7. Ace in the Hole {2}

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Prince Cormac knew something was up with Iker. The tides of their relationship had changed. He remembered the first time he met Iker. Commander Amir had bought him to the castle. Prince Cormac was glad to have someone his age and made him his personal servant. Iker was quiet, doing whatever the Prince told him to do.

Cormac always considered Iker his friend. It was the first he flat out denied their friendship. Iker always put his duty as a servant over the valued friendship the Prince wanted them to share. The look in Iker's eyes were overshadowed by a storm. He began speaking only when necessary, doing his chores and attending to the prince.

The prince knew Iker's eyes to be kind, filled with loyalty and love. Prince Cormac wanted to show his concern for Iker. He knew that Iker would refuse him if he tried. It was like the first time they met, two strangers. Prince Cormac mood was soured, his day of teasing Iker before he tried going to Area fifteen was finished before it begun.

"Commander Amir said my sword skills are improving." The prince started up a conversation, gathering the petals of red roses in his palm. "Said that I'll surpass my father if I continue practicing."

Iker tensed at the mention of the King. His fingers trembling against the prince's hair, forgetting he was washing it, "T-That's great Prince Cormac." he fought back the images of the previous night. His wrist bruised from the cuffs that restrained him, his body littered with marks that would constantly remind him.  He was lucky to find some clothing that would covered his body, aching not only physically, but his heart also was.

"You don't sound too happy." the prince said, trying to hold back but he couldn't. He turned to face Iker who averted his gaze. "There's so many things wrong with you and I can't figure out what it is."

Iker noticed the Prince placing the petals at the side of the bath, bundling them together as he took out more from the bath. "There's no need to worry about me. Please stop saying unnecessary things." Iker got up, his own clothing slightly soaked.

"I'm trying to help you Iker, why won't you allow that. You were fine last night, now you're as far away as the Kingdom of Arilikook."

Iker rested a hand over his bruised wrist. The Prince was threading into barren territories. His curiosity could hurt those around him and himself. Iker looked at the bundle of rose petals, reaching in the water and taking a single one for himself. He then separated the pile Cormac had set out into two. The Prince watched silently.

"This is the Kingdom of Seridina," Iker said, pointing to the pile that had the most petals. "This is the castle and the people inside," he pointed to the pile that had less than the first. "Then this is me." he held up the single petal then placed it next to the two.

"What will you do when you become King, Prince Cormac?" Iker proceeded to ask.

The Prince had never thought about it. He always thought that when he was King, things would remain tranquil as it was now. Learning who ruled Aperia and why that castle was standing, what was inside Area fifteen was all that occupied his mind. "I'm not sure." he answered honestly, feeling ashamed of himself.

"Hypothetically, say you wanted to help and protect everyone," Iker responded, gesturing over all the rose petals. A pain ran through his back as he quickly lowered his arm. "You said you wanted to help me," Iker picked up the single petal. "What about everyone else?"

The Prince knew he was talking about the people of Seridina and those inside the castle. "You treat me like I'm special. I'm no less than a servant than the others. Don't you think that's unfair? You give me more things than I can count. What about the others? Helping me means helping those within the castle along with the kingdom." he grouped all the petals together.

"You know nothing of your future Kingdom. You know nothing of your people." Iker placed the petal that represented him with the rest, pushing them in the water. Cormac tried catching them all but he couldn't, some falling back into the water. "You can't help everyone your Highness."

Iker stood and exited the bath, knowing he had to apologize later for over stepping his boundaries. For now he wanted for him to think about what he said. The Prince stared at the petals in his hands. "I'm willing to try. I'll get to know my people." he said, allowing the petals to fall from his grasp.

King Rhett stared at his palm, a red line presented, reminding him of the punishment he gave that lowly servant. He drank his wine gingerly, feeling no calmer than he did the day before. His hold on his glass increased, his knuckles going white. He took a sharp breath, the thought of Prince Cormac being fed lies by his servant made him think of his wife.

She was a handful to deal with, even now she was. Prince Cormac was too much like his mother, a kindred soul with no backbone. King Rhett chuckled to himself. The Queen did have a backbone, how else would she have defiled him and won the favour of the golden wings. The thoughts did no more than anger him. Let's hope that son of mine has a backbone, not that of his mother, King Rhett thought.

The Prince was sentimental. The King had long watched him act like a friend to his servant; a servant. Prince Cormac didn't understand that he stood above all. King Rhett needed for him to separate from those who stood below and those who stood on top. A king needed to maintain order, Seridina needed to be in order.

Prince Cormac entered the dinning hall after his bath and getting dress. Iker trotted behind him, his head hung low. Iker's words haunted the Prince much like how the King's words haunted Iker, the wounds that would haunt him forever. King Rhett took a sip from his glass, a sly smile on his lips when he saw Cormac's personal servant. The prince's  face was filled with confusion.

