Chapter one

Darien ran a rough hand through his overlong black hair; his keen blue eyes looked out over the small village, what was left of it. It had been six years since the sickness had struck, killing almost half the population of the kingdom. Six years, and this village was still falling apart at the seams, once a proud village of 500 souls, now there were only 150 if that.

The fields were overgrown and most of the crops were ruined already. There were piles of dead and decaying livestock, the houses were falling apart, and most had been ransacked and left in states of disrepair. Half the village was starving and would probably not make it through the year, so much work was to be done but there were just simply not enough people to do it. For three years now they had been unable to meet the taxes, even though the King had reduced it several times over the last few years.

"Look at this mess." Darien said finally turning to his companion. The tall blonde man beside him surveyed the land indifferently.

"It's no worse than the last six villages we've seen Lord Darien, remember the last one with all those women?" He said even as they both shuttered.

"An entire village full of prostitutes, of course I remember Sir Malcolm. I suppose next to that, this isn't so terrible." Darien replied evenly.

"This is a lack of leadership, we can fix that." Malcolm said absently rubbing his hand against his three week old beard. He had not had a decent shave or hair cut for weeks, he looked more like a scraggily urchin than the personal guard of the crown prince. But for that matter Darien did not look much like a prince now either, he was as hairy and filthy as his guard.

"How long have we been at this?" Darien asked warily.

"Too long." Malcolm answered just as wearily.

"You've got that right." Darien murmured. It had been almost two and half years since they'd began their tedious work. The kingdom was falling apart; eight years ago the sickness began, running through the rich and poor, throughout the kingdom killing thousands upon thousands of people. No one knew what it was or how to cure it, so many died, it was virtually impossible not to know someone who had been affected. Two years of nonstop death, of good men, and evil men, of innocence, and guilty, it simply didn't matter. When death finally stopped a brand new problem began, how to run a kingdom that had been cut in half? The kingdom was in utter ruin, no food was coming in from the farms, no money, no goods no nothing, at that time the only people who had any wealth were the undertakers and the grave diggers. Things had greatly improved since, however most villages and smaller regions had not recovered, and so two and a half years ago, the king commissioned twelve knights to journey the length of the Kingdom lending help to all that needed it. Twelve knights chosen personally by the crown prince, handpicked for their abilities.

Darien had argued quiet ineffectively, that twelve knights were hardly enough for a mission of this proposed size. The King however had dismissed his concerns, and sent them out into the kingdom, blissfully ignorant of the enormity of the task before them. It hadn't taken them long to realize how wrong the reports had been. The kingdom was still almost entirely in ruins, thousands of subjects were dead or dying, and more were on the verge of starvation. The majority of the food coming into the capital was coming from a few large townships, but the rest of kingdom was still suffering quite badly. Thus had begun the two and half years of hellish circumstance that had plagued the prince and his cohorts; long gone where their hopes of quick return, and glory. Most would remember this time as being similar to a war, and would never speak of their journeys again.

"Too long indeed," Darien agreed, surveying the distance with ease. He had long since learned how to take in such information quickly and efficiently. "Suppose we just run away, you and me, we could travel to another kingdom and pose as merchants."

"We could, except that neither of us has any idea how to sell anything," Malcolm pointed out with a grin. "We could go join some rich woman's harem, once we shave and bathe of course." He offered instead.

"We could, except I don't know any rich women with Harems, do you?" Darien asked, not entirely joking.

"No I don't either; I suppose we'd better get on with it then." He agreed resigned.

"Right, but keep your eyes open for rich women." Darien said, "There's bound to be some, somewhere."

"With Harems that need filling," Malcolm added. "I wouldn't mind being a kept man at any rate."

"You and I both," Darien said with a wide grin, "Suppose we find a boat…"

"Prince Darien, we can't keep stalling you know." Malcolm cut him off, pointing toward the village. "I'm all for escape, but we can't ignore these poor people forever."

"You know Sir Malcolm; you only ever refer to me as 'Prince' Darien, when there's something particularly nasty you'd like me to attend to." He pointed out, making a face.

"Well, my liege, you only start referring to escaping on boats when there's something outright horrible you're about to ask me to do." Malcolm reminded him.

"Well now that you mention it, good sir," Darien replied, turning fully to him now all humour gone from his handsome face, "Do you know where we are?"

"Of course I do, this is Hamersley." Malcolm said confused.

"Yes it is, and do you know where Hamersley is?" Darien persisted.

"North of Vanderholm and east of the capital." Malcolm replied easily.

