Hope is all he has left...
Prince Kian is supposed to be dead. He was only 8 years old when the Dark King came into his home and slaughtered his family. Now 21, he lives in hiding, grieving the family and the kingdom both lost. With no magic left...
The hike towards my home was quiet, I supposed that we each had a lot to think about. I had violated a decision made by my advisors and put myself in great danger. Zora had just experienced something that none of us really understood. Areis, Cayra, Zora, and Tyri were all about to be exposed to the caverns for the first time. Tensions were running high, but for me so was the excitement. I had missed Stailon and Kendry-they were my family- and I couldn't wait to get home to them.
"So, Kian, is it going to be strange? Going back underground I mean," Zora said, tucking some of the loose strands back into her braid. She had pulled herself back together quite well after what had happened last night. Bathing in the stream had left her wet hair a dark copper color. Her sharp features were more pronounced now that they lacked dirt. She looked regal.
"Yes," I answered carefully, "but I'm not too worried. If things go as planned we'll be returning to these woods soon enough." They all looked pained to leave behind the woods. After all the time spent here, the forest seemed to be a part of them. Zora was as familiar with the wind whistling through the trees as he was with the gurgle of the streams that cut through the stone of the caverns.
"Let's hope everything goes as planned then," Zora said, with a slight tremble.
"If I'm correct, the entrance should be right through these-Stailon!" I called out in excitement. My best friend stared at me in shock from his post next to the entrance.
"Kian! You're back!" Stailon ran towards me, we clasped arms briefly. "I've missed you, you idiot! Your two weeks were almost up," Stailon rambled. I looked over my shoulder to see my companions watching the scene with quiet amusement.
"We have a lot to talk about, send Hestia and her charges to the East Wing and have my advisors gathered in the Consel Chambers in an hour. I'm going to help our guests get settled in," I instructed him.
"Not without a proper introduction, I hope."
"Of course, how rude of me. Everyone, this is Stailon Adamitrius. He's my Captain of the Guard and best friend," I said, with a small smile. "Stailon, this is everyone. To introduce them exactly would be a long story, so instead, we'll start with names. This is Tyri Shielding, Cayra and Areis Knight, and Zora Stone." I gestured to each of them in turn.
"A pleasure," said Stailon, beaming.
"The pleasure is ours, Stailon," Tyri replied with a smirk. I decided to try to keep those two away from each other as much as possible. Two mischevious minds in such a confined space had the potential to become a major headache for all of Blackcap.
"Well, let's head inside. Stailon, summon those I've asked for."
"Of course, Your Royal Highness." This earned a smirk from Zora.
"Keep up the attitude and I'll become a royal thorn in your side."
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I hated to admit it, but part of me had missed the caverns. The slow trickle of the underwater streams soothed me and the corner of my mouth rose as I watched my companions take in the sights of our underground abode. Areis' mouth was hanging open wide, part of me hoped one of the small bats that lived here would fly into it. I had a creeping suspicion that it would fit. I turned to Zora, interested to see what her impression was.
"It's not perfect by any means, but it's home," I said to her, spreading my arms in a welcoming gesture as we arrived in what would be their hallway of my personal wing.
"I think this place is amazing. You did what you had to do to survive, and yet somehow made it a place where you can not only survive but live as well," Cayra said with a small smile. I had found that the young woman didn't speak much, but when she did her words carried great weight.
"Seriously, Kian. This place is amazing! Maybe even better than a tavern!" Areis called out as he ran down the hallway, eager to explore. Some of the tension in my muscles eased. I had many things to worry about, but my guests-my friends-being high maintenance wasn't one of them.
"There are four bedchambers in this hallway so make yourselves at home and decide who stays where. I'll be back in about a half an hour to take you to the Consel Chambers."
The four of them had begun to argue over sleeping arrangements before I had even left the hallway. A rowdy bunch they were, it was oddly refreshing. As for me, I had a lot of work to do before I met with the advisors. I needed to make sure that they saw this meeting as a forging of an alliance and not a time to reprimand me for leaving without their consent. To do that, I would need to make sure that my presentation of everything that had been discovered went off without a single flaw. I needed some alone time to relax before my world changes for good. I was always more persuasive when my head was clear.
