"You missed again, son," King Reginald said with a hearty laugh that plumed a cloud of cold air in front of him.
Kael grunted and kicked his feet against the ground, so a pile of snow poured out in the direction of his kick.
Kael always believed he was a good marksman, but now that he was outside the castle walls, away from the barrier that kept the cold at bay, he had discovered it was difficult to shoot an arrow with icy chills seeping into his bones.
'What was even the point of these thick clothes?' Kael complained, irritated by the cloud forming from his breath and equally frustrated that he wasn't used to this, despite having lived his whole life in Winterhaven.
It would seem he was now growing a disdain toward the barrier he had known his whole life.
"I'll chase after it," Kael said through gritted teeth.
"A good way to get yourself killed, young prince," Kylo, the King's personal guard, said.
He rode on his horse, staring down the path their boar ran toward.
It had trodded a lane toward a dangerous section of the forest.
"I'm well aware of the Spectors, Kylo. Uncle Johnathan has taught of them since before I could walk." Kael said as he made his way to his horse. "I had just assumed I needn't worry considering we have several Stars and a single Moon protecting us."
The King laughed once more at Kael's remark.
"My son has a valid argument Kylo. Surely, a Moon such as yourself could fend off any magical beasts we may encounter. Even my brother could accomplish such feats without boasting the same prowess as yourself." the King said, while Kael hoisted himself onto his horse and fastened his grip on it.
"You are not wrong, my Liege, but I do not believe it is in our best interest to risk anyone's life on this joyous occasion. A habit Lord Johnathan is prone to." Kylo remarked, not even a little weary that his head could be on the chomping block after what he had just said. After all, he was mocking the King's brother, not the King himself.
As Kylo spoke, he kept his eyes on the forest, searching its entirety for things which may or may not be.
Upon hearing Kylo's remark, the King laughed.
"That is no lie my friend, yet I cannot help but believe your words are nothing but excuses." the King puffed.
"It doesn't matter father, please let us ride ahead. I would like to achieve a hunting victory this day before returning to Kaladril." Kael said, kicking his horse and steadying its pace so he didn't run off.
"Hm, rather anxious about your game aren't you son? Pray tell, do you seek to return to Winterhaven so soon in an attempt to escape the cold?"
Kael darted his gaze to the ground, he stared deeply at the snow. How it covered the earth, high enough to overcome the height of his ankle, and thick enough to make walking an arduous task. His uncle had warned him of how laborious the snow would be, but experiencing it was a whole different thing.
This was the longest Kael had ever been in the snow. As long as he could remember, he always stayed in the comforts of his enchanted carriage whenever they went to locations outside the castle. So his longest experience with the cold was inside the unprotected houses of the middle class.
Visits which were very far and few between.
"Why do we have the barrier father?" Kael found himself asking. Though this was not the most pressing matter on his mind, he found this as a leeway to get to the main matter at hand.
"Do you not like the comforts of warmth my son?" King Reginald asked.
"I do not believe it fair to enjoy these comforts while our people struggle to stave off the cold everyday the sun rises." Kael said, now turning his gaze to his father, who was still fixated on the path ahead.
"We are royalty, we deserve as much luxury as the world can afford us." the King said, turning his gaze to Kael, who in turn diverted his toward the path ahead.
Kael wondered to himself if he should press any further, starting a debate with his father could lead to an argument. King Reginald was a very proud man.
This was a scenario he wanted to avoid at all cost, that was, if he was going to convince him of something.
"I can understand father." Kael said, keeping his gaze fixated on the path.
Watching from behind, Kylo rested uneasy. He didn't know what it was, but he felt something amiss, a reason good enough to keep his guard on high alert.
Turning to his right hand man Ingoris, Kylo gave a look and at once, Ingoris nodded. Using his Arcana, he linked up the minds of the entire entourage.
'Something doesn't feel right.' Kylo said.
