THE TRASH PRINCE'S BLUEPRINTS

CHAPTER 10: KING ALEXANDER'S.REFLECTIONS

King Alexander Cain Thaloria strolls along the private garden inside the Thalorian Royal Castle, filled with rare, expensive herbs, fruits, spices and flowers, admiring the serenity and silence of the place, while doing mental calculations on the recent events that transpired in Thaloria Kingdom, while flanked by two anointed knights of the Thalorian Kingsguard, with white cloaks billowing from their shoulders, and their swords hanging freely in their scabbards.

It's been many years already since the time I wrested control of the throne from my Uncle, whose reign started well in the beginning, but he gradually became more tyrannical, to the point I had to plot an overthrow, and caused a civil war. I was no older than 19 back then, a young man full of dreams, and aspirations. But the harsh realities of ruling Thaloria Kingdom hit me full in the face as time passed by, even though I did my best to keep my kingdom stable, politically and financially, and made my peace with the Holy Church. Yes, there are uprisings and rebellions every now and then, but thanks to my keen insights they were crushed, and the leaders either executed or turned into allies before those uprisings and rebellions spread into every corner of the Kingdom, and sparked into another full-blown civil war. The three princes were still young back then. But now that they’re adults, and I’m older, I can sense danger, and political instability looming in the background, like stormclouds threatening to break. The second prince and the third prince seems to be on good terms with each other, but the two princes dislike the Crown Prince, and for good reason. The nobles in the kingdom grow restless every coming day, with some Houses supporting the Second Prince, some throwing their lot in with the Crown Prince, and I’m sure many will support the Third Prince when Prince Cain plays his hand. I should have uprooted the Holy Church, root, branch and stem when I was younger. The Nobles and the Holy Church may mock me as King who has grown too soft, but they don't know I’m playing my own game as well, and they are just pawns. If need be, I’ll play my hand as well, and bring everything to a head, so all of their true intentions and ambitions are unveiled at once. I’ll do anything to survive and keep on living, since a powerless King won’t even last a day or two in the treacherous halls of power.

King Alexander Cain’s reflections are cut short when a beautiful young messenger arrives inside the private garden. The messenger took to one knee before the king, and bowed her head in deference.

“ Your Majesty, I bring serious news regarding the Third Prince, and his actions in Frostmark Province. “

“ What has the Third Prince done this time, messenger? Report. “

“ Sire, the third prince has wrested control of Winterkeep. He killed all of the Provincial Secretaries appointed there. He even had all the residents of the fortified outposts in Frostmark Province swear fealty to him. The remaining knights formerly under the employ of the said Provincial Secretaries he spared are now fully under his control. It is estimated that 90 percent of the residents of those outposts arrived in droves and swore fealty. Not only that, but he also had a meeting with a group of mages, master craftsmen, and merchant guild envoys, and is employing their services to help develop the province. Our spies there said he gave them blueprints with strange advanced mechanical devices which seemed to be imbued with magic enhancements and the Anti-Holy magic of Umbralith Ore. It is said that he appointed his own Provincial Secretaries afterwards, and even gave them advanced blueprints of advanced mechanical devices that are supposed to help them govern the province faster and more efficiently. “

“ Thanks for your report, good messenger. You may now take your leave. “

So the third prince has finally wrested control of Winterkeep, and is quickly consolidating his power. He’s obviously preparing for an inevitable battle with the Crown Prince, and the Holy Church. The Holy Church may have plenty of resources, and can field thousands of men into the battlefield, including the Holy Mages themselves, but the Third Prince is counting on his technological advantage, and perhaps, superior tactics still to be tested on the battlefield which he developed and is perfecting in secret. It’s still unknown whether he will ally with the Second Prince, or come rushing to the rescue of the Second Prince, should the Second Prince clash with the Crown Prince and the Holy Church. The Third Prince has technological advantage, while the Second Prince has the support of mages, and not just ordinary mages, but mages who come from wealthy commoner families and rich, notable Houses that can trace their lineage as far back as the days of the founding of this kingdom. It will be interesting if the two of them managed to defeat, uproot and kick the Holy Church out of Thaloria. It seems I don't have to play my cards yet. When you're outnumbered in a battle, and when your rivals and foes have twice the number you do, you don't attack and charge in first, then hope for the best. It's easier and more efficient to sit the battle out and let your foes decimate each other and waste their men and resources, then bring your cards into play once they are weakened and devour them all. I wonder if those two princes also know that as well as I do.

King Alexander Cain Thaloria eventually reaches the middle part of the wide, vast garden, where a cyvasse piece is already set up, and Cardinal Dorian Curnow, of House Curnow, already waiting for the King.

“ If you don't mind, will you care for another set of cyvasse, Your Majesty? I must say, you’re the best when it comes to defensive play.“

“ Sure, my lord. I don’t just do defensive plays, but I also do offenses, as you shall later learn. Let’s skip all this chatter, and start the game, shall we, Lord Curnow? “

After much careful maneuvers from the King, Cardinal Curnow finally grows bold in the late game after perceiving the King created a weak spot the Cardinal can pounce upon, and decides to bring out his dragon to flank the King’s light cavalry.

“ There are dangers of growing overbold, my lord. Perhaps the Pope can teach you a thing or two about conserving your strength. “

With swift, smooth and practiced fingers, the King places his trebuchet just across the Dragon on the board, with the King’s own dragon already placed in a hidden position that directly flanks the Pope’s dragon.

“My trebuchet”

“ Is being flanked by a single crossbowman on the front while it has to deal with light cavalry on the side. Oh, and if you try to make your trebuchet escape, the trebuchet’s escape route is blocked by the heavy cavalry, so the trebuchet can't leave its safe spot. And it's too far across the board to save your precious dragon, my lord. You're in a tight spot now, Cardinal Curnow. “