A while back, I posted two little flash fiction storiesāThe Man Wearing Black and The Oddsāand it was heaps of fun and ever since then I’ve been hoping to do some more. I’ve tried several times, actually, but I just haven’t been inspired for any short stories.
Until today! š
Today, I’ve got a fantasy short story about a young man traveling to the city to find his fortune in the king’s castle! Those of you who have read my novel Prince might see some familiar faces in this story…
It may or may not be a ‘prequel’ to how two of the characters first meet, and happens only one day before the events of Prince begin.
I hope you enjoy!! š
I shift my pack on my shoulder and look up at the towering walls of the Ellsmere castle. The afternoon is dragging longer, but thereās only a short ways left now and Iāll be there. Mid-afternoon sun glances off the white walls and turrets of the castle, gilding it in radiant gold.
The castle of the king of Linnrylon. Just the place where I can find my fortune.
I check my pocket again for the letter from Lord Rosedale. Parchment crinkles reassuringly and I release a breath. This is where it begins.
The strap of my pack digs into my shoulder uncomfortably after almost a full day of walking, but I can grit through it for just a while longer. The bustling township at my back, I tackle the smooth rise ahead, following the cobbled roadway up to the open castle gates.
Two guards, their red surcoats emblazoned with the kingās symbol, step forward as I approach the entrance. āWhat brings you here, lad?ā one calls.
I stop by them, lower my pack to the ground for a moment of respite, and dig the letter from my pocket. āIām Dane Stipp, sir. I come from Lord Rosedaleās manor, seeking employ in the castle.ā I offer the letter toward him, but he waves it away.
āNo need.ā He smiles easily, and his gaze skims over me. āYou can enter.ā He steps back and glances to his companion. āDonāt think this one will be a security threat.ā Thereās a smirk in his voice, though itās not mean.
He does have a point. I couldnāt look like a threat if I tried.
I duck my head, allowing a slight smile as I heft my pack again, letter still clasped in my other hand. āThank you, sirs.ā I nod to both guards, then step past into the courtyard of the castle.
Itās even bigger than it looks from the outside. To my left, a few soldiers relax outside the garrison buildings. Right, thereās a stable, judging by the sound and smells from that direction. Straight ahead, the wide stairs lead up to huge double-doors, their dark wood tones standing out starkly against the white stone walls.
Movement hums all throughout the courtyard. Servants ducking from one narrow entrance to another. Puffed figures going to run errands in town. A man carrying a huge basketful of herbs. Two women talking rapidly as they walk past me, heading who-knows-where.
I stood in the midst of the courtyard for a full minute, just taking it in. If I got a job here, itād be a challenge to not get lost amid this ordered chaos. Lord Rosedaleās manor was much smaller than this, more familiar.
He said to get a meeting with the king, but surely I canāt just walk in and ask for one. Or is that how it works? Iāve never met royalty before, much less to ask him to employ me.
āYou need a hand, lad?ā
The voice brought my around, and it took a moment before I found the man whoād spoken. Rough beard, shoulder-length hair, around mid-aged at a glance. His clothes were plain, and a little dirty, but his smile friendly enough.
āPardon?ā I fiddled with the edge of Lord Rosedaleās letter.
āYou look like you could do with a friend.ā He stretched out his hand. āIām Curt. The stable master around here.ā
I clasp his hand, rough and calloused from work. āDane Stipp, Iām from Rosedale manor.ā
Curt nods. āHere for a job?ā
āAye, sir.ā
āGot a letter?ā
I show him the parchment from Lord Rosedale.
He claps my shoulder. āYouāre sure to be set up with something decent enough. Thereās always room for more workers. Just pray they donāt make you the princeās new manservant.ā
āWhyāā
He keeps going before I can finish my question. āYouāll just want to head straight up and give the guards that there letter and ask to see King Torryn.ā Curt gestures toward the main entrance and pats my shoulder twice, nudging me in that direction. āYouāll be fine, lad.ā
āThank you, sir,ā I manage, though my throat is dry already.
He leaves me with a gruff farewell, and heads for the stables again. I stare up at the grand staircase for another moment of desperate hesitation, then force my feet to start walking. I canāt expect to earn my fortune if I donāt do something about it.
