Daughters, Swords &Dragons

Ara sat in the prison looking haggard, he was being interrogated like a mere criminal without leniency.

Before him all his food from the royal concubine sat decaying untouched.

He reeked of sweat and he had minor bruises on his body.

His brothers Myth, Kael, Lael, Tyr and Lir gasped in horror at the sight of him. "This is...this is..." Lir stammered.

"Horrible..."Myth whispered "How could they do this to a prince without proper interrogation! who dared! show me the person let me decapitate him."

A disturbing chuckle vibrated in Ara's throat "The Emperor."

His answer made their breaths catch "Father would never do such a thing!" Kael protested.

Lir gritted his teeth in disbelief "I refuse to believe father would do this to his own child!"

The cackle that escaped Ara's lips shook this dark cell "You really think he cares? Son? to him I'm nothing but a lowly criminal who tried to overthrow him..."

"He jumped into conclusions without even bothering to investigate. He tortured me when I would never do such a despicable thing."

Tears dropped from his eyes streaking his cheeks to chin "But I forgive him, because I believe in family, I believe that we can be a happy family if we tried, I just wish he trusted me. I would never...hurt my own family." he sobbed using his palm to wipe his tears, "sorry... I'm pathetic."

Lir held the rusted cell bars "Don't worry we will get you out."

Ara shook his head "No. I don't want you to get involved in any way. I've been stripped of my title as crown prince. This is your chance, Myth, to correct my wrongs to rule Silverston as a good Emperor someday. I failed. I hope you don't."

Myth truly couldn't understand why the Emperor would suspect Ara of all the princes of such a thing, Ara was the kindest person he knew. "I will still try for you." Myth assured him.

"Try and eat something the empress prepared a meal." he dropped a lunch box.

As soon as the prince's left roriath appeared and Ara wiped his tears "You have a lot of gall coming here."

A cruel smile drew on Ara's lips "You betray me then you waltz in here to gloat?"

Roriath frowned "What is your motive really. You pretend to be a fool to some, kind to most and a devil to few, why do you have so many faces?"

Ara's neck itched with irritation "Did you come here to ask me that? fine I'll tell you, my true face. My father doesn't care if I die, my mother doesn't remember my existence apart from wishing me a quick death, my brothers only like me because they think I'm a fool, while my stepmother plots to kill me in my sleep so her son will rule."

"Is this enough for you?" Ara turned his back to roriath "Your scared."

The hair stood on roriath's neck goosebumps gathered his arms "I'm the one within a cell, being tortured, my stepmother keeps sending me inedible food and I will be banished in a few days after the ceremony."

He used a stick to write invisible words on the concrete wall "Yet, you are the one shaking in your boots, do you know why roriath?..."

His smirk was terrifying "Because your thinking. I can end you with a few words of mine, the Emperor has no friends or family if he can do this to his own son you're thinking…"

Ara looked at him over his shoulder "What will he do me, If his majesty knows that a sorcerer cured your wife?"

Roriath gulped keeping his stance he wouldn't let Ara intimidate him "I am loyal to his majesty I will not be swayed by the likes of you."

"You're wondering why haven't I ratted you out?" Ara chuckled with amusement at the fear in roriath's eyes "Because even though you are outside this cell, you're the one in my cage. I'm still winning this game, you are worried and you have every right to be."

His eyes turned into dark cold silts "You better kill me Roriath, because if I make it out alive of Silverston empire, You are as good as a dead man."

"Again, I will remind you, it is the dragon's help you need, your highness. Regar?" he called.

Regar strutted in "Arrange the prince for his last royal banquet as crown prince, his majesty is kind enough to let you celebrate one last time as crown prince before your banishment I trust you won't do anything utterly foolish."

Ara sighed with a silly smile "Foolishness is my forte roriath you make my role terribly difficult."

The conversation caused roriath discomfort, he was left feeling uneasy.

Everything was going too smoothly for a diabolical mastermind like Ara, it almost seemed surreal. He had expected so much he would just have to adjust his plans.

Regar got the keys to the prison and he had unwanted company.

The third royal concubine stood outside his cell a horrific look on her face "My, I must be popular today." Ara stretched with grace looking at her.

Hypocritical tears fell from her eyes "I didn't want to believe it."

He too didn't want to believe it as well "This is too cruel."

Now was not the right time for his manipulative lover to be here, but with how desperate she is to come to his cell she must be trying to reveal their relationship.

This was bad, if the Emperor found out he was sleeping with his concubine right now, he would put his head on a spike.

The woman knew it as well a victorious smile hid behind her deceptive sob.

After all if he died kael her son would be become second in line to the throne.

One less candidate. Stretching his muscles even more knowing his enemies were countless he faced the wall and shut his eyes taking a deep patient breath as if in prayer, Regar held back a smile.

This way even spies would think she was talking to her self if she pulled any stunts. "Ridiculous your tricks won't save you, your highness I hope you leave Silverston safely." she curtsied and retreated.

He chewed his inside cheek "Cunning woman."