Chapter 3 LOVE OR CROWN

A wave of nausea washed over Prince Elian Machingtosh as he clenched his head. His shirt was torn and soaked with blood. His hunting wounds from the previous day has opened again, seeping blood all over. He has just escaped death from an orchestrated ambush by the Kasanjes, the people of a neighboring kingdom. He watched his people spelled, slain and butchered. What was supposed to be a banquet in respect of a peace treaty made decades, ago turned into a massacre. Prince Elian drags his feet, as he walks towards the great physician tent in Silla Kingdom.

Silla Kingdom was his home, his birthright and same was the throne of Estoria, but both have been stolen from him in one night. The pounding in his head increased so much he thought his head will burst out. He quickened his pace.

"We were deceived..." he said the minute he walked into the tent.

Endora, the physician dressed in all white turned quickly towards him in shock.

"Everyone is dead..." He continued, breathing raspy.

"How did this happen?" She asked wearily.

"They laced our drinks and food. How I survived, I don't know". He explained as he plopped heavily on a chair in the tent.

Endora moved closer to Elian to examine his wounds.

"It must have been the elixir you took for your hunting wounds we have been tendering". She explained.

Elian sobs, not feeling the least grateful.

"I watched my parents and people butchered and did nothing." he moaned.

"The Kasanjes want to keep their reins on the throne of Estoria. I should have known that a King as greedy and ambitious as King Markevius would want the throne of Estoria for himself". She said bitterly as she leaves him, in search of an elixir to tend to his open wounds.

She walks back towards him, with a bowl in her hand containing the concoction she has prepared for his wounds. "The gods have saved you." She says, taking a closer look at his wounds. "With the King of Silla now dead, you're the next emperor to assume the throne of Estoria". She dips her other hand into the bowl, brings it out and places it on his wounds "They'll be furious you escaped".

Elian hisses in pain as she applies the concoction on his wounds. "I want vengeance." He finally says out.

Endora shakes her head at him, "Not like this, the Sillans are at their weakest right now. We can't go to war".

Elian pushes her hand away and gets up angrily, "So I should sit and do nothing or rather go into hiding since my life is in danger?" He shouts.

"Prince Elian..."She calls calmly, "how do you plan to go against the Kasanje kingdom with half of our army already dead?"

Elian breathes heavily in silence.

"I know you're upset, but you're the only surviving son of King Mackingtosh. The crowned prince of Silla..."

"And if I go into hiding, who takes care of Silla?" Elian cuts her off. "Who takes care of my little sisters?"

"Your widowed Aunt and her son can take care of the affairs here for the time you'll be away". Endora answers him as she keeps the bowl she was holding away. "If you have the interest of Silla in heart, you'll stay alive, and discard any drastic thought you've in mind because it will only lead to your death."

Elian exhales heavily. "I want them dead. I want to kill every soul in Kasanje Kingdom." He looks sharply at Endora, "I need to do it now that I am this angry, filled with vengeance and lust for blood". He walks to meet her where she stood, "and I know just how".

Endora looks deep into his eyes and reads his thoughts. She shakes her head at him. "No".

"Yes". He replies, "Magic!"

"You can't have magic". Endora rebukes.

"Rubbish! I am a magical being". Elian persists.

"Your forefathers submitted your magical powers long ago to ensure peace in the realm".

"Yes, isn't that how the peace treaty was enacted?" He said.

"Exactly". Endora answers.

"But the Kasanjes have breached the treaty...they employed magic" He shrugs, "I'll only be leveling the playing field".

"Magic isn't a joke". Endora warns.

"Neither is the death of my people". Elian retorts.

Endora shakes her head in refusal. They had to be another way other than magic.

"Why won't you help me?" He demands.

"It's too dangerous, and the power, too much for one man to wield." she explains.

"Worry less about me, just tell me what I need to do". He persists.

Endora sighs, and sits on the chair Elian had vacated. "You'll need to find the Sword of Enchancia". She says hesitantly.

"Where is it?" He asks anxiously.

"No one knows. But it holds the magical powers of both the Sillans and Kasanjes". She tells him.

"I need to find it." Elian says more to himself.

Endora looks at him with a grin, "You sound just like your great grandfather".

"You knew him?" Elian asks shocked. Endora was a young beautiful lady, how could she have met his great grandfather.

"I am 468 years old Prince Elian, of course I knew him". She answers smiling at his amazement.

"So you use magic to keep yourself looking young?" Elian enquired.

"It's different. I'm a physician, I prepare different potions". She explains.

"Did my Great grandpa look for the sword too?" Elian asked, not wanting to deviate from the topic.

Endora nods. "He never trusted the Kasanjes, and he thought it wise to find the location of the sword just in case his intuition about them one day becomes true".

"Was he able to?" Elian asked anxiously.

Endora hesitates. Prince Elian notices her silence, and walks to meet her.

"Talk to me Endora, Great grandpa's intuition is true. Silla is at the mercy of the Kasanjes" Prince Elian cajoles.

"I swore on his dying bed not to reveal the sword's whereabouts". She blurts out.

"Silla's redemption depends on the retrieval of this sword". He says with frustration.

"That sword will only bring destruction, it assures no victory". Endora replies stiffly.

"I need that sword, and you will tell me where to find it". He says adamantly.

Endora steps off the chair, moves about in different directions, keeping him waiting as she gives it serious thought. To find the sword of enchancia wasn't an easy feat at all. It could take years. They might not even survive in the search, but it sure seemed like the only way to save Silla.

Finally she stopped moving, her back against him. She takes a deep breath and says in a knowing chant "And so it shall be written, that two kingdoms created for the purpose of peace, would once again be destroyed by war..."

A devilish grin smears on Elian's face as he continues the chant with her "...cities would fall, blood will flow, and bodies would be countless, stretched for miles between kingdoms".

"What else are beings capable of but war?" Elian asked, the devilish grin still on his face.

"What about love? They're capable of love". A small voice answered.