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- Jun 28, 2007
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This is what I have being working on recently. New material and this re-worked start to my endless WIP.
CHAPTER1 TWO PRINCES
NANTER 1079 VP.
Dolfin sat alone in his chambers, fuming, angry and quiet. He had dismissed all even his bodyguards so none could see his shame. He stared at the rich mosaic that covered the reception chambers far wall. The stylised depiction of a Kalnordian long ship seen riding into the arms of the 'old man of the sea'. It was a mosaic he had paid one of Janter’s finest artists to construct. The piece had taken a year to build; it covered the northern wall of the chamber, an extravagance by any standard. It mocked him, for the face of the helmsman under the Kalnordian beard was his brother, his accursed younger brother Caric.He had never felt that there was a resemblance there before between the helmsman on the mosaic and his sibling, for of course there was no resemblance. The portrait was of his ancestor the great Gulnar, first of the Astarian kings of Janter. It bore the strong jaw line and high brow of all heroes, whether they were statues, paintings or mosaics anything but alive. It was for the same reason he had dismissed his two bodyguards as they each now sported the mischievous grin of his sixteen year old brother, as did his servants, his cooks, and everywhere he turned he saw the mocking eyes of his brother. His very own mirror reflected back to him the laughing face of the brother who had cuckolded him before he even married.
“I’ll get you for this, you little *******, I swear by the lord Vishna I will.”
Caric, the aforementioned brother stood in another part of that same palace. The tower was in one of the more ancient parts of the palace. In more savage times it had served as a watch tower to guard against the reivers of the north and the Balter Islands. It was connected to the main complex by a stone walkway; the walkway was enclosed to guard against the buffeting winds that came rushing in from the sea. Now the tower held a signalling mirror, the first of a chain his Father had constructed to signal word of ships, trade and war across Inner-Janter, the centre of his dominions, the heart of the empire.This particular mirror stood on a revolving platform so it could send and receive messages from the Crelak, the fortress and sometime prison out in the bay, or the civil palace on the other side of the city. It was towards the Crelak that Caric was now staring, the grim possibility that it may be his new home growing on him, the fear increasing with each hour that passed.
The Crelak sat squat and fat in the middle of the bay of Nanter, the battlements had been chiselled out of the hard stone over the course of centuries and the reign of a hundred kings. He could see the distant bobbing heads of the guards as they patrolled the battlements. Perhaps they were soon to be his gaolers? He had once been down to the grim dungeons far beneath the Crelak where no light shone. There was even an area of those same dungeons known as the ‘royal chambers’. A reminder of times when the transition of Janter’s crown was not as smooth and politic as it appeared to be now. There were still rumours that the Usurper, who had attempted to wrest the crown from his father Ranald, was still held as a prisoner in the depths of the fortress. Herk one of the two monks of Vishna that were Caric’s guardians since childhood stood beside him on the balcony and together the two of them solemnly contemplated the Crelak in the bay and the city of Nanter directly below them. Herk’s instructions were clear under no circumstances was he to allow Caric to be alone. A royal line as ancient as the Gulnarsons developed some strange notions of honour over the millennia and it was always possible that Caric might throw himself off the tower rather then face his Father.
As the evening grew deeper they could see the assorted fishing boats and smacks swarming out to sea. The boats would return in the morning laden with fish to feed the teeming hordes of the city. Feed the hungry belly of ‘the old man of the sea’ as the citizens of Nanter referred to the ancient city. To the north and south of the Royal Palace, two man made peninsulas thrust out into the sea. The fishing boats put out from the southern spur or the old mans left arm. There was little activity at the northern spur where the traders came and the merchant ships docked. Business at the northern spur began in the morning and the market was now finishing for the evening. There were many ships at dock, some from Kalnordia bearing furs and amber to trade with the more civilized lands of Janter and other nations further south. From the south ships came from as far away as Dalaria baring precious metals, ivory and cedar wood.
Suicide was the furthest thing from Caric mind as he had every intention of seeing the dawn, despite his dread of the consequences of what she had trapped him into. He could not believe what he had done, even now. He had seduced a princess, his brother’s wife to be, what madness had taken him? What madness had taken her? He reflected bitterly…
He had been found in the royal stables in mid-act by his brothers, Thrand and Dolfin.Dazzled by her eyes and her long dark enticing hair, coiled like the snakes of the medusa on her shoulder, wicked and inviting when loose by her hips. Her beautiful dusky skin set off by mesmerising emerald eyes.Slim with a tapering waist and small budding breasts. He thought now of her legs sweaty and slick as they made love in the heaped straw of the royal stables outside the city. He had been lying on his back as she thrust herself upon him when his brother Thrand had entered in search of Caric.Thrand’s first reaction had been to stop and smile not realising who it was that Caric was with. Caric had looked at his brother speechless and watched as Thrand’s jaw dropped in horror as he recognised the woman. Cait, Dolfin’s betrothed did not pause in her motions merely groaning all the louder not realising Thrand was there.Caric was still staring at Thrand when Cait noticed he was no longer responding to her ardour. Turning her head to see what Caric was looking at she noticed him. Not the least bit discomposed she threw her head back to remove hair from her eyes, then she spoke the words that would be forever burnt into Caric’s conscience; “Join us or get out”. It was just at this point that his other brother Dolfin entered the stables…
He turned to Herk no longer able to bare even the thought of those moments.
