The Fallen Prince: A Prince's Mistake

Escape

I didn't get as much sleep as I'd hoped, but it was more than I had gotten over the month: a record-breaking four hours. Ace had woken me up by sniffing in my face. A faint smile appeared as I got up and began packing. Looking at the tent, I took a deep, annoyed breath. 'What's the point of making a tent if you're gonna sleep against a tree?' I asked myself.

I faintly laughed off the pain of my nightmare – the recurring flashback of Lyatar's massacre – as I took down the tent, the sun blazing on my hair (which was fluffy from the lack of combing and constant warmth). I pulled out the map Harry had given me. There was still a long way to go – at least seven days – but I felt relieved to finally know where the murderous and harsh kingdom of Vuns was. As the sun blazed down on the ravine, I mounted Ace and set off north. Sighing, I muttered under my breath, 'Almost done, buddy. The end is near.'

For once, I was right. He took a deep breath and flew into the wind like a moth to a flame.

*

Once it was close to midnight, I decided to check my map again. It wasn't like there was a little circle that kept updating where we were, but I tried my best to pinpoint our location using the surroundings (even though said surroundings were just trees taller than towers). I rolled my eyes when I saw what was waiting for us. A mile away, a mountain was watching over me. I felt like giving up right then and there, but I imagined Archie saying I shouldn't and that the challenge was worth it – 'high risk, high reward' he'd probably say –. Then Leo would add on a comment to lighten up my mood. Now, the only sound in my ears was the wind singing and brushing against the leaves. Other than that, nothing. It was as if the whole world had gone quiet for Archie and Leo. Or I was forever alone exploring a lost kingdom. Either way, I did not like being in the middle of nowhere. I'd noticed something odd about the map as well. No structures were close to Vuns – not just kingdoms, but there weren't shrines, or churches. Just mountains and forests; both of which I had to venture into, no idea what was waiting for me on the other end. 'God, I hate being paranoid,' I whispered.

Soon, the mile had passed, and I was looking at Mount Mors. It meant something in Latin, but I'd prefer not to translate. Moving on... even Ace looked anxious. But the most worrying part was that the tip of the mountain couldn't even be seen. There was no way I'd be able to climb it with Ace. I had two options (a secret third one being to die bringing Ace with me... probably killing him too): send Ace into the wild or put my trust into him staying loyal and meeting me on the other side. I got off him and looked at his eyes. 'I love you, buddy. You're all I've got left, so please go around the mountain.'

He ran off into the distance, and I prayed I would see him on the other side. I know what you're thinking: 'But Castor, couldn't you go with Ace around the mountain?'. Yeah, I could, but the map Harry had given me wasn't a futuristic, 3D map that told me all I needed to know. Forests were just pointy triangles; I needed some height to be able to see my surroundings. I was seriously lacking food, so I needed somewhere to stay. As far as I was aware, there were no kingdoms around. My last hope was for a cottage or something that had been built before the map had been made. If not, all my dreams would be ruined because I ran out of bread (quick reminder: no person hellbent on achieving an adventurous mission wants to lose everything because of starvation). Getting to one of Highsilver's highest points was my best chance to look for nearby houses because I would be able to see for miles, and not to brag but I have amazing eyesight.

I unsheathed my sword and a spare dagger Archie had given me. Like a pro climber, I dug my weapons into the mountain and began to pull up and stick my free weapon into the cliff. I continued to repeat that (my neck straining from looking up constantly and hair blowing in my face) until I found a small ledge. Don't get me wrong, I get sweaty palms just watching people slowly walk across a thin ledge, no regard for their safety as they have a blank reaction to their path crumbling, but it was more reassuring than my life being in the hands/handles of two weapons... not that I loved my sword more than my father (no one needs to know that part). I gripped onto the ledge and pulled myself up. Like a snake suffocating prey, the miniscule path circled the mountain all the way to the top. I sheathed my sword and dagger before pushing against the mountain and walking sideways. Although I had only been climbing for ten minutes, I could see the peak of a kingdom – whether it was Lyatar or Juyl or another kingdom, I couldn't tell. Thousands of trees surrounded the mountain, a handful of wolves staring at me in awe. Taking deep breaths, I carried on. It wasn't so bad until I broke the golden rule. Yes, I had made the mistake to look down.