Exposed Fangs
1133 Words
In Aytnar, everything seemed magical; the water cleaner, the food tastier, the people happier, even the air seemed clearer. The citizens of Aytner were a happy lot but even more so were they on this special day.
The crowned prince of Kadunar, first born of king Judas and most favourable bachelor of Aytner, prince Enraq, first of his name, had returned permanently from his seemingly endless quest for magical knowledge.
A ceremonial banquet was being held, and the entire kingdom seemed present. Prominent figures from foreign nations and even dignitaries from other provinces could be seen. An ambassador each, was present from the elfian and dwarf provinces. There was clamoring amongst the commoners as a good measure had never before seen these beings.
The place dripped of security, guards were crawling all over, and to some, the whole activity looked pretentious and seemed out of proportion when compared to its agenda.
From his room on the far north end in the castle, about five (5) roofs high, Enraq could see the procession, comprised of people he'd never met who had no interest in him whatsoever, but were only present to solicit a favor or two from his father, or to fill their tummies with the excess food and wine. Focusing on the ambassador from the dwarves who seemed to devour all which crossed his path, Enraq reckoned that some were here for both. But then again the alcohol which they gulped nonstop was probably the only reason they could stand being in the same room for so long.
Enraq continued to witness the merriment of this crowd which was supposedly gathered in his honor, but was yet more joyed than its host, self-functioning and had all but lost its purpose. His countenance darkened, his muscles tightened, his fists clenched. How could they! ...sit around frolicking, lavishly! while the world was about to descend into chaos!
He wouldn't let them, something had to be done, and the rancor he felt towards this men would only make his immediate task that much easier.
*A knock on the door*
“Your highness!
Came the voice of a guard from behind the door,
“You’re to join his majesty in his carriage down below and proceed to the festival together”.
“Tell my father I’ll be a minute” Enraq said as he rose from his position, patting down his hair, he threw one final glance at the mirror and nodded in acknowledgement.
‘It’ll be over quickly’ he thought, as he made for the door, sword in hand.
Meanwhile Alyia and Elma were having trouble getting to the city square, their procession was stopped by a bunch of rather mean looking guards.
“What’s the meaning of this” yelled Elma in a fit.
Alyia showed her face but it made no difference to the guards as they stood their ground nonchalantly.
*At the City square*
“I understand wasting a minute or two to arrive after your guests, asserting dominance or whatever, but this is becoming insulting” complained the ambassador of the Elves
“There’s only so much time entertainment can buy”
“Speak for yourself”, snorted the Dwarf ambassador between the little interval before his next big gulp
“I’m loving the entertainment, it’s the formalities I hope to avoid”.
“Typical”, replied the Elf, the spite dripping heavily off his tone.
“You say something little man?
“Ha! Ironic, says the midget”
The dwarf let go of his large cup and unsheathed a large blade, way larger than one would think him capable of handling. He was stopped half way by the tip of an Elven spear at his neck, they stared hard at each other, clueless of the fact their host had arrived.
“Gentlemen!
The prince called out
On sighting him, the ambassadors appeared tense
As he approached, those around gave way immediately, stunned at the gory appearance of their prince.
“What is the meaning of this your highness”
“Why…”
Before he could finish his sentence, the elf man was impaled by the very spear he had held to the Dwarf’s throat just a moment ago.
His face a mess of confusion and extreme agony, he looked up from the rod that ran threw his torso at the prince
“Why…?
Without a word Enraq watched as the man dropped frantically to his knees, confusion engraved in his eyes, he looked at the Dwarf who all the while had been starring at him wide-eyed, the silence between these men echoed over the frantic fleeing of the crowd around them.
Looking behind him, the Elf realized why none of his compatriots had come to his aid, their bodies lay bare, twisted and mutilated. This was obviously nothing natural, but there was nothing natural about the foe that stood before him, his eyes dark and lifeless, his clothes ripped here and there and stained with blood, their host had been busy.
“What is the meaning of this”, cried the Dwarf man
His knees visibly shaking as he gripped his sword tighter
“You realize what you’ve done?!
You’ve just put an end to decades worth of mutual trust and peace, you’re starting a war!”
He charged at the prince, sword in hand…or so he thought,
On reaching the prince, the Dwarf tried to swing but found no response.
He turned slowly to his arm which was at the foot of the chair he had just sat on, by the Elf man, then even more slowly, brought his gaze back to his arm socket, which now bled profusely, he let out a deafening scream which was silenced buy a graceful stroke of Enraq’s blade, slitting his throat and muffling his cry till it was but a gurgle.
Enraq stepped over the corpse and proceeded to the half dead Elf on the floor
“We all knew her presence was a curse to this world, but you…”, blood erupted from his mouth as he coughed profusely.
“…y...You are the one who has doomed us all”
Enraq drew the spear from his chest and stood over the body till it ceased to breathe, staring straight at the corpse he uttered
“He wasn’t in the carriage, find him, my father”
“Yes your highness”, responded a figure that had just materialized, nodded, and then disappeared once more, as mysteriously as it had appeared.
“They will all answer for their crimes…”
He put his foot upon the larynx of the corpse before him and pressed down hard, a slight ‘thud’,
“….I’ll make sure they do”.
- Writer
