The Dark Kingdom

There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. They were dreadful creatures, large, destructive and had the worst smell I had ever encountered. Yet, the new rulers had somehow controlled and used them as guard animals to protect the castle.

My fingers gripped the small border of brick jutting from the wall as I scaled up the side of the castle. Thankfully, I’ve had plenty of practice at this, or I would've surely fallen to my death by now. My number one rule for climbing was to not look down. But I hated obeying rules, even if they were my own. That’s how I got myself here in the first place.

I observed the grounds below me. There are two men stationed at each of the doors, and groups of four guards patrolling the grounds every six minutes, making it difficult to sneak into the castle. Difficult, but not impossible. What made the situation near impossible was the creature that weighed well over a thousand pounds, its evergreen scales shimmering in the sunlight.

The dragon lingered in the garden, not paying attention to its surroundings. Dragons were normally very intelligent, with great hearing and sight. Yet, this one hadn’t noticed me jumping the fence or scaling the wall.

I climbed higher, grabbing hold of the ledge of the roof, and hoisted myself up onto the first landing. I landed less gracefully than expected, my foot catching on the brick and sending me face first onto the stone roof.

“Fuck,” I mumbled, then froze in fear. My nose ached, and the left cheek stung a little, but I paused in wait despite the feel of blood trickling towards my lip. I wasn’t too loud to catch the attention of the guards, but the dragon, I was certain, could hear. I waited another minute before crawling towards the ledge and peering over.

The dragon had taken no notice, its attention still directed to the garden. It moved closer to a patch of sunflowers, its snout sniffing gently, then crinkled with dislike. It bared its teeth to the flower, and let out an earth shaking sneeze.

It stepped back from the flower into a thorny rose bush. I watched delightedly as it cried out in anger, its back foot raised off the ground. It released a thunderous roar and expelled fire, sending the rose bush up in flames. All the guards in the vicinity stared in fear and horror as the dragon torched the garden my mother had spent years tending. It limped off towards the fountain at the centre of the garden, where it tended to the injured foot and stared in distrust at the burning roses.

I dipped my head below the ledge and let out a soft chuckle. Perhaps dragons weren’t the best guard animals, but their mere presence was enough to deter trespassers. I still hated they were being used. I wish I had honourable reasons, but truly, I was just pissed that I hadn’t thought of the idea. Dragons guarding the castle? Dragon pets? Exactly the dumb ideas I would have, but no, it was the thieves who stole my kingdom who thought of the idea.

I moved promptly in silence to climb the next two sections, getting to one of the tallest lookouts of the castle. If my surveillance was correct, which it was, there wouldn’t be another duo of green and sliver coloured guards here for another three minutes.

It seemed strangely natural to break into the castle when I spent most of my teen years sneaking out. It was a simple route, though the passage ways seemed a little larger when I last went through them.

This lookout had a small tunnelling system under some bricks I could efficiently access. I crawled through the small spider filled tunnel leading to the secret escape staircase, which wasn’t so secret anymore. By my count, at least two dozen girls knew of it, possibly more. I had lost count at the start of my twenties.

The secret passage led to the back access of a dumbwaiter accessing the kitchen. From there, it was only a quiet four hundred meter sprint between guard rotations to exit a window in the right wing of the castle. There I would climb up the small distance to the roof with a just-large-enough skylight of the throne room.

With all the secret passages, you would assume there’s an access point that wouldn’t require to free hand climb up the entire building only to get inside and go back down.

Still though, as I had said, a simple route.

Leaning over the glass, I checked for my target and any obstacles that may get in my way. I tied a rope around my waist, and attached the other end to a small metallic vent I hoped would hold the weight. Checking the room one last time, I pulled out the small ice pick I brought with me and smashed the glass.

I knew it would draw attention. I needed to be fast. I repelled down the rope with haste. Thankfully, I calculated the length of the rope myself, so even if I fell, I would still end near the ground. I stopped halfway down. Something was wrong. I was running out of rope too fast. I was still about fifteen feet off the ground when I reached the end.

“You forgot to calculate for the added rope tied around you and your anchor.” A deep voice announced, followed by a laugh.

I leaned back to see an upside-down image of four guards flanking their leader. The guards pulled their weapons, but kept their distance.

I was in a strange position, I know. Like a spider crawling down a web, about to be hit like a piñata. I let my body fall limp and sighed.

“It’s not exactly easy, you know, breaking into a castle. So what if I made a mistake? It happens.” I unsheathed a small knife and cut the rope.

I fell hard, my legs crashing first, taking the worst of the impact. I didn’t have time to think about the pain as I shot back up and faced the group, my knife braced in my right hand and the ice pick in my left.

As they closed in, I shifted back a bit.

“That seemed like a rough fall. Need a minute?”

I bent forward, my hand braced on my knees, “yes, thanks for noticing, it really hurt.”

Their leader smirked at me while his men glanced at one another. He took a step forward, his men all staying back. He was nearly a head taller than me, and frame significantly larger. His brown hair and red beard were both trimmed short, his green eyes bearing into mine.

He unsheathed his sword and pointed it at me. “Well, of course, take your time. Far be it from me to rush the former Prince of Gallmea.”

