The Red Prince (1)

by Stephen Lucas Lacroix

  The Viris members cheered and praised his name as Glaivel looked at them. Sevidon smirked as he leaned back on the wall. Glaivel raised his arms and the Viris council cheered louder.

  Haveltok said, “Ok now, calm down people. Calm down. We don’t need to show off.”

  Glaivel moved his left wrist up and down towards the Viris council as they slowly quiet down. Sevidon silently stood by the wall and Glaivel saluted Tolous quickly.

  “Viris Colonel Glaivel Numenesse of the Grand Elven Army reporting sir!” the Viris exploded and cried out his name.

  “At ease, Colonel,” said Tolous and Glaivel gradually put his hand down.

  Tolous started talking but Sevidon and Glaivel kept glaring at each other then Glaivel winks at Sevidon. The smile on Sevidon’s face disappeared and he felt mocked. He drew his double elvish swords from behind and raised them to Glaivel. The ranger, still smiling, drew his bow and spun backward before the bow completely was deployed. Tolous had little time to react but was able to evade quickly. Glaivel drew an arrow and aimed at Sevidon while Sevidon crossed his swords against Glaivel’s throat. Both are at death point until both of them stopped. Glaivel was still smiling while Sevidon stared at him, cold as winter. The Council was breathless at the pace of their movements.

  “Both of you! Stop your fooling around or else!” Haveltok interrupted but both of them kept staring at each other when Glaivel suddenly asked Sevidon.

  “How’s your day, General?” Glaivel said smiling.

  “It’s bad now that you’re here, Colonel,” said Sevidon.

  Glaivel retracted his bow and so did Sevidon with his swords. Still scowling at each other, Tolous moved between them.

  “Both of you, return to your respective sides. Now let me finish what I’m here to tell you,” Tolous said as he pushed them away from one another. Sevidon, annoyed by Glaivel, backed down and went back to the walls and while the other did the same.

  Tolous continued, “Now, noble council of the Elven Race, we specifically requested that we need the mightiest warriors from the seven kingdoms. Seven Kingdoms. Which means, both of you will be going.”

  Outraged by the decision, the Viris erupted and demanded that only one will represent their race.

  “This is unacceptable, only one from the Elven Race will come and that is Colonel Glaivel!” Glaivel closed his eyes and quietly listened to the bickering.

  Haveltok stood up and made a statement to the Meskotav council.

  “My dear friends, side by side we both restored our countries with our arms held tightly by each other. In this hour, in this very dark hour indeed, evil forces moves and is likely to accomplish their unknown dark goal, while we are still fighting amongst each other,” both races of the council seemed to agree and Glaivel glanced at Sevidon again. “I wish this to you now as a request not of the Imperial Council, but as a friend to you all, to work together in helping bring down the threat before it’s too late,” Haveltok finished.

  Everyone fell silent. Tolous sat back beside Haveltok who took a drink of water.

  After the long silence, one from the Viris side spoke on behalf of the entire Viris council. Everyone regained their posture and a few cleared their throats. “Sir Haveltok, you do understand that despite our similarity, that in which we find very disturbing, we know when we have to put our differences aside,” the elder councilor explained as the entire room listened. “However, as Sir Tolous said, another threat to the entire west kingdoms looms once more, we still cannot make this decision alone without consulting the right people on this matter.”

  The Trasidian diplomat’s face showed dismay as he already knew where his statement was going.

  “So even if we feel the need to accept and heed on with the Prime Minister and the Imperial Council’s wishes, we will have to address the very person who has the authority to act on this. And that person is the Viris King,” he finished as he gestured a slight disconcert. Sevidon and Glaivel lowered their heads.

  Moments passed as another from the Venis side this time, stood up and delivered their side on the matter. “I am afraid the Viris councilor is right. We need both our Royal Councils to agree on this. We can assure you now that the Venis Council, along with the King will accept. However, we are still bound by the Elven Code that the Council of Eight Kingdoms imposed a long time ago. We can’t do anything unless the other Kingdom has already decided upon the matter,” the Venis councilor said.

