The Prince’s Secrets

“You know.” The prince looked slightly flattened after the contracts sealing, his hair rather lank and his eyes heavy lidded. “There used to be a sea of people like her. This Centauri Seren, this Lady Menodora, the country was coated in them. They were rather more or less the original upper class. The magic they had was linked to the moon, their element typically water. They also had healing abilities. It is said that a single tear from a Moon Maiden could cure a fatal wound, that is if you managed to get one before you died.”

Yuji thought back to the healing elixir Thaddea had given him. He had even been told by one of her maids that while he was sleeping she had washed Mirk in her tears. An image of her in the carriage sitting across from him painted itself, the worn swollen texture of her beautiful face, her bloodshot eyes.

“They were peaceful enough and we even intermarried with them. That is part of why maidens like the current Centauri Seren exist. The maidens born now have weaker magics then the original but compared to those who have no latent abilities their strength is immense.”

The prince flopped onto his side to better watch Yuji. “Well, at some point the elves appeared on our shores. For a while it was fine and then tension grew between the two groups. Mind you the moon people, that is what they were called, were not purely peaceful, but neither were the elves. Over time and exposure to the land the elves found their abilities diminishing. They derive their magic from special crystals, and you see there are none in this land. Trust me, they’ve dug at every inch to find them.”

He sighed deeply. “Well, the greatest pity for the moon folk is that the elves also knew how to extract magic from other beings, like that inferno beast of yours. Up on Mount Lune they built the Celestial Terrace a beautiful mass of white quartz, it reflects the moon and the sun most stunningly and is covered in elvish runes that conduct magic. The elves don’t care much for the sun, as such they weren’t able to make as much of an impact on Eos as they were on poor Eventide. It seems those of fire are a lot harder to control than those of water. The people blessed by the sun… Well, they were known for roasting elves on spits. I guess there was no good place for the elves to harvest them, nor did they have enough power to remain and subjugate the people so to stay in Eos was an impossibility for them or possibly they would have. Oh, and it was awfully difficult to cart the few in Eos they managed to overpower all the way back to Mount Lune. It’s such a trip even now we hardly bother having diplomatic relations between us.”

The prince waved that part of the subject away irritably. “Anyway, they went to war with the moon people, and they powered it with Mount Lune. There they would drag their victims and with the help of the very thing that gave them strength, stole the magic from them, and used that power to subdue the land. Mind all victims had to be alive, magic is tied to the soul and there is no soul in a dead man.”

“Stole it?” Yuji couldn’t help a sudden tension. “What do you mean stole it?”

The prince smiled with disgust. “They rip it out of them. I have not had the displeasure to see the ceremony, but the quarry is brought to the terrace, willing or unwilling. From what I understand, they are then condensed to some kind of magic dust and when all their energy is concentrated, and what was them is no more, it is dispersed to those standing on the terrace. Isn’t that just lovely?”

Turned to dust…

Yuji’s stomach dropped. “Do they… do they suffer?”

“I cannot say, the written record says nothing on the matter, and trust me I have read what there is to know about the subject. I suppose when it is written from the perspective of the villain, they might choose not to make it look bad in case future generations grow some semblance of morality. It is a blessing that so long as power benefits them they are more than happy to be complicit. The elves would never have been able to delude us so much without our own help you know.”

“Why did you choose me? Why trust me to help you?”

“Oh, that’s quite simple. It’s because, his excellency, Lord Drazhan, hates the life out of you. You should have been there when he scolded me over talking with you, it was quite hard to play off. I hope you don’t mind though, I had to make things sound a little… less savory than I might have wanted to. But I said you rebuffed me if that makes you feel better about my little excuse for our meeting yesterday.”

Prince Cadfael stood taking a few casual steps. “I also believe you have a more intimate relationship with the Centauri Seren and that you would not wish to see her harmed. It seems that Drazhan likely had a hand in your attempted murder and the death of your inferno beast on your way here.” He was careful with his reference to Mirk. “Which means you have your own stake in the matter. Anyone would find it distasteful to lose someone close to them for a second time, to the same entity.”

All that glitters isn’t gold.

“And what do you want out of this?”

“I told you already, I am going to die. How is it that the extras always die in the royal family? You know the third prince will die as well. He doesn’t think so yet, but it’s the truth. Eventually when the crown prince has an heir we will all slowly fade away. Do you know why? Because we won’t be needed anymore.” He laughed almost gleefully. “You see we are only figureheads. The elves have all the power, simply because they are the puppet masters and we, so long as we are indulged and kept in the life we’ve grown accustomed to, are content to be the puppets. They use the royal family to keep the people happy, so they don’t feel as though they have strange otherworldly overlords. It’s really a fun game if you think about it. They win all the way around. Unfortunately, there are those members of the royal family that seem content to keep things going as they are, but then again it is eight hundred years of tradition. How could they know any better. It is for the pigs to be kept fat and happy until the day they are slaughtered at the hand of their masters.”

Prince Cadfael let his arms go slack, closing his eyes, facing the ceiling. “It’s so tiring being the only sentient one in the world.” Standing normally, he turned to Yuji. “I can’t continue to allow them to rule. Not while they feast on our people. I want this to end, even if it means every level of magical energy is gone and even the mages can’t function in this kingdom anymore. We cannot exist any longer as marionettes content even with the cord around our throats. I suppose the best way to put it is, if I’m going to lose my life, may it be to regain freedom for both me and my people. If I die, may it be on my own terms as opposed to someone else’s.”

It’s do or die. In this moment the terms do matter.

“What of the Centauri Seren, where does that even come from?”

A cruel smile slipped across the prince’s face, filled with mirth. “That one is funny. You see after the war they were able to convince the ‘normal’ citizenry to betray the moon people. Even though they had lived peacefully with them for epochs before the elves arrived. You have to understand they, the moon people, were really suppressers, evil beings. Oh, there were so many rumors about them. Since their abilities are simply water elemental magics and healing they were easy enough to pick off. Well, at least if you’re persistent and willing to be a bit unsavory. Before you know it there were none left. Oh, how sad the elves were that day.”

The prince clapped his hands together theatrically. “And then all at once a girl appeared with the magic. Now all we must do is reinvent the monster we created as a semidivine being. Add dressing and ceremony, make nobles feel important. Give her a fun title. Oh, I know, how about the Lady Menodora the Centauri Seren. All magical and mystical. Let’s dress her in silver silks and lace and make her live behind curtains and mystery. The wolves taught the sheep to sacrifice their own and to thank them for teaching them so wisely to do so. After all, isn’t it the joy of the body to feed its own parasite?”

Yuji felt sick, his stomach was churning. “What do we do to save her, what do we have to do?”

“We must be patient for the moment. I have to arrange things and that won’t be simple or easy. As long as they are here my power is limited and so I must carefully exercise it.”

“We have less than two weeks.”

“Yes, true, so we will have to work quickly. Do not fear Yuji, or rather, no, Lord Till. Things will happen quickly, but even in expedience we must be careful. Oh, and I should warn you the elves are nothing to be trifled with. They will make this very difficult and, in the end… Well let’s not concern ourselves with steps too far ahead to predict. For now, we must plan and leave the rest to fate.”