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[Original] Hidden in Shadows: Prologue
Three days, and there's less than a thousand words. Only a measley prologue, but it's better than nothing. I'm posting this to get away from staring at the empty Word document for Chapter One. I still haven't got a damn idea what to do for this. BAH. Anyway... Here is my NaNo novel, in all it's 800+ words glory.
Hidden in Shadows
Prologue
Gemini 3rd, Year of the Dragon 237
He had been waiting for news of his father’s situation for a long time now. He silently cursed the man who had started the dishonourable rumours about his mother, and have had the gall to challenge the King of the Winged Horses to a duel. The Lord of the Centaurs, indeed, he snorted mentally. The man was nothing more than a liar.
“My lord Prince! There is news of the King!” His head snapped up, staring at the messenger who seemed to be carrying a scroll tied with a white ribbon. White symbolised death… No… It couldn’t be…
He snapped at the panting messenger, “What news of the King, messenger? Hurry it and hand it to me!”
The messenger nodded frantically as he almost tripped over himself to bow before the Prince of the Winged Horses, eyes wild with sorrow and grief. Even before he took the pristine scroll from trembling hands, he knew of the news. His father was dead. The Centaur Lord had killed him in their duel. Nevertheless, he took the scroll with steady hands, opening it up and scanning through the formal words. His emotions were caught up in a mess of knots, and he pushed them down unceremoniously. They were no longer a priority right now.
Prince Gideon
I, Kain, judge of the Duel between Abram, King of the Winged Horses, and Abihail, Lord of the Centaurs, regret to inform you that both participants had perished during the duel. The King had died with great honour, fighting his opponent to the death for an insult on his Bonded One. I truly wish to extend my sincerest apologies that I was unable to prevent this from happening. However, I had no healing abilities, and Queen Diamond was unable to attend the Duel.
Your father was a magnificent warrior, Prince Gideon. I was… am proud to be able to watch him fight. You would rule well in his stead, I believe. Do not grieve long, for there is much to prepare for, my Prince.
Mechanically, he re-rolled the piece of parchment and tied it with the ribbon. So Abihail is dead also? It serves him right for spreading those rumours about Mother. He sighed softly, turning towards the messenger,
“Sound out the alarm, messenger. King Abram is dead; Lord Abihail had slewed him in a duel. The people must prepare for the funeral, as well as the coronation. I am now King, messenger. What is your name?”
The brown-haired boy raised his eyes timidly, speaking in a voice barely above a whisper, “Zachary, your Highness…”
The Prince nodded curtly, turning towards him, “Very well, Zachary. Call the members of the Council. We must discuss the coronation… And we must cut off all ties from the Forest of Shadows. From now on, no one is to pass the line. No one.”
Zachary nodded, eyes wide with awe and amazement, “Yes… Yes, your Highness.” He hurried away.
Turning his head towards the snow-capped mountains that surrounds the Glade, Gideon shook his head, narrowing cobalt-blue eyes. The Centaurs had committed a grave mistake by murdering our King and insulting our Queen. The lack of trade would hurt them more than it would us. Only… Only…
Lucien, my friend, why didn’t you stop your father from committing this folly? Why did you not stop Abram from killing Father?
--
Prince Lucien,
I, Kain, judge of the Duel between Abram, King of the Winged Horses, and Abihail, Lord of the Centaurs, regret to inform you that both participants had perished during the duel. The Centaur Lord had died with great honour, fighting his opponent to the death for an insult on his lifemate. I truly wish to extend my sincerest apologies that I was unable to prevent this from happening. However, I had no healing abilities, and Queen Diamond was unable to attend the Duel.
Your father was a magnificent warrior, Prince Lucien. I was… am proud to be able to watch him fight. You would rule well in his stead, I believe. Do not grieve long, for there is much to prepare for, my Prince.
Lucien turned from the window, grey eyes flashing in silent fury. The dishonourable cur that dared to call himself King had killed Father. The throne was now his, but he had no true desire to claim it. He had thought that he had a few more years before needing to step on the throne, but it seemed that the Gods had proved him wrong once more. Shaking his head, he turned towards the messenger, the one who had brought him the scroll. He smirked,
“Call the council. Tell the Forest that the Lord is dead, by the hand of King” he almost spat the word out, “Abihail. The Sparkling Glade and the Ice Mountains are now closed to all of us, and no Winged Horse may enter the Forest of Shadows. I am now the Lord of the Centaurs.”
The messenger, a scared boy who could be no more than twelve, turned and ran towards the Forest, shouting out Lucien’s message as he ran. The new Lord’s smirk fell as soon as he was gone, and he sighed softly, turning his head towards the sky.
