“You have three weeks,” Prince Yernal informed him. “If you’re not back within that timeframe, Jale dies.”

Teal glared from inside his cage. That morning, soldiers had brought a new cage into the hall. It had been placed directly opposite to Teal’s, and it was as large and depressing as his. Jale had been thrust inside and chained to the back wall through the bars.

Prince Yernal stood inside Jale’s cage. The door was locked and he held a dagger with a large blade placed on Jale’s jugular to ensure that Teal was going to do exactly as he was asked. The hall was lined with nervous looking soldiers all armed with their weapons pointed in Teal’s direction. One tall and slender soldier had drawn the short straw for he now stood next to Teal’s cage. It was his job to open Teal’s door to let him out.

“Open the cage and undo his restraints so he can dress,” Prince Yernal ordered the soldier.

Visibly shaking, the soldier obeyed the instructions. He opened the door and edged closer to Teal. The soldier didn’t make eye contact. He leaned down and unlocked the chain on Teal’s ankles. He moved to his neck next. It was smart: the hands were to be last.

Teal however, would not do anything to risk Jale’s life. Finally, his wrists were freed, the chains clanging to the stone floor loudly. The soldier backed away quickly and ducked out of the cage.

Teal stroked his wrists. They were red. The skin rubbed raw in some places.

“Hurry up,” Prince Yernal demanded.

Teal clenched his jaw but after a quick glance at Jale, he snatched the clothing that had been dropped on the ground and dressed himself. When he was done, he took a step forward towards the entrance. It was strange to move with clothing on his body again. The material was much heavier than what he was used to. At least Prince Yernal understood that if he wanted his brother murdered, it wouldn’t happen if Teal froze to death.

“And Teal,” Prince Yernal said, “I want proof that my brother is dead. If you’re not back in three weeks…” He placed the blade firmly on Jale’s neck and a thin line of blood started to emerge.

Teal hissed, but he nodded his understanding.

He strode forward out of the small space that had been his prison, the soldier who had freed him scuttling further back and out of the way. Teal stopped in front of Jale’s cage. His stance was rigid, his muscles twitching, his eyes directly focused on no one else but Prince Yernal. He breathed in deeply through his nose.

“I have your scent, Prince Yernal. If anything happens to Jale, I will hunt you down and enjoy delivering the slowest of deaths to you.”

For a fraction of a second, fear flashed across Prince Yernal’s face. “I am in charge, Teal,” he whispered. “Go!”

Teal suspected he had tried to make it an order, but he had failed. Non the less, he gave one last look to Jale, turned and sprinted out of the hall and into the freezing night.

>>

The world was so open and expanse after the confines of the cage. The cold air burned his lungs as he raced out the courtyard doors left open for his departure, and into the forest that surrounded Prince Yernal’s castle and estate. Freedom coursed through every cell in his body.

Teal stopped and took one last look at the castle. Seeing it from the outside for the first time, he noted it was much larger than he had suspected. The hall in which he was being kept as prisoner was a building attached to the castle by an enclosed corridor.

He didn’t have time to ponder about the Keglan design of castles though. He had been informed of where to find Prince Weston and now, despite having been cooped up for over a month, he was forced to exert and push himself to his limits to complete his task. He started to sprint, disappearing into the snow-covered forest.

The journey would take at least ten days to arrive. He was a killer, a predator and a hunter. But just because he was those things, didn’t mean he was without reason. Murdering Prince Weston would surely destabilize the Keglar Kingdom even more. It would push Prince Yernal even closer to the throne and without Prince Weston trying to keep him inline, Teal did not have a good feeling for the people of the Keglar Kingdom.

>>

A vicious wind blew the sleet in such a forceful manner it was near horizontal. It pelted into Teal’s skin with painful jabs as if he was being stabbed by a sharp dagger over and over again. He climbed up the side of the castle tower with his eyes nearly closed. His hair was plastered to his head and face, and his fingers and toes ached from the freezing conditions.

Teal climbed over the stone banister of the tower balcony, the darkness coveting his movements. In front of him, twin glass doors were closed, the inside protected by thick curtains that hung to keep in the warmth. There was the tiniest of gaps between the material, and Teal could see the soft glow of light coming through the break.

He tested the door handle and as he suspected, it was unlocked. Very few locked their balcony doors when their personal rooms were so high at the top of a tower. The handle completed its turn, he pushed the door gently and Teal stepped inside.

It was a homely scene. A fire burned on the opposite side of the room, creating a warm and safe ambience so contradictory to the heavy mood that Teal had brought with him. A large cat was curled in a ball on the thick rug in front of the fire fast asleep.

A man with black hair greying at the temples, sat at a dark, carved wooden desk. His head startled up as the cold breeze came in with him. A flicker of surprise and then resignation covered his face, as if at some point he had been expecting this.

