The Black Prince By Charles Smith
I want to keep true to what I know and in following only what I want, I believe that Im following Vonnegut's advice. The main conflict is between Alex and himself. His Image is of a demonic, warfaring monster. In reality he is more closed off to the world so everyone simply assumes he is as they think. This is to act as a sequel to "Inheritance," where time has passed, yet the future is still so bleak.
"Is it you?" Alex asked as he walked across the cold stone floor. "Are you the one who did this to me?"
The man in question turned, allowing his amber cloak to sweep dust off the ground. "Hello, my son."
Alex Nightingale was no stranger to suffering. Both as a dealer and as a recipient. He understood the desires of man to cause harm to those that had wronged him. However, the lengths that this man went to cause such a pain to his brother was almost unimaginable.
-Three weeks prior-
Alex was victorious in his battle against his brother. The fool thought that his training with the royal guard could prepare him to fight with such a sorcerer. Alex knew what he was capable of. He could have killed his brother in cold blood, tormented him for days, capture his soul and denied him peace. However, he chose a noble road that no other in his situation would. He spared his life and asked him to join his crusade. Brian, the eldest brother and leader of the kingdom’s armies, was many things. A traitor was one and a man of his word was the other.
Stopping their mother was simple enough. After the king's death, the queen's true nature shown through. She was nothing but power hungry shrew, who only retained loyalty through the use of her eldest son. When it was clear that Brian no longer supported her, she fell in a matter of minutes. With no army, no allies, no skill herself, she stood no chance. She, unlike her sons, knew no shame or pride. She had to be restrained and kept in the dungeons to stop herself from harming herself or others.
The next few days were spent rebuilding what land had been destroyed by the battles. With the according peace between creatures of magic and the humans, construction did not take long. Burnt forest, poisoned lakes, and even blackened skies were reversed by the sprites and spirits that caused them. Alex himself was needed in some places to rebuild the towers and walls he had crushed in his wake. The only magicks disbanded were those shrouded in death and shadow.
As time went on and the kingdom settled, it was decided that Alex had won his right to the throne. Magic was taught in the schools to those who wished teachings. Sprites and trolls walk in the streets without fear. Humans were benefited greatly by their interactions with the wyrd. It was not until the third week of Alex’s rule did a problem arise.
The imprisoned queen managed to charm a guard. He did as was asked and went to the king’s old chambers. “Look in the third drawer on the right of his desk. There you will find proof of Alex’s true origins. When the journal was brought to the king’s squire, one of the few to resist the idea of Alex’s reign, he was ecstatic to report the findings.
Apparently, the king too had a brother. Not only was he also the younger, he was also born with magic. Though not nearly as active as Alex’s. The claims of the queen were verified by the king’s journal. Being the son of the king’s brother, gave him no right to the throne. With this news spreading throughout the kingdom, the seeds of discord were sewn.
Unable to accept that his reign would end before a true difference could be made, Alex ventured to the forbidden lands in order to find the other one who could disprove these claims. The last sighting of Alex’s uncle, or perhaps father, was three days ride by a normal horse. However, there was no hesitation in the witches to gift him an enchanted one for the journey.
So he rode, reaching the cavern that was meant to be his home. Alex stepped off his steed, grabbed his lantern, and entered the cavern. Not before he took three steps, Alex was stripped of his armor, left in nothing but his drawers. His lantern was also gone.
Sighing in frustration. Alex summoned a light to follow him through the cavern as he walked. “Hello? Who is here?” Alex bellowed down the passageway. “Your trick was a bit childish if you ask me.” He grumbles under his breath. “Though I can’t judge you. When I was younger I did the same to my… brother.”
Alex paused as he saw a mysterious figure in the dark. The light he had summoned invoked a shimmering from his amber cloaks.
"Is it you?" Alex asked as he walked across the cold stone floor. "Are you the one who did this to me?"
The man in question turned, allowing his amber cloak to sweep dust off the ground. "Hello, my son."
Alex Nightingale was no stranger to suffering. Both as a dealer and as a recipient. He understood the desires of man to cause harm to those that had wronged him. However, the lengths that this man went to cause such a pain to his brother was almost unimaginable.
“So it is true. You bed my mother in the dead of night. You abused her while my fath-… While the king was away.”
“Now, now, boy.” The man said as he slowly drew closer. “Are you sure you want to take that tone with me? I’ve been a mage for much longer than you. And as a natural born as opposed to your parental endowment.” He said stopping less than a foot in front of Alex.
With one hand Alex drew iron chains from the walls of the cavern. They wrapped around his arms and legs and proceeded to force him back. Though he struggled, these chains were imbued with Alex’s own magic.
“Yes, I am sure.” Alex roared “Do you have any idea what you put me through. The king rejected me. My family rejected me! I rejected me! I ran for years! I ran to any who would accept me! I did things that should be asked of no child! I’ve done things that should be asked of no man! And for what? So you could pursue some stupid vendetta against your brother!?!”
Before his “father” could speak a response, another chain wrapped around his next.