  Everyone in the room was downhearted until Sevidon stepped up.

  “The Meskotav Law has a clause that enables them to delegate representatives to seek the answer of the Kings of the Elven Kingdom. Am I correct?” Sevidon suddenly asked.

  The entire room was caught off guard. Small chatter began but quieted down immediately as well.

  “Aye,” the council repetitively answered.

  “Then I ask the council to hereby declare me and Prince Glaivel as the representative of the Meskotav Council who shall speak to our respective Kings about the concern of the council,” Sevidon looked around the council. “What say you?”

  Glaivel just stared back at the General and around the room. He could clearly see that Sevidon haven’t changed at all. He smirked as he understood everything perfectly.

  The council murmured again but this time for a lengthy moment, before finally dying down. Respective heads stood from both the Viris, adorned by a long garb of green and white with the emblem of the Viris Meskotav Council, and the Venis, wearing a huge hat and a robe adorned with red, white and gold with the emblem of the Venis Meskotav Council sewn in his robe’s chest.

  Haveltok clapped his hands together with a hopeful smile painted on his face. “Gentlemen of the Meskotav Council, may we request the names of the ones representing each other?” he said while looking alternately to both sides.

  The Venis side raised their hands and their representative stood up.

  “Our representative will be General Sevidon Borinvegeard and will go back to Radenheim to address the Venis King immediately,” the councilman said with Sevidon quickly saluting the councilor. The other did the same and Sevidon left the room.

  After the Venis councilor sat down, the Viris raised their hands before their representative stood up.

  “Our representative will be Colonel Glaivel Numenesse and he will go back to Eiventolf to address the Grand Elven King also, immediately.”

  The councils had finally decided who to send for their respective Monarchs and Haveltok quickly called for a celebration of their agreement.

  Everyone continued to celebrate until moonrise. A grand feast was prepared for the incredible progress of the mission. Tolous was showered with gifts from both kingdoms as everyone else enjoyed the feast. Glaivel was drinking some matrik, an elven wine, suddenly noticed Sevidon standing up and going to the woods. He finished up his matrik and followed him.

  He entered in the dark part of the forest and Sevidon was nowhere to be found. Glaivel jumped into the sky in search of Sevidon. Glaivel then found him, near the edge of a cliff, gazing at the full moon.

  “I found you,” said Glaivel.

  Sevidon grabbed his sword and turned behind him.

  “I’d never thought of you being like this, General.” Glaivel stopped to look at the moon as Sevidon put his sword down. “What a big chance this is. The Elven kingdoms will work together yet again,” Glaivel continued.

  Sevidon just cocked his head, and sighed deeply.

  Glaivel glanced at Sevidon with mixed emotion.

  “What are you going to do after this? Will you go back?” Glaivel asked. Sevidon looked at him for a while seeing only Glaivel’s curiosity, he then stared at the moon again.

  “You know, he is worried about—”

  Sevidon closed his eyes as he answered, “Don’t even mention that. Do not even dare. He treated me as if I’m not like what you’re about to say.”

  “You know he didn’t have a choice,” Glaivel said as he looked away.

  “He’s the K
ing. He always has a choice. His choice, however, was not a wise one.”

  Sevidon stood up and jumped right up a tree branch, as Glaivel sighed and then followed him.

  “But it was a long time ago. Everything is different now, even him. He accepts how everything is now,” Glaivel argued.

  Sevidon looked down and replied, “It’s too late. I also changed. You can see it with your own eyes. And that too, he will have to learn to accept.” He stood up again and jumped away from him.

  “He will accept you back! Let us forget the past and move on, Sevidon. That is all I ask of you,” Glaivel pleaded.

  Glaivel then saw in Sevidon’s eye the very thing he saw back then, the day he last saw him – the hatred that still burned so bright in the eyes of the General.

