James, The Crown Prince Read online

  James, The Crown Prince

  Daniel Harris

  Other books by the Author

  Another Typical Day

  Another Typical Day, Too

  Not Another Typical Day

  Generations of Eredwynn

  James, The Crown Prince

  *Quilling* Davie the Mage

  Copyright © 2014 Daniel Harris

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN:

  ISBN-13:

  DEDICATION

  To my parents who encouraged me to explore my twisted mind even though they weren’t big fans of my choices.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  My editor that worked tirelessly fixing my silly mistakes

  Chapter One

  I woke and rolled over. Sitting on the nightstand beside my bed was my breakfast. That was how it had been every morning since I was old enough to leave the nursery. Being the pampered, oldest son of the King and Queen did have its advantages! Lately though, I was beginning to feel smothered by it all. My parents had fought long and hard to win back the crown after my grandfather’s death. The regent had taken it over and had refused to relinquish the throne to my mother. My parents, both being quite powerful wizards, and a group of over a dozen wizards they had trained, won it back.

  The wizards that had fought in that battle were mostly my father’s consorts and he’s had a lot of children. I honestly don’t know how many brothers and sisters I have unless I sit and think about it. Coming from an enormous family like that, it was easy to blend in and disappear. That is, unless you were my father’s oldest son. I knew he did the things he did because he loved me and wanted me to do well. He had worked with me on my magic on almost a daily basis since I was five years old. Since I was the first born, I was the first of a generation of children who were born with the ability to use psionic magic. My brothers, sisters and I did magical things, which our parents had practiced hard and used spell words to do, with just a simple thought. My parents and a few of the mothers used psi magic now, but it wasn’t as easy for them as for us. We were born to it and they had to develop it. I was much more powerful than my younger siblings and when it came to non-magical commoners, there was just no comparison. My mother hated when I would say that, but truth was truth!

  Today was my sixteenth birthday and my coming-of-age party. Today I would become a man. There was to be a large party, with flowery congratulations from nobles who couldn’t care less about me. They would come to gain favor from my mother and father, the King and Queen of Eredwynn. It was well known that I didn’t care for the behavior of nobles because of their tendency to look down on and treat their subordinates poorly. I assumed that I got those feelings from my father who treated everyone, Lady or maid, Lord or peasant, the same.

  I loved my father and didn’t look forward to doing what I had planned to do for weeks. Today I was going to tell my father that I was leaving Wizard’s Castle. Before it was time to take up royal duties and be confined to a castle, I wanted to see the world. I wanted to see the world as James Stephenson and not as the Prince. The only way this could be accomplished would be if I left the kingdom of Eredwynn and traveled to No Man's Land. The wild country that my family had been banished to when my grandfather had lost his mind was the perfect place to go and not be recognized. It was a wild, barren land with monsters of every description. When my parents were sent there with their consorts, they were responsible for a dozen children. When I went, I would be taking care of only myself. I had decided that my magic would be kept a secret from everyone I met. My parents had told me the stories about how they had been dragged into fame immediately after the people of the kingdom had learned of their abilities. Since I wanted to get away from recognition, I wanted to avoid that happening.

  After I ate, I dressed in nice but durable clothing, checked the gear I’d been gathering for weeks and made sure it was ready for today’s departure. I was taking a bow and quiver of arrows for food gathering. If there are other people around, I might have to go that route, I thought. I had a dagger for skinning and personal protection and a hundred platinum and a couple hundred gold coins. I wanted to be on my own, but not necessarily poor while doing it. A couple blankets were attached to the bottom of my pack even though it was early spring. I could always warm my area, but there would be times that I’d have to do things like commoners do. I didn’t understand how people could go through life without magic, but that was one of the things I was hoping to learn.

  I closed my eyes for a moment, checked to see if the balcony on my parents’ quarters was clear, and ported over. I tapped on the door and my mother waved me inside.

  “Good morning to the birthday boy!” Queen Isabel called cheerfully.

  “Good morning, Mother,” I greeted her. Have you been busy today already? You look a bit stressed!”

  “Either your father needs to accept some of the girls that I’ve sent as recommendations for consort, or some of your siblings need to grow up!” she complained good-naturedly.

  I chuckled, “Mom, how many times are you going to hear Dad say that he’s happy with the consorts he already has before you accept it?”

  She just shook her head. “Every other man in the kingdom collects consorts as trophies. Your Father insists on loving them first. He hasn’t taken a new consort in over a dozen years! I suppose that is one of the things I love about him, though.”

  “I can understand his thinking on this. I don’t think I want to have any consorts when the time comes. I want to find that special girl and just be with her.”

  Isa rolled her eyes. “I knew I should have spent more time with you than your Father did! He has captured you with his old-fashioned notions. I think you might change your mind after you discover what goes on behind closed doors.”

  “I think I know about those things, Mother. I did grow up in the keep, after all. My aunts, true and consort, were never very shy about what they said around me. I’ve heard more about what a woman wants, likes and craves in the bedroom than any sixteen year old in the kingdom!”

