Two years after Prince Heiko witnessed the death of his father during the 91st Battle of Tyton, and subsequently, the defeat of his kingdom, he was sent to the gates of the victor, armed with nothing but empty words and a command from his elder brother to form a treaty of peace. 

Two years after General Celestino Adesso released the arrow that felled the great king of Simo, he is presented with the youngest of his sons. Though barely a man at seventeen summers, the prince was far from wet behind the ears. In fact, his tactful yet brazen form of statecraft vaulted him far beyond his years. Coupled with his draconian mannerisms, and a knack for callous pleasure, it was only a matter of time before Celestino caught a whiff of something sinister. 

But Prince Heiko was no fool. He was betting heavily on that sharp nose. He wanted a sense of dubiety to gnaw at the general. He needed to create mistrust in his elder brother in order to build credence in himself. Because he knew of Celestino Adesso, and of the illustrious king he served. He knew they wouldn't trust him over his elder brother any more than they would trust a raincloud to bring sun. He knew that to those men, he wasn't honorable, and because of that, he was forced to play the games he was known for. The ones that conspired in the dead of night, the ones that spoke no words but shifted kingdoms. The ones that could obtain the allegiance of General Celestino. Little did the young prince know, however, allegiance was not all he would obtain. But no matter how much Heiko wanted to offer the man what he desired, he could not - not while bound to the gods. 

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Hallowed Be

The stables were on the east end of the palace. There was a direct corridor to them from the throne room, but an exiled prince was not allowed to walk it, so said the king and enforced by the king’s guardsman Enri. 


They were forced to take the servant passageways, which Baptist assumed was meant as a form of humiliation, but if it at all affected his master, it was not shown on his face. 


Because the servants of the palace seemed far superior in instinct than the courtiers ever did, they simply bowed as the prince passed, and if there was ever a stray stare or furrowed brow, another would come in swiftly with a smack to the back of the head, or a pinch to the arm. Baptist didn’t know if this was out of respect or fear, but he didn’t bother to question it either. 


The Lull Before - Part 14