Seven Kingdoms: The Wicked and Treacherous Prince
The Prince of Darkness, the First Unholy Omen
“Don’t tell me how to do my job!” The youthful Prince Gnaw disputes his council of elders. “I know what the people’s needs are!” He screams in the grand ancient halls of the Casper Castle in the Kingdom of Charul echoing endlessly through the vast hallways.
“Your Majesty, you need to listen to us!”
“Enough! Guards take him away. This traitor is a nuisance.”
The old man in brown royal robes is suddenly seized and he flails his arms in rage and despair. His screams subside as the other members of the council are hesitant to give any more orders or counsel.
“Now, that brute is out of the way,” Prince Gnaw snarls. “Why don’t we talk about the duke and his daughter.”
“Why, my liege?” The Earl of Jase says trying to reason with him.
“Because that’s what I want to discuss,” he pounds his fist on the oak round table. “Is that too much to ask for?” His golden crown shines on his round thin snake-like head.
“With all due respect, your Majesty-”
But the young punk stabs the old man’s wrinkly hand with a knife on the wooden table. No reason would humble his hardened heart.
“Please, your majesty!” the Earl yells in misery.
“Does anyone else have any more things to say? Any more cleverness, because I will have what I desire!”
They all eye each other but say no more looking downcast.
“Good, and you shall remain silent, Earl! My father left me the Kingdom of Charul as my rightful inheritance. And I intend to rule it as King once he is gone! Now, this duke and his daughter, I want to see him and ask to court the good Lady for I desire her beauty for myself! You will do this, great Council!”
The four members nod and agree saying untrue things in the prince’s company to satisfy him and because they fear him greatly.
But then his closest member the Deathkeeper says, “I know, Gnaw that you have been upset ever since that little mermaid smiled at you and took you by surprise, but in this strange world things do happen, O great prince.”
“I know, I loved her, but she fled,” he calmed down and his breathing became lighter.
“She knew darkness remained in me, she knew what I was planning with the Octopus Queen but she is lost anyhow. Fled to God knows where. She’s out of sight, out of mind. It doesn’t matter for I know true love doesn’t exist any longer! It never did, it proved to me ill and so I will take what I like now. I will have control and anyone who tells me otherwise stands in my way meaning they are my enemy!”
Forcing smiles on him they leave quickly.
The Prince calls for his two closest men. Clothed in shiny black armor, they beat their breast and chant a wicked and haunting tone until he begs them to stop.
“What do you have for me?” Prince Charul says impatiently.
“The Queen, sire. We found her. The sirens led us right to her fortress.”
“So, it is true then,” he smiles wickedly.
“Yes, my liege. But we found the Outer Realm empty.”
“Empty?”
“Yes, my lord. We do not know where she has gone. Her servants told us she fled when two young children evaded her clutches.”
“This is most unusual. This was not in the prophecy.”
“The prophecy has many riddles-”
“Don’t you preach at me, boy! Get after them!”
“Sire, we have ridden far as it is. A long journey, it has been. We request food and rest, my lord.”
The young prince smiles and approaches his men slowly and deliberately as he whispers in his ear.
“You shall do as I say because if you do not, I shall kill all of you. Every last one of you. You and your families will be tortured and fed to my dogs.
“So, do this, or I will get someone else to do it in your place. You will not rest until you bring her to me safely. Is that understood?”
His two men nod quickly and flee, “Yes-yes, my lord! We will not fail you!”
He smiles cruelly at himself amused and delighted in his taste and pleasure for control and power.
“My lord,” a servant comes in followed by an older man and his young daughter into the Prince’s chambers.
“The Duke of Fair Haven and his daughter the Lady of Fair Haven.”
“Ah,” he treacherously says. “Duke, so good to see you. And my, what a pleasant creature! The Lady of Fair Haven.”
“Yes, my lord,” the young beautiful woman curtsies.
“You are even more beautiful than I imagined. Come, come. Sit, please,'“ the Prince says deceitfully.
They both sit as the Duke begins, “Prince Gnaw of Charul, how is your father?”
“Not well, I am afraid. Sickness has overtaken him. He will soon perish. But my good Duke, I must admit my time is short and my statement frank. I request your permission to court your fine young daughter, here, the good Lady.”
“Isabelle?” He laughs. “O gracious Prince, she has already been betrothed to my good friend’s son, Arthur.”
“Oh? Well, I am glad since she is not married! Now you can surely, stop this betrothal.”
“Nonsense,” the duke laughs hitting his knee in joy. “You are flowing with jests, aren’t you?”
“I do not jest, Duke. I demand it. Stop this engagement.”
The Duke stops laughing and the Lady cocks her head and her eyes widen with fear.
“I demand that she be given to me.”
“She is a fine young lady,” the duke begins nervously daring to never stare into his green serpentine eyes. “Not some cattle that you can just take and barter with.”
