UNTITLED: A Short Story

By J.L. Shojosh

A young prince, heir to the Tiego throne is approached by a sorcerer. The odd fellow presents the prince with a solution to his dilemma but for what seems like a measly price. Has anyone ever known life to be so convenient? Is Prince Majes truly willing to relinquish his title for love?

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.L. Shojosh
• Release date: Sep 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463447161

J.L. Shojosh

I hope to show the universal humanity inherent in all of us. There's more that we as humans have in common with one another than the differences that sometimes pit us against each other. Through stories, I hope to highlight a few of those commonalities. Love conquers all.

Book preview

Untitled

A

Short Story

¬=¬

I

The times were unsettling. The four kingdoms in the peninsular had not known peace in decades, with many being born and dying without having known anything else attached to living than the notion of survival. Few there remained with the courage to still live in the country side, as most farmers and smiths, and sundry trade-workers found themselves clustered within the fortified cities, on plateaus and hilltops, across the Kingdom of Tiego.

The landlocked tiny kingdom of Tiego, in this non-aligned conflict, had long been considered the underdog in the forty two year old war. Yet the main city of Kin had used all manner of covert tactics and asymmetrical-warfare and was as yet conquered, at least not in full. Still more, the tiny lion-hearted kingdom had had a tenth of its land deprived, as Tiego would gradually lose out to Braza’s encroachment. But in all, the pragmatic thinking Tiegots had tended to have always been a step ahead of the rest, often, they’d played the three other kingdoms off against each other, when backed against the wall. The Dark War was now in its third wave, with two broken treaties hanging over the heads of the citizenry of all four kingdoms.

Meanwhile, on a smaller scale, in the city of Kin, within the north tower of the palace, the hour long commotion had calumniated into the screams of an older servant-maid. Above her stood two youths, still in their nightly-rags, as their shimmering blades, the cold steel swords’ coming together had let out an agonizing screeching sound, as the blades sharpened each other. Finally, the taller figure of the pair had thrust his heel onto his opponent’s chest, acrobatically, as he’d leaped back and still pushed his sword up, against the others’. He’d sent the smaller opponent reeling back to a rough landing.

That’s enough!

An old man barely stood before them, his cane had wobbled uncontrollably.

Prince Majes, you know full well what your father thinks about such brutish upheavals. Such mannerisms are strictly reserved for the training sessions in the courtyard or-

-or in battle…

Prince Majes had gone on to tauntingly interrupt.

"You ok? He’d finally turned to the maid, as she pouted her mouth and simmered in frustration, having been made to spill all of the spoiled bratty prince’s breakfast onto the maroon carpet, which draped the wide and cleanly aerated hallways.

Your highness…

Another fellow, a youth not much older than he, would run up the steps and call out to him.

Your father requests your presence in the war room.

Well, Vade, you heard the man.