The destiny of a prince

Chapter XVII

                                                                                           Beldher

                  Not long ago a king was assassinated, the queen and the prince fled the kingdom to survive, then the prince learned the truth about him and his true identity. The queen died, and the prince left to try to renew the treaty between kingdoms, but he had a greater desire than a treaty, he wanted the death of the one who betrayed his father, the current king.

                  During the trip, the prince met people living in the desert, dragons who were said to no longer exist, people who carried the legacy of dragons further, and elves who did not want to deal with anyone other than those in their kingdom. . Corvin's arrival at the elves was a welcome thing, because until the departure of Inshir the king of the elves, he put aside the law of not helping anyone and told him that if he would regain his kingdom from Rohan's hands, he would sign the renewal of the treaty. Now Corvin, Faren and Lemar left Selumista quessir and headed for Vally of the Dooms where he would try to find wizards.

                   A few days have passed since they left the elves and have not yet left the forest. Corvin had motioned them to stop and set fire here for the night. Lemar went after the wood, and Corvin and Faren went to hunt some meat. Shortly after, the fire was kindled and a rabbit was caught above the fire, but after it was skinned. After eating the three of them sat by the fire and talked about everything that happened.

                  - What plan do you have to regain your kingdom? Lemar asks.

                  - I didn't think about it, but I think I should start thinking about what to do, right?

                  -Well, if you don't want to make gnomes the same condition, Lemar said.

                  -And I think I know how we're going to get your kingdom back, Faren said.

                 -What?

                 - With the help of the villagers who are loyal to you and will return you to the throne. You know that you have a lot of supporters thanks to Blackscar, I'm sure if they hear that you are heading to the castle to regain the throne they will help you.

                - That means I would ask them to sacrifice for me. They don't even know me and I ask them that?

                - No need to ask them. You do not understand? If he gives his life to take down the tyrant of Rohan, I do it with a reconciled heart.

                -What if I fail? Or if Rohan is finally brought down, what will happen next? Corvin asks.

                - You will take your place as king of law. Rohan will be taken down and we will win in this war, says Lemar.

                -What if I'm not fit to be king? I don't know anything about being a king, running a kingdom ...

                - I don't even know anything, I didn't have anything like that from you. You want to rectify the injustice Rohan has done, but most of all you want to put an end to this evil that will come. You will be a good king Corvin, and if you do not believe this, wait for the war to end.

                -That's right Corvin, Lemar said. If and after we take Rohan down you don't think you are fit to be king, then wait for the war to end and you will have another opinion.

               - Now let's get to bed, tomorrow we will have to leave at dawn, we still have a lot to go and we don't have to linger.

                 Faren stretched out on the blanket that had laid her down and closed his eyes, so did Lemar, leaving Corvin alone staring blankly at the still burning fire. That night Corvin didn't close his eyes, he stood by the fire thinking about what Faren and Lemar had told him. He knew that after he encountered the wizards, he would go after Rohan to face him. Rohan even though he knew his throne would be in danger when Corvin came to confront him, was more afraid of Gharel serving Lucifer. At three o'clock the next morning, the three of them ate what was left of them the night before and set out on the road hoping to get to the witches' tower as soon as possible. By nightfall, Corvin and the others had managed to get out of the woods, but they would not have to travel far outside the woods. To reach the Black Forest Mountains, he will pass through a forest that was flooded with dirty water, which over the years has become like a marsh.

                  The swamp was a small obstacle that could slow their way to Vally of the Dooms. Even as they traveled to the marshy forest, Rohan's people were getting closer to the Black Forest Mountains where a survival fight for Corvin, Faren and Lemar was about to begin. Orcs gathered on the other side of the mountain and in the mountain tunnel, the former home of the gnomes.

                  It wasn't long before Corvin was standing in front of the marshy forests that made him stop.

                 - Can we bypass this marsh? Faren asks.

                 - Not really. This marsh stretches over a very large area, we could walk past it until it is over, but that would mean losing a lot of time, Lemar said.

                - Well, how do we do it? Corvin asks. If we go over here, we should go faster and not catch the night, right?

                - You're right. We'll have to get down after the horses and pull them after us, not to make much noise.

               - The faster we go, the more we get out of the swamp. I'm not going to sleep in the middle of the swamps, Faren said.

                - Yes, but if we make a lot of noise we will be able to announce that we are there and we will surely die. It is rumored that in the swamp there resides the worm with two heads.

              -Worm? You couldn't really invent something scarier than a little worm, and it has two heads, ”Faren said with a laugh. I'm not afraid of little worms to know.

