The Second Prince

By Maya King

Everything changed for Prince Rallin Draken the day he received his gift from the gods, for that was the day his older brother Mikah, heir to the throne of Sezaria, was murdered. The second prince grew up knowing he was never destined to rule the kingdom. Now, with his father King Garrin gravely ill, the reality of Rallin's future is becoming unavoidable. That doesn't stop him from sneaking out of the country to meet with the recently crowned Queen Sarra Yurric of Tillia, Rallin's childhood friend and love.

Just thirty years removed from the most brutal war the world has ever seen, Sarra is doing everything in her power to keep the unprecedented period of peace going. However, with the aggressively expanding military of Kardan to the north, led by a mysterious young leader known only as the Black Dragon, war may be coming for her and Rallin both.

The two young rulers with have to adapt and learn what it means to be leaders - and for Sarra, that may include sacrificing the prince she loves for the sake of her kingdom.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Maya King
• Release date: May 24, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386112822

Maya King

Maya King loves light and fun fantasy stories with strong romantic elements. She is a full-time writer who lives in the desert and daydreams of dragons and wizards in her spare time. To be notified of future releases from Maya, you can sign up to the newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bXHz3v

Book preview

Prologue 1

It's not fair, Rallin said in a whining tone.  He's bigger than me.  He doesn't play fair.

Do you think out on the battlefield, your enemies are going to play fair? Gurn asked.  He twirled a practice sword in his hand before pointing it at the small boy.  Even for his age, he was small.  If his older brother was any indication, though, Rallin would be tall and lanky in no time at all, and like their father, he would fill out when he became a man.  Gurn had seen the transformation happen over two generations, and this third and final one would be his last.

There are no battles anymore, Rallin said with a shrug.  Not since grandpa.

You've studied your history well, highness.  It's made your brain big.  But you must do the same with your body.  Although there is peace in this world now, it never lasts.  Do you understand?

Rallin gave a shrug.  He didn't really care either way.  He would never be in the fray of battle.  However, he knew that the simplest way to make practice get over quickly was to face his brother and go another round of sparring.  No matter how much he tried to talk his way out of it, Gurn never let him out of a spar.

Rallin could tell that Mikah enjoyed hitting him with a sword.  His arm was long enough that Rallin could never even get close enough to hit him before Mikah was able to swing his sword around and punish him for even trying.  It made Rallin not want to even try when he knew only a welt and a flash of pain would be his reward.  Mikah was so big, anyway, and he'd had so much practice.  His older brother loved to fight.

Focus on your footwork, Rallin, Gurn ordered.  As if Rallin even knew what that meant.  How could he pay attention to both his feet and his sword?  Despite the older man's orders, Rallin kept his eyes firmly on Mikah.  His older brother was waiting for the younger one to make a move, and so he did.

Rallin let out his biggest battle cry, lunging forward with all of his strength and his rage at Mikah.  His sword grazed just past his brother's side as Mikah neatly stepped out of the path of the attack.  Rallin's momentum carried him forward for a step before a practice sword collided with the back of his head, gonging his skull like a drum.  He fell forward onto the packed dirt, and his teeth snapped together uncomfortably as his chin hit the ground.  His practice sword bounced away from his grasp.  The pain shot through his head, and he rolled onto his back and wrapped two arms around his skull, hissing with pain.  The tears came then, stinging at the edge of his eyes.

Rall, are you okay?

Rallin couldn't open his eyes, but he could sense that Mikah was right next to him.  Mikah pulled Rallin's arms away from his head and looked him over.

You're going to have a bump there, he said, feeling over the back of Rallin's head.  And we're going to have to take you to the infirmary for this, he said, pointing to Rallin's bleeding chin.

Rallin did his best to be strong like they always told him, but the tears spilled from his eyes and ran down his chin.  Still, he did his best not to sob.

Come on, little brother, Mikah said, scooping Rallin into his arms and hefting him away from the training ground.

Prince Mikah, Gurn said in a warning tone.  Your training isn't over yet.  How would your father-

Don't worry about my father, Mikah said, barely looking over his shoulder at the man.  Go on and take a break for the afternoon.

