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Jace looked out the carriage window as it rattled down the well-worn path. All was silent, minus the quiet clip-clop of the horses' hooves hitting the dirt and the rustling of many leaves in the gentle breeze. Strong sunlight was filtered by the forest canopy, casting large shadows over the carriage and the leaf strewn ground.

"Jace, are you even listening to me?" An impatient voice snapped, followed by the sound of someone rapidly snapping their fingers by his ears.

Still facing away from the snappish man, Jace rolled his amber eyes and tore his gaze away from the calm scenery. Slightly slouching in his seat, he lazily turned in his royal blue cushioned seat to face his advisor and tutor, Hodge.

"No, not really," he drawled, taking pleasure in the annoyed look clouding his advisor's face. Smirking at Hodge, he continued in a lazy voice, making sure to prolong the vowel sounds, "Care to read it again?"

Hodge growled quietly, eyeing his posture disapprovingly, and ran a calloused hand through his brown hair, which was streaked gray with age. He pushed his glasses up in a frustrated manner and oresisted the urge to smack the cheeky golden haired prince. Quickly standing up from his seat, Hodge hissed, his cranky voice like nails on a chalkboard, "No, if you won't listen, then read it yourself!" Unceremoniously shoving the aging scrolls, he resisted his own smirk upon catching the distressed glare Jace threw at him.

Alec, who sat next to Hodge, sent the prince an amused smile upon hearing the grumpy mumbles coming from his paravarti. Although trying to calm Jace's temper, he couldn't help but feel thankful that he didn't have to go over the rules of court… again. Catching the scowl Jace sent him, he snapped his gaze back to the book his tutor had demanded he read.

Frowning, Jace looked down at the roll of papers, skimming the small meticulous writing. "Do not speak to the King unless spoken to, do not bring weapons into the castle, do not wear hats, do not," His eyes widened in surprise, "Strike an opponent with a knife longer than 12 inches?! What kind of court is this?"

Hodge fixed him with a stern gaze.
"I told you it was a strange court; you should have reviewed the rules earlier. A prince must be responsible, and so far, you haven't shown yourself to be fit for the throne!" Jace scowled at that comment, his eyes narrowed as he opened his mouth to retort, but was cut off as Alec's voice broke through the tense atmosphere of the carriage, "We're almost there, look out the window!"

Jace looked out the window, seeing the trees thinning out and expected to see some scattered farms near the citadel, just like the ones they passed along the country side. To say he was shocked would be an understatement, instead of a lively town filled with hardworking people, all the prince saw was a bleak town, many of the houses worn down and some missing roofs. The few trees around the so-called town were withered; many of the gnarled trunks now lay fallen on the muddy ground. The calm feel of the forest was gone, replaced by a gray, dark place that seemed void of any life, save for a few thin, straggly looking people that glared bitterly as the carriage rode by.

"By the angel, look at the castle!" Alex breathed, eyes sparkling in admiration towards whatever his gaze was fixated on. He had pressed himself against his window, not at all affected by the run-down town. Jace looked outside his window at the castle, forcing images of the poor people out of his mind as he did so. His breath caught in his throat as he caught site of the impressive-looking castle, which stood above the town on vicious looking rocks that even the bravest knights wouldn't attempt to scale. The castle blended in perfectly with the rocks, albeit it was a bit... gloomier than Jace had expected. It was tall, dark and imposing with sharp, steep towers. The flickering of many candles were seen through a few windows, and as they approached twisting metal gates that opened to a winding path up to the castle gate, Jace swallowed, feeling an intense dread settle heavily upon his broad shoulders.

"Hodge..." Jace began nervously, "do we really have to do this?" Upon catching his mentor's disapproving glare, he quickly added, "Surely there's someone else to marry? Perhaps someone with, I don't know, more to give to my father's kingdom?"

"There isn't." Hodge replied curtly, a frown working its way onto his aging face as he saw Jace's distressed gaze. "All other young ladies of high social status are already married."