               -If a worm with two heads about 3 meters long does not make you afraid then maybe you knew that most people would be afraid of you, Lemar said.

               -What? Faren said a little scared. If you try to hope me to know that you succeeded ...

               - I heard about these creatures, but I didn't think there was such a thing. I thought there were just stories to scare children from leaving the house at night or venturing out into the woods alone.

                - Believe me there is and is no joke with them.

               -And why the hell did you wait so long to tell me? Faren said, frightened badly. We could bypass this marsh for a long time even if it took us longer.

               -Just calm down, Corvin said. We'll be fine as long as we don't make too much noise.

               -I'm still young. I don't want to die eated by a worm, said Faren, who had become increasingly scared. I'm not going to get in there, I'd better face an orc haul than a worm.

                 - Faren, I told you that everything would be fine. You won't be eating anything as long as you are near me, I promised your father and I will keep my word, said Corvin, pulling her into his arms and reassuring her.

                  Faren was shaking as if he had been standing for hours in an ice cube that had just begun to melt. Corvin and Lemar had decided to wait until the next morning when they would have more light and when Faren was much quieter. So they made a small fire where they stayed around him all night, and Corvin stayed awake again.

               -Good, said Faren, sitting down next to Corvin.

               - How do you feel?

               - I apologize for the crisis I had. But….

               - You don't have to apologize. Every one has something that scares him you're not alone, you know.

               - How long have you been in the desert, have you given or heard of desert worms?

              -No.

              -The nomads are in the underground caves because of them. They can't go through the stone, which makes us safe there. When I was little I didn't know…. together with my best friend I came to the surface without being watched. That day was the darkest, seeing the best friend eaten by a worm and three other nomads who had come to save us.

                -And how did you escape?

                 - One of the nomads when he was swallowed stabbed him with the spear from the inside until he died, since then I'm afraid of any worm. The ones there are much bigger than the ones here.

                 - You'll be safe next to me and Lemar will see.

                -Thank you, Faren said as he got up from the log he was sitting on. You know no matter what some people say or believe about you, I know for sure that you will do what is right and that you will become a king.

                  Without saying anything, Faren went to the place where she slept and sat back, letting Corvin look after her. The night had become quieter without the wind blowing, without a cloud in the sky. The next morning, Faren took his heart in his teeth and followed Corvin and Lemar to the swamp. Lemar was at the forefront of the search for a better road and the water was not too deep, so as not to frighten the horses into fluttering, giving the worms of the marsh news that they were in their territory. Faren stood very close to Corvin so that he could not spot anything, and with his left hand he held the horse's hooves very tight.

                So did Corvin and Lemar with horses, the closer they were, the less movement in the swamp. Fortunately for Faren, the road went well for several hours, when nothing was visible until they found a patch of land in the middle of the marshes where a small house was built. Lemar motioned them to go, search the surroundings to figure out where it was best to go. Near the house was a big, thick tree where they could tie horses so they wouldn't run away. He hadn't even settled on a tree trunk that had been knocked to the ground near a small pit that a man had come out from behind the house with his sword in them.

               - Who are you?

               - Please calm down. We're just passing through, Lemar said.

               - So did the others who passed here. They came, they made a joke and then we were attacked because of them. Better get out of here, I don't want any more problems, I want to stay calm as I have been so far.

                -We are not here to do any trouble and we are careful not to be attacked by those swamp monsters, Corvin said slowly.

               - Then what were you doing here, why did you come? the man asks.

              - We are passing, I did not even know that there is this place here. But who's been here before, orcs?

              - No, these have been dead since they came here, I'm making too much noise. About 25 people passed by if not more, it seemed to me that they were fighting with one of the worms as if they knew what to do.

                -Soldiers? Lemar said, looking at Corvin. And you know what they wanted?

               - They asked me if anyone else went here, I told them that nobody had been here for years. But I think you ask, right? said the old man, sitting down beside Faren on the log.

               -Rohan's people, Corvin said. As I know we will get here, we haven't even met anyone in a long time.

                - It looks like we've been discovered and we'll probably catch them as soon as we get out of the swamp.

                 - But what are you doing here? Faren asks.

                 - That's all I have left. I used to live in the royal court a long time ago, I also had a family, but that damn Rohan took me everything, just because I didn't want to submit to him.

               -Well, how could they not have known you?

              - It's been about 18 years since I left, I'm sure he forgot about me. I heard that the dead king's boy was discovered and that he is now seeking to kill him. I'm sorry he passed through many ...

               -Don't worry, I'm sure it's okay, Corvin said. What did you work in the yard?