My eyes shot to my left, to a glass covered podium with a large red quill in the centre. His eyes followed mine, and the smirk fell from his face as he gave his orders.

“Get him.”

The four men swarmed me in tandem. I ran for the glass case but fell back with the strike of the first sword. Moving tactfully, my steps a little faster than theirs, I evaded each of their telegraphed swings. I quickly disarmed one man and incapacitated him with a swift blow to the back of the head with the hilt of his sword.

“Come on, don’t you have any feelings for me at all? You’re not even hesitating. Hal, you used to play catch with me when I was a boy. And Justin, we’ve had fun too? And you—”

I pushed the young one back. He tripped down the steps, his head knocking on a large flowerpot.

“I actually don’t think I know you.” I said between respirations. The last two kept moving at me, swinging their sword at my neck, and their kicks anywhere they can land them.

“His name is Finn, and for the record, the other two are Hayden and Jusut. Like me, they’re loyal to the crown, and whoever is holding it. Why would they be loyal to you? You don’t even know their names.”

The younger of the two left came at me, his sword stuck out straight towards me, his form weak. I evaded him effortlessly. With a twist of his arm and a sweep of his leg, he fell forward, impaling himself on his sword.

I raised my sword, keeping the distance between me and the last guard, his eyes on the fallen boy.

“Please Hayden, doesn’t our time together mean anything? Everything my parents stood for, you’re just going to let these new rulers tear it all down? Join me instead, and we can bring this place back to its former glory.”

I didn’t want to fight. I hated fighting with people, least of all killing. I never wanted this.

He finally lifted his eyes from the boy and looked at me. “That was my nephew.” He spat at me.

“Fuck, so I guess not.”

He raised his sword and let out a booming battle cry. I raised my sword to block his attack, while the knife in my other hand found his core.

“I’m sorry.” I whispered as I let him go, his body falling limp to the ground.

My eyes found Azroth, the leader, and we both turned, our gazes locked on the red plume. With the distance between the two of us, I made it to the glass case first, smashing it to pieces.

I plucked it from the podium as the sound of dozens of thundering footsteps entered the room. I turned and faced the unfortunate end of a sword.

“I can’t let you take that, or walk out of this room.”

I held the sword in one hand and the quill in another.

“You were my best friend. How could you do this to me?”

He grinned as all the men crowded the room, encircling us on the dais, trapping me. They made no attempt at getting any closer, leaving Az and me to work out our issues in front of an audience.

“How could I do it? Simple. I’m loyal to the crown. Plus, I got a pretty nice pay raise that came with the new title.”

I stepped back from the sword and eased my way towards the thrones. “So it’s all about money? None of our friendship meant anything to you? Twenty years means nothing?”

He matched my footwork, no matter the direction I took.

“Friendship? They paid me to be your friend, just part of the staff. You are stupid, arrogant, childish, and absolutely selfish. It was no wonder you didn’t have any other friends.” I’ll be honest, that one hurt a little. “You only ever ran after girls and drank till you passed out in a pile of your own vomit. What makes you think you’re fit to rule? Why do you even want to? You’re just a kid, in way too far over your head. You should have just walked out of here gracefully and followed the new reign.”

“Is that still an option?” I asked lightheartedly. He laughed, a deep, boisterous sound. Some of the other guards joined in, and I couldn’t help but laugh myself.

“Worth a try.”

I parried his lunge and took the defence as he came at me. He was always better at fencing, so after a short stent of back and forth, he had both my sword and his own.

I still gripped the plume, ready to run. Instead, he tossed the swords off to the side and raised his fists. I raised the plume, because, in hand to hand combat, he was also better than me. Before I could do anything, I felt his cross hook connect with my cheek, sending me tumbling to the ground.

“Okay, you want the truth? I just really enjoyed beating the shit out of you for the past twenty years.”

My vision blurred from the blow, but I pushed to my feet anyway, my body aching and shaky from a very rough day.

“This is useless, whether you get away or not. We know your army is hiding out in the north mountains.” I felt my brows pulling together, and my eyes widening in horror before I could stop myself. A wide grin pulled across his face as he added, “now”.

Now, everything seemed to happen in slow motion and all too fast. My arm arched behind me, the quill cutting through the space and fabric of reality and opened a glowing white and blue clouded portal.

I watched Az raise his foot and stomp it into my chest, cracking ribs. My body flew back from the assault, my arms and legs stretched away from me. The last thing I saw was the grin on his face as he ripped the plume from my hand before I disappeared into the portal.

I crashed backwards into some shelving, bringing the entire unit and its contents crashing down with me.

I laid there, broken in too many ways to count, covered in who knows what. There was a shrieking sound from somewhere in the room, the sound bouncing around in my head, making it hurt worse than it already did.

“Look what you’ve done! Do you have any idea how long it took to gather all these ingredients? Now they’re all ruined.” A girl shouted.

“No, please, I got it. I don’t need any help.” I grunted at the pain as I worked to push myself up.

