The Prince and the Pirate

The Worst Best News

 The day started just like any other. For the better part of the morning I'd spent my time hidden in the library. Researching the kingdoms neighboring my kingdom.

 Oh pardon me how very rude. I haven't even introduced myself. I'm Rayne. Prince Rayne to be exact. My father is the King of the small, but lovely kingdom of Liedon. While tiny it is quiet beautiful, and the view of the ocean is astonishing, with the waves always looking like shimmering glass. All to soon I would be spending many sleepless nights being rocked by those very same waves, though I think I'm getting a bit ahead of myself.

 It was only half past three when Angelica had come to fetch me. She was an older maid who'd worked for the castle as long as I can remember. Angelica always kept herself put together, making sure every last strand of her gray hairs stayed exactly just so. She treated the castle just the same. From top to bottom everything had a place. I would often recall running down the halls with my sibling, holding onto toiletries or other such items, sprawling them about just to tease the old girl. As strict as she was she never did yell at us for being problem children, and I thought from time to time if she didn't become head maid she would have been a wonderful teacher.

 I suppose I should have expect something wasn't right based on the way she entered the room. The corners of her face that normally bared upturned cheeks with a bright smile, appeared worn away, and in this rare instance she looked her age.

 "Prince Rayne," she called her voice small, and sounded almost like a tiny bell.

 I looked up from my book to acknowledge her. She didn't wait for me to respond before continuing.

 "Your Father requests you visit him in his chambers,"

 I gave her a nod, and stood from the chair I had been occupying, and headed towards the door. Father had been sick for over a year now, and while the doctors could find nothing wrong with him, his condition continued to get worse until he became bed ridden.Now when ever he called for me I'd stop whatever had previously had held attention to hurry over to his side.

  As I entered the room I couldn't help but feeling slight dread. The curtains where all drawn in the room, and the only light came from a candle by my father's bed side.

 "Rayne?" my father's voice called just barley over a whisper.

 "Yes Father," I answered him "You wish to see me?"

"Yes son. Close the door," he instructed.

 I did as he asked before asking the question that was plaguing my mind.

 "Is everything alright Father?" A simple question I know, but the answer worried me.

"Rayne...I'm not getting any better," It sounded as if he made the decision himself.

 "No Father the doctor said," I tried to argue with him, to tell him it was all a matter of positive thing or whatever other bull I might need to get him to believe me. To stop his mind from focusing on the inevitable.

 "I'm not going to get better Rayne! I need you to know that! I need you to be prepared for that!" His voice was so stern it sounded almost like the man I used to know.

 I let my voice fall silent momentarily thinking about that time. The time before this horrid illness stole my father away.

 "I need you to be prepared, because before I leave this Earth I'd like to know you, Elijah and Liedon will be safe. Son I think it's time you start thinking about taking on the title of King,"

"King?" I repeated slightly startled.

 What an awful title 'King' was. For that very title meant the end of my Father when I would take it on.  Some sons waited their entire lives for the chance at it, but never me. For me it meant one simple, and terrible thing.