  “Then answer me this,” Sevidon walked towards Glaivel, “who shot the arrow that hit her in the chest?” he suddenly asked.

  Glaivel was surprised. He did not expect that Sevidon would bring it up. He took a deep breath and answered firmly, “I did.”

  “Now tell me why you did it!” Sevidon suddenly snapped at Glaivel, holding him by the collar.

  “You know why I did, Sevidon! She was the enemy! The King commanded their death! She will not be an exemption!” Glaivel shouted back as Sevidon let go of him and turned his back. “Since the very beginning I told you it would be dangerous! If it was only us I would’ve done differently. I have a responsibility to the Kingdom first. Not to you! The King’s command is absolute. And you know that!” he explained.

  “Then I got banished,” Sevidon said, silencing Glaivel. “Don’t expect me to change my mind. This talk is over.” Sevidon then headed back to Meskotav.

  Glaivel got mad. He screamed of anger. Sevidon had not changed at all. He was catching his breath and tried to calm himself down and sat near the edge of the cliff, whistling. The whistle echoed throughout the forest below when a hawk whistled back. He looked up and held his right arm upwards, the hawk landed. He pulled his arm towards him and played with the hawk. The hawk flapped its wings slightly when Glaivel suddenly whispered an elvish word, “Masero, Omne sate fararae.”

  He threw his arm in the air again and the hawk flew. It whistled as it headed to the direction of Eiventolf. Glaivel sat still in his spot thinking what Sevidon had said.

  “I never noticed this place was such beauty at night,” Glaivel murmured. He then stood up and patted his back to remove the dirt. He took a deep breath and jumped off the cliff. He didn’t notice it was way too high. As he fell down, he pulled out his bow and deployed it at the nick of a second. He hit some branches but his bow caught some very strong vines. He almost hit the ground when he managed to slow down. He put his left foot on the ground before he was slingshot upward in the air by the bent branches. He folded his bow again and spiraled downward, feet first to the ground. He landed on a large branch and jumped from one tree to another, before finally arriving at the gathering.

  Tolous along with Haveltok approached him and gave him a letter.

  “What is this?” he asked as he opened the piece of folded paper.

  “That’s the meeting place colonel,” Tolous said then drinks from his cup of matrik.

  “I believe that the Princess of the Orderian and the Prince of the Mystic Realm are already on their way,” Haveltok answered.

  “This is more serious than I thought. Eldemensters Temple actually revealed itself?” Glaivel replied.

  “Actually, we were also surprised that it appeared. That’s why the Prime Minister wants you all to be there before you go to your mission,” Tolous answered. Glaivel carefully read the location of the temple. “You are to be back here tomorrow, Colonel. We need to hear for ourselves what the Elven King will have to say,” Tolous continued.

  Glaivel folded the piece of paper and looked around for the Venis general but Tolous suddenly spoke, “I am afraid he already left for Radenheim, Your Highness. I suggest you go on your way as well.”

  Glaivel only saluted to the two imperial diplomats before heading for the stables. Glaivel was quickly handed a stallion of white color.

  “Colonel, this is Windsprint, he is one of the fastest and leanest stallions here,” the soldier said with Glaivel quickly riding the stallion.

  “Did the Venis General leave already?” Glaivel asked.

  “Yes, Your Highness. He took Shadowbane with him,” the soldier answered and without a thought, Glaivel quickly rode off the opposite direction towards Eiventolf. The soldier then quickly fixed the stables until one of the guards emerged from the stables.

  “Hey I think you mixed up Shadowbane with Lanaya.”

  The guard that gave the horse to Sevidon was shocked and said, “I’m done for when he gets back.”

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Back in Tamara, the Prime Minister prepared for another report in the throne room.

  Menoich just glanced while another one bearing in his right arm a Maroon colored owl, the Observer Scout Owl saying, “Your Highness, they spotted the Prince of Falcons heading towards the temple.”

  “Good, tell me any news whenever there is a development about the team. By the way, where is the Princess now?” Another one quickly answered that question.