Before Gurn could get another word in, Mikah pushed his way into the side entrance of the castle and hurried to the basement where Pire the doctor usually lurked.  He put Rallin on the examination table and called out to Doctor Pire.  He was in his private room still, despite being nearly noon.  The old man slept more and more in his advanced age, and often only his young apprentice could be found when a doctor was needed.

Did that hurt, Rall? Mikah asked.  He leaned down close to look into Rall's face as he spoke.

Rallin considered lying for a moment.  It would be stronger to insist that it didn't hurt at all.

It's okay, Mikah said.  I know it must have.  You're going to be okay, though.  All of this is making you stronger and stronger by the day.

It really hurt, Rall said.  A fresh round of tears filled his eyes and he sniffed.  He looked away from his older brother in shame.

I know, Mikah said.  He ruffled Rall's hair and let out a sigh.  It's not fair, is it?  You were right earlier.

Why does he make you fight me, then?  Rall sniffed.  I'm never going to be strong enough to beat you.

It's not about beating me, Mikah said in a strange tone.  He was off somewhere else for a moment.  One day, you will be strong enough to beat me.  But you won't.  Instead, you will lead my army, and you will beat all my enemies.  How does that sound?

Rallin shrugged.  I don't want to fight anyone.  We don't have any enemies anyway.  Grandpa defeated them all.

Mikah laughed.  You sure are smart, aren't you?

Rallin grinned at the compliment.  He gave a nod.  The tears were beginning to subside.

Well, that's what will make you a good military leader.  You're right in a way.  Grandpa defeated the Kardans when they invaded.  He pushed them back out of the country.  We don't have to worry about them anymore, do we?

Nope, all thanks to grandpa, Rallin said.  We live in a time of peace.

But what if the Kardans want their revenge?  They were almost successful in taking the kingdom.  The made it all the way to the capital.  It was only thanks to support from the Tillian Kingdom that we were able to survive and push them out.

Rallin thought through the answer for a moment.  What if the Kardans came back?  Would he have to fight them?  They would be using real swords, and they would try to kill him.

I don't know, Rallin answered honestly.  There was worry on his face, the kind that eight-year-old children shouldn't have carried.  We can get the help of the Tillians again, can't we?

Perhaps, Mikah said.  But we had a temporary alliance.  There's no telling whether or not they would come to our aid again.  King Jorra is gone, and now King Salan rules.  And if he has a son, then he will rule next.

Rallin was quiet.  He didn't like the thought of any of it.  Well, when you're king, you can just not go to war, right?

Mikah laughed.  If only it were that easy.

The doctor emerged from his quarters, looking perturbed at having his rest interrupted.  Mikah folded his arms.

The prince needs tending to, he said. 

Honestly, Pire said with a scoff.  You two are in here every other week.  Can you ask that Gurn sees to not harming the princes so often?

That's far easier said than done, Mikah said.  You know Gurn.  And father.

Pire rolled his eyes dramatically as he began to clean the wound under Rall's chin.  The boy flinched in pain at the serum that Pire applied.

Your father was just as bad.  I saw him here twice as much as you two combined.  If anything, you two are a relief.

Mikah laughed and watched Rallin being tended to.  He gave his brother a pat on the shoulder as Pire pressed gauze to the wound.  The show of affection elicited a grin from the younger prince despite the pain.

Keep this on here until the bleeding stops.  It's just a scrape, so it should be fine by the end of the day.  Try not to talk or laugh too much while it's healing, and under no circumstances should you be practicing sword fighting for the next week.  Gurn can come to me if he wants to argue, and I'll give him a taste of my cane.

The brothers shared a glance, and neither of them doubted the doctor's words.  Mikah helped Rallin down off the table and the two left the infirmary.

Did you hear that, Rall? Mikah asked with a grin.  No training for a week.  Lucky you.

Rallin wanted to grin, but his chin hurt too much.  The pain would be worth it for an entire week without training, though.

A week without training had sounded like a miracle to Rallin, but then his father had come to him with even better news. 

Rallin, you and I will be traveling to Tillia together.  Do you know where that is?

That's the kingdom to the northeast.  They helped us during the invasion.  It's where King Salan lives.

