Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-3293219-20141207202844/@comment-5735114-20141209013042

The royal duo continued to sit in their thrones for the majority of an uneventful day, much like the days that had recently preceeded it. Summerset Isles, it seemed, was hibernating. With that in mind, the Prince exused himself from nobody in particular and left the throne room to step into something of a shabby room. The King had requested the throne room be moved to a cave near to avoid attracting attention. Once he was outside the cave, the Prince sighed at his father's paranoia.

But he had more pressing matters to attend to. Just outside of the cave was a miniscule garden, consisting of merely a few flowers. They weren't particularly extravagant, and Adagio had often considered torching them as target practice. However, the butterflies that flocked around them calmed his father when he was outside, so the Prince refrained. A few feet left of the cave mouth, which was boarded up by a loose wooden door, there lay a small stone that was cut into the shape of a perfect cube.

Walking up to this cubic rock, the Prince took out a small ornamental dagger he hid beneath his robes. It reminded him of a better time; it was an Ebony Dagger, with the hilt plated in gold. The blade was enchanted with a weak flame, making it warm to the touch. Its warmth brought him hope, but he was glad it wasn't a full-out flame. With a shaky hand, he slit his pinky finger on his off hand.

Thought I'd have gotten used to it by now, thought Adagio bitterly.

A single drop of blood dripped on the cubic rock, and was briefly illuminated with glowing orange runes. They appeared and were gone in a second, making it impossible what any of them meant. It would take lots of time and blood to decrypt it, but that's not why he was out here. After the runes disappeared, Adagio quickly healed the wound with a basic healing spell. After tarrying outside a bit longer, longingly looking towards Alinor, the Prince went back into the cave and sat himself upon his throne.

A few paces away from the monarchs' thrones stood two beds; large, comfortable, and exuisitely decorated. They were recovered from the palace in Alinor after the attack. The two said good night to each other, a gleam of fear in the King's eyes, a dull disapproval in the Prince's. Soon, both of them were asleep.

Adagio was awoken by a sharp pain in his hand, and he worked hard to stifle his surprised yell. The first time he'd attempted this, he'd accidentally woken the King as well, and he had fearful fits in his sleep and waking moments for the next three days. Since then, the Prince had been a lot more careful, though he could still never get used to the odd form of wake-up call.

"They couldn't just... nudge me on the shoulder or something?" muttered the Prince as he donned his robes, and a bloodred cloak over them. He shuffled out of the cave in total silence, the cool night air chilling him more than it should have.

"You summoned us," came a grizzly voice from the darkness. "What is it you need?"

"I need a status report. It's that time of week again."

"Ah, yes... I'd almost forgotten. Well, it's been another fantastic week on Adamantines vs. Beumanics. Lots of blood and gore and charred corpses, though I'm sure you're not interested in that..."

"Get to the point," said the Prince sharply.

"Forgive me for indulging in these tragedies, my Prince," mocked the voice, "But I can report that the Adamantines held off Beumanic soldiers at Windhelm. I don't know how much longer their hold over the city would last, it was a close fight... with so much blood spilled, all over the place..."

The Prince growled.

"Oh, calm down, will you? Not all of us get to enjoy ruling the Isles, you know. We common folk must find our pleasures elsewhere."

"Well, take your pleasures to Windhelm. I don't want the Empire taking control of it too."

"As you command, my Prince," said the voice with a chuckle.

"Now get out of my sight," said the Prince, turning away to reenter the cave.

"Don't you know? I already am." With those closing words, the owner of the voice disappeared with a dull red glow.

After he was gone, Adagio shook his head slowly and sighed. "Who I've been reduced to working with..." he murmured, as he shuffled his way back to his bed.