               - I was the bearer of all the king's secrets, and Rohan wanted to know them, he told me that if I told him he would still let me continue working there, but I didn't particularly trust that he was walking with that magician after him.

                - Dark magician. It seems we will have problems if we do not find magicians, without them it will be difficult to succeed in this mission, said Lemar.

                 - When the king was killed I knew it was his hand so I tried to run away, but I just escaped. My wife and boy were killed at his orders. I hope that one day the treacherous traitor will pay for what he has done, the old man said with tears in his eyes.

                    -The days are numbered, he won't be on the throne anymore, Corvin said.

                    - Who are you and what are you looking for in the swamp?

                    - He is Lemar, the girl next to you is Faren and I am Corvin and we are heading for Vally of the Dooms, we are looking for the wizards.

                    - I know that name. You're the son of King Corvinus III and Queen Merisa, right?

                    -Yes. It's time for someone to punish Rohan for everything he did. But how do you know my name?

                    - You didn't think of a name when you first came to the world, so I told them to name you Corvin. I'm kinda your goddamn if you think about it, my name is Bledher.

                    Bledher started telling him something about his parents. Corvin stood without interrupting him, letting him tell of all the anxieties his father and his father still had when he was about his age. It had been about two hours since he had met Bledher, everything was quiet until the swamp around that patch of earth began to shake a little, until it caught Bledher's attention.

                   -You have to leave, said Bledher.

                   - Why? We couldn't stay here until at least the first morning, Faren asked.

                   - Not that I would not want to stay, but it seems that something has attracted the attention of the cursed worms. You have to leave until they attack you.

                   -We will not run, we will fight with them, Corvin said.

                   - Even if it were just one, it would have been too dangerous and difficult for the four of us. Those soldiers were many more and only a few of them escaped alive.

                 - Then come with us, don't stay here.

                 - I would love to see the moment when Rohan will pay for what he has done and to see you king, but if we leave everyone will follow us.

                  -We'll get out of here alive, Corvin said, trying to persuade him to go with them.

                  Bledher goes to the tree next to the house and pulls out from his base a sheet of material that was his sword. A superb sword compared to the other ordinary swords, it was seen that it was the sword of the Akerel kingdom with a silver claw on its handle that represented that kingdom.

                   -You have to get it here, Bledher said, pointing to the back of the tree. The swamp is smaller and you will get out of here faster, I will draw their attention to not following you.

                     -I won't let you do that, Corvin said in a louder voice than he had before. I'm not going to let you become a bait just for us to escape.

                    - Corvin remember that many are based on you now and if you die they will die too. They put all their trust in you that you will get rid of all the evil. You will be a good king, maybe even better than many in the Akerel kingdom so far. Now they are living and surviving for us, those we are ready to fall into debt to help.

                   -Corvin come on, said Faren. We can't do anything anymore.

                   -Corvin, Bledher shouted. Greet Rohan on my part as a traitor. Lemar and Faren now take it and whatever happens don't come back here.

                      With that said Lemar forcefully takes Corvin and heads to the direction Bledher suggested as he begins to roar and draw worms at him. They didn't move far from the small spot when three worms came out of the water and jumped on Bledher, who didn't even have a small chance of hitting even one. At the sound of Bledher's cry, Corvin's face began to see tears streaming down his cheeks. Chair if he had barely known everyone, he was sorry for what happened, being sad.

                         In only two hours they reached the end of the marshes, but could not get out of any of the trees because in the small distance you could see The Black Forest Mountains and at the base of the mountain were some tents with soldiers.

                      - What are we doing now? Faren asks.

                      - We'll stay here until tomorrow morning, now we're not in a position to attack them.

                      -But there are few and it would be dangerous to stay near the edge of the marshes, Faren said.

                      - There are only 12 that I see, but I'm sure they are hidden to take us by surprise. We'll stay here and see how things can go at night when they're asleep, Corvin said.

                      - But can't we bypass them when they sleep? Faren asks.

                      - Not really. We do not know where the others are, where they are hiding and if it gives an alarm we will wake up with all of us…. I don't think we'll face it in the dark now, "Lemar said.

                     - Then what to do that stays in the way and now and tomorrow. We have to face them once and for all. It would be better to attack them now because they don't see much anyway, so they are at a disadvantage, said Corvin.

                       -You're right here, but at least let's wait until later that who knows maybe they are asleep and we won't have to attack them, Lemar said.

                        Without a fire Corvin and his friends remained on the marshes where they could not be easily seen. Rohan's soldiers walked from front to side in front of the mountain or through the road leading to the mountain. After one hour a shotgun rushes towards the commander of the guards standing near the fire made by them. Arriving in front of him he stops to draw his breath, never being able to breathe.