Well, I suppose that tutor of yours has taught you something, at least.  Yes, King Salan and his daughter Princess Salan rule over Tillia, the king said. 

Does this mean we're at war again? Rallin asked.  Do we need their help?

No, nothing of the sort, King Garrin spoke in a comforting tone.  They are our allies, and we are going to visit them.  It's called diplomacy.

Is Mikah going, father?

Mikah will stay here to guard the castle.  He's the strongest of us, isn't he?

Mikah isn't stronger than you, father.  You have your gift.

The king's face was pained.  Rall felt a hitch in his chest for mentioning it, though he didn't know why it was a sore subject.

Yes, well, he'll receive his gift very soon.  Nothing to worry about.

Despite the king's words, Rallin could sense that he was worrying very much about it.  He didn't question him any further about the topic so as not to put his father through any more pain.

––––––––

The day of departure came quickly.  Rallin stood around the carriage for a long time, watching as everything was loaded in to the three carts.  He watched the horses being attached to the carriages and wandered to their stableman.

Is it going to be a long journey? Rallin asked the man.  He was always kind to Rall whenever the boy wanted to pet the horses, so he knew he wasn't being a bother.

Dorn the stableman turned and smiled at him.  Yes, quite long.  Tillia is far away.

Won't the horses get tired? Rallin asked with worry as he looked over the carriage.  These look heavy.

Dorn got a good laugh from it.  You're kind for worrying, highness.  No, these horses are strong.  Mulnian beasts.  They'll make the trip just fine.  Allek will treat them right and give them good meals along the way.

Allek the driver of the prince's cart, peered over the horse he was attaching to the cart and gave Rallin a nod.

Now, Rallin, do you have everything you need? Dorn asked, squatting down to be closer to his eye level.  You won't be back for a long while.  Better make sure you packed everything.

I... Rallin began.  Worry set into his stomach.  What if he had forgotten something important?  His servants had put all his clothes in a trunk for him, but there were other things he would have liked to bring along.

Go ask your father, why don't you? Dorn suggested.

Rallin ran off back into the castle courtyard to find his father.  The king, dressed in his finest clothes, was speaking with Gurn, however.  Rallin could see even from where he was standing that they were discussing a very serious matter, and he didn't want to interrupt.  He would have to return to his room on his own to make sure he had everything he needed to last him through this long journey. Rall looked around to make sure that no one would stop him and scold him before he darted back through the opened main door of the castle.  Then he set his sights for the northwest tower, where his quarters - and most importantly his toys - were located.

Rallin got through the castle without anyone noticing him.  It was simple when most of the help was outside filling the caravan with everything they would need for their coming journey.  He would have free reign to look over each one of his toys and judge its worthiness to be taken across the land.

Rall opened up the fine wooden box that housed all his toys.  The box had been built by an uncle who had devoted his life to woodworking - as the sixth son, they had little use for him at the castle, and so instead of taking a position on the king's council or becoming a member of the unused military, Uncle Haman had turned to the arts instead.  Rallin always enjoyed when Haman came to the castle to visit, as he always had a gift for the young prince.  Rallin surveyed his box of treasures, relieved that he hadn't left any of them behind before leaving to Tillia.

He picked up his fire-breathing dragon and his water dragon, both favorites of his that had suffered a spattering of chips in their wooden bodies from the battles they had waged many times over.  Princess Sarra would surely be impressed by the detail on the dragons.  Each scale had been carved into the dark wood.  Each tooth and claw had been sharp and pointy and delicate - except for the one that had been knocked off the water dragon's left paw during a particularly rigorous fight.  Perhaps Rallin would give one of his dragons to Sarra, he thought for a moment, before regret filled him for not being able to visit Haman in time to request something specifically for Sarra.  He reached into the box and pulled out a mermaid that he had rarely used.  He figured a girl would like it more than he did.

Rallin's attention was drawn from his wooden figures as shouts began to ring out through the castle.  Someone was crying out in severe pain.  Rall clutched the figures against his chest as he went to the window to examine what was happening.  He peered out to the front of the castle, where the servants were stood still looking off to the left.  Rallin followed their gazes, but from where he was stood, he couldn't see the source of the sounds.  Curiosity had gotten the better of him, though, and so he rushed out of his room and went to a main hall to try to get a better view.

