The Prophecy

The Prince

"SIRE!!"

A loud swish cut through the air and an arrow sank deeply into a large hardy redwood. A deer bolted away from the undergrowth beneath the tree. The young hunter cursed.

"SIRE!!" the offending interruption called again, panting as he stumbled through the dense forest.

The hunter scowled and ignored him. He turned and ran after the deer instead. He darted through the trees swift as the wind, his shoulder length black hair streaming behind him. He leapt over boulders and fallen trees with ease. The deer bounded before him. He put on another spurt of speed and was almost on to it. A sure hand steadied an arrow onto the bow and with quick and accurate aim, the arrow was released. The escaping deer fell to the ground. The hunter grinned.

A loud crashing and panting sound came up behind him and he turned to see a portly middle aged man stumble to a stop before him.

"Your...Your Highness," he wheezed, clutching his sides. His tunic was soaked with sweat. He mopped his brow with his sleeve. The morning sun gleamed off his thinning pate.

"What is the urgency, Fenwick? You almost made me miss my catch," the young man chided good-naturedly.

"It's your father, Your Highness. He wants to see you immediately. He says it's of upmost importance that you return to the castle at once," Fenwick panted.

The young man frowned, his dark brown eyes filled with concern. He was a tall man with skin bronzed by the sun. He had sharp well defined features which revealed his aristocratic blood. His brown leather tunic stretched over his broad chest and his muscular arms hefted the deer easily on his shoulders.

"Did my father say what it was about?" he asked.

Fenwick shook his head. "He did not elaborate, only requested for me to seek you out immediately."

"Well I hope it's not those damned raiders again. I'll return this instance." He set off at a run, the large deer slung over his shoulders seem to weigh nothing at all as he dashed through the undergrowth and scaled boulders and trees again with ease.

"Sire, wait!" Fenwick scrambled to follow. The young man slowed to a stop and waited for the portly steward to catch up.

"Fenwick, you're much too slow," he sighed.

"No Prince Bastian, it's you who's too fast. I'm only a mere mortal, I'm not blessed with godly strength like yours. You know no one else in the kingdom can run faster than you can, have mercy on an old man," he gasped.

Bastian puffed out his chest proudly. "Yes, I do have remarkable strength. But come on, all Valorians are strong, fine knights. Even our women are handy with a sword. That's why we are a warrior kingdom. Undefeated."

"Well I haven't fought since your father took me as his steward. And I'm getting on, don't have the vigour of youth anymore, I'm afraid," Fenwick rubbed his thickening waistline absently.

"You were one of his best captains, that's why he trusted you and took you as Chief Steward. You still got it in you somewhere, John," he looked at the older man's stocky figure. "Perhaps somewhere deep under that belly of yours," he chuckled.

Fenwick glowered at him, hiding a smile. "None of your cheek, young man. I can still teach you a lesson or two if I have to." He turned serious. "We really should be getting back, your father seemed very worried when he sent me out to find you."

"Right, we best return right away. I'll proceed first, try to keep up if you can." With that, he took a big leap with the deer on his shoulders and landed light as a cat yards away and started running at a great speed. The cool moist forest air rushed past him, his footsteps muffled by the dense layer of redwood needles on the forest floor. The majestic trees towered above him, casting a dim green glow spliced with the golden rays of the morning sun. He loved the forest, which grew abundantly behind the castle. He felt that the tall evergreen trees were a symbol of Valoria, a kingdom of people who were fine warriors, proud and strong. Though the forest also hides many a wild dangerous beast, it was his favourite place to spend a quiet moment or to train and hunt.