CHAPTER 5: Rothbart
"The Great Animal…"
Rothbart, even in this monstrous form, can hear the panicked aw in Prince Derek's voice. That is what Rothbart always wanted. That fear. Such fear would get him willing subjects.
Rothbart has seen war. And this—this child, this young one who can barely be called a man, this spoiled prince knows nothing of true suffering—Rothbart will teach him the truth. He starts tossing him through the air like a pebble. He barely weighs anything with the immense strength Rothbart feels in this form.
Prince Derek, the poor, pathetic boy who thinks grand deeds will get him fame, peace, and the girl, will know the truth as he lays dying in the mud. With his last breath, he will acknowledge Rothbart's strength and the true power of the Forbidden Arts.
Fear. Beautiful, all-encompassing fear ran rampant through the southern lands.
It had not always been that way.
Once, years ago, the barbarian clans had all been one grand kingdom. It was bigger and more prosperous than five of the northern kingdoms combined. The trade routes running through those lands brought riches beyond the wildest dreams of any noble. Everyone had treaties with this kingdom, knowing if they got on their bad side, they would be crushed.
And yet their downfall was inevitable. They grew too big. Took on too much. Their own nobles within started to fight for the crown to own it all or keep their own rather than be ruled. Their civil war had been bloody and unforgiving. Refugees who fled—the few who managed to escape—told terrible tales. It was as if the ruling class had lost their minds. People had been nothing but pawns in their game of gain.
What once was the best of everything now held breakable factions ready to slit each other's throats the moment they let their guard down. When one of the stupider ones decided to invade north in hopes of gaining their resources to then take the rest of the clans, they gravely miscalculated.
War changes a man. It can make them stronger, true, but more often it tears them to pieces. Rothbart's grandfather, father, uncle, brother, and himself all fought for their people when the clan invaded. It changed each of them. His grandfather died fighting. His uncle became crippled from his injuries. His father held out longer and had the sense his own father didn't by begging Chamberg for help which they readily provided.
With Chamberg's forces, they managed to push the clan back and invade them to the point they retreated even beyond their own clan borders.
After the fighting had ceased, William was told to return with his injured father to their own land while Rothbart remained within barbarian borders to ensure security. A decision that decided many people's fates.
Rothbart had seen what beauty the lands had held, saw what used to be grand and elaborate and oh so rich. With little by way of supervision from his father, uncle, and brother, Rothbart allowed himself to partake in a bit of larceny. Taking a trophy or two from the abandoned villages and broken fortresses hurt no one.
It was in one of these fortresses he encountered papers that, when he picked them up, felt like power. It was a warmth that tingled from his fingertips onward. Beside them sat an orb. An unremarkable sphere that did not omit power when touched but held incredible potential. Rothbart took these back to his temporary quarters and studied.
The notes were incomplete. More theory than fact yet oh so intriguing. The power to create, to change, to destroy…what a tempting idea, these so-called "Forbidden Arts".
His research did not get very far until Rothbart's hunchbacked assistant, who called herself Bridget and originated from the barbarian clans, offered to find him someone who knew something about the arts. He agreed. Bridget left and came back three days later with a short man who seemed several years older than Rothbart if his greying beard was anything to go by. He had mischief in his eyes and a consistent quirk of his mouth that told Rothbart he could not trust this man. Despite this, he was able to say things about the notes that Rothbart did not tell him. Turns out, the notes are from his long-deceased teacher who was a victim of the war. The notes had been lost until Rothbart came across them.
The man's name was Clavius, and he proved himself invaluable in developing the Forbidden Arts.
Rothbart brought Clavius and Bridget back home with him. He told his family they had been of great help to him (which wasn't exactly a lie) and intended to keep them as part of his personal staff. It was allowed, mainly because everyone was more concerned with the king's worsening state.
The king's war injury had become infected. His mental state showed this along with his physical form. He would repeat things he'd said only a moment before. He would ask for his wife who had died years ago from disease, and he would become paranoid people were hiding things from him.
It was clear the King would not be able to rule any longer. Obviously, the crown would go to William. Rothbart, being the younger by several years, would not be considered.
No one spoke of the other reason he would not be considered. William was only Rothbart's half-brother. It was an open secret. Rothbart never knew who his mother was. No one told him. He stopped asking once he was old enough to hold a sword.
