[ART2015] Princes & Pirates

"I don't care how many men my uncle has at his command, he stole from me and that shall not go unanswered." he spoke calmly but it was plain for all to see that Prince Rayne had menace in his Emerald toned eyes, his charcoal hair brushed his shoulders as he glanced at each of his companions in turn. Xander rose from his chair to speak, he was a large man with short Golden hair and Muscles that bulged through his tunic. "Your highness i understand your eagerness to strike but we are but five and skilled though we may be, we are no match for the Armies that your uncle has under his control, I beg you my Prince we must wait for the perfect opportunity."



"I have waited long enough, it's been five years since the pretender murdered my mother, brother and father and took the throne. He keeps my Sister hostage in a tower only the gods know where and all the while my mothers people suffer from his greed and cruelty." his tone was soft yet threatening. "The people loved my mother dearly, she was a good and gracious Queen who always put the needs of her people before her own. A quality i mean to emulate, i will retake my mothers lands from the betrayer who has stolen them and i will free her people from his tyranny." Four faces turned toward their prince as they began to realize that he had a plan. "Xander you will take the fastest horse you can find and ride north to the Shadow lands, once there you will be my representative in all things. I need you to forge an alliance with the shadow tribes, Raven will accompany you, she still has family and friends among the tribes, her father is a chief. Perhaps with her assistance you can bring them to our cause and Xander everything is on the table, whatever their price for an alliance i will gladly pay it."



"What of you my Love? i do not wish for us to be parted" Raven spoke in a delicate tone that was rare for the feisty warrior. Rayne considered a moment before answering. "My journey leads me toward certain danger and possibly death but i see no other option, i plan to set sail for the islands of Lux."
"You cannot mean it your highness, the pirates can't be trusted." It was Leo who spoke, the youngest of the companions. Short of stature but what he lacked in size he made up for with Intelligence and bravery. Prince Rayne considered this for a moment before giving his reply.
"My friend, i am aware that they can't be trusted but my plan doesn't depend on their loyalty but on their lust for riches and legitimacy. i will parlé with the black prince who leads them and make him an offer that he cannot in good sense refuse. I will give him what he desires most, trade rights in the kingdom, safe passage through the straits of sorrow so that he and his men may pillage the riches of the western kingdoms."



Four faces looked upon him with shocked admiration. " Leo. You will accompany me, i shall need your wits if i am to succeed and Michael my oldest friend. The task i have for you is the most important of all, i need you to return to the capital and quietly find us the friends that we are surely going to need. Lord Royk is my mothers oldest friend his loyalty is beyond question, in him you will find yourself an ally and perhaps he can point you to those that would be useful friends, i will send word to you when it is time to strike. Until then stay in the shadows, find us friends and if you can do so without drawing attention to yourself find out where he is keeping my sister, she is nine years old and the rightful Queen of the kingdom, her safety is paramount and remember timing is all. Look for me on the full moon, you all know what is required. Be safe, be vigilant and above all be clever." He looked to his companions with a sly grin, took Raven in his arms and kissed her. "Fear not my love, i will return and when this is all over you and i shall spend our remaining years drinking wine in a garden of roses while the sun beats down upon our faces." With that he walked through the door out into the pouring rain with Leo hot at his heels.




The journey to the Shadow lands was long and arduous and as they crossed the border into the wild terrain the days became grayer and the nights darker. "how far until we reach your fathers village?" Xander asked
"Not far, they already know we are here." Raven spoke in cautious whispers that made Xander feel uncomfortable. like he was being watched from the shadows
"Are we in danger?" he asked with a hand on his swords while glancing from left to right, the darkness hindered his vision so that he couldn't see more than a few yards from his own face. "Only if you draw your blades you fool, my fathers scouts are the finest warriors the tribes have to offer, if you fight them you will die." She spoke with such confidence that Xander began to doubt his own abilities with a blade despite his training and skill. "We shall camp here for the night, go find wood for a fire, I'm going hunting" with that she dismounted and stalked off into the trees silent as a ShadowCat. Xander hobbled his horse and set out to make a camp fire, by the time Raven returned from her hunt the fire was burning away nicely and Xander was stretched out beneath an oak tree staring at the stars. "Beautiful aren't they? it's said that only in the Shadow lands is it possible to see the heavens in all their glory."
Xander continued to stare at the sparkling sky. "I have never seen the stars burn so brightly nor have i ever seen so many. i never thought to see such a beautiful sight." He spoke the words of a man that had seen too much war and not enough beauty.
"I'ts darker this far north, it's why we are called the shadow tribes, even the days here are darker than in the south." as she spoke she skinned the Rabbit she had killed, she turned to Xander and spoke with a childish grin "I killed it, you cook it" and she tossed the carcass at him laughing.