'Should we retreat to Winterhaven?' Ingoris asked.
'No, I don't know if this feeling of mine warrants a retreat.' Kylo said, not once turning his gaze back to his men as they listened to his voice.
'Do not let your guards down, we retreat at the first sign of trouble.' Kylo ordered.
'Understood Captain Kylo.' the entourage replied.
Turning his attention away from the entourage, Kylo fixated on the King and the young prince. Itching for his sword and readying his Arcana, while praying what he felt was just a bad cold.
In the trees, hiding from plane sight, a group of hooded figures stood above the branches, watching.
A woman, forgoing the hood in favor of letting her long white hair flow in the icy wind, stared at the Captain with her sinister red eyes.
'Very preceptive that one.' she licked her lips and smiled. 'I like him.'
***
"You have been silenced by a prevading thought I can tell, what burdens you my son? Is it the Barriers still?" the King inquired after almost five minutes of silence from Kael.
"It is not father." Kael said.
"Yet something does burden you. Are you willing to share?" King Reginald said, then listened attentively.
As the silence drew in once more, leaving only the shuffling of hooves on snow and the metal clanking of their entourage's armor, Kael felt his heart rate spike.
Taking in a deep breath, Kael kept his composure, before smiling.
"You see father. I wanted to tell you that...as of lately, a young lady has been on my mind." Kael said, unsure if he appreciated the way he laid out those words.
Hesitating for a moment, King Reginald's eyes widened. Then he laughed. A plume of cold air escaped his lips.
"A lady you say?" he laughed once more. "Kylo, do you hear this? My boy is finally becoming a man!" the King screamed at the top of his lungs, so every single one of their entourage heard.
Kylo did not remark immediately, as most of the chater filling the air were silent mutters and laughter from the entourage.
Feeling his cheeks burn red, Kael wished he could disappear into his thick hoody.
"It was bound to happen sooner or later." Kylo said with his usual indifferent expression.
The King laughed once more.
"Tell me Kael, who is she?" the King asked, right brow raised with a vivid smirk present on his face.
Kael couldn't help but don a wry smile. It didn't matter how humiliating this was, as long as it worked out in his favor, then it was all right.
Trying to ease his pounding heart, Kael exhaled, letting out a plume of cold cloud before speaking.
"Clara Veninhail." Kael said, voice reminiscent to a whisper.
His words had taken a second or two to find a home in the King's mind, but when it did, he laughed once more.
"Clara? Daughter of Kowel Veninhail? Son, you sure are a man of taste. Taking after your old man I see." the King slapped Kael on the shoulder as he laughed.
"Seems to me he is taking after your brother more likely." Kylo said, making the King laugh once more.
Kael smiled, remembering the tales of how his Uncle started chasing after the maids at such a tender age.
'This is nothing like that.' Kael grimaced.
"It doesn't matter who my son takes after, he is a man of taste no less." the King said.
"You approve father?" Kael had asked, eyes wide as he stared at his father.
"Why wouldn't I? She is very fair even if she isn't a full maiden yet. I can only imagine how much more beautiful she will be when she gets older. She will make a fine concubine for you one day my boy."
Silence fell.
His father's words had hit Kael like a sledge hammer, his ears began to ring and his body went numb.
It had taken Kael seconds too long before he was able to both process what his father truly said and how to respond.
"Concubine?" Kael said, the only response he was able to give.
"Of course, she is a Count's daughter. You know the customs of this Kingdom after all."
"But father, I don't want her to be a concubine." Kael protested.
"She cannot be anything but. Your destiny, is to marry a princess from any of the Four Kingdoms. And her destiny should you choose it, is to be your concubine if you are so adamant on having her. I am disappointed I have to be explaining this to you Kael." the King pinned his gaze on Kael, his smile now a distant memory.
Kael said nothing, all that consumed his thoughts were the beating of his heart.
He failed, he couldn't do it. He couldn't convince his father.