“So, my brother has sent you here to murder me, has he?”

The man turned and Teal caught the signet on his chest signifying his position.

“Prince Weston?” he asked to be sure. His eyes darted around the room, ever the hunter.

“Yes,” he sighed. “I thought I would have more time, but it looks like Prince Yernal is one step ahead of me.”

Teal stepped further into the room, quickly taking in more of its arrangements. Prince Weston was a tidy man who immediately reminded him of Emperor Rathner. His scrolls and books were neatly organised despite being piled on the desk and on the floor beside him.

“Do you know who I am?” Teal asked.

“You are the Lombock that my brother kidnapped from Emperor Rathner, may he walk peacefully with his ancestors,” Prince Weston added. “I have been sending word to my brother to return you to the Talbecan Empire but he has ignored me, and unfortunately, my time has been taken up by my father’s death and my other brother’s mysterious illness.”

Teal walked across the room and stopped in front of Prince Weston’s desk, dripping water along the floor. It seeped quickly into the rugs leaving dark puddles. Prince Weston lowered his hand to his waist. It wouldn’t matter. Teal was faster and stronger.

“You do look like the vicious warrior that the legends depict,” Prince Weston said, shaking his head. “I never thought that my end would be at the hands of a Lombock.”

“Prince Yernal gave me an elixir to destroy the spell that keeps me in line. What he doesn’t realize is that while it gives me the true hunger of the Lombock, it also gives me a sense of clarity. It has not diminished my intelligence at all.” Teal narrowed his eyes and took a step closer to the desk, and he saw Prince Weston tense. “You are the same prince who escorted Emperor Rathner through your kingdom and to Talbec ten years ago to ensure his safety?”

Prince Weston’s eyes widened. “I did, yes, at my father’s request. Emperor Rathner was a friendly and well-dispositioned man.”

“Do you remember a man called Jale?” Teal asked.

Prince Weston responded straightaway. “I do. He was in the Emperor’s army back then and I know that he was close to the Emperor. I met with them on one or two occasions for diplomatic and trading reasons over the past couple of years.”

Teal nodded. “Prince Yernal is holding Jale as prisoner. Jale is also my lover, and I care for him greatly. Prince Yernal has told me that if I don’t kill you and prove it to him, he will murder Jale.”

Prince Weston sighed and leaned against the chair he was sitting in. “I see your dilemma. I fear this is not going to end well for me then at all.”

Teal took another step towards the desk, and Prince Weston’s hand started to retrieve the sword at his belt.

“I have a question to ask, Prince Weston,” Teal said, and he saw Prince Weston’s hand pause. “Do you want Prince Yernal to rule this kingdom after you’re gone?”

“Not particularly. Not with what he has been doing already.”

Teal smiled. “Then I have another question for you.”

Prince Weston frowned. “What is it?”

“Do you think you can trust me?”

Prince Weston raised an eyebrow.

“I’m going to need your signet, Prince Weston, and… I’m going to need a head.”

>>

Prince Weston walked down the long dark hallway underneath his castle. Of all the ways he had expected his evening to go, making a deal with a Lombock had not been one of them. His heart thumped in his chest. He could only hope he had not made a mistake. Prince Weston tried not to sigh. What choice did he have though?

His two bodyguards walked quietly behind him along with the prison master who was both surprised and delighted at the same time to have the most important person in the kingdom in his presence.

Prince Weston walked past numerous cells but none of the occupants would do. They were either too old, too young, the wrong sex or the wrong stature, or with the wrong hair colour. He reached the third last cell and stopped.

Three men were inside. Two were of equal age to him, same hair colouring and of the same build.

“What are their crimes?” Prince Weston asked.

The prison master flicked through the parchments on his wooden board until he seemed to come to the correct page.

“The one on the left murdered a young boy who stole from him. We are also under the impression that he is responsible for the murder of two other men, two months ago. He matches the description. The other stole money from the Temple of Lashka and gambled it away on women.”

Prince Weston pointed to the first man the cell master had discussed. “He will do. I want him taken to my quarters right now.”

The prison master nearly dropped his board. “He’s a dangerous man, Your Highness. He viciously bashed two guards on his first night here.”

“That’s more than fine,” he said, turning to the prison master. He placed several rubies in his palm. “No matter what happens this evening, this is for your silence on this matter.”

The prison master’s eyes widened, and he dropped to the floor. “Thank you, Your Highness. You have my silence.”

“I mean it,” Prince Weston stated firmly once the prison master had risen to his feet. “The future of the kingdom could depend on it.”

“You have my silence,” the prison master gushed again.

“Knock the man out so we can move him,” Prince Weston ordered the prison master.