“Not money, but by my power,” Gnaw says grinning. “My authority says I may and I shall. You will do this, kind duke.”
“Prince, please-” But Charul grabs him by the throat.
“Enough,” he says through gritted teeth and pushes him away. “Please, Duke, excuse us. I think the Lady and I shall have a private conversation since I now court her. Thank you, Duke. You are so very kind.” His white teeth glisten wickedly at the Duke.
The Duke clutches his throat and looks at his daughter. “He will kill us both, I…I’m sorry.” Then kisses her hand. “Do no harm to her.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” The young ugly prince nods in agreement. The Duke flees to the outer chamber leaving them alone.
“I never thought a man could be so cruel,” the good Lady of Fair Haven declares with a sullen countenance.
“Then you have never truly lived, m’Lady. You are too young to understand the ways of the world. How the Seven Kingdoms operate.”
“I know how they operate, Prince. My father has taught me many things.”
“And did he teach you rhetoric and persuasion? Because if he did, he has failed you.” He smiles slyly.
“You think you are so clever,” she says defying him.
“And proud of it, m’Lady.”
“Why don’t you speak openly with me? Stop trying to deceive me for we both know what sort of man you are.”
“And what am I?”
“A wicked and treacherous little prince who neither fears God nor respects man.”
“And why should I when the One up above looks out across this earth and does nothing to stop men like me? Why should I respect the peasants and filth of this land when I have unlimited power? Every knee shall bow down to me.”
She scoffs and laughs, “Oh, I am in the presence of no evil prince but of an imbecile! You are a treat!”
He glares at her but thinks twice before killing her. “And what about you, m’Lady? Who are you?”
“I am a woman with little patience for fools! We are finished.” Abruptly she rises but as she goes and faces the Prince, he laughs maniacally. She hesitates.
“You think, you can evade my clutches! I own you, dear Lady!”
She turns around and opposes him with clenched fists.
“You will never own me. No matter if you have me locked in chains in the dungeons or if I am far away from you in the Heavens, I will never be yours. Because deep in my heart, in the recesses of my soul, I will vow never to love you!”
“Wench! You nasty little…” he approaches her and she smacks him in his pale and pointy rigged face.
“You will pay for that!” He snaps his fingers. His guards rush in and seize her.
“So, you desire to be down in the dark dungeons, do you? Well, I will see to it, that you have a most unpleasant time down in the darkest parts, m’Lady!” Chortling, he urges the guards to escort her down to the earth.
As they take her out, the Duke sees his daughter being forced away. “Stop guards! Stop this! Ludicrous, I say! This is a disgrace!” But ten guards all seize him and block his way as he screams endlessly and the Prince comes walking out of his chambers.
“Prince, you promised!”
“I won’t kill her. Only imprison her.”
“You ungrateful little treacherous wicked prince!”
“Oh, I do like the sound of that!” The Prince of Charul smiles and laughs amused. Suddenly and quickly, he stabs the Duke in the gut. “But I shall surely kill you, Duke. Dispose of his body!”
The guards take his body away hiding it in secret burying him in the Fields of Woe. The black armored guards beat the Duke’s men and his carriage killing some of them. Cursing and screaming furiously, they shove and threaten the Duke’s guards as they all flee to the hills.
Down, down, the guards take the Lady of Fair Haven descending into the darkest parts of the tunnels. The dark earth becomes black as the devil’s soul. Twisted and wretched like blue dark magic, the dreadful and evil presence lingers.
The guards push her in as she lands on the hay among the bones and skulls, the flesh that rotted away eons ago.
“I’m sorry, m’Lady,” the two say as they quickly go out and leave her some water and food out of pity.
She partakes hurriedly as she glances and finds the entire stone and rusty chamber empty. The light of the torches is quenched by the huge heavy doors great boom.
Isabelle goes to the window barred with metal as she sobs and holds her face in her hands. Putting her hands together she prays and seeks God’s providence.
As she sits there and tears stream down her thin pretty face, she sees a small blue jay chirp joyfully. It warms her desolate heart and breathes life and vigor back into her soul.
The blue jay flaps its wings quickly and comes right on the edge of the window. “M’Lady! What has happened?”
“Evil is happening in the land of Charul, Mango. Go. Go to Princess Tabitha and tell her to bring an army and stop Prince Gnaw. He is mad with power.”
“I will do my best, m’Lady,” Mango the blue jay shrieks. “The prophecy has come true then?”
“Indeed, we need to gather the allies from the other Kingdoms. Thank you, my friend,” she forces a smile as her heart breaks in two.
“I serve you, m’Lady. No other.” Mango flutters in the day as dark clouds assemble around the mighty and imposing black Casper Castle in the city of Charul filling it with malice, jealousy, and every kind of evil.
The Wicked Prince Gnaw sulks out at the gray day of his chamber contemplating his move and desiring power and friendship with the Ice Queen.
I'm enjoying these stories Mike!!