"Why do I have to marry anyways?" Jace asked, a hint of irritation seeping into his voice, "Can't I just rule on my own?"

Hodge sighed for what seemed like the millionth time that day. "Don't be ridiculous, you will need an heir."

Jace scowled, "But surely-"

Hodge cut him off, lifting his chin and saying the words the prince had heard from his father numerous times before. "A King is only as good as the one to succeed him."

"Besides..." Alex says slowly, trying to ease the obvious tension in the air. He reached out and placed a calming hand on his paravarti's shoulder. "I hear the princess's beauty exceeds all others in Idris. It's said that her red hair looks like raging fire; they mean that in a good way, of course." He threw a smile at Jace, who in return gave a quirk of his lips, before continuing. "What everyone seems to be most captivated with though, is her eyes. Supposedly, they shine brighter than dragons' hidden treasure and a gobbling kings gold."

Jace found himself mesmerized by the picture Alec's words wove in his mind. He found himself envisioning a young, confident girl with a voice as smooth as honey and beauty unlike any other. No longer listening to Alec prattle on about the princess, the prince smiled genuinely for the first time since leaving his kingdom.

"Enough of this," Hodge snapped, cutting Alec off and pulling Jace from his thoughts, "Her beauty will mean nothing unless you succeed in achieving her hand in marriage." The graying man smoothed down his wrinkled clothing and adjusted his glasses before adding hurriedly, "Now sit up straight, and be prepared to present yourself."

Jace took deep breaths as the carriage trundled through the castle gates and up the final round of the steep rocky path. Making an effort to calm his racing heart, he took in a deep breath and straightened up.

Relax, he thought, there has never been a lady you've been unable to charm. This girl will be no exception, even if she does reside in such a backwards place. Besides, who can resist my devilish charm?

He repeated that in his head, growing more confident in his abilities as a ladies' man while a nervous footman carefully helped them out of the carriage. A few servants ran around, collecting the carriages cargo and carrying it up to where, Jace guessed, they were staying. An unusually pale servant came up to the trio, bowing and offering apologies for his master's, the prince's, tardiness. Hodge nodded and with a dismissive wave from Jace, the servant scurried off, probably to help the other servants unload the carriage. The golden haired prince couldn't help but notice that his skin looked tight, like it was stretched very thinly across his face. A light wind blew by, ruffling Jace's hair and causing many of the torches used to light up the entrance to the castle to flicker.

Once he was out of sight, Alec whispered, "They should find a healthier butler." Jace nodded in agreement; glad he wasn't the only one to notice.

"Norman is perfectly healthy, I can assure you that." A male's voice said. Alec . Alec jumped guiltily and looked towards the heavy iron doors that led into the castle. A chuckle was heard and the trio turned around to face the owner of the voice. Jace couldn't help but notice the way Hodge stiffened upon hearing the voice, a well hidden spark of fear in his eyes.

The stranger was tall with extremly blond hair, so blond that it looked almost white, and black eyes with a cruel glint in them. He looked as muscular as Jace but his body was more on the lean side, he was slightly taller than the visiting prince too. His cruel gaze shifted from one to the other, assessing them; Jace saw the way his lips twisted into something resembling a smirk upon spotting Hodge and the way his tutor quickly averted his gaze.

Jace stepped up to meet the stranger, his shoulders stiff with tension. Extending his hand, he put on a fake smile and forced his voice to sound light, "Jace Wayland, son of King Michael Wayland and Prince of Wayfare. He couldn't help the suspicion in his voice as he added, "You are?"

The stranger smiled, just as fake as Jace, and clasped the offered hand. His voice was smooth as honey, but Jace caught the underlying threat in his voice as he answered, "Jonathan Morgenstern, heir to the throne and," his voice hardened considerably as he continued, his black eyes drifting past Jace and landing on a panicked Hodge, "Son of King Valentine Morgenstern."

So... Yeah. Check out morg their stories. I want to thank my Co-writer Leaping Lizard, she's just so awesome and I lover her. I'll have her pop in next chapter. Review please? They make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside.