Chapter 28.5: Black Hand prince

Aceros Nortus is the youngest prince of the four. Since birth, he has been called "The Black Hand" due to his literal dark as coal hand. Despite this cursed appearance, he excels at swordsmanship and daggers. With a black hand like him, he has to hide it from people, wearing a glove.

During the first years of his life, Aceros Nortus was seen as just another child of Todur. Fairly and unbiased. Although Todur much prefers his eldest son, Jaroff Nortus, he still cares for other children. Aceros couldn't beat his father one on one in early years.

Now, as a rebellious teenager, he can beat his father with a glass sword. At some point, he can hold his glass sword near his old man's neck. It is to show how a child can be better than his own father. Both happily laugh after the duel but not as happy as Jaroff and his father seeing something remarkable of a new invention.

The black hand prince never feels satisfied in his life. He needs motivation, he needs a worthy opponent.

He relentlessly searches for a good fight after leaving his royalty life behind the gate.

He carries his glass sword and dagger. But never forget to bring the crest of the fourth prince.

He fought a Black Fang orc, he fought a Flame Guard drake, he fought a Thunder Spear man and recently he fought a female alcoholic elf who can fight with a bow and arrows.

The Black Hand heard from the elf that there is another one who is the terror among the Black Fang, nightmare of the bandits and a grim tale on the highway.

"Garcel, are you sure?"

"Yeah, that bastard once cut my beautiful hair and I am still mad about it still to this day. But at least, he is an excellent fighter that I have to admit"

"Where is he now?"

"Probably at Nakitel, get a coach ride, prince. You may see him or not. He could be at some bandits' lair and hanging some heads at the gallow. He left some here at the entrance"

"Those heads are his souvenirs?"

"Yes"

"See you later, barrel elf"

"I am not a drunkard"

He walks away and ignores the anger of the alcoholic elf

He hops on the next coach to Nakitel with a group of mercenaries

They meet bandits on the road.

They expect the prince to draw his useless sword made of glass to fight them. But the truth is that the sword is just a decoration piece. He draws his dagger and lunges toward them.

One by one they fall. Neck slashed, eye gouged or heart wounded.

The mercenaries couldn't stop the prince from doing such massacres. He calmly walks back to the carriage and sits quietly

It is a bad idea if the prince is their enemy. They would sit back quietly.

Nakitel, at last, the prince steps down the carriage and waves farewell.

He scouts around the frontier village. There is nothing much that interests him beside the house of the <mad merchant> and the bloody gallow.

Firstly, the tavern he walks into. The chaos is there, people fly and loudsy as always.

The Black Hand sits down and orders a drink. He puts down the crest on the counter.

"So you are the fourth prince? How may I be in your service?"

" The <mad merchant>, where is he?"

"He is not here for few days. If you find him for troubles, I need to ask you to be careful or your head is hung, your highness"

"I am not asking for troubles like thugs and knights. I just want to have some fun with him"

"Well, I may need to ask a funeral service when he returns"

"Do I look weak?" Aceros pulls out his dagger swiftly

"No, your highness. He is just very scary as if you are facing a drake lord and a dwarven hunter at the same time"

"How can you tell?"

"His way of talking and also his way of drinking"

"Well, there is someone who wants to challenge to take my neck and I know he is dead" the prince throws the mug onto the assassin's face.

The force caused the skull to fracture and the assassin is now a goner.

"Your highness, please wait for few days and I am sure that Jehidas will be back soon."

"What a name, I will remember the name and wait him here for my joy" He stands up and walks away from the bar. He waits for the fight at an inn. He polishes his glass sword and sharpen his dagger.