“ It’s lovely up here at this time of the evening,” said his bodyguard of thirteen years.
“ Is that your best attempt at humour,” was the Prince’s caustic reply.
“ Look on the bright side, at least this time there was not an exchange of coin.”
Even Caric had to chuckle at that one. “To hell with you, this is not the time for jesting.”
Caric looked behind him into the chamber. “Where’s your brother?”
“ Out and about scouting out the lie of the land like any good soldier,” the guard replied not wishing to tell Caric that Dagal was being questioned by Ranald as to why the Prince had been left alone with the princess.
“ Good he can find out what the chances are of securing one of those ships down there for a run to the Balter islands.”
Herk paused to rehearse in his head what he was going to say next. “I appreciate your confidences of these past years Caric, but Dagal and I are actually sworn to your father’s service…” he said trailing off sounding embarrassed.
“ Bollocks to that, Herk you’re in this up to your neck as well…” Caric paused to add effect to his next words. “After all I am the protected and you are the protector.” Herk stared back at Caric oblivious to the words meanings.
Caric sighed slightly as he realised he would have to explain to Herk that the situation was as bad for his two bodyguards as it was for the Prince, he paused before he spoke and then thought better of it, let Dagal explain it to him.He then turned back to the bay where the lights were now being lit along the Crelak walls. From within the depths of the city where the sunlight had left soonest came the flickering light of torches as the men of the night watch began their rounds. The pinpricks of light far below them like fireflies in the gathering gloom.
Caric looked back into the dark of the chamber and noticed no servants had come to light the chamber lights, all part of his fall from grace he decided not actually knowing if this was true or caring for that matter.
“See can you find some oil for the lamps Herk,” said Caric, once again sounding like the child that Herk had guarded and loved for thirteen years.
High up on the tower on which he was standing the lights igniting the city below did nothing to obscure the dazzling constellations of stars above his head. The Prince looked up to see a shooting star streak away to the west. Like any schoolboy or child thought in the old superstitions he made himself a wish.
“Oh bring me far away from here,” he muttered, and he was soon to marvel at how easily that wish was granted.
CHAPTER1 TWO PRINCES
NANTER 1079 VP.
Dolfin sat alone in his chambers, fuming, angry and quiet. He had dismissed all even his bodyguards so none could see his shame. He stared at the rich mosaic that covered the reception chambers far wall. The stylised depiction of a Kalnordian long ship seen riding into the arms of the 'old man of the sea'. It was a mosaic he had paid one of Janter’s finest artists to construct. The piece had taken a year to build; it covered the northern wall of the chamber, an extravagance by any standard. It mocked him, for the face of the helmsman under the Kalnordian beard was his brother, his accursed younger brother Caric.He had never felt that there was a resemblance there before between the helmsman on the mosaic and his sibling, for of course there was no resemblance. The portrait was of his ancestor the great Gulnar, first of the Astarian kings of Janter. It bore the strong jaw line and high brow of all heroes, whether they were statues, paintings or mosaics anything but alive. It was for the same reason he had dismissed his two bodyguards as they each now sported the mischievous grin of his sixteen year old brother, as did his servants, his cooks, and everywhere he turned he saw the mocking eyes of his brother. His very own mirror reflected back to him the laughing face of the brother who had cuckolded him before he even married.
“I’ll get you for this, you little *******, I swear by the lord Vishna I will.”
Caric, the aforementioned brother stood in another part of that same palace. The tower was in one of the more ancient parts of the palace. In more savage times it had served as a watch tower to guard against the reivers of the north and the Balter Islands. It was connected to the main complex by a stone walkway; the walkway was enclosed to guard against the buffeting winds that came rushing in from the sea. Now the tower held a signalling mirror, the first of a chain his Father had constructed to signal word of ships, trade and war across Inner-Janter, the centre of his dominions, the heart of the empire.This particular mirror stood on a revolving platform so it could send and receive messages from the Crelak, the fortress and sometime prison out in the bay, or the civil palace on the other side of the city. It was towards the Crelak that Caric was now staring, the grim possibility that it may be his new home growing on him, the fear increasing with each hour that passed.