“I was, I was, I was…” Alex said, breaking down. “I couldn’t believe it when he gave me his blade.” Alex said summoning the weapon from thin air.
As Alex was contemplating the options he had left, his captives murmuring caught his attention.
Removing the chain around his neck, he allowed him to speak. After he caught his breath, he spoke as if he was on the edges of a guilty pleasure. “My son! Do you know what this means? Together you and I could rule! We could- AAHH!”
“Do not speak to me as if I’m a power hungry wretch like you and the queen. God no wonder you fell for her. You’re exactly like each other!” Alex was known as a patient man but this tested his bounds.
“What does that matter? You have been tormented by them for far too long to care. The queen, your subjects, the prince-hyung!”
Alex did not know that one was capable of whatever fury was burning within him at that moment. “Do not put my brother in a group with you all.” Alex’s breath became erratic as his heartbeat quickened. “He only treated me so because of the influence you placed on his parents. In many of my dreams, in many of my visions I could see and feel that to my very core!” As Alex continued he could hear the grip of his chains grinding the man’s bones. His screams did nothing to deter Alex’s advances. As Alex’s mind continued to race he came to a frightful conclusion.
During the war, Alex did not take any lives. He refused as it was against what he was fighting for. Peace. However, to preserve that peace, Alex felt as if he was left with but one option.
Alex face his captive, his tormentor, his father, and commanded his chains to grow spikes that pierced the old mages flesh. As the blood touched the enchanted iron, Alex could feel a resonance deep within him. With the last ounce of resolve, he had in him, the young king burned his father alive.
Upon exiting the cave, Alex came to terms with one thing. Though the only threat of confirmation was gone, so was his chance at the disbandment of those rumors. This left him with no way out. So he did the one thing he thought would help.
At the mouth of the cave, Alex meditated. He, in a matter of minutes determined the one out of thousands of choices left for him would yield the best result.
-The Next Day-
“People of Our Kingdom” Brian called out over the royal perch. Dawning his white, shimmering armor and a crown unlike ones before it. “My uncle is dead. With no way to confirm or deny the unrealistic allegations made against my brother, we have come to what we deem to be a worthy solution.”
He waves his hand to introduce his brother. We both now wear half of father’s crown. Alex wears Black steel armor adorned with onyx gifted to me by the remnants of my fairy folk companions. “We shall divide the kingdom. I shall rule and reign keeping in mind the actions in favor of the magical creatures.”
“And I the human and non-magical.” He finishes.
That morning when Alex returned, he revealed the true course of events. Just as he predicted, Brian was understanding, for all cruelty was in fact at the influence of his parents. When Alex revealed his plan he was proud of its brilliance and accepted without hesitation.
That night at dinner, in front of Brian’s pregnant wife, Alex toasted, “Long live the white king.”
In reply, Brian stated, “Long live the Black Prince.”
The man in question turned, allowing his amber cloak to sweep dust off the ground. "Hello, my son."
Alex Nightingale was no stranger to suffering. Both as a dealer and as a recipient. He understood the desires of man to cause harm to those that had wronged him. However, the lengths that this man went to cause such a pain to his brother was almost unimaginable.
-Three weeks prior-
Alex was victorious in his battle against his brother. The fool thought that his training with the royal guard could prepare him to fight with such a sorcerer. Alex knew what he was capable of. He could have killed his brother in cold blood, tormented him for days, capture his soul and denied him peace. However, he chose a noble road that no other in his situation would. He spared his life and asked him to join his crusade. Brian, the eldest brother and leader of the kingdom’s armies, was many things. A traitor was one and a man of his word was the other.
Stopping their mother was simple enough. After the king's death, the queen's true nature shown through. She was nothing but power hungry shrew, who only retained loyalty through the use of her eldest son. When it was clear that Brian no longer supported her, she fell in a matter of minutes. With no army, no allies, no skill herself, she stood no chance. She, unlike her sons, knew no shame or pride. She had to be restrained and kept in the dungeons to stop herself from harming herself or others.
The next few days were spent rebuilding what land had been destroyed by the battles. With the according peace between creatures of magic and the humans, construction did not take long. Burnt forest, poisoned lakes, and even blackened skies were reversed by the sprites and spirits that caused them. Alex himself was needed in some places to rebuild the towers and walls he had crushed in his wake. The only magicks disbanded were those shrouded in death and shadow.
As time went on and the kingdom settled, it was decided that Alex had won his right to the throne. Magic was taught in the schools to those who wished teachings. Sprites and trolls walk in the streets without fear. Humans were benefited greatly by their interactions with the wyrd. It was not until the third week of Alex’s rule did a problem arise.
The imprisoned queen managed to charm a guard. He did as was asked and went to the king’s old chambers. “Look in the third drawer on the right of his desk. There you will find proof of Alex’s true origins. When the journal was brought to the king’s squire, one of the few to resist the idea of Alex’s reign, he was ecstatic to report the findings.
Apparently, the king too had a brother. Not only was he also the younger, he was also born with magic. Though not nearly as active as Alex’s. The claims of the queen were verified by the king’s journal. Being the son of the king’s brother, gave him no right to the throne. With this news spreading throughout the kingdom, the seeds of discord were sewn.