I mount the stairs and fumble an awkward bow to the nearer of the guards. āPardon me, sir.ā I drop my pack to the ground again and offer the folded letter. āIām here from Rosedale manor. Iād like to see the king.ā
The guard takes the letter and glances over the seal, then grunts. āAll right. Follow me.ā He turns and pushes open one door partway, stepping inside.
Inside the castle is still humming, though a little quieter than outside. Servant girls hurry up a staircase to the right, carrying piles of linen. A group of visiting nobles converse in the entrance hall, barely glancing up as we pass them. Huge stands of candles line the walls and hang from the ceiling, though unlit at the moment, as sunlight streams through the wide windows in great swathes of gold.
The guard leads the way through to a small room to the side, and gestures me toward one of the seats. āWait here. Someone will fetch you when the king is ready.ā He turns, then pauses. āWhat was your name?ā
āDane Stipp, sir.ā I half bow again.
He nods and disappears, leaving me in the silent room. I sink onto the edge of one of the seats, clasping my pack between my knees. The faint scent of lavender spices the air. Itās cooler here than outside, and Iām grateful for my jacket, worn though it is.
I wait in silence, soaking in the sounds of the castle around me, for at least half an hour before yet another unfamiliar man glances through the doorway.
āDane Stipp?ā He raised his dark brows at me questioningly.
āAye.ā I rise, picking up my bag once more, but he shakes his head.
āYou can leave that for now. When your quarters are assigned you can take it there.ā He glances over his shoulder into the corridor. āThe king is ready for you.ā
I swallow, but hurry to keep up with this man as he leads the way through another narrow hallway to another nondescript door.
He pauses long enough to clear his throat, then pushes it open and steps through out of my line of sight. āDane Stipp, Your Majesty.ā
He shuffles back into the servantās hallway again and I step out, not into a grand hall as I expected, but into a more comfortable room, almost identical to Lord Rosedaleās office at the manor. Startled, I almost forget to bow, so I hold it a moment longer than usual to make up for my slip.
āHe looks like a scruffy stoat.ā The words are low pitched, but not quite low enough for me to miss them. Nor to miss the nasty smirk behind them.
I straighten and pinpoint the speaker. A young man, perhaps two summers beyond me, stands behind a large desk. His blond-brown hair neat, shirt and jacket of the finest quality, and a simple gold circlet against his brow.
Prince Kalmin Murdoc Cynfael Angwen II, the heir to the throne.
And beside him, in the grandābut comfortable lookingāchair behind the deskā¦King Torryn, ruler of Ellsmere.
āYour Majesty. Your Highness,ā I manage, despite my dry throat, half bowing toward the prince this time.
āKalmin, you are dismissed.ā The king glances at his son, then his gaze returns to me, deep and steady.
The prince sniffs and crosses to the doorway, leaving the room empty but for the king and me.
āDane Stipp, wasnāt it?ā King Torryn picks up my letter from his desk, breaking the seal and unfolding the parchment.
āYes, Your Majesty.ā I try not to fidget as his gaze skims over the words of the letter. I, of course, hadnāt read it myself, so Lord Rosedale might not even have recommended me a position at all, and I could be thrown out on my ear likeā
āRosedale speaks highly of your service,ā the king interrupts my internal panic, and I canāt breathe anymore. He glances over me again, solemn brows drawing together. āYou can begin work immediately, I trust?ā
āYes, Your Majesty.ā I nod, breathless.
āExcellent.ā He claps his hands and the door behind me opens once more, the same servant as before hurrying back in. āMarkus, show Dane to Prince Kalminās suite. He is to begin work immediately as the princeās new manservant.ā
I half opened my mouth, but no words came out. The princeās manservant?
Didnāt the stable master say to hope that didnāt happen? And didnāt the prince just say I looked like a stoat?
A groan pressed at my throat, but I swallowed it down.
āThank you, Your Majesty.ā I bow again, then somehow follow Markus into the corridor again.
What does a manservant even do? Iāve worked for Lord Rosedale since I was old enough to, but he doesnāt have a manservant. What could he have written in that letter than recommended me for this?
