The chosen one

[Powerdog16]

( reserved for sallythescorpion )

It had been foretold since the day she was born... she would be the one to bring chaos and anarchy to the world... she would be the one who would bring the harbinger of death and destruction... I still chuckle about it even today... knowing that I am about to meet death itself... No one knew but her parents, herself and her brother, and now of course .... me. But I guess I should take you back to the beginning in order for you to know where we are now.

Her name was Princess Vicky Manitou, daughter of the universally known King Drako Manitou and Queen Candace Hollandaise Manitou of Great England, twin sister to her brother Prince Anthony Manitou. She had everything in the world going for her. While her brother would eventually take a bride of his own and assume the throne of the largest and most powerful country in all the land, Deanna would marry the future king of New Rome Prince Franklin Piercing and bring the two largest kingdoms of the central provinces together to form the perfect union. At least, that had been the plan ever since she popped from her momma's womb.

So how did she become the harbinger of death you may ask? Funny you should ask... you see, that is where I came in. I am King Steven Negro, leader of the small yet powerful lands of the southern provinces. I was on... shall we say... less than speaking terms with either New Rome or New England and I knew that if those lands were to merge, that it would be a direct threat to my own land's security and it was something I simply could not let happen.

So when I discovered that Princess Vicky and Prince Robert were going to be taking a trip to New Rome as part of a series of peace talks, I knew I had a narrow window of opportunity which I quickly struck at...

Felwood Forests, Year 0722

They escort team had been located and it was impressive... most impressive indeed. Over 80 knights on horseback and in full armor as well as a pair of cannoneer wagons ahead and behind the central wagon which held the Prince and Princess would have been enough to scare of any thief, bandit, or would be attacker. Fortunately, the King of thieves had no such falicy. He had a plan and his employers paid him well to ensure this went off without a hitch.

The party moved cautiously through the forests, their heads on a swivel as they reached the Canyons of Winster, which put a tall set of canyons on either side of the dirt roads. It was here where he struck. The King of thieves had placed 4 rapid fires on the canyon ledges two on either side and aimed them down at the party as they moved into the narrow passageway itself. He knew that his guns were placed way too high for the cannooners to aim so he eliminated them from any the field of battle.

Smiling, he looked to his men, fired a flare over the party and then watched and steel and fire reigned down on the people below! It was over really before it had even begun. All 80 men and their horses laid dead as well as all the occupents of the cannooner wagons. He had given specific orders not to fire on the royal party itself and his orders had been held through.

He did watch as the personal soldiers of the Prince and Princess fought valiantly to protect the thieves as they slipped onto the road but their resistence was little before only the royalty and their four servants were all that were left. He ordered the bodies to be picked clean of their valuables, moved out of the ravine and tossed into a pile where he had them burned. He then took the cannooneer wagons for himself and his men as well as all the riches of the wagons. It was part of his arrangement with his employer, who only wanted the royals and their servants.

The King of Thieves watched as Prince Anthony and Princess Vicky were dragged towards him with a smile... it was about time for the show to begin...

 

[sallythescorpian]

Vicky and her brother Anthony had been bickering for more than two hours, and each desperately felt the need for a little space of their own, but as they were approaching the twin canyons, it was unsafe to stop. While they were generally very close, the prospect of her upcoming nuptials had become a bone of contention. Anthony agreed with her father that, now that she had reached marriageable age, she ought to marry Prince Franklin, and seal the alliance of their families, as soon as possible. Vicky, on the other hand, wanted to wait. It was hopeless, she knew, but Edward, a young Knight in her father's court had caught her eye, and while she knew he did not offer the same security for her family as Prince Franklin, she desperately hoped he might improve his lot sufficiently that he could offer for her. Anthony, of course, had become aware of her puppy love for Edward, and believed it prudent that his sister marry Franklin forthwith, and avoid the risk of falling deeper in love with another.

She hated the uncomfortable silence between her and her brother, and, in an effort to ease things, she reached across and took his hand.

"Anthony, forgive me. I know you are right, and I know that you are looking to my best interest, but I am a girl, with a foolish heart, and I just wish that things could be different"

He squeezed her hand in reply and smiled, explaining more softly why waiting would worsen the situation.

"Men and women of our rank marry for politics, to secure an alliance with another, to strengthen our power to protect our own people. Serfs have the luxury of marrying for love. But don't worry, I know Prince Franklin, he is a good man, and will treat you as he should"

He grinned at her again.

"I shall make sure he knows he will have me to answer to if he does not strive to ensure you happiness, and to win your love!"