The King frowned, did he have to teach that lowly servant a lesson again. The Prince sat as his usual spot. His elbows propped onto the table, his fingers intertwined as he looked at the red cloth on the table. King Rhett placed his glass down. "Your coronation is on the horizon."

Cormac looked in the direction of the king. "Don't you think it's time I leave the castle, father?" the king eyed his son, knowing that this day would eventually come. "As the future King it's only right I know my people, to know about Area Fifteen. You've kept too many secrets from me father."

The King was having a rather hate filled morning. His day was set to be overthrown with anger. Iker looked towards the Prince, surprised that he considered what he had said. "You're not ready." the king spoke. "There's no need for you to venture outside. Area fifteen is plagued with a disease, nothing more."

Cormac hands fell to his side, thinking that his father would allow him even the slightest bit of information. "Then how am I supposed to be king if I don't know anything. The Kingdom is foreign to me. How am I to be the future king like this?"

The King stood to his feet, "You're not ready." he repeated. Let's hope you are before your coronation, he thought. King Rhett returned to his chambers, standing by his window with his arms crossed.

"You've been too quiet for far too long. Don't get in my way." He muttered to himself, looking at the small kingdom of Aperia.

Later that evening the prince took his plan into action. He slipped away from Iker. Sneaking into the servants quaters. His attire would draw the eyes of many, so he took a few of the servants clothing and changed. It was the last place they expected the prince to be. With everyone attending to their duties the place was practically empty. The door the servants used to exit the castle and venture into town was the route the prince took.

He was nervous as he hurried into town, his head hung low. What did the Kingdom of Seridina looked like up close. The view from his balcony would do nothing compared to seeing it up close. The Prince passed Pixie Tower, looking in amazement at the fancy houses. They were not as fancy as the caste, anything at this point that wasn't the castle walls was fascinating to Prince Cormac. A wide smile remained on his lips as he continued further into the Kingdom. He noticed that as he ventured down things began to change, the buildings and the people alike.

A crowd caught the Prince's eye. He hurried to the drawing, pushing through people as he made way to the front. A gasp left his lips, his eyes wide when he saw what was before him. A girl no older than him laid on the floor, a rather large man kicking her with much force. Her clothes were torn and dirty, a single shackle around her ankle with a number on it. The man shouted hurtful words at her, not stopping his foot from colliding with her face. The Prince looked around at everyone, wondering why no one was helping her. They had look of disgust on their faces, some looked to be enjoying the sight.

"Stop doing--" The prince voice was muffled by a hand covering his mouth. He was pulled out of the crowd, fighting to remove the hand that trapped him. "What are you doing?" He said, wiping his mouth as he turned to look at the perpetrator. A dark haired man stood before him, his expression unreadable as he looked to the dispersing crowd and back at Cormac.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." he said. "No matter who you are you shouldn't interfere."

Cormac frowned at the man, "Someone needs to help her!"

"You can't help everyone." The dark haired man said, looking into the depths of the Prince's eyes. There was something about the man that reminded him of his father. He had a powerful aura about him, that of a King or even a Prince. Cormac dismissed the thought, the only Prince here was him and there was no visits of another Prince or King to the kingdom. "Have patience." he patted the prince head.

The Prince was confused. He bowed in thanks, appreciating what the man had done. He turned on his heels and continued to Area Fifteen, the sight burned into his mind. The dark haired man watched the retreating back of the Prince, his arms crossed as he said, "I wonder what the Prince is doing here."

Cormac was now standing in the Garrett district, the sight had him speechless. His insides churn, boiling from anger at his father. How could he allow such living conditions of his people. Iker was right, he knew nothing of his people or the kingdom. A commotion caught his attention, the people of the Garrett district blocked out the noise that flowed through their home. They were use to such noise and what it meant, knowing that what was happening, there was nothing to be done. The Prince ran towards the noise, stopping when he saw the gates to Area fifteen, its walls standing tall.

A boy was running as they fired arrows at him. Cormac moved closer, the guards distracted by the running boy. He slipped his way inside, staying out of the line of fire. The Prince held a hand over his mouth, unable to comprehend the sight before him. This was area fifteen, a place where sinners in the eyes of the king are left to die.

Cormac saw an arrow lodged itself in the boy's leg and he fell, pulling a sack along with him as he hid behind a wall. The guards stopped firing when Commander Amir arrived, sending out orders as he gave the area a last look then left. Prince Cormac ran across to the spot where the boy had hid. He was startled when he saw Cormac, lowering the rock when he saw that it wasn't a guard.

"Are you okay?" He asked, looking at the arrow in his leg.

"Dandy." the boy replied, confusing the prince. He stood to his feet, droplets of blood on the ground. "I can walk." he shrugged Cormac's hand away.

"Sorry." the prince said, feeling dejected.

"Who are you anyways?" The boy asked, hopping along. "My saviour?" he joked, forcing a laugh through the pain.

Cormac knew he couldn't tell him he was the Prince. That would be stupid of him. He looked at his clothes. The moment he left the castle he was no longer the prince, he was someone else. "I'm Ace."

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