Rowan's POV:

It's been seven years since the king and queen of Vayl suddenly went insane. Our neighboring kingdom was known to be peaceful, and though we'd never met their king and queen in person, we had a good relationship through exports and imports.

That was, until they suddenly declared war on my kingdom of Arlian for no apparent reason. It was a long waged war, in which they killed one of my parents and both sides had many fatalities.

Eventually we came to a draw, because there were so many casualties and while the other side was heartless, they seemed to agree that there were too many casualties and agreed to end the war.

It's been four years since the end of the war, but both my father and I know they are biding their time and will strike again.

So, we must strike first.

I am a very well trained assassin, even though I am a prince. Unlike the fools of Vayl, I do not believe in hiding behind my army and hoping they win. I was at the front line during the war, as were both of my fathers.

It hurt, and the entire kingdom mourned, when one of my fathers died. He was a benevolent leader whom the entire kingdom admired, and it hurt no one more than my remaining father and I.

I want revenge on Vayl, on their king and queen.

"Son," my father says, making me jump as I pack my bag with my best weapons. "I wanted to see you before you leave."

I smile and pick up my bag. "Worried about me, father?" I ask in a playful fashion, hugging him tight. "I will avenge him, father. I promise."

"That is not why you are going, Rowan," my dad warns me, his eyes narrow. "You are going to end their king and queen in order to prevent another war. Understood?"

"Yes, father," I say, walking with him toward the stables. "What of the prince?"

My father shakes his head in annoyance. "If he's there, which I doubt he is, kill him as well."

"Does anyone know where the prince ever went?" I ask my father, though I know there is no set answer.

No one knows what happened to the prince of Vayl when they went insane.

There are many rumors, though.

Some say that he ran away, others say he was murdered and eaten by the barbarians in his palace.

I don't believe any of them.

I know that little prince is out there somewhere, and I will find and kill him, bringing him the same pain that his parents brought me.

"He is most likely dead, Rowan," father says, patting the side of a white horse with black speckles. "And if he's not, then he will be. We don't need that horrid bloodline living on and constantly trying to kill our people and overtake our land."

I nod, getting on my horse. "It is a two day trip there and back, so I'll see you in about a week, yes?"

My father smiles and grabs my hand. "Your father would be so proud of you, Rowan," he says, before reaching into his pocket and handing me a knife with a black blade and handle, made from strong volcanic rock. "He'd want you to have this. We are not vengeful, murderous people, but I want you to kill the king of Vayl with this weapon."

I nod. "I will, do not worry. He will be dead soon enough."

"I love you, my son. Please stay safe."

"I will be, don't worry."

With that, I push my heels into the sides of my horse, making it start galloping and moving toward the horrible kingdom that left a hole in my heart.

•••

I made it to the kingdom after a couple of days, but I'm careful to stay hidden and enter the town during the evening, as it gets darker. I leave my horse hidden in the forest so it doesn't get hurt.

She is a beautiful mare, I'd hate for anything to happen to her.

After I've secured my weapons in harnesses under my clothes, I walk into the village and am not surprised to find guards patrolling the area. However, I am surprised by how scared the subjects seems, and many of them aren't speaking the language that I use.

Which is strange, as I know they used to use the same language my kingdom does. That's how we communicated; through letters in the same language my kingdom uses.

I run into a young woman, making her gasp and turn around, only relaxing a little.

"You would be best off to put the cloak away," she whispers. "Or they'll know you are not from around here."

"Why are you helping me?" I ask in a low voice as I take off my cloak and watching as she hides it in an alley.

She shakes her head. "Please just complete whatever business you have here and leave. It would be a shame to watch someone so attractive be murdered."

"Thank you for thinking of me," I say in a flat voice. "I was under the impression that we all spoke the same language."

The woman freezes. "Please keep your voice down." She pushes me away. "Get out of here. Do your business and leave! Don't speak to anyone or they will know you are an outsider."

I nod and make sure to stay behind alleys and out of the populated area as I make my way to the forest surrounding the backside of the castle. I climb up one of the trees, climbing onto the wall and down another tree so I'm in the courtyard.

Now, I must find the king's quarters.

I must avenge my father.

The palace is so cold and dark, the feeling of dread and darkness overcoming the entire castle. It is horrid and I hate it, and it makes me want to push harder to kill the damn king and queen, maybe the prince, and then go home in order to send my warriors in to take over.

As I wander the castle, avoiding guards and such, I realize the entire castle is silent. Only guards are in the hall, but there are no servants moving around the darkened hallways.

At home, there's people all over the castle, both to serve us and for company. They're all very nice and I get along with all of the servants that serve me.

Hell, they teach me how to cook and how to wash my own clothes in my spare time.

Tyla, the head chef, always reprimands me about how I should learn how to do all my own chores so I can take care of my future partner.

As I turn another corner, I run into someone and my heart stops. However, I'm able to relax when I see that it is not a guard and instead a boy who can't be much younger than myself.

"Quiet," I snarl when he opens his mouth.

He shuts his mouth, shying away from me.

"Who are you?" I ask, taking in his clothing and appearance.

He seems to be on the thinner side, wearing only lace garments. He must be some kind of prostitute, based on his appearance and the things he is wearing.

The boy shakes his head in response to my question. "N-No understand," he says, but his accent sounds fake.

I feel like he is lying about not understanding me.

"What is your name?"

He shakes his head again.

"Are you going to tell anyone I am here?" I ask, and he shakes his head, and that secures the idea in my mind that he understands me and is just worried about talking to me.

The boy shakes his head, looking around. "Why are you here?" he asks in a hushed voice, and he sounds a bit scratchy in the throat.

"None of your business. Go away," I tell him, pushing past him. "Tell anyone that I am here and you will die."

He nods and runs away down the hall, and I can only hope he won't actually tell anyone I am here.

I eventually find a large door and I know that it is to a bedroom. There are no guards surrounding it, which is surprising, so there is a chance that they may be switching guards.

A prime opportunity for me.

Readying my volcanic rock weapon, the blade of my deceased father, I shove the door open and gasp when I see the king and queen sitting on the bed, surrounded by guards.

Oh gods, I messed up.

Two of the guards seize me before I get the chance to do anything else, and they bind my arms behind my back.

All of them speak in the unfamiliar language I've been hearing since I arrived in Vayl.

"You will be brought to dungeon," the king says, walking up to me and pulling up my sleeves and taking off my beautiful weapons. "I like these knives. I keep them."

I glare at him. "They're mine!" I bellow, but the king doesn't waver. "How did you know I was here?"

"Mysterious man enters village, my guards watch him," the queen tells me. "You come here to kill."

"Your war killed my father!" I shout, the guards barely managing to hold me back. "You were a peaceful kingdom until you decided to wage war."

The king laughs, saying something to his guards in their language that makes the other guards laugh and the queen just smile.

The guards then drag me away to the dungeon, locking me up against the wall, my hands being held above my head in chains.

My heart is pounding, tears threatening to fall.

I lost my beautiful weapons and I failed my father. If I don't escape, he will have lost his husband and his son within years of each other.

I cannot let him down more than I already have.