āThis way,ā Markus says, setting off down the corridor. āIāll have your pack dropped off at the stable masterās. Youāll be bunking in his cabin for now. No doubt, youāll be working with him soon too, given the princeās track record with manservants.ā
My stomach clenches and I jog a few steps to catch up with him as he starts up a flight of stairs. āHis track record?ā
Markus glances at me and grimaces. āHe only had his last one for three weeks before he demanded a new one. Said he was too slow, though the poor fellow was worked absolutely off his feet.ā
What have I gotten myself into? This sounded more like a curse than a fortune. āSo what do I have to do?ā I ask, keeping my step brisk to stay beside Markus.
He finally stops at the beginning of another set of stairs. āYou do everything Prince Kalmin tells you to, and you do it quick sharp. I imagine heāll be tired of you in a few weeks anyway, so you havenāt much luck.ā
If Prince Kalmin was always as full of himself as the glimpse in the kingās office had shown, Iād be tired of him in a few days. But something stirred in my chest. A duty. A challenge.
No one else could stay as the princeās personal servant for long. Maybe I could be the first.
āAll right.ā I set my jaw, accepting the challenge.
Markus looks at me pityingly for another moment, then gestures up the stairs. āHis is the first door on the left. And youāre to call him sire at all times, remember.ā
I nod and set off up the stairs, legs aching from walking all day, but determined to succeed nonetheless. Markus is out of sight by the time I reach the princeās door, so I just knock softly on the doorframe.
āCome,ā his bored voice comes from inside.
I steel myself, then open the door.
Prince Kalmin looks up from a desk to the side of the spacious room, and for a moment he even seems faintly interested, but he just looks away again as I bow. āI guess youāre my new manservant, then.ā
āYes, sire.ā I straighten and glance around the room.
The bed is a mess of rumpled sheets, mostly trailing onto the floor. Thereās items of clothing scattered everywhere. A sheathed sword leans against the wall by the window, which is still closed and the curtains are half drawn. A tray of food scraps sits on one side of the desk where the prince stands.
āWell?ā
I look back at Prince Kalmin again.
He stands with his arms crossed and one eyebrow cocked. āYou do realise that servants have to do something, donāt you?ā
āYes, sire, Iāā
āGood,ā he interrupts. āYouāll need to tidy this room, polish my boots and prep my riding gearāIām going for a ride, so have my horse ready too. My armour needs checking again, and thereāll be training tomorrow, so donāt think you can get away without it being spotless.ā He heads for the door as he speaks, opening it on the last sentence, then he steps out into the hall and glances back at me once more. āYou shall also serve my dinner in the main hall tonightāmake sure itās not cold.ā
Then heās gone and the door slams in his wake.
I stand in the middle of the room for a moment, nothing louder than my heartbeat stirring the silence, then his words sink in and I scramble into action.
Iād better get to hurrying if I wanted to keep this position long. Although I was already uncertain if itād be worth the stress.
Prince Kalmin didnāt seem like a man who would ever be pleased, but I would give it my best shot anyway.
– – –
What did you think of the story? š Do you ever write short stories or flash fiction? Let’s chat in the comments!
Oh dear. Poor Dane. I hope his efforts are rewarded.
Good news is he becomes Kal’s favourite servant! After an adventure or two. š
Daaaaaaaaane, I missed you. <33 Poor guy, heās no idea whatās about to happen… xD
And I figured this would be about him the minute I saw the title. š
Yaaass, Dane my son! In another few days he’ll be off on a crazy adventure that he most definitely didn’t sign up for. š
Wonderful! simply amazing.
I can barely think of words to describe how much I loved reading this.
If this is any indication of what Prince is like I will certainly be reading it the first instant I possibly can.
Thank you!! I’m glad you enjoyed it! š
DANE!!! MY PRECIOUS ADOPTED CHILD. <333 AHH I LOVED THIS STORY JANE!!! It was so cool and funny!!! <33
THE BOY HAS NO IDEA WHAT’S COMING FOR HIM. š¬š
Thank youu!!!! š
This was so fun to read. I hope he succeeds as being the prince’s manservant, and hopefully doesn’t get fired…or worse. š
-Quinley
Thank you!! I’m glad you enjoyed it. š
I’ll give you a bit of inside knowledge…He succeeds. In fact, the two of them become good friends eventually.