"Indeed, and what good sir is just west of this village?" Darien asked, stealing himself for the tidal wave of anger that would soon be coming from his closest friend.

"Pict," Malcolm said frowning, still not understanding his companions point.

"Yes, and who lives in Pict?" He asked pointedly.

"My mother," Malcolm said comprehension coming to his hard face. "Lord Darien..." He began angrily.

"You haven't seen her since the illness…" Darien cut him off.

"We are not going to Pict!" He roared angrily.

"She's your mother!" Darien yelled right back, not at all intimidated by his outburst.

"Exactly, she's my mother!" Malcolm threw back at him furiously. "She is not your concern!"

"Then act like it!" Darien shot at him, "She has written you so many letters, and you have ignored them all!"

"What would you have had me say to her?" Malcolm asked angrily, "I'm sorry that the man you loved doesn't care if you live or die, but is entirely obsessed with me, and won't let me leave the capital?"

"What's your excuse now, brother?" Darien asked coldly.

"Don't call me that!" Malcolm replied irately. "I am not…"

"We have the same father that makes us brothers." Darien interrupted stubbornly.

"You are the Crown Prince, I'm just a knight." Malcolm whispered softly, anguish in his voice.

"She misses you, why won't you see her?" Darien asked, ignoring Malcolm's comment. "Don't you miss her? I miss her for god sakes!"

"Of course you miss her! She doesn't look at you like your ripping her heart to shreds!" He growled at the prince, "You don't look like…him!"

"She loves you," Darien began.

"Just because you have no relationship with your own mother, does not give you the right to intervene in mine!" Malcolm responded furiously.

"My mother is a witch; your mother is an angel!" Darien told him, unperturbed by his statement. "What about your brother?" He asked.

"What about your brother? You haven't seen Seiya in years." Malcolm pointed out, irritated.

"He is back at the capital, I saw him just fine during the illness." Darien said, "Yaten got married did you know?" He asked, watching the blonde man's reaction. "He has children now, you're an Uncle."

"I know what my brother did, thank you very much." Malcolm said coldly. "He got some poor village girl pregnant, and then he had to marry her."

"He most certainly did not! Do you even know who his wife is?" Darien cried angrily, "He married Molly!"

"Molly!" Malcolm said shocked. "Molly Rotherham?"

"Yes Molly Rotherham, Molly sister of…" He began triumphantly.

"Damn it I know who her sister is!" Malcolm cut him off.

"Do you? Is that why you won't go to Pict?"

"Why I won't go to Pict…"

"Yes, yes I know it's none of my concern." Darien finished for him exasperated. "You might remember that Mina was just a girl then."

"Don't," Malcolm said holding up his hand to silence the Prince. "I don't need reminding."

"She's not married you know," Darien told him with a wary smile.

"Neither is her twin I'm sure, you remember Serena don't you?" Malcolm offered with a dark smile, Darien shuttered.

"Oh god, I forgot all about that demon child." He replied. "Of course she's not married, who would wed that lunatic."

"Umm, Mina's not married you say?" Malcolm asked nonchalantly, though inside he was burning at the thought.

"That's what your mother said." He agreed.

"My mother? Have you been reading my letters?" Malcolm asked the Prince irately.

"Of course not! You're mother writes to me too you know," He told the big man smugly. "She likes me, she says I can come and visit and play with my nieces and nephews any time I want."

"Did she? I suppose she's lined up a nice village girl for you to wed." Malcolm said smiling broadly at the idea, "Some hell fire kitten, who would put you right in your place."

"I hope she did find me a bride!" Darien replied defiantly "I would love to settle down and have a few children; I don't intend to die alone, Sir Knight."

"She always liked the Rotherham girls; I suppose she would think Serena was just the girl for you." He pointed out smirking at the idea.

"Oh for heaven sake, don't say that too loudly! I'd rather marry the village idiot than that she-devil!" Darien said, sticking his tongue out in distaste. Serena Rotherham was like poison to him.

"I don't understand you," Malcolm replied smiling even wider now, enjoying this topic much more than the idea of his mother. "She's beautiful and intelligent…"

"Too intelligent, she thinks she's a bloody man!" Darien cut him off pulling a face.

"She doesn't look anything like a man, she's a little thin, but she is smooth as silk." He pointed out.

"Yes well she may be pretty, but that mouth of hers! The girl can't shut up!" He reminded the knight.

"Oh yes that mouth of hers," Malcolm said smiling, "I forgot you like them dumb and willing."

"At least then they don't argue with me about taxation and Suffrage!" He replied irately. "Bedding her would be like bedding a man! I bet she doesn't even have lady parts under those breaches she wears!"

