Leonaira: Tales of fallen kings

"A Crumbled Prince" - Chapter 11

+++

Mia

It has been an entire week since the attack and no word from other hunters and James at that. He has been mostly staying in his half of our separated tent. It's relatively small for two people as it is as a full tent but in the conditions, storm and rain in the last few days I can hardly complain. The only time I do see James is within the small section of the tent that we call our living room, but he usually doesn't stay long.

I walk into the front room after midday, sitting down on the mat on the floor. Elena, the young girl we met at the hut, enters a few moments later. She ignores me as usual as she passes me, placing a jug of diluted wine on the chest that's our table. James's breakfast is still untouched. The hunter girl measures me with her eyes, as fear and disgust mix in her face before she turns around and leaves with our plates.

James walks out of his room finally. His eyes are red and his hair is still messed up. I think he's still wearing the same pants as yesterday. As usual, no shirt. Without uttering a word he walks past me and kneels at the table opposite me. He pours himself a drink gulping it all down, drops of wine get caught in his new stubble beard, he wipes them off with his wrist.

I watch him for a few moments before I begin to speak. "you okay?" I ask content in knowing what is wrong.

I pick up my own chalice, James smacks it out of my hand. "Poison" he quickly says. The wine burns the grass it begins sizzling and popping from the heat.

I raise my eyebrows. "How did you know?"

He leans across the chest patting my hand. "Mine was" He laughs coughing a little. Punching his chest he spits blood to the side. At least seems fine. Yet seeing him with a beard is... odd to say the least.

"So what's the matter?" I keep strong about the question. I've lived with him for a month now. There is no way that this is normal.

He sits there in silence, his eyes redden, then he straightens his back not with pride but with strength. "The anniversary of my sister's death" he finally tells me.

Unsure how to react I carefully further "You had a sister... when?" I never heard about a princess of Leonaira.

"I never had a sister, not by blood." He huffs. "Two years ago, I was tasked in protecting one of the villages of the south. A fishing village on the defensive from what was a group of mutated, turned vampires. Thier limbs torn and broken, each of them having a mutated limbs as a weapon, a blade or blunt instrument made of bone or flesh. They wounded me badly, and threw me into the sea."

He continues as rain starts to drip upon the tent, pattering under his voice. Children outside run for cover screaming at the cold dense coat of rain. "I must have been in the water for days, before washing ashore. I was found and was nursed back to health by a prince. He was from the other island where there are no humans, only vampires, shape-shifters and Valkyries. I had no memory of who I was for weeks. Then Valkyries attacked the house we stayed in, they killed the prince who died saving me from my own stupidity."

James pauses, looking at his hands folded on the table, before continuing with a shaky voice. The thing is, me and the Prince, we looked identical and the next day, after burying him and mourning the loss of my friend, his sister, the princess, visited" he contionues with a trembling voice "... she thought I was him. I couldn't let anyone know what had happened" tears run down his cheeks, his hands shaking.

"So I assumed his identity for months, until I remembered who I was. We later met a bunch of valkyries, fought the dark gods with them of course we took care of the weaker ones. Afterwards I told her who I was, what had happened to her brother, why it was important. I carried on his legacy. But she didn't run, or cry or hide herself, she simply hugged me and said "I will always be her big brother" A faint smile plays on his face.

I squeeze his hand, he squeezes back. "She sounds like an amazing sister" I say.

"She was sooo much stronger than I ever was or ever will be." He wipes his eyes with the back of his hand. "I mean it, she used to beat my ass when I was without my staff. We never got to spar with each other after I got it. We were ambushed by two of the dark gods and. We didn't stand a chance. I lost so many good friends that day." his words crackle with grief, he swallows trying to get rid of the dryness in his voice.

"You..." I stutter on my words quiet speechless "If your not ready to talk about it. Then" I get cut off "I believe this would have bugged me all day if I hadn't told you" He smiles slightly.

"This little thing turned the tides in our favour. James pulls the pen out of his pocket patting it like it was a pet. " Not completely though, it was a hard fought battle."

Lightening strikes, followed by the roar of thunder interrupt him. The storm shakes the tent harder now. "Is this you James?" I ask cautiously, I know the staffs are effected by emotions, so it would make sense.

"No, it's not me. This is not good at all" He looks up sniffing wiping over his dace quickly before listening. We hear loud trumpets near us, ringing in my ears suddenly. Movement outside, sounds of armour and weapons clanking together, seems as if the hunters are being drawn to something. James stands up, he pulls a shirt over his head and puts on his knife holster.

"Transform and follow me" His voice sounds grim.

"Why, what is it?" I get up from my seat.

"We're about to meet my uncle" he looks at me deadly serious. 

I feel the blood rush out of my face. "Victor" Maybe the most feared man and monster in this lands. His tyrannical rise to the top of his family murdering his brother, everyone and everything that opposed him with only a glance, using his dark gift was the thing of legends. Literally.