Blood King

Forty Eight

Full of rage and anger.

That's what his father had become these past several months since the battle for Ossay Tower had been in its midst. And it was as though the King's mounting frustration only grew with no news of Valdoria's armies losing.

"My Lord?" Radu turned to see Gottfried looking in from the entrance of the Prince's chambers. "How are you faring?"

Radu gave a smile. This man would always ask him that question, every single time the weather would change, even after he had long healed from his injuries. And although he still needed the use of a cane to walk every now and again, he felt better then he ever had before.

"Must you always ask me that when you know what my answer will be? I am fine Götz, though I feel some pain in my shoulders I can only surmise it is due to growing pains."

offered the Prince a smile. "It has been three years my Lord, and I am sure it won't be the last of it either."

"Not unless someone tries to kill my father," for a while now, Radu couldn't shake this foreboding feeling. A feeling which amplified when someone came back from Ossay Tower and tried to stab the King. To make matters even worse, this knight was one of those who had fled, leaving Radu and his sister to die at the hands of a robed individual, in order to save himself those three years ago. He was only one of many who had done so.

His attempt failed miserably, and the man was executed for his actions as his head was mounted on a pike overlooking the castle walls, like many others who failed their king, spoke ill of him or tried to kill him.

Yet the words the man screamed still echoed, raving about a demon covered in blood on the battlefield killing the men mercilessly. When Vladimir demanded an explanation all the man would say was:

"The King of Blood demands repentance." Before trying to stab Radu's father with a knife that he kept hidden in his clothes. Of course, it did nothing, it injured his father, but it was not a fatal blow. But because of this, it made his father even more paranoid.

And even more difficult to deal with.

Thankfully however, he locked himself away in his chambers refusing to do anything. Leaving Radu in a rather compromised position.

For the past several months Radu did his best to instruct the knights on the battlefield. But with his uncle leading the charge he knew the man wouldn't even listen to a word the boy said. And now all he could do, was merely pick up the pieces and continue forwards.

Surender was an option, yet his uncle and father would never allow it. Too bullheaded to listen, full of pride and rage. They would never stop.

Neither would Valdoria's King.

Radu could still picture Xavier when he witnessed the crowning, the beauty he held with how he handled a sword. No doubt it was with deadly accuracy as he now charged through the battlefield. Young he may be, a fool he was not.

And if they were to hold out long enough to gain the aid of the Elves, those who lived in the forest residing near the Kingdom, then surely, they would assist, and decimate their enemies' forces with ease. It was a wonder why the Elves were not present to begin with.

Radu drummed his fingers along his desk as he remained seated. Like many times before, he had to fight off the urge to send the Elven King a letter, asking how they were faring. Since the call for war Radu couldn't respond to the King after he had gotten a letter back within the month before the war began. If he had more people rallying behind him then he could have found a way. But it was not meant to be.