Here is the first installment of a short story I'm working on. I really like it though! I bring you 'Archibold, the Prince of the Northwest Neatherlands":
I, Archibold, Prince of the Northwest Neatherlands awoke at eight AM. I heard whispering from the paper thin wall behind me. I could only imagine what was being said. Let me get to it, I have a hunch that Richard my father's servant is trying to kill me. This matter deeply disturbed me. What was the reasoning of it? Who does he think he is? The answers to those questions were nowhere to be found. This matter was not my top priority on this morning though. I had to get ready for the royal brunch. My scruples had been growing ever since I missed the last one. Not a son in the Scheictanhart family had ever missed a royal brunch, except for me and Arwin. Arwin disappeared four years before I was born.
I went to the bathouse down by the dungeon to wash up. I noticed a red liquid seeping out from the ground. I dismissed it, grabbed my towel and left. Once I got up to my suite I put on my royal cap. Then their was a knock. Then another knock. I lifted up the lever and let him in. It was Richard, that scum. "Hello sir, the king requests you to the dining hall immediately for the royal brunch. To tie you over, could I interest you in this glass of red wine?" he asked suspiciously. Quickly, I slammed the door and yelled "I will be down in a second! Tell Father to wait!". As fast I could, I put on my clothes and ran down stairs. At this moment, I was racing through my mind wondering exactly what Richard had against me.
Finally I got to the dining hall. I pushed open the doors and scurried in to sit down. My father was sitting at the end of the table. The entire castle was here. Yes, even the Jester, I jest, I jest, he was cleaning up horse urine down by the stables. I snapped back into it, just as Richard pulled up a seat directly across from me. "Hello Richard." I calmly said. "...Master Archibold, you know you really should try this wine!" He took a sip of it. I turned my head in thought. "Richard, you're a servant. Who invought you to brunch?" I asked confused. "Oh, your father invited me. You see, he's being awfully generous today, as it is my birthday!" Richard exclaimed, as he took another sip of his wine. Again, I turned my head in thought. It couldn't be poisoned, he's sipping it himself! I guess it wouldn't hurt to try once. "Richard, I guess I'll take one sip" I said. "Archie, it is fabulous!". Richard raised the glass to my mouth. I opened my mouth and "Attention!" King Scheictanhart yelled.
" It is time to start feasting". The delights were passed down the table. I disregarded Richard's wine and dug in. An hour later, brunch was over and I walked up to my father. "Father...I have a rather important issue to speak with you about..." I said. My father signaled me to follow him into another room. "Archie, my boy! What is it?" he asked concerned. "Well, it's just that I...er... I think Richard is trying to kill me!" I spat out. I waited a few seconds for a response..."Richard!? Richard doesn't have it in him to kill you! You are being paranoid my son! Now go on! Have the time of your life while you're still young!" he walked away. I thought over my father's words for a second. I came to the decision that he was right, I was being paranoid. Richard walked up to me. "Master Archibold, care to join me on the roof to celebrate my birth?" he asked with a sincere tone. "Yes, of course I will". It was the most apparent decision I ever made. Richard was innocent. Guilty of nothing!
" How wonderful" Richard joyously said. We started up the long, winding stairway. I noticed a knife in Richard's pocket. "Richard, why are you carrying a knife?" I asked very cooly. "Hmm... let's just say... birthday tradition..." Richard said morosely. I admit that I was worried, but ya know, I had a good feeling about Richard. He opened the door revealing a breathtaking country side. When I was young, I would come up here and dream of fighting epic battles with Sorcerers and dragons. Richard walked towards the edge and stared off into the sky. "Richard, how old are you today?" I innocently asked. "Older than you son!" Richard pulled out his knife and pointed it at me. "Richard, what are you doing?!?" I was panicking. "Not my orders! Your Father told me to do this!". I ducked and he slashed my upper arm. Out of adrenaline I grabbed his knife. For the first time I stared him staight in the eyes. I pushed him off the ledge. I had a knife in my hands and I pushed off the edge. He was surely dead.
I ran down the staircase. I tripped. My ankle was twisted. I got up and pushed my way through the bottom door. There was my Father, down by the dungeon. "Son! What has happened?" he asked me. "Richard tried to kill me! He's dead" I revealed. "You have succeeded! This was all a test my son!" the King said. "A test...what for?" I asked. "Son, you're about to go on an extroardinary journey!" He exclaimed. "...huh..." and suddenly he pushed me down into the dungeon. Rolling, I slipped into a hole. I saw a bright light.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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