As dawn broke Xander awoke from his dream looking for Raven, she was nowhere to be found. Probably hunting he thought to himself as movement in the bushes caught his eye and before he knew what was happening he was surrounded by no less than five shadow warriors. He moved for his swords but thought better of it, all too aware of the fearsome reputations of the shadow warriors he raised his arms in submission. One of the warriors approached from the left and quick as cat Raven was behind him, her shiny black dagger at his throat, the camp was silent as a graveyard as Raven began to speak. "My name is Raven Al Zahr. I'm sure you have heard of me, all of you will kindly lower your weapons and escort me to my father or i will open this ones throat before i end every last one of you." she spoke with total authority, each of the warriors bowed their heads in agreement before leading the way from the clearing as Raven released their young companion. "I thought you said if we fight them we will die?" Xander asked, i said "if YOU fight, you will die but i could carve them up with my left hand while picking flowers with my right." She laughed as she followed the tribesmen through the woods towards her ancestral home.

Cont...


The ship swayed back and forth with the waves, Leo unaccustomed to sea voyages was at the bow emptying the contents of his stomach into the ocean. Rayne couldn't help but laugh, his young companion had been resolute that he would endure the journey like a warrior but within an hour he had gifted the sea his breakfast and had remained firmly at the bow ever since. "Over there Leo, our journey is almost over." Prince Rayne assured him as a slither of land came into view along the horizon. "Thank the gods, i can't take much more of this." he replied, his face as green as a cabbage.

"You have my terms, now i would have your answer." Rayne sat before the pirate known as the black prince, he was a tall muscular man with thinning hair hidden by his extravagant head wear, His bushy black beard was magnificent to behold. Rayne thought the man appeared to be as fierce as his reputation and yet he spoke softly and had not once threatened violence. It was clear that his men followed him not through fear but loyalty, Rayne thought of all the stories he had heard of the black prince of Lux and wondered if they had all been dreamed up by fools an drunkards. The black prince rose from the table and began to speak. "Prince Rayne i humbly accept your offer of trading rights in the kingdom and safe passage through the strait of sorrow and i pledge my ships and men to your cause for as long as it shall take to free your young sister from captivity and place her on her rightful throne however i must ask one more thing from you."
"If it is within my power, then i shall see to it." Rayne spoke with all the majesty of a Prince of the blood.


"Some of the men you see before you were once loyal servants of your family, when your uncle seized power they fled into exile and with no other way of supporting themselves they joined our ranks as a means to survive and in so doing were branded outlaws, i would ask that any man here who wishes to return to their homes and families in the kingdom shall be allowed to do so with full pardons for past crimes when the fighting is done." Shocked silence filled the room, his men clearly did not expect their prince to make such a request. Rayne considered carefully before giving his answer. "Any man who wishes to receive a pardon and return to the kingdom will be allowed to do so when the fighting is done, also those capable will be offered suitable employment in the royal navy or palace guard if they swear an oath to serve and protect the kingdom and it's rightful queen. i need men i can trust around my sister and sailing her ships, if you are such men then i shall welcome you with open arms. what say you?"
"AYE." they all spoke in unison. the black prince offered his hand with a smile.
"To war prince Rayne, may the gods give us favor."


Michael sat in the dark room lit only by the fire from the hearth in the corner, the old man called Royk sat opposite him with a pipe in hand. "The preparations are almost complete, my son has located the Queen she is being held in Baron Endelsons Castle with every comfort she might require. i have sent a company of men north to the Eagle pass to coordinate with your friend Raven and her army of savages. Prince Rayne sent word that he will arrive to surround the bay in two days as agreed. The shadow clans will surround this city when the full moon rises and our prince will arrive from the sea with an armada of forty ships, it is our task to infiltrate the Barons castle and rescue the Queen while our Prince lays siege to the golden keep, we will have three men from each of the four nobles who are loyal to our Queen. A dozen men should be sufficient if we move with caution and attack using stealth, the castle is well defended but easy to infiltrate with few men. My son will open the gates at moonrise at which point Raven and her warriors will decimate all those loyal to our false King. She will unite with Prince Rayne and together they will Enter the Golden Keep and claim victory, if we catch them off guard victory should be swift, gods willing."


Rayne stood on the deck of the ship that the Black Prince had placed under his command, he had named her Horace after his father. a gift from one prince to another he said as they drank rum the night before they departed Lux and now here they were with Forty ships in the bay as the full moon shone with a silver radiance that was startling to behold. So it begins! he thought as he drew his sword, by the time the sunrises he will either have his sister on her throne or if they fail he will take her far from this city, he had planned for every outcome including failure but he would not fail his little sister. Not again. Never.

hope you guys enjoy it....

a reply to: Ph03n1x


Ravishing. Sumptuous. Bravo! i am your fan.

Great story, great telling. And as for the (hope not-)end: just as any princess would like to be behold.


Are you going to continue ?

definitely not the end, more like a short story introduction for a larger idea i have.... i will continue.... i have a few stories in this forum i have still to update, it's been a while since i was active on here but this very short story only took me about an hour and a half so i might get a chance to add some more on sunday.. i will do my best...

thanks for your kind words

I enjoyed it!

It definitely leaves me wanting more. Well done.

S&F

a reply to: Ph03n1x

These short stories always wet our appetite for more!

Well done!

Enjoyed this beginning of a tale that has strong characters, intrigue and strategies. Well done!

- AB

Thanks everyone, you're all very kind