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

"I do not think you are a deceitful person." 


Cele's voice sounded loud in the quiet room, almost jarring, but the volume didn't seem to effect Heiko. 


"Don't say naive," Heiko warned sharply, his lip curled in a half snarl. 


"When are you going to learn that I speak before I think?" The general sighed. 


The prince took a moment to cautiously assess his face before replying. 


"You may not think before you speak, but that doesn't mean what you say has any less meaning to you." 


Cele furrowed his brow, brow pressing. He was at a loss. He had no idea how to reassure a creature so evanescent, so guarded. But he knew he had to. 


"Heiko," he exhaled, looking down, searching desperately for the right words - or words at all. 


"I'm not asking for anything from you." 


The prince's comment struck deep, forcing the general's chin up once again, only to find that scared young man gone. Vanished. No, Cele realized. Not gone - only hidden. 


Empyrean Rabbit - Part 8