The crowning ceremony came. The king was barely able to hold himself together enough to pass his crown to his son before he succumbed to his injuries two days later, leaving William as the kingdom's ruler.
Rothbart enjoyed the relative freedom he had with William's and his uncle's attentions focused on restoring their broken kingdom rather than what he had been developing deep in the castle. The Forbidden Arts were coming along nicely, though there was quite a lot to develop in order to gain all three powers. Rothbart would settle for nothing less.
Meanwhile, William had been pressured into marrying. A king from a distant land offered the third of his daughters along with quite a nice dowery. With the kingdom strapped for cash, William had no choice but to accept. He and Rothbart had talked about it at length. It was one of the few things they talked about without their usual strain—they never did have the best relationship—but this was something Rothbart had never envied from his brother's position. Rothbart quite enjoyed the company of brothel women and, even if he did marry, would likely continue his visits for the rest of his days. William, however, was held to a higher standard.
William confided in Rothbart that he was about to be chained to a woman whose father obviously was just trying to be rid of her. She must be awful! She was likely ugly and cruel and might kill him in his sleep for all he knew. Rothbart did nothing to try and dissuade these fears but instead fueled them. He enjoyed watching his usually put-together brother squirm.
Then the day of her arrival came. She walked through the grand hall doors and commanded the attention of all who saw her.
She was a beauty beyond anyone's wildest dreams. An ice queen of pale skin, blonde hair, and sharp blue eyes all set in pretty features and a petite figure that swayed as she walked.
Rothbart was lost the moment he saw her.
As was William.
It was William who was allowed to step forward and greet Aubri. William who could kiss her hand. William who held her by his side and spoke soft words to her which she returned with a kind smile and a demure bow.
Rothbart has only seen two perfect things in his life. Aubri was the first. She breathed new life into the kingdom. The people adored her. She was compassionate and soft-spoken, such a contrast to the people who were still recovering from the harshness the world threw at them. She seemed to be exactly what everyone needed.
The love Aubri and William shared was nauseating. Their secret smiles, small touches, and stolen kisses turned open affection after their marriage showed just how far gone with one another they were. Rothbart often had to avert his eyes to avoid the sickening feeling he got when he watched the two of them. It was only a little over a year since her arrival and their marriage that the royal couple announced they were with child.
The celebration was short-lived. Aubri died in childbirth. She left behind a newborn daughter and a grieving husband.
Rothbart grieved in his own way, by throwing himself further into the dark arts. Perhaps he was careless. Part of his mind knew he would get caught if he kept going as he was, but the rest of him didn't really care. Anger, hatred, and the need to be able to control everything took over. If he had had the Forbidden Arts, maybe he would have been able to change Aubri's fate. At the very least, with them, he would not allow any part of his life to be left to fate ever again.
Clavius tried to warn him, but Rothbart only lashed out at him, declaring he would get none of the Forbidden Arts. It would be he, Rothbart alone, who would rule with all the power in the world. Their fight had been the catalyst that brought Rothbart's deeds into the light. For it was after Clavius left that Rothbart was found out.
William, even in his grief, heard the whispers of his men and saw with his own eyes the work Rothbart was doing. Rothbart and Bridget stood trial, were found guilty, and consequently banished from the kingdom.
There had been cries for Rothbart's head, to have him hang for the crime of bringing barbarian dark magic into the land that was still healing from it. But Rothbart knew William, knew his soft heart, saw the pain in his eyes. He didn't want to watch another family member die. He would rather never see Rothbart again than have him die.
And so Rothbart, with all the hatred in his heart, had walked down the path towards his exile with a promise to return for vengeance. After all, Rothbart had been planning to use the Forbidden Arts to better his kingdom by combining it with the southern clans which he himself would unite and rule. The people would not hear this, though. Rothbart swore the kingdom would be his someday no matter the cost.
It was in banishment that he met Zelda. He easily saw how to persuade her into helping him finish the Forbidden Arts. She was a sucker for some sweet talk about her beauty and a promise to rule together. Her ego simply needed a bit of stroking, and she was putty in Rothbart's hands. Her knowledge of dark magic proved as invaluable as Clavius's. He did not tell her his own developing plan in order to keep her working on the arts.