"There's only one way to find out good sir, and I think you know how that is." Malcolm told him smoothly.

"Bah! As if I would want anything to do with that boney arse of hers!" Darien said disgusted at the idea. "She doesn't even have breasts to speak of!"

"Oh I forgot you like them right voluptuous and dumb as a barrel of bricks, my mistake." Malcolm said.

"I like to bed women, Sir." He pointed out.

"She is a woman!" Malcolm assured him.

"No, her sisters are women, especially that Amara, now there is a woman!" Darien said smiling, thinking off the tallest of the Rotherham sisters.

"Are you out of your ever loving mind? Amara is flat homely!" Malcolm said incredulously. "Why she even walks like a man!"

"Maybe a little, but those breasts, there aren't a finer pair in the entire kingdom I warrant." Darien said.

"Well that is true, she does have the breasts of goddess," Malcolm agreed. "Though I still think Mina is the most beautiful of the lot."

"You would think that," Darien said easily, "But personally my tastes run more toward curvaceous women, like the lovely lady Lita."

"Be careful Lord Darien, I would bet my prize horse that she is one of our half sisters." Malcolm reminded him,

"I hope not!" Darien replied, pulling a face, "I'm sure father has all intention of marrying her to Seiya."

"I doubt that, doesn't she remind you a bit of the King?" Malcolm asked.

"Indeed, this is why I stay away from all courtly women, one never knows if they are our sisters, or future brides." Darien said, "When I take a wife, it will only be her that carries my children."

"You and I both," Malcolm agreed.

"So, Pict in a fortnight?" Darien asked, thought they both knew it was not a question so much as a veiled order.

"I suppose I have no choice do I prince?" Malcolm asked vaguely bitter.

"Not a one, Sir, come on now do not act as if I do you unkindness." Darien said. "In fairness it is for your own good."

"My own good, my arse, you just want to play with Yaten's babes." Malcolm snorted derisively.

"Ah but then, so do you brother," Darien countered with a smirk.

"Yes," Malcolm agreed finally, not entirely ungraciously. He did in fact miss his mother, and brother. And he longed to see his new sister and nieces and nephews. Mostly though he would never admit it, he longed to see Mina, the woman he had once been betrothed too.

0000

Lord Seiya all but rushed into the throne room, his dark hair coming loose from the leather thong used to tie it back. His hands were actually trembling, as he pushed open the wide doors that separated the throne room from the rest of court. Normally the magnificent hand carved image of the first king Endymion and his six sons were enough to take his breath away. Today however he had no interest in it whatsoever, he had all but run from his chambers, across the castle to the throne room, barely taking the time to button his courtly robes. Somewhere along the way he'd lost one of his hand made slippers, and was currently hobbling noisily. He looked utterly dishevelled and sweaty, not at all like the prince that he was.

"Father, Father!" he yelled out interrupted a minor noble that had audience with the king. The king was seated on the high throne, bathed in silks and velvets, of the richest hue of bright blue, to perfectly match his arctic eyes. The king was as magnificent to look at his many the many statues that surrounded the throne room. His white gold hair, tied up tight, showing his hard jaw, and still taut skin. Though it could not be seen under his ceremonial robes, the king was still as fit as he had been as a youth. His blazing eyes were just barely surrounded by faint wrinkles, and kindly lines danced against his firm mouth. His white beard grazed his face, highlighting his angular features perfectly. It was said that the king was so handsome in his youth that women all but threw themselves at his feet. Age had refined those good looks so well, that the king was said to have well over a hundred mistresses, none of whom knew they were bedding the king of course. Despite his legendary good looks, the king was stately and tall, at least a head taller than the rest of the court, his leonine head was often visible from any area in castle.

"My son, what brings you to my throne so excitable?" The king asked, amused at his beloved son. It was no secret that Seiya had the king's favour; he out of all the sons of king was placed in the court as far away from the army and violence as the king could swing it, though he trained as a knight like the Crown Prince. He alone was permitted to visit the king is his chambers, at anytime that he wished.

"Father, we must speak at once, it is of utmost importance." He gasped out, leaning against a massive statue, attempting to catch his long, lost breath. His lungs had never been the same since the sickness had struck him years ago, and though the young prince was glad he had survived he still mourned the loss of his stamina.

"Indeed? Duke Gregory, I'm afraid we will have to discuss the matter of Dowry some other time, perhaps you will return for the autumn feast, and we can hammer out these matters then, yes?" The King said turning to face the nobleman who was looking rather put out at the intrusion.