The Crelak sat squat and fat in the middle of the bay of Nanter, the battlements had been chiselled out of the hard stone over the course of centuries and the reign of a hundred kings. He could see the distant bobbing heads of the guards as they patrolled the battlements. Perhaps they were soon to be his gaolers? He had once been down to the grim dungeons far beneath the Crelak where no light shone. There was even an area of those same dungeons known as the ‘royal chambers’. A reminder of times when the transition of Janter’s crown was not as smooth and politic as it appeared to be now. There were still rumours that the Usurper, who had attempted to wrest the crown from his father Ranald, was still held as a prisoner in the depths of the fortress. Herk one of the two monks of Vishna that were Caric’s guardians since childhood stood beside him on the balcony and together the two of them solemnly contemplated the Crelak in the bay and the city of Nanter directly below them. Herk’s instructions were clear under no circumstances was he to allow Caric to be alone. A royal line as ancient as the Gulnarsons developed some strange notions of honour over the millennia and it was always possible that Caric might throw himself off the tower rather then face his Father.
As the evening grew deeper they could see the assorted fishing boats and smacks swarming out to sea. The boats would return in the morning laden with fish to feed the teeming hordes of the city. Feed the hungry belly of ‘the old man of the sea’ as the citizens of Nanter referred to the ancient city. To the north and south of the Royal Palace, two man made peninsulas thrust out into the sea. The fishing boats put out from the southern spur or the old mans left arm. There was little activity at the northern spur where the traders came and the merchant ships docked. Business at the northern spur began in the morning and the market was now finishing for the evening. There were many ships at dock, some from Kalnordia bearing furs and amber to trade with the more civilized lands of Janter and other nations further south. From the south ships came from as far away as Dalaria baring precious metals, ivory and cedar wood.
Suicide was the furthest thing from Caric mind as he had every intention of seeing the dawn, despite his dread of the consequences of what she had trapped him into. He could not believe what he had done, even now. He had seduced a princess, his brother’s wife to be, what madness had taken him? What madness had taken her? He reflected bitterly…
He had been found in the royal stables in mid-act by his brothers, Thrand and Dolfin.Dazzled by her eyes and her long dark enticing hair, coiled like the snakes of the medusa on her shoulder, wicked and inviting when loose by her hips. Her beautiful dusky skin set off by mesmerising emerald eyes.Slim with a tapering waist and small budding breasts. He thought now of her legs sweaty and slick as they made love in the heaped straw of the royal stables outside the city. He had been lying on his back as she thrust herself upon him when his brother Thrand had entered in search of Caric.Thrand’s first reaction had been to stop and smile not realising who it was that Caric was with. Caric had looked at his brother speechless and watched as Thrand’s jaw dropped in horror as he recognised the woman. Cait, Dolfin’s betrothed did not pause in her motions merely groaning all the louder not realising Thrand was there.Caric was still staring at Thrand when Cait noticed he was no longer responding to her ardour. Turning her head to see what Caric was looking at she noticed him. Not the least bit discomposed she threw her head back to remove hair from her eyes, then she spoke the words that would be forever burnt into Caric’s conscience; “Join us or get out”. It was just at this point that his other brother Dolfin entered the stables…
He turned to Herk no longer able to bare even the thought of those moments.
“ It’s lovely up here at this time of the evening,” said his bodyguard of thirteen years.
“ Is that your best attempt at humour,” was the Prince’s caustic reply.
“ Look on the bright side, at least this time there was not an exchange of coin.”
Even Caric had to chuckle at that one. “To hell with you, this is not the time for jesting.”
Caric looked behind him into the chamber. “Where’s your brother?”
“ Out and about scouting out the lie of the land like any good soldier,” the guard replied not wishing to tell Caric that Dagal was being questioned by Ranald as to why the Prince had been left alone with the princess.
“ Good he can find out what the chances are of securing one of those ships down there for a run to the Balter islands.”
Herk paused to rehearse in his head what he was going to say next. “I appreciate your confidences of these past years Caric, but Dagal and I are actually sworn to your father’s service…” he said trailing off sounding embarrassed.
“ Bollocks to that, Herk you’re in this up to your neck as well…” Caric paused to add effect to his next words. “After all I am the protected and you are the protector.” Herk stared back at Caric oblivious to the words meanings.
Caric sighed slightly as he realised he would have to explain to Herk that the situation was as bad for his two bodyguards as it was for the Prince, he paused before he spoke and then thought better of it, let Dagal explain it to him.He then turned back to the bay where the lights were now being lit along the Crelak walls. From within the depths of the city where the sunlight had left soonest came the flickering light of torches as the men of the night watch began their rounds. The pinpricks of light far below them like fireflies in the gathering gloom.
Caric looked back into the dark of the chamber and noticed no servants had come to light the chamber lights, all part of his fall from grace he decided not actually knowing if this was true or caring for that matter.
“See can you find some oil for the lamps Herk,” said Caric, once again sounding like the child that Herk had guarded and loved for thirteen years.
High up on the tower on which he was standing the lights igniting the city below did nothing to obscure the dazzling constellations of stars above his head. The Prince looked up to see a shooting star streak away to the west. Like any schoolboy or child thought in the old superstitions he made himself a wish.
“Oh bring me far away from here,” he muttered, and he was soon to marvel at how easily that wish was granted.
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