                       -They seem to be close, said the s**t.

                      -Where? the commander asks as he rises from his chair.

                     -I am on the edge of the marshes, said the scoundrel. It seems that they are resting and I have the impression that they are waiting for us to go to sleep without being seen.

                      -Perfect. Then let's surprise them, attack them tonight. We'll wait until midnight and leave the tents without seeing us.

                      - But if he does not see anyone here he will realize that they have been discovered.

                      - That's why we'll leave a few people here so they don't realize we've discovered them. We will go to them and attack them there ... as soon as we start the fight with them we will signal to the others to come to their aid.

                        - I don't want to upset you, but wouldn't it be better to attract them here? asks the scorpion, just standing near the marsh can appear and those worms.

                        - How much better that if we do, we will have a higher chance of killing them, especially Corvin.

                           Midnight arrived and the guards did exactly as the commander said, gave Corvin and the two the impression that they were going to sleep and came out from behind the tents to see them. Corvin saw that everything was quiet and he went to Lemar to announce that they could leave. Faren puts his hand on the bow and shoots an arrow at one of the archers preparing to shoot at Corvin. Corvin and Lemar take the swords and, without thinking, jump to the attack, killing the first two soldiers. Faren was behind them and was shooting with arrows trying to kill them. One of the soldiers blew a horn, signaling to those who remained in the camp to come.

                         Faren aimed his bow at those who came from the camp trying to kill them, but there were too many and they also had armor which made the arrows not touch them properly. Behind her came the cry of a soldier who was calling on Corvin to come and confront him. The commander was the one who yelled at him until he stopped in front of him.

                         -So you're in a hurry to die and you're screaming so hard, Corvin said with his sword pointed at the commander.

                        -You will not get out of here alive, said the captain, who was still speaking aloud. You have reached the end of your life and I will not allow you to live.

                        - I don't think so. You will be more than us, but you will still be defeated, said Corvin.

                        -That's how you stand, said the captain. Look behind.

                        Corvin looks back and sees Lemar and Faren on their knees and around them ten more soldiers holding them captive. Corvin knew that if he had to do something, it was possible for the two to be injured or even lose their lives. He returns to face the commander, pausing for a few moments, then looks at him, and then he puts his sword into the ground.

                             -Answer me a question, Corvin said. Why didn't he leave me alone? He had the whole kingdom and I didn't even know I was a prince, who killed my father and why.

                             - Sooner or later you would still have to find out about your inheritance, who you are so he said you'd better die before you found out, but he sent orcs.

                            - Rohan was a coward and he will remain a coward, but I'll take care of him.

                            - I don't think so because you will die today, and the kingdoms will no longer gather and everything will be before. Rohan is coming out.

                            When two worms finish talking, they come out of the swamp. One of them threw himself at the ten soldiers. On that occasion Faren and Lemar were able to get out of there before being attacked by worms. The second worm came out just two steps from where Corvin and the commander were, giving Corvin the opportunity to take the sword and run away. The commander, however, could not do anything anymore, the worm swallowing it.

                             Corvin joined Faren and Lemar who were moving away from the swamp as quickly as possible, causing the worms to retreat leaving only blood behind. Corvin and his friends stopped at the camp for Rohan's soldiers, drawing their souls. Since the attack of the worms they have not even looked back to see what is happening, they have only fled as far as possible. Lemar and Faren had small wounds on their hands and feet, but nothing serious that they could not continue or could not continue to fight.

                           -It was close, Lemar said.

                           - But how did they know we were there? Faren asks.

                           -Probably he sent a box to investigate and they saw us, Lemar said, sitting down.

                           - I was lucky with the worms that we would have died there otherwise. Now let's look for something through their things to take care of your wounds, Corvin said.

                           - Do you think there are soldiers around?

                          - I'm not, they all came there to attack us. Corvin looks like Rohan is really looking forward to killing you, Lemar said.

                           - Yes, he seems to want me to stop doing the mission. Who knows what else he has planned to keep me out of my way, however, let us put our worries aside tonight and rest, Corvin said.

                           -It looks like we won't have to look for something to eat because we have left yesterday, Faren said, pointing to the pig that had already been made and had just begun.

                           -Let's take care of the wounds first, Lemar said.

                            And so did Lemar and Faren take care of their wounds, they ate something and then went to rest, watching the line for any eventuality. Faren was guarded only once, while the other two did twice. The night was quiet without any danger, Corvin, whenever he came to watch, did nothing but sit on his thoughts on the road that was to cross him. Everywhere he went he could have encountered other soldiers or orcs, dark elves or goblins.