"Oh, Anthony, you are always so..........."


She trailed off, unable to finish as a cry of alarm sounded, followed by the sounds of attack. Horses tore up the earth as knights galloped up and down, but they were picked off quickly. Anthony quickly helped his sister out and under the couch, shielding her with his own body until the sounds of battle died away, and a more terrifying silence reined. Suddenly, their breathing sounded harsh and loud, and he peered out, seeing all their men slain. He stood, and held his hands in the air in surrender, knowing that to try anything would result in his sister's death. Any raiders, seeing their wealth, would hold them as hostages, and demand ransom. They would not likely be hurt.

Vicky shook with fright and clung desperately to her brother, who was reassuring her that they would not be hurt, that they would be ransomed, and that their father would pay.

Suddenly, they were both grabbed, and dragged through the melee. Vicky was horrified to see men pulling rings from the fingers of slaughtered knights, collecting the spoils of war with scant regard for the dead. Bodies were being dragged and piled together, and they were dragged passed. Her heart hammered. Was she about to be raped? No, she was a Royal, no one would dare!

Suddenly they moved into a clearing, where a huge fire sent smoke up into the sky, and heated the immediate surrounds. She was thrown forward, and cried out as she skinned her hands on the ground. She struggled to her feet, and looked up to find herself standing in front of a man, who appeared to be the leader of this gang of vagabonds.

Anthony stood beside her, silent and glaring, appraising the man before him.

"Sir, I am Prince Anthony and this is my sister Princess Victoria of the Kingdom of New England. What do you want with us?"

 

[Powerdog16]

"With you... nothing." The Prince of Thieves said as he walked over, popped off his small crown and then put it on his own head. He smiled and pulled out a small dagger and then pressed it to his face and sliced into his flesh a bit. This sent the pompous prince screaming at the top of his lungs!

The prince of thieves smiles as he hears the princess scream at him to stop and he says, "Well... what say you? I give you a choice. Come with me freely and he will live to tell a tale of this one eve... or say no... he dies and you are taken anyways... what say you little one?"

He smiled to himself as he watched the princess forced to make a decision which would have a most profound consequence....

 

[sallythescorpian]

Victoria had been numb with disbelief, unable to take in the situation in which she found herself. So many of their men, dead, slaughtered, and her and Anthony at the mercy of this... this mad man.

Still, nothing prepared her for the audacity of the man, the Prince of Thieves, when he pressed his knife to Anthony's face, and cut him. Blood seeped profusely from the wound, and trickled down her brother's neck, and the shock of seeing it pierced the bubble of unreality that had, heretofore, cushioned her from the horror of her situation.

"Wait, please! Don't hurt him!!!"

Her voice sounded nothing like it's usual melodic and measured tones. Now it was a screech, desperate and panicked.

"I agree - don't hurt him, and I'll do what you want!"

She looked in the general direction of the Prince of Thieves, but she avoided his eyes, terrified that her courage would abandon her if she looked into them. She waited, sure that Anthony would speak, demand that she be freed, or at least demand that she be unharmed.

Eventually he turned to her, speaking in their own language.

"I am the heir to the Kingdom, and my survival is paramount. I thank you for your sacrifice, but be assured that I will do all I can to ensure your immediate rescue. In the meantime - Stay safe!"

She had been expecting him to demand her release, not to thank her for her sacrifice!! Still, logically, she knew he was right. She knew too that her family would wage war to ensure her release. She also knew her value as a hostage, and was quietly confident that while she might have to surrender her freedom - temporarily, at least - she would be treated well, in a manner suitable to her station.

 

[Powerdog16]

The Prince of Thieves gave a hearty laugh as he heard the Prince thank his sister for her sacrifice. He heard the other men mimic his reaction as well as the PoT turned and looked at his new prize and spoke in their native tongue, "I know your language too, your highness."

He got up and turned towards the stunned duo and knew exactly what was going through their minds. How could a vagabond such as he know a noble's language? He looked down at the boy and said, "And I thought that the Prince and future King of the realm were a man... not the boy I see before me!"

He pulled out his dagger and knelt in front of the boy. He could feel the terror grow in each of them as he struggled and she began to plea for his life. He said, "You will live this day, but I never said you would not go untouched." He grabbed the boys' right ear and in a hard flick, sliced it from his face.

The screams of the boys echoed through the forest floor as the men let him go to writhe in agony while the Thief Prince looked towards his prize and said, "Tell him to go... He has the count of 5 to leave my presence or he dies anyways... 5...."