  “All right, son. A mother doesn’t need to know everything a son knows on that subject.”

  I laughed at her discomfort. “I could ask some questions, though.”

  She closed her eyes and put her fingers in her ears. “Ask your father!”

  I grinned. “Okay, where is he? I was hoping to catch the two of you together this morning.”

  My father stuck his head around the corner from his bedroom and stated, “I’m here and was just enjoying watching your mother blush at your comments. What can we do for you this fine morning, my young man?”

  I took a deep breath before beginning. “I’ve been thinking for quite some time now that I’m not ready for my own castle. I want to go out and see the world for a time before I’m stuck behind a desk. I don’t want to be the Crown Prince everywhere I go, either. I just want to be James Stephenson and make my own mark. I know that the part you’re going to hate is that I want to go to No Man’s Land. I wouldn’t be known there and could just be myself. I had considered just leaving, but that would worry Mother and I didn’t want to do that.”

  Mother started crying and Father took a deep breath. We all stood there and looked at each other for a while and Father spoke, “All right, Son. 89If that is what you truly want, I’ll accept it. You are a man and can make these choices for yourself. You have your magic and, I hope, a good moral upbringing, so you should be fine on the road. Your mother felt the same way about being Queen as you do about being Prince when she was your age. You have my blessing.”

  My mother wrapped her arms around me, pleading, “Be careful, my son. I know that you are more capable of taking care of yourself than any man in the kingdom, b
ut I am your mother. I will worry daily until your return. Don’t take more consorts than you can afford, but do take some to help your wife, if you decide to marry before you come home. When do you plan on leaving?”

  When I saw the tears streaming down my parents’ cheeks I almost changed my mind, but I had to do it. “I believe that I’ll leave today, after the party. I’ve already packed and have an idea about which way to go. Thank you both for being so understanding, and know that I love you very much. I will keep in touch and our methods are much better than a messenger service!”

  I bowed and my parents nodded. I ported back to my room and cried. That had gone much more smoothly than I had pictured, but still caused an ache in my chest. Of my family, which consisted of my parents, thirteen consorts that I called aunts and a bunch of kids, my parents were who I’d miss the most.

  Walking to the roof of the dorm, I looked out over the training grounds. There were half a dozen novices practicing spell magic under the watchful eye of Aunt Alba. Aunt Alba had always been the one that loved taking on novices the most. She was also the most playful and most fun! I ported down the field, close to where they were working. Alba saw me and came over with a grin on her face. “Did you come to watch the young wizard girls in their tight clothes, like your father used to?”

  I laughed. “No, that kind of thing leads to marriage, consorts and children! Besides, I still have yet to lie with my first woman and wouldn’t want to disappoint a poor novice girl. I’ll never be able to live up to my father’s reputation.”

  “Just remember this,” she advised. Laying her hand on my arm, she instantly connected our minds. Images flashed through my head that I’d never heard of or even imagined! When she released me I was flushed, breathing raggedly and blushing profusely!

  “Aunt Alba! What in the world was that all about? I assume that everything you showed me is possible, but are you saying that those are things that women like?” I stared at her in amazement and uncertainty.

  Aunt Alba replied, “Like? Those are things that cause women to swear their undying allegiance and never leave your side for knowing.”

  “Perhaps I should go see if a novice would allow me to put this new knowledge into practice,” I teased.

  She stuck out her tongue. “James, I know you’re too much like your father to jump into bed with a girl just for the fun of it. We’ve been trying to get him to do that for almost a fifth of a century and he won’t hear of it. He wouldn’t sleep with his wife on their wedding night because the marriage was arranged; until she coaxed, that is.”

  “Perhaps I’ll fall in love over the next year or so. I’m leaving, Aunt Alba. I’m going to go out into the world before they lock me behind a desk, taking care of the running of a province. I just talked to my parents and let them know my plans, and thought you would like to know, too.”

  She became somber. “I knew you weren’t looking forward to taking on a castle yet, but didn’t know you’d been considering this. Do you know where you’re going yet?”

  I nodded. “I think I’ll go to that closest town in No Man’s Land, Todan. I’m not sure where from there, but I’ve heard the stories of lands across the ocean. Perhaps I’ll catch a ship heading out and see what it’s like. I promised my parents that I would keep in touch, and you know what I mean.”

  “You had better keep in touch with me, too, young man. I can send a reverse magic letter as well as your father can. Focus on the trail and follow it back.”

  “Your psi has developed a lot working with us over the years. I’m going to miss you, Aunt Alba!”

  She forced a smile. “I’ll miss you, too, nephew. Be safe out there.”

