The Sorcerer Prince

Chapter #13

     "So what kind of payment do you think we're going to get from Damien for catching the human prince?".

     "I'm hoping to have a look at that royal treasury".

     "Sure, but that won't last you forever. I going to ask for some of the land that used to belong to one of the lords. Some of them actually tried to fight against Damien".

     "Vincent's bloodline is contaminated. I'm just happy to have a real king on the throne".

     Hearing that last comment makes Seto want to throw up. It's one thing to be captured and dragged back to his probable death, but it's an entirely worse form of torture to listen to these sorcerers talk about their 'glorious' rebellion. There's nothing honorable about a sneak attack.

     The horses have been switching off between walking and running all day as the dogs follow along. Other travelers have even started to pass them. Seto tries to get their attention, pulling at his tied hands, but everyone seems skittish and wary. News of the rebellion must have spread. No one wants to put their own neck on the line. Seto can only hope that someone will recognize him when they pass through the capital and to the castle.

     That last hope flickers out when the horses turn a bend in the road. Two soldiers are waiting for them with a prison wagon waiting nearby. Those guards are not wearing the same uniforms that Seto is used to. Instead, they are black and gold. There's no familiar purple anywhere to be seen. 

      "You finally caught him? We were starting think that you had lost the trail", one of the guards comment, casually unlocking the prison wagon as the horses draw near.

     "Some sorcerer brat was helping him. Damien wanted the prince, and we delivered".

     "Hurry up and get him into the wagon. There are still plenty of hybrids resisting the takeover. They might try something if they see who we're carting in".

     Seto growls behind the gag when they try and pull him off the horse, but the sorcerers don't care about his empty threats. One man finally pulls him off only for the prince to let his legs buckle and fall onto the ground. He's not going to make this easy for them.

     "Get up!", the man snaps, kicking Seto's side. He winces and curls up a little, but otherwise doesn't move.

     "Just pick him up. It's not like he can do anything", a different sorcerer shoves the first out of the way. He tries to haul Seto up by his arm, but receives a sharp kick to the back oh his knee. He falls onto the ground and is met with a pair of hateful brown eyes.

     "This is why I usually work alone", another sorcerer groans. He's the one who's been giving all the orders. He approaches Seto from the front and grabs the trailing rope from his bound hands. He then pulls Seto towards the prison wagon with a sharp yank. The ropes were already rubbing badly against his wrists, but being dragged like that finally makes a trickle of blood roll down his arm. Seto scrambles to stand back up to relieve some of the pain. When he's standing, the man yanks him forwards again so he trips and falls halfway into the wagon. The edge digs pain fully into his already bruised side. One of the guards shoves him in the rest of the way, closing the door with a loud bang and the sound of a lock clicking. 

      Prince Seto can't make much out after that. By the time he's able to pull himself up into a sitting position, horses have been hitched up to the prison wagon. They weren't far from the capital, but he knows they've arrived when the road changes to bumpy cobblestones. He can hear muted conversations wondering about who's in the wagon. Seto can't even scream for help with the gag.

     Hearing the castle gates open and close suddenly sounds ominous. The prison wagon soon stops again, and the prince has to squint when the doors open. More guards in black uniforms roughly pull him out of the wagon. Seto is tired both physically and mentally. Fighting hasn't gotten him anywhere, and his best friend is dead.

The guards take him into the castle, now with over a dozen sorcerers watching his every move. The short walk to the throne room seems to take an eternity. Is King Vincent still alive? What about the Queen? The last thing he did for them was be a brat and refuse magic lessons.

The throne room is full of sorcerers. They stand along the walls and watching from the overhead balcony. Seto is disgusted when he sees a man sitting on his father's throne. This must be Damien. He's certainly made himself at home. He's broad shouldered, wearing a fancier version of that black and gold uniform with a dark red cape to match. Surprisingly, a guard pulls out Seto's gag and cuts away the rope at his hands. His bleeding wrists and black eye don't make him look any more presentable.

     "Prince Seto, we finally meet", Damien's voice is sickly smooth, with a predatory grin to match. "You're pretty hard to get a hold of for a measly human".

       "What do you want, traitor?", Seto refuses to be afraid in front of the false king. He glares a challenge despite his aching bruises.

     "So you have a little fight left? All the better. I prefer do things correctly, and your precious father refuses to name me as his heir even after a night in the dungeon. I figured your life would make a good bargaining chip, but where's the fun in that?". Damien motions to a guard, who yanks Seto's purple cloak over his head. They're going to use it as proof that he's been captured, but Damien wants Seto dead.

     The prince looks up to see dark red bolts of magic flying right towards him.