Kael gritted his teeth as anger and shame became him.
Kael bit his lip as he thought about what his Uncle would do at a time like this.
'He wouldn't give up so easily that's for sure.' Kael thought, while thinking of a way to convince his father to let him marry the woman of his dreams.
"Father..."
"This is not still about Clara I hope." the King asked with a stern voice, causing Kael's heart to beat even faster.
Steeling his nerves, Kael took in a deep breath of cold air, then he spoke.
"What must I do to have her as my bride father?" Kael asked.
"There is nothing Kael, tradition is tradition. You cannot just wake up one morning and decided it is today you have chosen to change what has been done for centuries because your loins are burning for some girl." The King said with an indifferent tone, which made Kael more than upset.
"You are only a boy, you fail to see the importance of a union between the Kingdoms. This is not about you or me Kael, it is about our people. When she has come of age, you can bed her if you want to, I will not stop you. But I cannot allow her to become your Queen."
Kael went numb, his heart pounded and his breathing became ragged. His eyes stung, not as a result of the cold, but as a result of his pained heart.
As the tears welled at his eyes, Kael began to hate himself for it. He couldn't stop the tears no matter how much he tried. Perhaps his father was right, he was just a boy after all.
As the tears rolled down his cheek, Kael bit on his lips, wishing his Uncle was here. He would have sided with him, helped to convince his father, even if it meant an argument between the two. Uncle Johnathan always took his side.
Silence fell.
Kael said nothing, and neither did anyone else.
A couple of minutes into their ride, snow began to fall. The air became colder and the forest seemed void of all life. Which was more than enough to make the King uncomfortable.
"We have dallied long enough," the King pulled on his thick fur hoody. "It is better we continue the hunt another day." King Reginald said, drawing all horses to a halt.
Kael said nothing, but the King was not looking for a response. Tugging on the reins, King Reginald attempted to turn his horse around.
But just then, a silhouette formed a couple of meters away, halting everyone in place. The figure was obscured by the snow and the suddenly darkened sky.
At once Kylo pulled up his horse in front of the King.
"Who is there?!" Kylo yelled, his voice thundering through the snow covered forest like the earth itself called forth whoever stood in front of them.
Kael started, now lifting his gaze from the ground and shooting it toward the figure.
Kylo's powerful voice did nothing to sway the figure, it stood still like one of the trees surrounding them. Except its silhouette was clearly that of a human, which was why everyone sat on edge.
Kael turned his sights to Kylo, who outstretched his hand and summoned a sword into his hand from a sudden spark of light.
Kael did not understand what was going on, but he didn't like it.
"I will not repeat myself!" Kylo pointed his sword toward the silhouette.
A second passed, and still no response.
Kael gripped the reins of his horse.
"Father, I think it best to retreat." Kael whispered to his father, but his words fell on deaf ears.
Turning to him, Kael found his father dawning a deep frown. Seeing this made Kael remember who his father was.
A proud man who did not take threats lightly. A King who had the utmost trust in his warriors and their magical prowess.
This was supposed to be the norm for any high-born of Winterhaven to feel. Confidence in their protectors, confidence in their Arcanists.
After all, Winterpeak was home to the most powerful Arcanists in the world. No one would dare defy the Kingdom of Winterpeak, no one would dare defy the King of Winterpeak.
This much was known. And though Kael was supposed to share this same bravado as his father, his uncle and his peers, he didn't like what he felt as of now, he didn't like what the ominous feeling wretching at his gut.
Something about this was wrong, yet his father would never run. Ever.
Kael had no choice but to watch and pray to Castillo that everything would be fine.
CHOMP!
"Ahhhhhh!"
A dreaded scream erupted into the air, piecing into Kael's bone like a needle to butter.
Sitting in place, Kael was frozen in fear as the screams proceeded. Behind him, a grotesque creature was standing in their midst, one of the King's entourage in its maw as it chomped down.