"Yes your Highness, perhaps we can even begin the arrangements, I should like to marry Princess Amy before winter, least we have to intrude on your hospitality through the cold season." The duke said rather forcefully. He had been trying to coax the king into permitting the marriage for years now, and had finally gotten his approval, he did not wish to wait any longer to marry and bed the famed Ice princess.

"We shall see good Duke, but for know I await you're arrival at the autumn feast." The king replied offhand, he had already dismissed the man, much more eager for the presence of his son.

"I shall beg your leave good King, and yours as well Prince Seiya." The duke said bowing first to the king and then to his second son. Then he walked backward away from the throne and toward the ajar doors, careful never to turn his back on his king.

"You can't seriously be considering him for Amy father," Seiya said incredulously, "the man is a bore, and gambler and a womanizer!"

"Somehow I do not think you rushed in here to give me your opinion on your sisters' suitors," The king replied smiling broadly at his son, "What is the matter son? What has you so concerned?"

"Our Amy is a sweet, beautiful girl, he as much wants to bed her, as he desires her dowry, and he has no real interest in the Princess!"Seiya said coldly, "he is a snake; he will do nothing but make our Amy miserable!" The king threw back his leonine head and laughed out, his massive chest shaking with mirth.

"Oh my son, oh do not hide, tell me truly what you think of this man, no need to hide behind such piteous words." He said finally, chuckling at his son's ire. "My son, I did not mean your concern about the Duke; I mean your reason for coming to me in the first place." He clarified.

"Oh," The prince said shamefaced, "I do not approve of him," He said needlessly.

"Indeed, I had not noticed." The king said sarcastically, though not unkindly. "Enough of this son, do not keep me in suspense, what is it you came to tell me?"

"Oh father," Seiya said feeling foolish for his outburst, "That is a matter of graveness, our enemy to the north has amassed his armies, and it appears he is readying them to march on our kingdom,"

"Lorenza's brother? I should have known things were much to quiet on his front," The king said sadly. His brother-in-law King Victorio had never forgiven Endymion Darien for taking his sister. Victorio believed that king had disgraced her, and his family, and essentially turned his sister into a concubine. For this slight he wanted nothing more than to destroy the whole of the kingdom, and kill the king himself. In addition it was rumoured that Endymion had bedded the Victorio's one true love, and left her with a bastard child.

"Father, we must call together our own army, my spies tell me that he is a few months or so away from being ready to march." Seiya pressed, sensing his father's melancholy. He and Victorio had once been great friends, but since he had wed his beloved sister there had been no peace between the two.

"We must call back your brothers and the knights; I fear we will have need of them soon." Endymion replied finally.

"Yes, but first we must send word throughout the kingdom, to assemble our armies," Seiya said, knowing full well that they might not reach his brothers nor the knights in time. The kingdom was vast, and where the twelve had journeyed was into the poorest and farthest out, it would take days, if not weeks to reach any of them.

"You are right my son, but we are in need of our crown prince, and our best swordsmen, send word immediately to the furthest reaches of the kingdom, assemble our fastest messengers, and find my knights," The king replied.

"But father, it could take months to find them, we must begin assembling our men first," Seiya began desperately, hoping to make his father understand.

"Then all the more reason to begin immediately." The king said dismissively.

"Father I will go personally and find each of the knights, but first please, we must call forth our army!" Seiya said, reasoning with his father, "Then when we find the knights all will be ready for them."

"No! You will not leave the capital! Not you my son! Send the messengers, and then you may send word to the rest of the army." The king agreed finally, terror stealing his previous resolve, the idea of Seiya being in danger was more than he could bear, he had come much too close to losing his son to ever let him out of his sight again. Seiya breathed a sigh of relieve, his father was most wise in all matters except warfare, he was not a tactician, and so often hid behind the crown Prince's expertise. Seiya himself was no expert, but he was not fool either, he knew they could not afford to wait for Darien before they began preparing for the war that was sure to come.

"I beg your leave then, I will send word immediately." Seiya said calmly, bowing to his father.

"Seiya heed me well, you are not to leave the capital!" The king said, fear still grasping his heart. "Send forth the messengers,"

"I will send word immediately," Seiya agreed, walking backward to the door, careful not to meet his father's eyes. Seiya had every intention of sending word, but he was also the fastest rider in the kingdom, he knew if there was any hope of find his brothers before all hell broke loose, he would have to do the searching. He marched himself first toward his chambers, he had to ready himself for what was to come, he had but one chance to escape the castle, and then only a few hours to be gone from the capital before his father found out what he intended to do.