The Hostage Prince

Outside the room, Kaden rushed past many mages towards the secluded part of the forest.

"Dinko," he whispered.

A small raven flew down from a nearby tree and landed on his shoulders.

"Craw, Kaden food," it said with a hoarse voice.

"You'll get your food, little one," he chuckled.

Squatting down, he placed a small parchment paper on his thigh and started painting a portrait. In minutes he drew lustrous blond curls and beautiful cherry lips, but when he came to the eyes he hesitated. He closed his eyes and reminisced about the iridescent green eyes of the prince, how the light from the window shone in his innocent eyes, how they wandered around the room in wonder.

Taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes and started sketching it with vigour. After finishing it, he added Prince Erudite at the bottom of the sheet.

He took another paper and started writing the recent happenings here. He rolled both the papers into the scroll and tied it to Dinko's legs.

"Take this to Deric, would you?" he said kissing its little feathery head.

"Food? Caw?" it said, tilting its head.

"Oh, how could I forget," He chuckled. Reaching into his pocket, he came out with a small piece of meat and fed him.

The crow cawed cheerfully and Soared to the treetops. Placed the meat under its talon, tore it into pieces and ate it. Cawing happily, it flew towards the horizon.

After flying for a day, it reached the busy streets of Lafta. It swished past many civilians and flew towards a small jewellery shop.

"Craw, caw," it flapped its wings and landed onto a window sill.

"Ho, Dinko, you are back," Fang opened the windows, letting the crow fly inside.

It said landing on his shoulders and cried, "Fang, news...news."

"I know, little one. Let's go to Deric and give the news," he scratched its little head.

Swiftly he darted over to the meeting room. Knocking on the door, he walked in without any response.

"Deric, Dinko is back," he said.

Deric slowly glanced up from his table, his busy hands stopped writing.

"What is it?"

"Here, Kaden, send some scrolls,"

Deric opened the scroll and found two parchment papers inside. A letter that read, 'Aaorlins caught, Proceed with initial plan.'

"Proceed with initial plan,"

"Deric, you still going on with that plan? Fuck, it's completely absurd." He cursed under his breath.

Deric chuckled. "Yes it is." Placing his writing pen on its designated spot, he rang a small bell. A man rushed in and bowed. "Bring me the seal tonight," he ordered.

"Yes, your highness,"

As soon as they left the room, a small stout man rushed out of the adjacent room.

"My lord... Treason. It's Treason," He shouted as he rushed into Lijin's study.

Lijin frowned at this. "What Treason? Explain yourself now." he demanded the disrespectful guard.

"My lord, the prince has stolen the imperial seal," the guard relayed the news in panic.

"What! All the reason to kill him off," Lijin said, grinning at the guard.

He ran out of the room in his night clothes to confront the prince. "Apple never falls far from the tree. Stupid parents usually create a stupid child. All this time this prince was acting smart, but he was actually so stupid." He muttered in glee as he ran towards the prince's castle.

"Prince Deric, we demand an explanation. Stealing the imperial seal is considered treason. Give it back to us and surrender." All the court officials shouted in form of prince Deric's palace.

The prince's guards did not leave their protective position.

Soon a fight started between the palace guards and prince guards. Many were killed brutally, but the prince is yet to appear.

"Stop" a loud voice was heard from the entrance of the palace. Prince Deric walked out of his palace in a majestic way. His golden robes flowing in the wind, raven hair unkempt, blood stains marred his beautiful features. He looked like Ashura that walked out of the hell's gate.

"Prince Deric, it is wise to surrender now. Or else we might have to kill you," Lijin started threatening the prince.

"Haha," the prince gave a wild laugh at this statement. "Lijin you think i don't know your craftiness. I have the imperial seal. I made sure this news reaches even the outskirts of our kingdom. Do you think people will accept a king without a seal?" the mad prince roared at the defense minister.

"Capture him! Capture the mad prince." Enraged, Lijin ordered the palace guards.

"Check his palace. We need the imperial seal," Lijin ordered the guards.

So the search for the imperial seal began.

After a lot of struggles, the prince was finally captured. Lijin gleefully rushed over to the morning court.

"Your highness, Prince Deric has committed treason. Bring in the prisoner." He ordered few guards.

A desiccated man was brought in. His arms and limbs chained up. He kept looking at the floor and not listening to anything happening around him.

"Your highness, the imperial seal should only be with the king, so we tried interrogating the prince, but he refused to divulge the information. He should be punished by desiccation. Please approve of this order." Lijin and other court officials kneeled in front of their king.

The wanton king Gukil looked at his only son kneeling in front of him. His hair in disarray, hands bleeding and his limbs wobbly. Even though Gukil had many children, his favorite had always been this child. He always knew of Lijin's tricks, but had ignored them. But he never knew him ignoring Lijin's actions would lead to his son being executed like this.

Sighing, he slowly unclenched his hands. "Hold him prisoner in the dungeons. Stealing what is rightfully his is not an offence. He shall be confined to prison for 5 years for this treason." the king ordered the court.