Unable to accept that his reign would end before a true difference could be made, Alex ventured to the forbidden lands in order to find the other one who could disprove these claims. The last sighting of Alex’s uncle, or perhaps father, was three days ride by a normal horse. However, there was no hesitation in the witches to gift him an enchanted one for the journey.
So he rode, reaching the cavern that was meant to be his home. Alex stepped off his steed, grabbed his lantern, and entered the cavern. Not before he took three steps, Alex was stripped of his armor, left in nothing but his drawers. His lantern was also gone.
Sighing in frustration. Alex summoned a light to follow him through the cavern as he walked. “Hello? Who is here?” Alex bellowed down the passageway. “Your trick was a bit childish if you ask me.” He grumbles under his breath. “Though I can’t judge you. When I was younger I did the same to my… brother.”
Alex paused as he saw a mysterious figure in the dark. The light he had summoned invoked a shimmering from his amber cloaks.
"Is it you?" Alex asked as he walked across the cold stone floor. "Are you the one who did this to me?"
The man in question turned, allowing his amber cloak to sweep dust off the ground. "Hello, my son."
Alex Nightingale was no stranger to suffering. Both as a dealer and as a recipient. He understood the desires of man to cause harm to those that had wronged him. However, the lengths that this man went to cause such a pain to his brother was almost unimaginable.
“So it is true. You bed my mother in the dead of night. You abused her while my fath-… While the king was away.”
“Now, now, boy.” The man said as he slowly drew closer. “Are you sure you want to take that tone with me? I’ve been a mage for much longer than you. And as a natural born as opposed to your parental endowment.” He said stopping less than a foot in front of Alex.
With one hand Alex drew iron chains from the walls of the cavern. They wrapped around his arms and legs and proceeded to force him back. Though he struggled, these chains were imbued with Alex’s own magic.
“Yes, I am sure.” Alex roared “Do you have any idea what you put me through. The king rejected me. My family rejected me! I rejected me! I ran for years! I ran to any who would accept me! I did things that should be asked of no child! I’ve done things that should be asked of no man! And for what? So you could pursue some stupid vendetta against your brother!?!”
Before his “father” could speak a response, another chain wrapped around his next.
“I was, I was, I was…” Alex said, breaking down. “I couldn’t believe it when he gave me his blade.” Alex said summoning the weapon from thin air.
As Alex was contemplating the options he had left, his captives murmuring caught his attention.
Removing the chain around his neck, he allowed him to speak. After he caught his breath, he spoke as if he was on the edges of a guilty pleasure. “My son! Do you know what this means? Together you and I could rule! We could- AAHH!”
“Do not speak to me as if I’m a power hungry wretch like you and the queen. God no wonder you fell for her. You’re exactly like each other!” Alex was known as a patient man but this tested his bounds.
“What does that matter? You have been tormented by them for far too long to care. The queen, your subjects, the prince-hyung!”
Alex did not know that one was capable of whatever fury was burning within him at that moment. “Do not put my brother in a group with you all.” Alex’s breath became erratic as his heartbeat quickened. “He only treated me so because of the influence you placed on his parents. In many of my dreams, in many of my visions I could see and feel that to my very core!” As Alex continued he could hear the grip of his chains grinding the man’s bones. His screams did nothing to deter Alex’s advances. As Alex’s mind continued to race he came to a frightful conclusion.
During the war, Alex did not take any lives. He refused as it was against what he was fighting for. Peace. However, to preserve that peace, Alex felt as if he was left with but one option.
Alex face his captive, his tormentor, his father, and commanded his chains to grow spikes that pierced the old mages flesh. As the blood touched the enchanted iron, Alex could feel a resonance deep within him. With the last ounce of resolve, he had in him, the young king burned his father alive.
Upon exiting the cave, Alex came to terms with one thing. Though the only threat of confirmation was gone, so was his chance at the disbandment of those rumors. This left him with no way out. So he did the one thing he thought would help.
At the mouth of the cave, Alex meditated. He, in a matter of minutes determined the one out of thousands of choices left for him would yield the best result.
-The Next Day-
“People of Our Kingdom” Brian called out over the royal perch. Dawning his white, shimmering armor and a crown unlike ones before it. “My uncle is dead. With no way to confirm or deny the unrealistic allegations made against my brother, we have come to what we deem to be a worthy solution.”
He waves his hand to introduce his brother. We both now wear half of father’s crown. Alex wears Black steel armor adorned with onyx gifted to me by the remnants of my fairy folk companions. “We shall divide the kingdom. I shall rule and reign keeping in mind the actions in favor of the magical creatures.”
“And I the human and non-magical.” He finishes.
That morning when Alex returned, he revealed the true course of events. Just as he predicted, Brian was understanding, for all cruelty was in fact at the influence of his parents. When Alex revealed his plan he was proud of its brilliance and accepted without hesitation.
That night at dinner, in front of Brian’s pregnant wife, Alex toasted, “Long live the white king.”
In reply, Brian stated, “Long live the Black Prince.”