, a speck dropped fast towards the ground and air left his lungs. Slinging the bow on his back, ripping the sword into his hands. A step turned into a sprint then a full force run. His heart was beating in his ears. Slashing his sword across people and a whirlwind of power, he cut down as many people as he could making his way fast through the wall of men. Blood spilled covering him head to toe. It dripped into his eyes, but he did not care that rage had always come back filling every movement. All his men followed in suit. He had forgotten how many were even following him. Flaming arrows flew through the sky taking down men on the battlefield and the ones in the sky. Growing closer he relied they were the witches from the northern territory. Few of the enemy men remained, they had few to even start. It was the last spark of the relaxation and it was soon to be snuffed out.


    Bodies laid everywhere the smell infiltrated every sense. The captain made it to the first witch he shot down from the sky, he froze. She lay there bleeding gasping for air. Her coarse curly hair wound into braids around her head forming a crown. Gold sticks jetting out beautifully. Her deep brown skin was kissed by the goddess of the sun herself. One golden eyes matching the captain''s, the other bright blue like the sea itself. He stared for a long time at the girl. It felt like seconds turned to years. There she was again, her eyes begging for help.


    He dropped to his knees covering her wound on her belly with his already blood soaked hands. True fear flowed through him. He had thought she died years ago and yet here she lay her life spilling from her from his hands. His damned hands.


    Tears filled his eyes, blurring his vision, he pushed harder. Begging the bleeding to stop, but it just seeped through his fingers.


    ¡°No,¡± his voice whispered, ¡°Please no, I..I beg you.¡± Tears clean streaks down his face. She held his gaze.


    Her last breath left her lips, she went still. White filed his vision once more.


    Limp body laying in the cell. Cold, quiet, bleeding. This happened a lot . No one knew, everyone just assumed he was pulled into unconsciousness from the pain. This was worse than being in that dark lonely cell, this was the worst day of his life and he had to relive it again and again.

 Chapter 2

    Steal scraped against stone. Bright light flooding to the room blinding the Captain.


    ¡°it¡¯s time to wake up rat,¡± water splashed forwards from the blinding light. Cold it was so cold. Chains rattled around his wrists.


    Why are they here, they never come in.


    The man stepped closer and unchained on hand it fell to his side, this feeling so foreign once a normal position for his body now painful. Then his other hand fell. His arms unable to move from the pain pulsating through his shoulders. Hands pulled him up to his feet, numb everywhere. The brief freedom was cut short as more chain were closed around his writs once again. Then his ankles, around his waist and finally a chain to connect them all.


    One step feet slick from the blood and urine mixture now coating the bare bottoms. Eyes still stinging from the immediate introduction of firelight. Hand grasp shoulders and shove. Two steps. Legs shaking as he goes from the heavy chains weighing on his frail body. Shoes scuffle against stone, it¡¯s the men are surrounding him. Delirious can¡¯t tell how many people there are. Step three, and four. His eyes begin to see shades of grey, the stone walls of a hallway. The light wavering between brighter and dimmer.


    They lead him through the prison, it was disorienting. He could barely keep himself concuss because of the thousands of needles stinging into his body from the blood flowing how it¡¯s supposed to. Eyes finally adjusted to torches aligning walls on either side providing the only light as they continued. Theodore could tell now there were two men with him one shoving his shoulder every time he slows. The other keeping a safe distance presumably from the stench radiating off of him. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    They approached a set of large intricately designed doors, large elks carved on either side rearing up in a fighting stance. It was the first beautiful thing Theodore saw in months, has his mouth not been so dry he might have even gasped in appreciation of such a site. Something so unfamiliar to him now. The doors were pulled open by unseen force. Guards simultaneously shoved and dragged Theodore into the room. Fresh blood peaked through the chains on his wrists and ankles. Before he could take in his surroundings face met floor. Cold, hard marble. It felt nice something to soothe the burning of his shoulders.


    ¡°This is him?¡±, a Thick accented voice filled the room,¡°He doesn¡¯t look like much.¡±


    ¡°This is him,¡± the guard replied, ¡°He¡¯s alive, with some work he¡¯ll get back to where he once was.¡±


    ¡°Why did you keep him in this state?¡±


    With a groan Theodore shifted the weight of his upper body to his hands, heaving his shoulder towards the upright position.


    THUD


    His face met the cold floor again as a boot met his back. Craning his neck Theodore tried to get a look at the mysterious man only able to glimpse fine leather boots of whoever was seated before him. Golden clasps adorning the sides.


    ¡°He came here as an aggressive man unwilling to do as he was told, we placed him into solitary to brake him.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s more valuable now my lord,¡± the guard replied.


    The pushy guard removed his boot from Theodore¡¯s back, hands cupped under shoulders and heaved him to his feet. His eyes slid from the floor to the man before him fine leather and unmarked steal armour adorned the small man in front  of him. He must be wealthy. A coin marked with a horse main flowing in unseen wind, a green cloak pined underneath.


    ¡°Hello Captain,¡± The main stared up at Theodore only a few inches below his chin, ¡°You need a bath, but we¡¯ll do that later. Throw him in the cage,¡± With that the man turned and grabbed a golden goblet off to the side and took a large swing. Red liquid balled up in the cornered of his sandy blonde beard.


    The world became fuzzy again Theodore¡¯s body had been too stained from all the sudden movement. The world went back.