He wasn't supposed to go out onto any of the balconies, but the horror was beginning to sink in as he realized who the source of those screams was.  It sounded like his brother, and he feared that Mikah might need help.  He pushed open the door to the west balcony and peered over the side.  Stories below, Mikah was on the ground with Gurn looming over him.  Rallin watched in horror as Mikah tried to crawl away, but Gurn continued to beat him with a practice sword.  He could see that the packed dirt of the training ground had already been stained red with blood.

Rallin dropped his toys.  He had never felt this kind of anger before in his life.  He had been betrayed.  Gurn was beating his brother without mercy, and Rall wasn't going to stand by and let it happen.

Stop that! he shouted before hoisting himself up on the ledge and jumping over the edge.

He landed on Gurn feet first, kicking him out of the way.  The instructor was sent flying across the practice ground before Rallin was able to land safely beside his brother.  In the back of his mind he knew that it wasn’t natural to be able to jump so far down and control the way his body fell, but he couldn’t focus on that just yet.

Mikah, Rallin spoke.  He was afraid to even touch him.  The way Mikah looked at him now was odd, even.  Never had Rall seen such fear in his brother's eyes. 

Rallin turned around on the packed dirt and shouted for his father.  He would know what to do.  He was surprised to see his father and mother standing right there in the arched entrance.  The queen had her hand over her mouth, covering her shock.  The king's face was oddly blank, on the other hand.  Rallin couldn't understand why they were simply standing there and staring.

Father? he yelled once again.

Mikah was making a pathetic groaning noise beside him.  Finally, their father seemed to understand what was happening.  He stepped forward and grabbed onto Rallin.  He picked the small boy up in his arms in a way that he hadn't done in a long time.

It's going to be okay, my son, he said in a small, comforting tone.  Rallin breathed a sigh of relief.  Let's get you into the carriage.  Wait there while I take care of this.

Will Gurn be killed? Rall asked.  They had just passed by him, where he was groaning on his back.  Rallin hadn't meant to kick him.  He hadn't meant for any of that to happen.  He looked up to the balcony where he had dropped his toys, far above him on the west balcony.  It was so far up, and he had jumped down without a problem.  Only a year earlier, he had fallen from a tree and never had he felt worse pain.  None of this was making sense.  He wondered if he was dreaming now.

His father had taken him to the carriage without an answer to his questions.  Rall sat in the seat at his father's orders.

I'm going to take care of this.  Don't move from this place.  We'll be leaving shortly.

We're still leaving? Rallin asked.  But Mikah-

Don't move from this place, the king repeated.  His blue eyes were serious, and his bearded mouth formed every word with emphasis.  Rallin knew that there would be no more arguing without punishment.

Rallin watched as his father latched the door of the carriage closed.  He pressed his face to the window as his father disappeared through the arched entrance to the training grounds.  He couldn't see anything else.  Rallin lost interest in the unchanging scene after a few minutes and instead turned his attention inward.  He opened up his palms like he had been taught and closed his eyes.  His lips moved as he whispered a quiet prayer to the gods for his brother's return to health.

Prologue 2

The journey to Tillia had taken weeks, and despite the handful of servants, including the tutor, who had come along, Rallin had grown bored and restless.  The weeks stretched on impossibly long until he could barely even remember what his normal life had been like.  There was no more practicing his sword in the afternoon and no more formal dinners with his family every night.  In fact, his mother and brother had stayed behind, and so Rallin had only his father.

Something about the king had changed, Rallin had noticed.  He had always been kind to Rallin before, of course, but now there was something different in his tone each time he addressed the prince.  He was giving him the kind of serious looks that he usually reserved for Mikah, and sometimes he spoke about very serious matters along the journey that often went so far over Rallin's head, the boy couldn’t be sure there had even been a point.  Still, Rall did his best to listen and consider his father's words.  He wondered if Mikah also went on a journey like this with their father when he was Rall's age.  Perhaps this meant that Rallin was stepping up and becoming a man so that one day he could serve as Master of Military for his brother.  He didn't like the idea still, but he never once complained to his father.

Tillia was