The entire court started to murmur, hearing this order. Lijin was shocked to see this puppet king go against his order. Uncontrollable anger raged through his body at the king's orders.

Panting, Lijin gritted his teeth. "Your highness, please rethink your decision." Lijin fell to his knees.

"This is my order and it shall be final." The king flicked his sleeves and walked away from the court.

Deric was thrown into the dungeons and special king's guards and some Aaorlins were sent to protect him.

#

Fang walked towards the dungeons. As he passed a guard, he passed a bag of silver and entered the dungeon without any interference. This dungeon runs deep under the soil, almost 7 stories deep. It is where the most feral and dangerous criminals were held.

His friend was presently being held captive in the 6th storey of the dungeon. When it rains the entire dungeon will be almost flooded and the last two storey's get affected the most. But this did not worry him much. What worried him most is that the prince still had the imperial seal hidden somewhere. Lijin went ballistic, searching for the seal. Fang was worried that his friend might get hurt because of Lijin's greed.

Walking through the damp passage way to of the dungeon, Fang finally reached the 6th storey. A huge cell with a reinforced shield held his friend captive. The entire cell was plunged in darkness. Fang held a torch to the cell to bring some light.

"Deric," he called just above a whisper.

His friend was chained up to the walls of the dilapidated cell. His raven hair matted with blood; his feet were attached to the floor. Fang's heart broke, looking at his desiccated friend.

Fang started tearing up at this view. "Deric, I have found a way to escape to Miriafa. We shall leave tomorrow. You don't have to suffer like this,"

"No." A strong refusal from the prince. "If I leave, my father will be in d... danger. When the war starts I want to be the peace offering, not my father's life," his friend groaned in pain.

"The war is yet to start. You can come back then. Please Deric my heart breaks looking at you like this," Fang cried in anguish.

"No, then I'll be a ru... runaway prince. The kingdom of Lafta would not be able to negotiate with my life," Deric replied sternly.

"Stop being stubborn and be selfish just this once. Please don't give up your life for others," Fang tried to convince his friend.

"Hahaha," a wild laughter was heard from the cell. "I am alive, aren't I?" he wheezed and continued, "I always plan with precision Fang so don't fret. Go have a good night's rest," the prince dismissed his worried friend.

Fang left after throwing a worried look at him.

After being imprisoned for five days, Lijin rushed into the dungeon. He threw the torch to the gate of the prison and peered inside the murky cell.

In just five days, the prince had lost his muscular form. Stubble grew on his face. And his cheeks lost its supple flesh.

"Imprisonment suits you, prince,"

"So does being an idiot," Deric chuckled.

Enraged, Lijin rammed against the gate and growled. "You knew this would happen didn't you,"

"Haha, I made this happen," Deric said with a crazy look in his eyes.

"Crazy bastard, did you anticipate your father's death as well?" Lijin sneered.

Taken back, Deric peered at him. "What?"

"Yeah, you heard me right; your father is DEAD,"

Chains clanked as Deric struggled against his restrains. "You monster, my father treated you like family," he shouted.

"Huff, so much for family. HE KILLED MY DAUGHTER." Sneering he continued, "You think I will let him live, and you..... He poisoned her, made her infertile just for her to raise YOU. Yes, prince you are not so innocent,"

"And I will not rest until the royal family is destroyed," He said and left the dungeon.

Gripping the chains firmly, Deric sobbed. His father was dead. All because of him, everything happened because of him. "AHH," he shouted, dragging his heavy feet towards the gates.

The next day he was showed into a steel cage and dragged through the city. People who were once his subjects watched him with pity, but no one stood up for him. He was dragged around like a caged beast and headed out of the kingdom.

He was starved, beaten and unkempt when they finally reached Miriafa. His body attracted flies and maggots. His matted hair covered his face as he lowered his head, subtly looking around his surroundings.

They made a final pitch stop near a river, before entering the kingdom.

A nearby warrior subtly glanced at the desiccated prince. "Do you think he would be killed?" he whispered.

"I think so. This is so unfair," he whispered back.

"You both, stop hovering and get back to work," Their superior shouted.

"Yes, sir," they bowed and rushed over to check on the fire.

In the dark of the night, a hooded figure rushed over to the steel cage. He placed a small parcel of food, wrapped in leaves inside the cage.

"Pst, Deric. Get up and eat something," the hooded figure whispered.

Deric Slowly lifted his head.

The hooded figure removed his hood to reveal his friend Fang's flushed face.

"Fang, what the hell are you doing here. Lijin will kill you if he finds out,"

"Please, that drunken fool will not find me that easily," Fang whispered.

"Fang, I am serious. Leave now,"

"No, I am not leaving you." He said in a firm tone.

One of the Guards mumbled in their sleep.

"Okay, I will hide nearby," Fang whispered and rushed away.

Deric sighed and closed his eyes in exertion.