The second piece of perfection Rothbart had ever seen was the Forbidden Arts. In a swirl of orange tornado fire, they showed their might before being contained in the sphere he kept all these years in wait for this exact moment.
"Finally, the forbidden arts are mine," Rothbart had whispered as he felt that familiar powerful tingle in his fingertips.
"Now we will rule as king and queen."
Zelda's words dampen the thrill of victory. Rothbart decided now was as good a time as any to break the bad news to her.
"Actually, I had a different plan," he said. "I'm going to force Odette to marry me. Of course, that cuts you out of the plan."
He had been developing the plan for a while. Though he was banished, he was not banished from Chamberg. He had gone to spy on William and Odette years ago. It was Odette's resemblance to Aubri that had inspired the idea.
Rothbart had seen what happened to the southern clans and their fight for power. Even if one managed to overtake another, that ruler would be fighting to keep his crown the entirety of his reign. However, if there was some legitimate claim to the throne that cannot be denied, it is easier to remain seated on the throne and with fewer assassination threats.
"You wouldn't have the forbidden arts if it weren't for me!" Zelda's cries fell on deaf ears. Did she think that was a valid argument with Rothbart? The Forbidden Arts are his. End of story.
"True, and yet, sadly, you're out of here." He turned to her with a glare warning her to leave before things got ugly.
Zelda had just as much fight as Rothbart, however. She cannot leave without one final declaration. "Those notes belong to me just as much as they belong to you. More! And they will be mine someday. They will be mine!"
"Get out!" Rothbart allowed the light of the Forbidden Arts to flare from his fingertips to show her just how serious he is about tolerating her presence.
The hatred in her eyes as she retreated from their hideaway told Rothbart that he should hunt her down later like he plans to do with Clavius. They are liabilities. It would be better if they never had the chance to follow through on their promised threats.
With the Forbidden Arts, Rothbart enacted his plan to retrieve Odette. It was easy enough to ambush the carriage in the woods before it reached the docks. The soldiers never stood a chance. They were felled without true struggle. The carriage crumpled under Rothbart's new claws. In his haste to break it open, he also dug his claws into his brother.
Rothbart often told himself afterwards he meant to kill his brother. It was part of the plan from the start. All other thoughts about the matter were banished.
No matter. He had the important piece of the puzzle.
However, Odette proved more difficult than anticipated. Perhaps she inherited that from her late father. That righteousness and strength certainly echoed William. Rothbart had hoped she would show more of her mother's soft-spoken, easy manner.
She would not see reason! The stubborn creature would refuse him night after night. She had seen him in his beastly form. She knew his power. She knew what he could do to her—how could she possibly be so willful?
Rothbart refused himself more hands-on methods of persuasion. She would never have him willingly if he did anything untoward. No, the spell would be enough. He saw her tears before and after her transformation night after night. She would break soon enough. He simply had to be patient.
Perhaps he had been too patient. Her pathetic prince, in his starry-eyed, love-fueled focus to get her back, managed to find her and discover the curse. All Rothbart's years of agonizingly hard work were about to go up in smoke because a boy who had no right to take what was not his—what he refused for years—but Rothbart had a cunning mind. With his wit and his assistant Bridget, he managed to thwart the prince's attempt at a grand declaration of everlasting love.
But the prince's stupidity ran deeper than Rothbart thought. He actually came back to try and fight Rothbart. Foolish. Laughable. Oh so wonderful. Rothbart will get a chance to end the young man's life and then take Chamberg as well! What providence!
With a final shriek, Rothbart dives for Prince Derek, teeth and talons barred. He sees the prince's struggle to stand.
Easy prey.
Rothbart dives in faster.
The prince looks around where he stands, as if confused. Then, out of nowhere, he has an arrow, notches his bow, and shoots at Rothbart. All this happens too quickly for Rothbart to react to it in time.
The arrow strikes true. Rothbart feels it pierce his chest—his heart.
Rothbart throws back his head with an ear-piercing shriek that can he heard for miles. He stares at the sky above as he falls to the water below.
All those years. All the plans he had. All the power.
And he still could not stop fate from controlling his life.
Rothbart hits the water, and the Forbidden Arts split him open again and again in their blinding power until he is no more.