The foreigner answers, "I am sorry my prince. Your father has spies everywhere."
The prince asks, "Even here in Veru'Vada?"
The foreigner answers, "No, but in the castle of Riatin and in strategic locations where he expects Prince Nalon to be found."
Prince Nalon walks to the edge of the road and looks out over the fields. He squints his eyes. "So, Kolim, are we finished?"
Kolim stops and puts his hand on the prince's shoulder. "No, my prince. Only delayed. Your father is doing what he can to ensure your brother gets the throne. He will kill you if he finds you but he still expects you to try for your brother's throne. He would never predict this ploy for the throne of Riatin. His spies are in military installations to keep you from raising an army. His spies are not in slave markets to keep you out of a queen's bedchamber."
Prince Nalon laughs and they resume walking. "So all we have to do is wait for a chance to kill the king of Riatin. My son will be too young to rule and the queen will appoint me regent. She prefers me over her husband anyway."
Kolim says, "Yes, but we must proceed with caution. If you show up at the castle as a prince, your father will kill you. If anyone suspects your infidelity with the queen, the king of Riatin will kill you. You must stay in disguise."
Prince Nalon shudders, "I wish it could be otherwise. Can you think of any disguise other than a slave?"
"No, my prince."
Prince Nalon stops walking. Then he puffs up his chest and sighs and resumes walking. "Very well but I will tell you how we are to proceed. You will enter the service of Riatin, something domestic that keeps you away from the military portions where my father's spies are. You will take me in as your slave but then sell me to the king as a domestic slave. Try to position me in the bedchamber. They will then dress me in a uniform that will cause the spies to not look at me. It will also position me to be ready when the time comes for the king to die."
"It is a risky plan but I believe it will succeed, my prince."
"But if it is to succeed, you must stop calling me prince."
Copyright 2000 - 2025 21 x 20 Media All rights reserved. This site is property of 21 x 20 Media
All Writing.Com images are copyrighted and may not be copied / modified in any way. All other brand names & trademarks are owned by their respective companies.
Generated in 0.16 seconds at 5:59pm on Feb 02, 2025 via server WEBX1.
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
More by this author
