Heart Over Sword

At the other end of the village of Reigh, the sound of guards marching forwards like a slow stampede became an almost humming background noise to the young twelve-year-old prince Conrad Hart who sat staring outside the carriage window. His short dark blonde hair almost fell into his golden eyes; the white and golden embroidered double-breasted jacket he wore made his eyes shine brighter. The only part he seemed to share with his siblings showed he was, in fact, royal blood.??

"You should get on your horse now," The Queen, Annika, who sat across from him, spoke. She was a thin petite woman with pale blonde hair and icy blue eyes surrounded by white lashes, her ethereal beauty known across the lands. Conrad looked up at her, who could not bear to look at him. She never could, as though he was a beast ready to kill her at any moment.??

"As you wish, mother." Annika flinched at the term and held onto her youngest, princess Marna who was but five, closer to her. Marna was the only relative who was too young to not despise him and would cling to him whenever she could, beaming at him like he was not something scary. For now, Marna was the only one to bring him joy, but he knew when she grew older, Marna would cause him the most pain because he cared more for her than any. She, too, was the only one in the family to share his unique dark shade of blonde hair.??

His younger twin brothers, two years younger than he, Harald and Halvar, were sleeping together next to his side, at the far side that was. Their matching golden blonde hair made them look all the more prince-like, as though they wore halo's, but when they were awake, they were nothing but terrors. He was glad they were asleep because Harald and Halvar were such headaches when they were awake. They also learned from the eldest brother that it was okay to spite Conrad until he would lash out and hurt them.??

Conrad knocked the top of the carriage, and it stopped with a few calls sent out to the front of the line to stop. Opening the door, he climbed down and searched for his horse at the front of the troops, where his brother, crown prince Arvid and his father, King Horik, waited. The King glanced at him, impatience growing on his weathered face, and his brother Arvid smirked at him, his dark golden eyes full of malice. Usually, he didn't show such displeasure towards him in public because of his almost white hair, golden eyes and good looks; he was known as the heartthrob and angelic prince.??

More like a dark angel.

Conrad hopped onto Shardeigh after an attendant placed a white cape over his shoulders, clicking the golden chain in place. Before they moved once more, the attendant draped the cape properly over the side of the horse, staying clear of its hooves and was obviously scared of it. King Horik tapped his white horse's belly first, and then the prince's followed suit, either side of him. Their capes draped behind them with the golden eagle crest of Hatherland.??

"At least mother now can get some rest. It must have been hard protecting her children from you, demon child," Arvid remarked sarcastically with a curl of his lips.??

"I'm not a demon child," Conrad muttered under his breath but shut his lips shut after seeing Arvid's enjoyment at seeing his younger brother's reaction. He glanced at his father, who did not interrupt nor seem to care for his son's conversation, and so Conrad faced forwards, deeming it not the right time to argue with Arvid. Though he was right, their mother thought he was a monster and tried to keep his siblings away from him as much as possible.

On the other hand, Arvid enjoyed getting reactions out of him; he was five years his senior, though he acted much younger. Conrad used this time to really gauge his surroundings; the village streets were busy with citizens on either side welcoming the new guests even though he could see the fear on some of their faces. Was his father not there on friendly terms? He presumed they were because the King brought the whole family.??

They stopped in the middle of the high street as they were greeted with entertainers of about ten doing acrobatics, juggling, playing with fire and extinguishing it in their mouth before they parted ways for a band and dancers. Once their performance was finished, they spread out for the Hatherland party to come forwards. Conrad held back a yawn; if this were Hatherland, the performance would be better with the use of magic and sorcerers. This was nothing but boring to him, yet he clapped along with the crowds.

"How dare he not greet us," His father spat, his face scrunching up. His golden blonde hair stopped short, slicked-back allowing the golden crown to shine brightly against the dark hues of his locks. The short beard cut to his jawline, revealing the golden chains beneath his open shirt. Unlike Arvid and Conrad, the king looked the most relaxed in his attire, though the tightening of the reins and vein throbbing in his neck showed his temper rising.??

"This was a humble gift from the village of Reigh; we hope you enjoy your visit!" One of the men who Conrad saw doing the acrobatics bowed to them and gestured for them to continue.

The Hatherland party continued forwards, King Horik's temper rising, sending a dark and gloomy atmosphere among the men the closer they got to the palace. They entered through the gate, the guards of Dunhurst lined up either side leading down the path across the bridge until the white bricked palace. Conrad stared at it and the surroundings, an anti-climax in comparison to what he expected.

"That's it?!" Arvid asked loudly, his disappointment apparent and for once matching Conrad's thoughts.

"It is indeed," King Horik drawled, his golden eyes narrowing slightly.??

"They have the largest kingdom, and THAT's their palace?" Arvid continued, not aware of the growing tension surrounding their father.??

"ENOUGH," King Horik snapped. Conrad knew his father was envious of King Osian not because of this simple palace in front of them but because of the power Dunhurst held. They were a large kingdom compared to Hatherland, but Conrad knew his father wanted more land and power from all his snooping.. He already knew the kingdom's plans for the next five years from listening to his father's meetings.