Chapter 2

The kingdom is in dismay. Several of our small villiages have been attacked. The people are now taking refuge here, in the heart of the kingdom. We are at war with the Mages, a war that has been going on for many centuries. It's been going on for so long that no one remembers who started it.

My father, the king, has an acute dislike toward the Mages as it was a mage who was the cause of my mother's death. My father wants to wipe them all out and no matter how hard I tried to convince him not to, he wouldn't listen. We are currently preparing for a meeting with villiage elders, the wisest people in our kingdom, entrusted to guard each villiage.

I sigh as I hear my twin brother call my name. Azriel has always found the mages interesting, he wanted to become one when he was younger, but as you can imagine my father was not pleased. If you could figure out that maybe they don't have the best relationship, you're right.

"Ariel, father has summoned us." Azriel says as he stands in the doorway of my room. He is wearing a royal blue tunic and his hair is a curly mess, as usual. No one could ever tame his hair, my hair on the other hand was straight, like my father's. I pick up my sword and fasten it around my waist as I follow Azriel out the room.

"The villiage elders said they saw the Mages burn down their houses with their bare hands," Azriel begins excitedly.

"Quiet down Az, we don't want father to hear you." I whisper back to him.

"Let him hear me. I swear to you, one day a Mage is going to take father out." Azriel says as he smiles and enters the counsel room.

"Ariel," my father greets, "You take your time."

I smile slightly, "I'm sorry father, I was lost in thought this morning." Azriel rolls his eyes at me and our father's exchange. He always preferred mother to him. I sigh and take my seat beside father.

"The counsel convenes." my father announces.

"My Lord, this fude between the mages and us needs to end. Unnecessary blood is being spilt on both sides. If only we could reach an arrangement--"

"No!" my father interrupts, "I will not make dealings with witches."

"They're not witches, they're mages." Azriel states.

"It's all the same in my eyes. I will expunge the world from those creatures, I swear it." father says.

"I heard news, my lord, of a rogue mage who apparently owes no allegiance to the mages, perhaps we could convince the mage to help us take them down." Another elder suggests. Father looked in thought as though he actually seemed to consider this

"To know thy enemy, become thy enemy." another elder supported.

"Where would we find this mage?" father asked leaving me shocked. I know my father well enough to know he would torture this mage for information rather than to work with him.

"We can send word out, maybe they will come willingly?" the elder suggested.

As the meeting carried on, I tuned them out. A Mage in this castle is just calling for trouble, I mean, how would we know that we could trust this mage? I would try to voice my opinion but what is the use?

I'm jus

t the Prince in the shadows.