The low light of the fading fire wasn't enough to read by, and the young man in his study shouldn't have been reading in the dim light. In fact, as the light dwindled, the young man's right hand man pointed it out that he'd strain his eyes.
"Rhyd.. Will you at least tell me what you're even doing in here in the first place, other than playing nanny and telling me what I shouldn't do?"
"Sorry, my lord.. But it's true. Please, at least get the fire going again?"
"If I do will you tell me why you're in here desturbing my studies?"
"Of course, my lord."
The young man couldn't help but chuckle at that, throwing a log on the fire and working at it until the embers caught the log on fire and sent a crackling blaze dancing towards him. He moved back quickly, moving aside from the fire, the light much brighter now. Without hesitation, Rhyd spoke.
"My lord.. There's something you aught to know. About.. The Mastarian kingdom."
The young man's eyes lit up like the fire behind him. "I haven't heard about that place in a very long time. How are things there?"
Rhyd continued, his voice serious, yet, not quite answering the question. "King Thirsh has issued a... contest of sorts. Seems he's been having some sort of trouble with his daughers sneaking out--"
At this point, the young man burst out laughing. "Why am I not suprised?" The sound of Rhyd clearing his throat stopped the laughter, and allowed the man to continue.
"His daughters have been sneaking out, appearantly, to go dancing. He's spent a fortune replacing their dancing slippers, but they are completely worn out by morning. King Thirsh is tired of it, and is calling for anyone who can discover where they're going... and how exactly they're excaping their locked doors."
"So you're saying that all you've got to do to win this contest, is to discover where they're going and how they're sneaking out? Sounds easy. What's the prize?"
"One of the Twelve's hand in marriage. However, I'm afraid there's a catch."
"There always has to be one, doesn't there?" The young man sighed, but Rhyd continued.
"If you fail in this venture, the punishment is death."
The harsh words hit the young man like a ton of bricks. "So you're saying that I have the potential to win one of King Thirsh's daughter's hand in marriage... simply by risking my life to discover where they're sneaking out to?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Perfect! This is exactly the thing I need to test out my new abilities.."
"My lord, I'm all for testing your abilities, but is it necissary?"
"Of course. After all... it'll be nice to see Adelle again." The young man turned to his books, searching for a certain one. "Oh, and Rhyd? I'm going to need a good amount of cloth and some thread.."
Rhyd nodded, shaking his head at the young man. "Very well, Prince Jason... it is your funeral." With that, the prince's right hand man left, leaving Jason with his thoughts and schemes for winning that contest.