Michal

"Typical palace servant." Cleo chuckled as she walked away to greet another group of customers.

Nicholas had never expected that people would want to kill him or any of his brothers.

The way they had been taught in the palace was as if they were loved and cherished by their people. He tried to recall the last time he had stepped out of the palace, but he drew up a blank.

All he knew was that after his mother, his uncle Glenn, and he had been captured and taken back to the king's palace, he never stepped foot outside of its grounds again.

Did the people hate them so much that they would want their king and princes dead?

"What did she mean?" Nicholas asked the merchant as he snapped out of his frigid state.

"Have you never stepped out of the palace?" The merchant asked Nicholas as he gave him a confused look.

"Only once, when I was a child." Nicholas sighed as he shook his head knowing that this should have been part of his education as a prince of Merlen.

"Well, it makes sense for them to keep you there, you are Corporali after all, very valuable." The merchant remarked as he chugged his wine. "It's no wonder your kind rarely travels, staying in clan lands and all."

Nicholas simply nodded as he pretended to understand the situation outside the palace.

It disappointed him how little he knew beyond politics and magic. His knowledge had been so focused on defeating his brother to be king that he hadn't realized that he knew very little of the people he wanted to rule.

Nicholas made a mental note to ask Dion or Connor to get him more information once he got back. He knew that the people could be of use when it came to claiming the crown.

"Don't lie." The merchant said as he continued to eat. "You don't know that. How could you? You've barely stepped out of that palace."

"Fine, I have no idea. I've lived as a palace servant all my life." Nicholas begrudgingly admitted.

"Corporali mages are important, you may not be able to fight, but you can heal. It takes a lot to train one to use their magic properly, that's why there are so little of you. Be careful child, out here, you could be taken and sold for a good price." The merchant warned Nicholas.

Nicholas simply nodded as he continued to eat and drink.

"Tell me, do they mistreat you servants?" The man asked as he observed Nicholas, probably looking for signs of whippings and other common punishments.

Nicholas shrugged.

"Depends, some are nice, some aren't." Nicholas simply answered. He knew well enough that his brothers, Edward, Zeph, and Owain treated their servants badly.

Once the king had caught Edward using some servants as target practice, many would come out missing body parts or severely injured. Their deaths were simply ruled out as accidents and their families given ample settlements to keep them quiet.

Owain on the other hand had raped so many female servants. In order to avoid a succession crisis, Owain killed them as soon as he was done using them. When the king learned of what he had been doing to the female servants, he had banned them from serving Owain. Of course, that never stopped the prince.

Zeph was the worst, not only did he experiment on his servants, but he beat them whenever they made a mistake. He was responsible for at least half of the deaths and injuries among the servants and most feared working for him.

"I bet they are all spoiled either way." The merchant said as he finished his food and drink. "Hurry up, if I finish before you, I'll leave you."

Nicholas nodded as he finished the food and wine as the merchant stood up and walked away.

"Sir, sir, I never asked your name!" Nicholas said as he ran after the man.

"Michal, Michal Stanos of the Cibus clan, but I guess you figured what clan I come from." Michal said as he pointed at his eyes. "And you boy?"

"N-" Nicholas paused as he realized that he was about to break his cover.

Michal might have never seen him, but a small Corporali mage named Nicholas who came from the palace would leave too much to suspect.

"N. . .N. . . what? Lost your voice boy?" The merchant asked as they made their way through the streets, weaving through the thickening crowd.

Nicholas struggled to keep stay within earshot of Michal as people came from every direction, shouting over the noise, calling to one another.

"Ned. The name's Ned Weaver of the Corporali Clan." Nicholas told the man as he quickened his pace.

Nicholas looked around as he tried to memorize the route they had passed to get to where they were.

The streets were in a horrible state, there were brown puddles of water that Nicholas didn't even dare imagine what had fille it.

There were also different stray animals that would attempt to nip at some passersby, while others ignored the mages as they made their way through the street.

"Well, Ned Weaver, since I fed you it's time you gave me something in return." Michal told Nicholas as they turned to a smaller less populated street.

"Sir, I don't have nothing." Nicholas said as he tried his best to sound like most servants when they spoke.

"You won't pay me with money or possessions, you'll pay me with your service." Nicholas hesitated when Michal mentioned services, he knew that it could mean something as far as sexual favors.

"Calm down boy, I wouldn't hurt a palace servant. I know that you are all counted when you return and hunted if you run. Come." Michal said as he pushed open an old creaky door.

Nicholas looked around the small home, it seemed like it was one of the older ones on the street, never remodeled or renovated.

The air inside was chilly as he continued to walk through the room, following Michal.

"Ysmira!" Michal called out as they began to ascend the stairs. "Ysmira! I have a guest!"

"Michal?" A melodious voice called out from the top floor of the room.

"Don't let her fool you, Ysmira is not a beautiful young woman, she is my great aunt. It's best you be made awares before meeting her." Michal whispered as they continued to climb.

The stairs creaked with every step, but as they moved from the second to the third floor of the house the room became lighter.

"Michal, I sense someone with you." The voice called out.

"Yes, a companion Ysmira." Michal remarked as they reached the landing on the top floor.

Unlike the lower levels of the house this one was bright and airy. It even gave off a more homely feel.

"Michal, who is this?" A young woman asked as she observed Nicholas from head to toe.

Something about her gaze seemed unsettling, as if she was looking into his soul. As if she knew exactly who he was, and she knew more than he did.

"The boy you sent me to get." Michal revealed, making Nicholas look at him in confusion.

"I sent you to get him? I don't recall?" The woman named Ysmira tilted her head to the side, seemingly clueless to what Michal had said.

"A month ago, I came here to bring you your herbs and what not and you fell into one of your trances! Old woman, how could you be so forgetful!" Michal was practically shouting as he threw his arms up in frustration.

Ysmira laughed and winked at Nicholas, he knew she was messing with Michal.

"Calm down, child." Ysmira's tone made her sound wise beyond her years, and yet her voice made her seem no older than thirty. "I am two hundred and ten years old, I forget things."

Nicholas hid his surprise as Ysmira mentioned her age, how could she look as young as she did?

"I do your bidding because we are family. Don't think I won't abandon you if I get annoyed." Michal threatened.

"You do as I ask because you and I are bound by blood, Michal, never forget that. Now leave us, I must speak to this one in private." Ysmira said as he waved Michal away.

To Nicholas' surprise, the merchant did as the woman asked as he marched away and left them alone.

Ysmira smiled as she held a hand up and listened. They sat in silence, the only sound that could be heard was the creaking of the steps as Michal made his way down.

"I'll be back for you in an hour!" Michal called out.

"No, he will find his way back after we are done speaking. You will meet me next week, be prepared." Ysmira shouted to Michal as the man mumbled something that they couldn't hear from the top floor.

The door slammed behind Michal and Ysmira let out a breath of relief.

"Now, your highness, shall we talk?" The woman asked with a victorious grin on her face, making Nicholas eye her warily.