Suddenly, the pain eased a bit as my body became weightless. I watched my body float a foot off the ground, and I was moving away from the mess, across the rustic wooden floors and out the door onto dirt and gravel, where she dropped me with a consequential thud.

“I don’t care how you got here, but don’t come back.” I looked up at the angry young girl. She looked too young to be the White Mage, but there’s no harm in asking.

“I meant no harm. My name is Jetsen.” I sat up on the ground, trying to rest in a position that was least painful.

Her brows pulled together, and her face scrunched in anger. She was too young, her striking colourless white hair and brown eyes were too soft to appear menacing. The round fullness of her face and red in her cheeks just made her cuter when she was angry.

“I know who you are, former prince. I simply don’t care. You ruined my supplies.” She stuck her hands on her hips.

“I’m sorry about your supplies, but I’ve been pretty badly injured, so it’s not really my priority right now. I need to find the White Mage. Are you her?”

She sneered at me.

“Excuse me? Do I look like a nine hundred-year-old witch?” She snapped.

She was so angry, for no real reason. She can always get more stuff. I can’t get new bones to replace the broken ones.

“Ok, then, where can I find her?” I was losing my patience. I didn’t have time for this.

“Gatlias Cemetery, about twelve miles from here.” She leaned back onto the doorframe, her body relaxing a little, her arms crossing over her chest.

I knew the answer to the question, but I asked anyway. I didn’t come this far for this ending. “Is she visiting someone? Will be she be back soon?”

The girl raised an eyebrow at me, “that’s a stupid question.”

I nodded gently. I knew it was, but I needed to be certain. I ran my fingers through my hair and expelled a long breath.

Stay calm. Stay calm. Stay calm.

“Well, you clearly have magic. You can help me.”

She laughed without humour. “No.”

I moved to stand, but it hurt too much, so I resettled on the ground with small rocks and twigs sticking into me. “My mother told me if something ever happened, the White Mage could help me. I just spent months planning my break in at the castle, where I nearly died so that I could get my hands on the Blood Quill to find a witch powerful enough to help me regain my kingdom.”

“You broke into the castle today to steal an artifact?” She cocked her head at me.

“Yes, I scaled the walls, had to be hide and sneak past guards and dragons to use a very complex route into the throne room, where I got my ass handed to me, and all I got was a one-way trip to miss sunshine.” I added, waving my hand up at her.

She paused for a second, taking in the information. Hopefully, she would consider helping me.

“Why wouldn’t you just go in a disguise during the ball they’re throwing in a few days?”

I opened my mouth to answer, but I couldn’t find the words. The castle would have been open. Guards would have been spread thin and indisposed. It would have been a clear shot to the throne room and I could have walked through the front door. Why didn’t I do that?

“You know what, I don’t feel the need to explain the brilliance of my plan, certainly not to some little girl. If you will not help me, point me in the direction of a witch who can. I am a prince, and I need to get my kingdom back.”

It would have a better chance of convincing her if I were able to stand, but I was sitting in the dirt, arguing with a girl who barely looks old enough to be on her own.

“I would, but there are a few problems with that. For one, your parents had witches outlawed. They’ve all been caught and murdered. As far as I’m aware, I’m the last witch left. There is also the reasoning that I simply don’t want to help you. They’re your problems, not mine. Figure it out yourself.” She shrugged smugly, then moved to walk back inside.

“So that’s it? You’re seriously not going to help me? I’m the prince, the rightful heir.”

I hated how pathetic I sounded. I was pleading with an entitled little witch who refused to do the right thing for no good reason. She should jump in joy at the chance to help me. Others would gladly join my army and be a part of history.

“Are you really a prince if you don’t have a castle or a title anymore? Seems like after almost two years, no one considers you the prince anymore. I don’t blame them. You never did anything for anyone. Why do you want to rule?”

She looked at me, and this time she wasn’t only mocking me, but she was also curious. I saw it in her eyes.

“Why does everyone keep asking me that?” I mumbled to myself. “I am the rightful heir. I am the only one who can bring this kingdom back to its former glory, to an amazing kingdom, just as my parents had when they ruled. With your help, I can make it better. People won’t have to suffer under the new rulers tyranny. Help me make history, and everyone will talk about how amazing we are, and you, the last witch, you can have anything you want.”

She smiled at me. And this one is genuine, I think. Maybe I actually convinced her.

“You don’t understand. The kingdom sucks now, just as it sucked back when your parents ruled. It’s just in different ways. You’re asking me to risk my life and put people in danger for your ego alone, because there is no lesser of the two evils. Both options suck. So if you’re telling me I can have what I want, I already have it. It’s peace and quiet.”

With a wave of her hand, the front door slammed shut, ending the conversation abruptly. I sat there on the ground, waiting for her to come back out, for her to tell me she was joking and that she would help me, but she didn’t come back out, no matter how long I waited.

I sighed, “well, that didn’t go as well as it did in my head.”

With all the effort I could muster, I pushed myself up off the ground. I still wasn’t quite straight, my body hinging at the hips from the pain. My feet shuffled across the ground, making their way towards the door. I raised my heavy arm and knocked three times on the door.

I’ll just keep trying until she gives in. What’s the worst that could happen?