The Crimson Prince Awakening - v3 Chapter 98

Will saluted with his fist to his chest, the royal salute towards the guards to the dungeon as he entered through the courtyard entrance. “How can I help you today, young lord?” The guard to the left of the entrance asked after dropping his salute.

“I was hoping to see how the prisoners are fairing today.” Will smiled as he made his way down the stairwell.

“I could send you a guide through the corridors.” The guard offered. He remembered seeing the prince with Maya a few months back, the young man had no idea how to traverse even the guest quarter. He smiled at the thought of a child not knowing his own home.

“I’m sure I can find my way.” Will said with a grin. “They’re in the Bloomstar corridor, right?” He arched an eyebrow and lit a crimson and gold flame in his upturned palm to light the way.

“Yeah.” The guard said in confusion. ‘The young lord must have studied the layout since I last saw him.’ He thought as he saw the prince descend.

The glint of gold on the prince’s embroidered red and gold robes sent spots of light casting off the walls of the stairwell as he moved downward. A smile shone on his face for how easy it was to get past the security. “If it’s this easy, I don’t see why I can’t just take everything now.”

He pushed such thoughts to the side. He had been trained by the kingdom’s master tacticians from a young age. He knew that the route he was going was the easiest for a quiet takeover. As he reached the bottom floor of the dungeon, he placed the hand with the crimson gold flame on the panel to unlock the black iron door leading to the holding cells.

Making his way down the many corridors, his eyes focused on the turquoise flame at the end. He could hear the rantings of an old man that seethed in rage. Will’s eyes lit up brighter as he heard declarations of war being shouted from the door. “Good afternoon good Duke and Lady Jeselle.” Will bowed formally to the two in side-by-side cells.

“Here to gloat at your accomplishment?” The Duke asked curtly. “I’ll not give you the satisfaction to see me kowed.” He held the bars of the cell as his eyes bore holes through Will. “Even now, my forces are amassed just waiting for the slightest hint of weakness.”

“Is that so.” Will put a finger to his chin as if thinking. “Are they powerful?” his eyes betrayed his excitement as he watched the Duke.

“That’s not the response I imagined you would have.” Jeselle said as she looked closer at Will. “What happened to the plain clothes you wore before?” She looked him up and down. “I thought that was your trademark.”

“Why shouldn’t I wear the colors of my family?” He looked at the robes he had on. The richly embroidered gold shone through the bars. “Anyway, tell me more about these forces. If you were let out, what exactly would you do?” for visiting.

“You think you can get us to divulge information on our own kingdom so swiftly?” The duke looked at Will as if he were mad.

“You aren’t going anywhere anyway are you?” Will raised an eyebrow as he examined a nail. “May as well pass the time showing me how superior you are even without your elemental affinity.” He smiled slyly as the duke slammed his fists on the bars.

“If it weren’t for you, we would have a force of ten thousand strong wielding the power of the elements on your front door!” He spat at Will. “I haven’t given up on getting you as a battery in the future.” A deranged look spread on his face. “I will get out of here, and when I do I’m coming for you. You forget that my money paid for the structure we stand in right now! My forces are looking through blueprints at this moment, finding a weakness they can strike through to get to this room! I’d give it a month longer before I hook you up to a crystal fueling station and bleed you dry daily!”

Will smiled and nodded as he listened to the duke’s tirade. At parts, his eyes even widened in delight as if listening to a beautiful ballad. By the end, he clapped his hands. “Bravo, Duke, bravo!” He clapped with a gusto. Jaselle looked at Will with confusion. “I like your boldness good duke,” he placed a hand on a panel next to the cell and willed the door open. “I could use a general like you.”

Duke Bloomstar looked in confusion as the door swung open. “So you decided to kill me instead of letting me escape.” He said in resignation. “No matter. My forces will come, even if I’m dead. I’ll just be a martyr if this cell is empty when raided.”

“I think you have me wrong, Duke.” Will placed a hand on the panel to Jaselle’s cell. “I agree with you.”

“You what?”

“For too long the power in Crystallia has been one sided.” Will said as he allowed Jaselle out of her cell. “Ebonhart has been sole sovereign over the land for long enough.”

“You are the heir to this kingdom, aren’t you?” Jaselle asked as she moved to her father.

“I’ve come from a crack in the universe to create a balance in power.” Will raised an eyebrow as he opened a portal in front of them. “Why don’t we go say hi to those ten thousand elementalists?” He walked through the portal, disappearing into a white glow.

“Are you really going to trust this?” Jaselle looked at her father questioningly. “This is obviously a trap.” She looked at the golden arch warily.

“Even if it is,” The duke stepped closer to the portal. “Anything is better than staying in these cells even a moment longer. If death awaits on the other side of this portal, I will embrace even that before cowering in this kingdom even a second longer.” He smiled as he stepped through.

“Here goes nothing.” Jaselle said shakily as she stepped through after her father. The moment she disappeared, so did the archway, leaving the dark corridor as it was before the prince had arrived, minus two prisoners.