This is another piece from The Unlikely Hero, the fantasy novel I wrote during NaNo. It has been edited for clarity to those of you reading for the first time (I hope).
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“The crown and my amulet must reach Ulia before the king dies. I must have them bonded before the inauguration. Do you understand what I am asking of you, knights?”
Prince Aletalian wasted no time going over the coronation plans with the Guild Knights of Tierna’Or on a regular basis, especially since he knew his father’s days were numbered. He wanted to make sure there was no doubt or traitors among the men, and they all knew their part. The Prince dismissed the Guild after a wave of bobbing heads gave him the answer he wanted. Only Galain, chief Guild Knight, stayed behind.
“And what of your sister, sire?” Galain asked. “Gwyneth is next in line to inherit the throne, not you. I am your servant and will do as you ask, but I want to be clear that you realize the stakes of what you are doing. The people may never trust you if you use deceit to claim the throne. A king is only a king if the people will serve him.”
“Thank you for your concern. I have already dispatched several Hunters to find her. If she still be alive, she will be found. Whoever finds her is instructed only to inform her our father is ill. I want to be the one to enlighten her that he is dying when she returns.”
Prince Aletalian was looking forward to that. He had been cloaked in her shadow for so long. Bitterness had deprived his capacity to love her. She had excelled at everything ahead of him, even on the battlefield. It was he that was supposed to be the greatest Hunter ever born, the heir apparent to the throne. It was he who mended his shattered father when she left. Yet it was Gwyneth who still held the favor of the king’s heart.
Despite his words to Galain, he had no intentions of bringing her back alive though, as the scouts he had sent out to hunt for her had been werebeings, on loan from Ulia. He had no doubt they would find her. Werebeings were powerful creatures, not only in magic, but in strength. Their human side was almost as powerful as a sorcerer. The wolf side usually came out during battle. Only death could kill the wolf, a task not easily accomplished. They had the lives of a cat, rebounding time and again. In their wolf forms, they were the greatest trackers on Savania. Only the fairies were better, but he had no use for fairies. Gwyneth’s skills would be no match for a werebeing.
“Have you started training the new recruits yet?”
“Nay. We’ve only just taken on the last one. Tomorrow we shall begin the training.”
“All is well then, Galain. You are dismissed. Have Yssik come in behind you.”
“Yes, my lord.” Galain offered a small customary bow before he opened the large wooden door and left the room.
This week's prompt was jealousy. Concrit is always welcome. I struggled a bit with creating more imagery from my first draft. Does the flow stay the same all the way through, or does the occasional modern color throw it off? Suggestions on writing colorfully in medieval times would be greatly appreciated.
Won't you also take a moment and jump over to my writing partner, Mommylebron, and check out her piece, too?
Won't you also take a moment and jump over to my writing partner, Mommylebron, and check out her piece, too?