  By noon the Great Hall was filled with people. There were the usual group of Lords and Ladies who seemed to attend only functions such as this. A new bunch that didn’t usually attend was seated in a group, and I was sure my mother had arranged that they be right in my line of sight. Scores of very attractive young ladies, all dressed to perfection and with the same dreamy, flirtatious look on their faces, decorated chairs. Each of them was accompanied by a man or woman with a hopeful look on their faces. I knew they weren’t interested in what kind of person I am, just that I am the Crown Prince and could offer them wealth and prestige. They annoyed me beyond belief, and the look my father gave me said he felt the same. Perhaps my father’s teachings about love and devotion had sunk in after all.

  The party progressed as these things usually did. There were lots of speeches and noise from people who really didn’t know me, but pretended to. There were lots of winks and waves from the girls in the hall, but they didn’t get the hoped-for reaction. And finally, the thing was over and the people filed out. I had to stand in the line of dignitaries and shake the hands of the attendees. More dainty, gloved hands were put to my lips than I cared to count, and I survived my birthday party. My parents hugged me and I told them that I was packed and would be leaving soon, so this was goodbye. My father patted me on the back, unable to speak, and Mother let the tears flow. I finally separated myself and ported to my room.

  Chapter Two

  I grabbed my pack and slung it over my back. The spell users traveled using a spell they called ‘recall’ and I didn’t know how they managed. They focused where they wanted to go in their mind and cast. If there happened to be a dragon four feet away, they would be a snack. If there was a dragon on the spot, or a cat for that matter, the spell wouldn’t work at all. I wasn’t nearly that limited. I could actually see where I was going and look around before I went. Father called it a ‘remote viewing effect’. I had no idea what that meant, but it sure beat jumping blind! I knew the basic location of the city of Todan from the stories and I’d been there before. It had been when I was seven, so I didn’t remember very well. I followed the mountain range to the sea east of my location and then south. In my mind I located the city, found a quiet and unobserved area to the north and ported.

  I breathed deeply. That must be the salt in the air that I’ve heard of. I guess those other smells are seaweed and dead fish. It’s amazing how differently this looks compared to the other side of the mountain. We don’t have those birds back home, so I guess they must be what Father said were seagulls. Well, time to meet new people as James Stephenson! I thought happily.

  I walked toward the gates of the city, and the guards hardly took notice of me as I strolled through. I sauntered down the streets looking in shops and nodding at people who didn’t acknowledge me. It was wonderful! After a time, I walked back out of the city and went to the docks, where I sat watching fishing boats come in, unload and go out.

  Late in the afternoon a boat came in and was shorthanded for theoffload. The captain saw me sitting on a log, “Boy, would you like to work?”

  I nodded, “I’d be happy to!”

  He took me to his boat, popped the hatches and told me to throw fish from the hold to the nets by the shore. I grinned and started to toss fish. I was so caught up in the idea of manual labor that I didn’t even notice the rolling eyes and bemused expression. I doubt the man had ever seen anyone so happy to toss fish in his life! His mate and I unloaded the fish in record time, due to my unexplainable enthusiasm and were cleaning up when the captain returned. He gave me a silver coin and announced, “I’ll try to find ya whenever I need a hand if ya want.”

  “That would be fantastic, sir. Thank you for the opportunity.” He shook his head as he walked back to the tiller.

  As it was getting close to dark, I opened my pack and found my well- stuffed purse. I removed a dozen gold pieces and left the rest. I knew from my experience on the dock that platinum would give away more information about me than I wanted to at the time. I closed everything up, dropped my gold and single silver into my pocket and went back to the city. For the first time since I was seven, I would be living away from my castle and the luxury it afforded. I needed to find an inn that didn’t have many thieves hanging around. After a short time, I found one that sported a pub below, so I walked in; t
he place seemed well lighted and clean. I strode to a table out of the way and set my bag in my lap. A waitress came up and asked, “What can I get for you, young man?”

  “Ale would be nice.”

  She held out her hand and I realized that this was a pay as you go establishment. Since everywhere in the kingdom knew me, we paid as we left and no one was concerned about getting stiffed. I had no idea the price of anything so just handed the lady a gold coin. Her fingers closed slowly and she looked at me a bit sideways before going to the bar. Within seconds a very attractive woman joined me at my table.

  The lady smiled welcomingly, “My name is Lynna. Are you with someone or would you like some company?”

  I smiled, “Company would be nice, since I don’t know anyone in town.”

  She talked and had a nice quiet voice, “I haven’t seen you before. Are you from around here?”

  “Sort of, I’m from north of here.” I answered vaguely.

  “Will you be staying in town long?”

  “I might be, I’m enjoying working the docks right now and might stay a while.”

  She smiled, “You can get a room upstairs for a week for three gold coins and for a couple silver coins I’ll keep you company.”

  The waitress returned with my drink and brought nine silver and six copper coins with her. I realized that I’d overpaid by an enormous amount.

  “Lynna, may I could buy you a drink?”

  She smiled sweetly and nodded her thanks. The waitress, without a word from either of us, took four copper from the table and left, returning quickly with ale for Lynna.

  I settled down for some small talk, “Lynna, how long have you been in town?”