  “Sir, she’s heading to Tamara as we speak. Only two to three weeks from now and Princess Tamara will be here.”

  Menoich’s face looked uneasy and said, “We have to prepare everything for the discussion on who will wear the crown next. Do the necessary arrangements immediately.”

  The phalanx soldier salutes and Menoich orders them to leave.

  He stood up and looked out of the windows. After that he pulled the curtains to cover the windows and from his robe he pulled an orb with a dark red fog inside it. He sat back on the throne and held the orb in his hand. Then the orb changed color and glowed dark grey like storm clouds whirled inside it.

  “The plan is going accordingly,” he whispered to the orb. Menoich closed his eyes and it moved rapidly. In just moments, he was already breathing heavily and gripping the orb as he sweat in fear inside his robe.

  “The Prince must have hid it somewhere, we can’t find it but we are still looking.”

  He suddenly gasped for air as the orb glowed red.

  Menoich spoke again, “I already have a plan. To deal with this, do not worry. I will handle everything.”

  He opened his eyes, released his tight grip of the orb and put it back in his pocket.

  End of chapter IV

  V: AUTUMN

  SEVIDON SURGED THROUGH THE RED tainted forest of La’Sarien where the scarlet leaves littered the path leading to the Venis Capital of Radenheim. The lower half of the forest was red with reason beyond the Viris Elves and the Orderian scholars studying them. However, the people of the Venis took no notice of it and just admired the radiant scheme of the forest.

  As Sevidon dashed towards the city, he crossed the magnificently built bridge across the river of Anemone. One could not help but be in awe of the sheer ingenuity of construction and craftsmanship of the bridge. Pillar markers appeared every once in a while.

  He made haste towards the city. He thought that the Venis Elves were a perfect blend of the race of Elves and Men.

  The Venis still valued the importance of the forest and being one with nature. But they also valued their sheer power of imagination and love for crafting and shaping their surroundings to their advantage – building massive pillars that rivaled those of Tamara and other Gate Cities, bridges that could arouse jealousy to other builders and craftsmen alike throughout the continent. They earned respect for pouring their heart and soul to everything they created.

  Together with the elves’ love for the forest, this brought about harmony for both races. Even those who lived within their dominion were still in awe of the spectacle that stood in their doorstep.

  Sevidon approached the outer wall of the city. The elven wall was as magnificent as the ones in Tamara. Painted in white and red, it was engraved with emblems on its s
urface. The open gate of the outer wall, which was only to be closed when a threat was approaching, was guarded by two statues of the first Venis Kings of the Kingdom. Holding an identical sword of the Kings, he passed along the shadows of the colossus. Guards greeted him as he dashed along. After crossing the dim lit shadows, he entered the city of Radenheim.

  He was immediately greeted by city-folks, who he noticed were preparing for an event. He made his way into the city road to see people hanging up banners on lamp posts and ornaments on the doors of their homes. He could not recall what was going on, but he was sure he knew this was an important day for the people of Radenheim.

  The city was an architectural wonder. The lavish decorations and intricate designs of the houses and buildings went well with the city’s location which was against an enclosing cliff. It became a natural wall for them because behind the cliff was a jagged slope facing the Southern Sea. Having one of the most violent and unforgiving tides, the enemy would have no choice but to take the heavily fortified Port of Radenheim, which would guarantee their trip to the afterlife.

  He reached the center of the city where arches extended overhead. Circling in the city center was a fountain with the statue of the Animos God, Uaeai, God of Valor and Perseverance, adorned with the colors of the kingdom. It wasn’t their god to begin with, but they learned to accept him as their own and Sevidon was partly responsible for that. Uaeai was the Viris Elves’ god as well. However, Uaeai is not alone. He is but a half of a twin god, Derulesund, Animos God of Honor and Protection.

  He remembered now what was going on, every three months the people of the Venis Kingdom celebrated in the name of their god, Uaeai, thanking him for sparing their lives.