Chapter 6
Meeting the Mage Prince
Joey quickly got off his horse and shook out the plain clothes he wore. They needed to change quickly before they were introduced to the king and queen of Crishan. He turned and saw Serenity was having trouble getting off her horse and went over to help.
While he helped her down, he tried to remember what he knew about Crishan. When he was a squire, he had visited Crishan with his knight master. The knight, Sir Richard, had gone to see his friend Sir Christopher. While they visited, he listened to the talk about the castle. The 'angelic' castle was home to the King Sef and his beautiful wife Queen Kamilah. He learned that they had a son, about his age, that was a mage.
Joey had never met a mage in person before. He wasn't gifted in magic, neither was Serenity. He had seen the boy novice's in black, running around with orders from their teachers. In his whole life, Joey had only seen one white robed mage. His name was Master Razorleaf. Razorleaf had dark green magic. Once Mages got to master level, they were aloud to pick their own last names and were still considered higher than most.
Anyway, he never learned the prince's name, only that, at the age of 16, the boy was already an orange robe with a white stripe. Joey turned out of the stable, noticing that he was the last one to leave. He had to hurry up. He was expected.
"Visitors, Tristan?" a women asked, voice gentle.
"Yes Majesty. They arrived about an hour ago. They are here now. Should I let them in?" Tristan asked. Tristan was an official guard to the queen.
"Yes. Don't announce them."
As Tristan left, the queen sighed and watched the doors, violet eyes sharpened. The Queen Kamilah was in fact, very beautiful. She had large violet eyes and long black hair. Her crow shone proudly on her head. It was silver with rubies and amethysts. She wore an elegant gown made of satin that was dark violet. She heard the door open and stood up to greet her guests.
Four people walked in, not counting Tristan. There were two females and two males. The first female had her head bowed so Kamilah couldn't see her face. She was dressed in a dark sapphire dress with silver lace on the cuffs and hem. The other girl was shorter by about two inches and her head was held eyes. She made eye contact with the queen and she had honey brown eyes and fiery auburn tresses. A light pink dress with a golden trim was her attire.
The boy directly behind the red head was a tall man with messy blond hair and cocoa brown eyes. Dressed in a brown shirt and dark green breeches and white stocking covered by brown boots. The man behind the brunette also had brunette hair (maybe darker). He had an icy glare that made her look away before she could analyze him.
They stopped two yards away from her and bowed (the girls curtsied). She nodded her head. She spoke first, "Welcome to Crishan. I am Queen Kamilah. Who might are you, young ones?"
The red head spoke. "I am Princess Serenity of Sekina."
Kamilah was shocked. Crishan's neighboring royalty here? The princess continued, "This is my older brother Prince Joseph."
The blonde smiled and bowed. "This is Prince Seto of Arilea."
Kamilah almost gasped. Two royal families! The other man nodded at her, frowning. "And my friend, Lady Anzu of Evankay."
The brunette curtsied and looked up, cerulean orbs looked with the queens.
"Welcome! Welcome!" The Queen exclaimed, "It has been a long time since Crishan has seen its neighbors. Tell me, how are your families."
There was a pause then Joey spoke up. "Queen Kamilah, it has been several years since our countries have contacted each other. That last time I saw all of us together was at my mother's funeral. Last week our father," he nodded towards Serenity, "was stabbed by a robe man,"
The Queen gasped. Coren was dead? How could this be?
"Who was this man?" she asked.
"We have no idea, Queen Kamilah. Before he left it recited a prophecy to us. The Six elements prophecy," Joey saw the Queen freeze, "Have you heard of it?"
She nodded solemnly.
"Before you continue Prince of Sekina," the Queen said, "I would like to know why you have the Arilean Prince here."
"I," Seto said coldly, "was asked a few days back to help these two. We all have something in common. We have something to do with this prophecy. Oh, and my step-father died a few months ago if you were wondering."
"Wouldn't that make you King?" Tristan questioned.
Seto turned. He hadn't even noticed the boy. Tristan was Joey's height with dark brown hair in a strange style. He wore the royal uniform of red and amethyst. "No," Seto sneered, "I need a wife to become King, as does the mu- I mean Prince Joseph."
"Why did you come here?" the Queen questioned.
"We need help," Anzu said, speaking for the first time.
"How can I help you?"
"Mother!"
The four turned to see a boy only an inch taller than Anzu. He seemed a bit taller because he had the strangest hair any of them had seen before. It was like a star. It had magenta on the edges and had five streaks of blonde. The rest was black. His blonde bangs framed sharp violet orbs, which regarding the four in confusion.
"My son. These are the princes and princess of Arilea and Sekina. From Sekina Serenity and Joseph. From Arilea Seto. Their friend here," the Queen said nodding towards Anzu, "is Lady Anzu of Evankay. Friends, this is Prince Yami."
Serenity listened to the Queen tell this boy their names. He turned to them in turn bowing with his head down. When Anzu was called she could have sworn she saw a faint blush. She smiled. Anzu was red as well. Hm… Serenity thought, I wonder…
When the introductions were over Serenity watched Yami walk up towards the Queen. She saw he was dressed in a long red robe with an orange stripe on the hem. Was this boy a mage? Yami turned towards them, "It is very nice to meet you all. Mother why are they here?"
Serenity watched the Queen as she answered. She looked sterner now; the laughter was gone from her eyes. "Son," she said, "They come to us with terrible news."
Retelling the deaths of the Kings, Serenity watched Yami's face fall. "I'm sorry for your losses," he said sincerely. He didn't know what life would be like with out his father.
"They also come with a quest."
Yami's eyes flickered with interest. "A quest?" Yami asked.
"They are looking for the six elements."
When she said these words images flashed through Yami's mind. A stone written in a language that had died thousands of years before; six people surrounded by different color auras; a tall figure above that reeked of evil…Yami shook his head. What did all this mean?
"From the legend?"
"Yes and Yami…" the Queen faltered.
"Mother?"
The Queen stared at her only child. It was inevitable. "You must go with them," she said and then choked on her held back tears.
Yami stared at his mother. Why? Why did he have to help them? "Why?" he asked, not noticing that his voice was a mere whisper.
The Queen smiled weakly. "Because," she said, "You are one of them."
No one spoke. Serenity stared at the boy in wonder and amazement. They had found one.
"Yami, where are we going?" Joey asked.
For the past few hours, Joey had been getting acquainted with the prince and now was allowed to call him Yami (Yami could Joey, Joey, also). He learned that the Prince was his age and was almost a white robe; only one more stripe. Yami turned to look at Joey who rode next to him.
"My mother said that we will reach an inn before the rain starts. She said it was a few hours ride from the castle," Yami said.
He turned around in his saddle to look at the three behind them. Seto was behind the girls, looking as though he was thinking very hard about something. When they made eye contact he tried not to look away, but had to. He watched as Serenity talked to the other girl, Anzu. It must have been a joke or something funny because the brunette started giggling like crazy.
He decided he liked her laugh. It wasn't loud like those idiots at the castle, laughing at things that really weren't funny. It wasn't quiet either like his mother's ladies in waiting. It was perfect.
"Yami, what is the inn's name?" Joey asked.
"Top of the Mountain."
"I think we found it." Joey pointed towards a wooden building in front of them. The lights were on shone through the windows, casting a warm glow.
As they reached the door, Serenity felt a drop on her shoulder. Looking skyward she felt another plop on her forehead, then another and another, and another. "It's raining," Joey said.
"Thanks for stating the obvious, Mutt," Seto said.
The five tied their horses up quickly and ran into the inn.
Thanks for reading! Chapter 7 coming soon! Please read and Review.
-Em