Gideon… Why did Abihail kill Father? More importantly… Why didn’t you stop him?
--
Hidden in Shadows
Prologue
Gemini 3rd, Year of the Dragon 237
He had been waiting for news of his father’s situation for a long time now. He silently cursed the man who had started the dishonourable rumours about his mother, and have had the gall to challenge the King of the Winged Horses to a duel. The Lord of the Centaurs, indeed, he snorted mentally. The man was nothing more than a liar.
“My lord Prince! There is news of the King!” His head snapped up, staring at the messenger who seemed to be carrying a scroll tied with a white ribbon. White symbolised death… No… It couldn’t be…
He snapped at the panting messenger, “What news of the King, messenger? Hurry it and hand it to me!”
The messenger nodded frantically as he almost tripped over himself to bow before the Prince of the Winged Horses, eyes wild with sorrow and grief. Even before he took the pristine scroll from trembling hands, he knew of the news. His father was dead. The Centaur Lord had killed him in their duel. Nevertheless, he took the scroll with steady hands, opening it up and scanning through the formal words. His emotions were caught up in a mess of knots, and he pushed them down unceremoniously. They were no longer a priority right now.
Prince Gideon
I, Kain, judge of the Duel between Abram, King of the Winged Horses, and Abihail, Lord of the Centaurs, regret to inform you that both participants had perished during the duel. The King had died with great honour, fighting his opponent to the death for an insult on his Bonded One. I truly wish to extend my sincerest apologies that I was unable to prevent this from happening. However, I had no healing abilities, and Queen Diamond was unable to attend the Duel.
Your father was a magnificent warrior, Prince Gideon. I was… am proud to be able to watch him fight. You would rule well in his stead, I believe. Do not grieve long, for there is much to prepare for, my Prince.
Mechanically, he re-rolled the piece of parchment and tied it with the ribbon. So Abihail is dead also? It serves him right for spreading those rumours about Mother. He sighed softly, turning towards the messenger,
“Sound out the alarm, messenger. King Abram is dead; Lord Abihail had slewed him in a duel. The people must prepare for the funeral, as well as the coronation. I am now King, messenger. What is your name?”
The brown-haired boy raised his eyes timidly, speaking in a voice barely above a whisper, “Zachary, your Highness…”
The Prince nodded curtly, turning towards him, “Very well, Zachary. Call the members of the Council. We must discuss the coronation… And we must cut off all ties from the Forest of Shadows. From now on, no one is to pass the line. No one.”
Zachary nodded, eyes wide with awe and amazement, “Yes… Yes, your Highness.” He hurried away.
Turning his head towards the snow-capped mountains that surrounds the Glade, Gideon shook his head, narrowing cobalt-blue eyes. The Centaurs had committed a grave mistake by murdering our King and insulting our Queen. The lack of trade would hurt them more than it would us. Only… Only…
Lucien, my friend, why didn’t you stop your father from committing this folly? Why did you not stop Abram from killing Father?
--
Prince Lucien,
I, Kain, judge of the Duel between Abram, King of the Winged Horses, and Abihail, Lord of the Centaurs, regret to inform you that both participants had perished during the duel. The Centaur Lord had died with great honour, fighting his opponent to the death for an insult on his lifemate. I truly wish to extend my sincerest apologies that I was unable to prevent this from happening. However, I had no healing abilities, and Queen Diamond was unable to attend the Duel.
Your father was a magnificent warrior, Prince Lucien. I was… am proud to be able to watch him fight. You would rule well in his stead, I believe. Do not grieve long, for there is much to prepare for, my Prince.
Lucien turned from the window, grey eyes flashing in silent fury. The dishonourable cur that dared to call himself King had killed Father. The throne was now his, but he had no true desire to claim it. He had thought that he had a few more years before needing to step on the throne, but it seemed that the Gods had proved him wrong once more. Shaking his head, he turned towards the messenger, the one who had brought him the scroll. He smirked,
“Call the council. Tell the Forest that the Lord is dead, by the hand of King” he almost spat the word out, “Abihail. The Sparkling Glade and the Ice Mountains are now closed to all of us, and no Winged Horse may enter the Forest of Shadows. I am now the Lord of the Centaurs.”
The messenger, a scared boy who could be no more than twelve, turned and ran towards the Forest, shouting out Lucien’s message as he ran. The new Lord’s smirk fell as soon as he was gone, and he sighed softly, turning his head towards the sky.
Gideon… Why did Abihail kill Father? More importantly… Why didn’t you stop him?
--