Hey guys, here's a little teaser for part 2 of the Prince. Just something I want to share before the year ends. I will be updating the full version soon, don't worry. Thanks for reading. Happy holidays. :3

The candles burned and flickered around him, basking everything in warm shades of yellows and reds. His plate sat untouched before him, filled with food he knew he could never afford even if he sold everything he owned though his stomach recoiled from the thought of eating. The fisherman's mind was set on divulging the disturbing images he had seen hours ago by the bay where had sat quietly.

"Are you certain of this?"

The man in front of him spoke for the first time since he had told everything. Lord Landervale was indeed intimidating for his young age. He had long black hair, neatly gathered in a gold clasp that left his tresses to rest on one shoulder. His eyes were the color of the forest, deep green, glinting in the shadow and his face was smooth, unmarred by lines of aging. His garb consisted of a green tunic and brown breeches, topped with a long ochre robe, simple yet obviously finely-made. The insignia of his house was engraved into a small pendant that hung from the chain around his neck. The wise owl stared back at the fisherman across the noble Lord Conrad Landervale.

The fisherman swallowed deeply before answering. " Yes m'lord. Seen it wid' mah own eyes. De cold came when he passed by meh, and de puddle 'neath his feet froze like it were winter a'ready. I believed him mad de way his devil eyes sparked and burned wid blu' fire. I'm sure o' it!" He finished, clenching his trembling hands beneath the table.

The lord simply raised a fine brow, his eyes calculating and piercing. He studied the fisherman for a while, noticing the untouched food before him. The peasant flinched under his gaze, noticing the way his liege looked at his plate. He immediately grabbed the spoon and dug in, mouthing a " ah meant no disrespect m'lord" as he chewed, still the lord continued to stare at him.

The fisherman tore his eyes away from the noble and watched the two guards warily as they stood motionless behind the lord. The moment he had recovered from the initial shock of what he had seen he had immediately ran to one of the castle guards and asked for an audience with whomever would hear his story, more guards came to gather him later on, only to show him into the room where the Lord Landervale himself sat.

Lord Conrad's stoic face made him uneasy and he couldn't help but doubt his own eyes. No, I saw wat I saw. He tried to reassure himself. Only when he had put the spoon down that the Lord spoke again, his voice deep and gentle, yet demanding at the same time.

"Who is this man you speak of?"

" T'was Madeline's boy m'lord. Madeline Bluehill. She be de lady of de Southern Belle. I dunno of his name but I seen de boy before, strong lad that one, he always carry two crates when I deliver meh fish to 'em. But a strange one too, he always be frowning and brooding that boy, never seen 'im speak too much"

" Was he alone when you saw him?"

" No m'lord, der was a girl wid him. Ah foreigner lass, never seen her in dis part before. Pretty little thing too-"

The fisherman hesitated to continue when the Lord leaned towards him, an elbow on the table. This made his face less hidden in the shadows and the fisherman could see how young the lord actually was. He not be a day over twenty and five! Ladies be swooning 'round him. His train of thought broke when he saw a corner of the lord's mouth tip up a little, his eyes glinting dangerously.

"And did this girl do anything...unnatural too?" The Lord whispered quietly.

"Ah-ah dunno m'lord. Ah only paid attention to de boy"

There was a little twitch in Lord Conrad's mouth before he leaned back again and gracefully stood, his robe swishing as he turned to leave.

"Thank you for the information fisherman. Be assured your services won't be forgotten" The lord said over his shoulder, advancing towards the exit.

The fisherman still had one thing on his mind. He also stood up and took a few steps towards the direction of the Lord.

"What'll happen to 'em, M'lord?" The words flew from his mouth in a whisper before he could stop them. Lord Conrad had still heard him, stopping by the door with two guards flanking him. His figure was shadowed but the fisherman could clearly see the deep jade of his eyes as he slightly turned.

"... Same thing that happens to anything evil that comes to our shores. The cold shall not touch the South again"

With those words, the lord left.

* For more on the Landervales please read the Reference chapter as always.