A week had passed since Aeldes met with Zamza. He had heard nothing about that promise he gave of punishing those knights and wondered if it had all been nothing but empty words. It was rather pathetic in his eyes for Zamza to suck up to him just because he was the newly returned prince and heir to the country.
"Are you listening, Your Highness?" One of his tutors asked and interrupted Aeldes' thoughts. "The queen has insisted you are well versed in court etiquette before the upcoming ball."
"What's there to know?" Aeldes responded dryly. "The ball is simply a gathering of snobbish noble and royal guests who put on fake smiles and offer empty compliments to everyone when they honestly can't stand each other. It's stupid."
"That may or may not be the case, Your Highness, but never the less, you must prepare."
"You're right, I should take my studies more seriously. I'm going to get my notes from my room. Be right back." Aeldes waved over his shoulder to his tutor before exiting the room with no intentions of going back.
~ * ~
"Stryker's execution is set for dawn." One guard was saying to another.
"I hate to say it but I always felt something was off with that guy." another replied.
The two were standing in a hall guarding the passage to the dungeons and gossiping about recent events.
"His what!?" Aeldes had wandered the halls after skipping out of his studies and overheard their conversation.
"Highness!" Both exclaimed in unison at his sudden appearance.
"You mentioned Stryker's name in the same sentence as execution. Tell me, why is he being executed!?"
The guards looked at each other before one spoke up. "He's been found guilty of murder. The families of two knights from the village of Coalfell. The punishment for murder is also death, Your Highness."
Aeldes was shocked at the news. Had Stryker murdered their entire families? The man had said he'd make them pay but is this what he had meant? "Where is he? I want to see him!" He ran past the guards and headed down the stairs leading to the dungeon.
"Your Highness, come back!" They weren't sure if the young prince was allowed down there or not but they couldn't leave their posts either. "If something bad comes of this, I'm not going on duty with you again." The second guard complained to the first.
~ * ~
"Tell me you didn't do it," Aeldes stated firmly towards Zamza. He'd found his cell and stared at the man in disbelief.
"I didn't do it," Zamza replied without hesitation and sat up on the edge of the cot within his cell. "I'm being framed."
"By whom and why?" Aeldes was relieved to hear Zamza was innocent but if he was being charged with the crime he was still going to die.
"You would never believe me if I told you."
"Try me."
Zamza rose from his cot and approached the bars where he could lower his voice for only Aeldes to hear. "It's The Queen. She has spies everywhere and found out about my plan. However, she carried out her own version that resulted in the deaths of their entire families. Afterward, she used me as a scapegoat."
"Why would she do that?" Aeldes just couldn't understand her motives.
"Open your eyes, Sire, who do you think made it possible for you and the princess to be abducted in the first place?"
Zamza had a point. With so many guards and subjects around the castle, it would be near impossible for an abduction. "What about The King?"
"He's a good man but blinded by his love of The Queen. He will not believe she is capable of such actions. You should just forget about me, my fate is sealed. Just be wary of The Queen in the future so you don't end up with the same fate."
"No! I will not abandon you especially since you were trying to do me a favor. I will get you out of here before your execution tomorrow. I promise." Hearing the footsteps of approaching guards, Aeldes left Zamza's cell and headed back upstairs.
~ * ~
Knock. Knock. Aeldes' knuckled tapped lightly on his sister's chamber door before he opened it and let himself in. "Celeste, do you have a moment?" It felt strange to ask her permission to speak to her but somehow they'd become distant after coming to the castle.
Celeste was seated at a vanity mirror brushing her hair after the servants had prepared her for bed. She nodded to her brother that he may speak while watching him through the reflection in the mirror.
Aeldes shut the door behind him and moved closer to his sister. "Do you like it here? I'm asking honestly, from the bottom of your heart. There are a lot of rules and we hardly get to see each other anymore. Weren't you happier when it was just the two of us back in Coalfell?"
His words caused her to frown and turn sideways to face him. "No, I was not happier back in Coalfell. We were starving and dressed in rags! We're rich now and never have to struggle for anything ever again. I never want to go back to Coalfell, ever." She then turned back to the mirror and started brushing her hair again. "As for us not seeing each other often, one day I will have to marry, you realize. We can't be together as we were forever."
Her words pained him like she had stabbed a sharp dagger through his heart. The little sister he knew that always hugged him and looked at him with such love was gone, replaced by this spoiled princess before him. He knew coming here was a bad idea. "I suppose you're right," was all he could say in response.
"Goodnight, Celeste." he stepped away and left her room without another word.
~ * ~
By the time the warning bells rang about the escaped prisoner, Zamza and Aeldes were miles from the capital at the port city of Elderbrook.
Before he boarded the ship with Zamza, Aeldes glanced back toward the direction of the castle. Should he really leave his sister like this?
"You worried about The Princess?" Zamza asked as he watched Aeldes' expression. "Do you want to win her back?"
Aeldes' head snapped back to look at Zamza with a frown. "It's impossible now. She's been spoiled by riches beyond her wildest dreams."
"You were her world back in Coalfell, yes? Big brother was the strongest in the small world you two lived in. Now she has The King and all his very capable knights. I can make you stronger, powerful even. By the time I'm done with you, big brother will be her hero once again." He gestured for Aeldes to join him once more aboard the ship.
Stronger. Powerful. Celeste's hero. Once more it all sounded too good to be true but he felt like he had already lost Celeste. "Let's go." He moved past Zamza to board the ship. He swore to himself that he would become great in the eyes of his sister.
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