Prince Weston turned to his two bodyguards. “We will have to return to my rooms without anyone seeing us with the prisoner. We’ll use the secret tunnels. The two of you are to bear witness to what will happen tonight. I trust both of you with my soul. Tonight, the future of the kingdom rests in your hands just as much as in mine.”

The two bodyguards shared a nervous look, but both bowed deeply in response.

Prince Weston continued, and said, “While I was in my quarters this evening and you were standing guard outside, a visitor came to see me. When you enter, he will still be there. You are not to attack him, is that understood?”

The two bodyguards shared a confused look this time, but they nodded in understanding.

>>

Teal walked straight up to the body, ignoring the shocked and frightened expressions of the two guards who had accompanied Prince Weston.

“This is a good choice,” he stated. “He is very similar. I’ll add some bite marks and take his eyes as well.”

Prince Weston grimaced. “You will do it here?”

Teal looked up at Prince Weston. “Yes, it will add to the illusion of your death. You will have to go into hiding for a while until Jale is free, please remember that. I don’t want to have to complete Prince Yernal’s order to kill you.”

Prince Weston sighed, but he met Teal’s pleading gaze. “I promise. Thank you for sparing my life.”

Teal nodded. He looked at the body on the ground and then turned back to the men. “This could get messy,” he warned.

Prince Weston took a step back and motioned for his guards to do the same.

Teal didn’t wait any longer. He dived down and bit into the prisoner’s neck.

>>

Covered in blood, Teal rose to his feet. He held the prisoner’s head in his hands. It was now full of scratches and the eyes were missing. He had also taken a few bites out of the body for good effect as well.

Prince Weston and his two guards were now standing on the other side of the room, the guards lifting their hands to the swords at their sides as he approached. Teal spoke to them directly.

“Once Prince Weston leaves this room, it will be up to the pair of you to raise the alarm of his supposed death. Until it is time, you must continue to carry on as if he is dead ensuring everyone in the palace also believes it is true.”

They nodded nervously. Teal didn’t think they would argue after what they had seen him do to the prisoner. Even Prince Weston appeared to have lost a shade of colour in his face.

Teal faced him and held out his hand, ignoring that he had blood dripping down the front of his body. Prince Weston only hesitated for a brief moment and then pulled his signet free from his clothes. He placed it in Teal’s palm.

“It might be best to make the room look chaotic, and I would change his clothes into yours.”

Prince Weston nodded. He looked shattered and broken, the enormity of this evening crashing down on him.

“I hope you can free Jale quickly,” he said.

“I hope so too,” Teal responded. He headed towards the door and the balcony. “As soon as I have, I will murder Prince Yernal and your kingdom will be free of him once and for all.”

“Since he has only sought for my demise, I am more than happy for you to do so,” Prince Weston said.

“Good luck, Prince Weston.”

Without waiting for a response, Teal rushed through the door with the head of the prisoner firmly in one hand and Prince Weston’s signet safely in his pocket.

>>

Teal walked into the hall. He had not stopped for the past ten days to return within the three-week notice. His eyes immediately searched for Jale. Jale was still in his cage, and Teal was shocked to see that he had been stripped of his clothes on the upper part of his body revealing his bare chest. He must have been freezing. Scouts must have notified the castle of his approach for Prince Yernal was back inside his cage with a whip in his hand. Jale looked thin, although some of his bruises had faded.

He stood at the top of the hall; head in one hand, Prince Weston’s signet in the other. Teal approached Jale’s cage.

“I did what you asked,” he said and dropped the head on the ground. It thudded onto the stone and rolled to the side, and its empty eye sockets stared straight at Prince Yernal.

“What happened to his eyes?” Prince Yernal asked.

“They are particularly delicious,” Teal responded.

Prince Yernal grimaced.

“Prince Weston’s signet?” he ordered.

Teal held out his hand, revealing the gold pin.

Prince Yernal’s lips turned up and he flicked back his head with a loud high-pitched chuckle. It was a mad display of triumph.

“Good, good,” Prince Yernal stated. “I received news while you were returning that Prince Weston is dead. It is traveling throughout the kingdom right now, but I had to see it to believe it. Get back in your cage.”

Teal hissed. “No.”

Prince Yernal lifted the whip and brought it down hard against Jale’s back. Jale’s eyes flew open in shock at the pain and a cry escaped him.

Teal stormed forward and gripped the bars of the cage. “Stop!”

“I’ll stop when you get back in your cage!” Prince Yernal shouted. His disposition was completely changed. He lifted the whip again and brought it down even harder. This time Jale was prepared for it and while he grimaced, no cry escaped him. He sucked in a loud breath of air and a trickle of saliva escaped his mouth.

Teal screamed in rage, loud and long that echoed around the hall. He turned and walked back into the cage. The sound of the lock turning was the worst sound in the world. How was he ever going to get out of this?