Dragon’s Empire – 1. Curse of the younger Prince. Natalie Yacobson

flinched and moved away from the window.

      I plunged into meditation and woke up only when the hostess put two plates with hot meat before us. I was hungry, but I was waiting until Claude begins to eat the first. However, he didn’t touch the food.

      «How do we explain the disappearance of the knights and the messenger?» He suddenly asked.

      «So let’s say that they threw us,» I replied, although I have long been tormented by doubts about this.

      «They didn’t think to throw us in the dense forest,» said Claude. «They were the most loyal knights of the father. They would never have broken his order.»

      «In this case, I can not explain their disappearance of anything else, except…»

      «The intervention of witchcraft,» finished Claude for me.

      «That’s it, but everyone knows that witchcraft is limited to those focus, which are shown on holidays in the cities.

      «As you know,» Claude blurted out in response.

      The tavern’s door opened. The gust of the cold wind swept over the tables and threw the snowflakes to me in the face. There were several armed warriors on the threshold. I noticed on the shield of one of them the same coat of arms of the baron as on a messenger’s clothes. I looked at the coat of arms attentively, there were intertwined branches of the thorns, roses and other plants, the baron crown at the top, and under it several scrolls. However, I could not admire the coat of arms for a long time, the guard moved to us and after ordinary polite bows, reported about the desire of the baron to thank us personally. We had to say goodbye to a cozy tavern. The fortress, the black silhouette of which has fallen over the distant hill, was the place of our overnight.

      Treasure of Baron Raoul

      The castle was dark and deserted. Daily light barely pierced through narrow windows – loopholes and brightly colored stained glass windows. The servant held us through the spacious hall and guests’ rooms. In the rectangular hall there were tables for a feast, but there were no guests on this feast. All places at the tables were empty, except the chair with a high carved back, set in dangerous intimacy from the melted fireplace.

      From the chair, the old man rose to meet us. White curled strands relate to the collar. Wrinkling hand reached my face. I thought the baron is relatively young, and he turned out to be a memorable elder. He hugged me welcome as a son.

      «Welcome, winner of the wild boar!» He whispered in my ear.

      I was confused, pre-thought-out words of greetings were frozen in my tongue. I did not think that someone from the feudal will take me in his castle as an old friend. The only thing that the winner could count is, so it is an ordinary dinner arranged from the need. And the court etiquette did not allow the manifestations of any feelings at all.

      The baron suggested us to take places at the main table. All other chairs remained empty. There was no guest on the feast, except for us. Only servants poured wine in glasses and immediately retired.

      «Baron… Your lordship,» I looked into his bright, radiant eyes and I forgot how to turn to the baron. But his face was glowing such a serene wisdom that I was unable to take my eyes away from him, and was silent.

      «Call me just Raoul, Your Highness,» he pretended to not notice my mistake, and I was grateful for it. At the court, such a behavior of the prince would immediately cause condemnation and gossip. In the royal castle, not only noblemen, but even the servants constantly looking for the topic of gossip. After all, that may be more interesting than learn the latest news about the sons of your monarch, and about him himself.

      At the empty table, Claude clearly felt uncomfortable and wary looked around, hoping that my unfortunate behavior did not attract a special attention. The position of the prince is very difficult. I did not have the right to make friends, could not hide in the shadows, as the peasants hid from the wild boar in their huts. The baron’s eyes spoke about that he understands me and admires me.

      «You showed an amazing valor,» said he with courtesy. «None of my people for any reward would have decided to approach the wild boar. And you defeated it alone.»

      «No, my brother was with me,» I hurriedly objected.

      Claude looked at me with displeasure.

      «As you know, in our dynasty, the younger sons were always shy, milord,» he explained with cold courtesy. «I managed to get to the place of the battle, just that moment when Edwin beheaded the wild boar.

      Such a lie from a calm and balanced Claude struck me. I almost dropped a glass of wine from the hands. To keep his impeccable reputation, he decided on a lie. The baron nodded restrained, thereby showing that he unconditionally believed him, and turned to me again.

      «You are doubly bold, my prince. After all, my messenger must have explained to you which superstitions are common among the locals. You must be surprised that I sent for help to the court, but, as you can see, I myself am too old for such fun, like a winter hunting. In addition, at the courtyard there are fearless knights, you are a proof of that, and my people are afraid of everything that goes beyond their understanding. Perhaps most peasants are too afraid of this because of their illiteracy. Even the books in my library seem to them the work of magicians.»

      «Do you have a library?» I asked. Talking about local superstitions began to scare me, because I remembered those creatures in the gorge and the statue.

      «Oh, the rarest books are collected in my library. I have manuscripts written in the ancient languages, the works of philosophers and scientists,» wrinkled, but still very strong baron’s hand reached for a bundle of keys left on the table. «Do you enjoy reading books, your highness?»

      «Honestly, I don’t know how to read very well,» after hesitation, I admitted and felt a thick paint poured my cheeks. I could not say such a wise and a steady senior that almost didn’t know the alphabet’s letters, but I practice a shooting and fencing every day. However, baron Raoul without words understood the reason for my embarrassment.

      «Oh yes, the ability to fight with sword is valued above the diplomas,» he agreed. «In young years it was difficult for me to find time for enlightenment. I dare to notice, in military sciences you have surpassed your predecessors.»

      «I assure you, another knight in my place would have done the same thing,» I looked around the empty places again.

      «The guests went out, as soon as they found out about the wild boar,» the baron replied to an unexpressed question.

      «And your heir?» I asked and myself was surprised at my audacity. Do I have the right to put in other people’s affairs, because I noticed that baron’s children are not in the castle.

      «My son died a few years ago,» answered the baron. The intonation of his voice seemed to me strange.

      «How did he die?» I immediately asked, but this time my question remained unanswered.

      For the night, we were allocated the best apartments connected by adjacent doors. The idea that Claude sleeps behind the door, encouraged me. If it were not for the presence of a brother, then in this empty, an impregnable fortress I would feel like in a trap.

      In the bedroom burned a few candles. The windows were pulled with heavy curtains, so the moonlight did not penetrate into the room. A jug and a glossy basin for washing stood next to the mirror. In the air was the heavy aroma of amber and some kind of incense. From such a strong mixing of the smells my head was spinning. Probably, only sorcerers can burn such fragrant oils and candles in their secret laboratories. I imagined the dungeon, many ancient books, magic things and curves mirrors. Young students of the warlocks mix poisons and potions, prepare magic elixirs and kneeling before books in precious salary before opening them. Voices coming out of emptiness are heard. Where does this vision come from. I stubbornly shook my head.