A New Plan

The carriage rattled along the rocky road toward Mbuzuoria, the dull sound of the wheels grinding against gravel filling the air. Inside the carriage, Prince Carl sat with his arms crossed, eyes fixed on the passing landscape but clearly lost in his thoughts.

Opposite him sat Caledon, his father ever-loyal companion, though today his loyalty was edged with anxiety. Caledon's face was taut, worry written in every line. His eyes flicked nervously toward Carl, trying to gauge what was going through the prince's mind.

Carl was unpredictable, more so now than ever before. Caledon had always admired his prince's intelligence and cunning, but sometimes that unpredictability was frightening. Today, it was terrifying.