The Lost Prince of Ladron: The Zondras Era

By R. L. Brown

Two kingdoms' rivalry will heat up when each king has a son who are destined to finish the war between them. Fearing the prophecy between both princes, a king lashes out and one prince seems lost forever, or is he?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Sep 20, 2014
• ISBN: 9781312537651

Book preview

The Lost Prince of Ladron: The Zondras Era

The Lost Prince of Ladron: Zondras Era

R.L.Brown

Copyright

Copyright 2014 by R.L. Brown

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

This work is completely fictional. Any relation to persons, characters, or events living or dead is completely coincidental.

ISBN 978-1-312-31456-6

EBook 978-1-312-53765-

Acknowledgement

To my Lord and Savior, who knew every word before I did.

Chapter 1

The doors burst open with a bang! An aged couple richly dressed hurried through, holding each other tightly. The woman sagged toward the floor and cried out in pain. Her husband drew her up and brought her down the corridors.

Help, it’s starting, the man called.

It only took seconds for young maidens to emerge from other rooms. They worried at the sight of the lady.

My king, what’s wrong? asked one of them.

She’s in labor, the king explained. But it’s too early for the delivery.

The girls surrounded the queen and helped to carry her. The king followed closely. He straightened his crown and squeezed his hands.

Reaching their destination, one of the maids raced off to fetch the doctors. The remaining maids carried her carefully into the king’s chamber and laid her onto the bed.

Behind the king, a few doctors came quickly. They ran past him and into the chamber.

Don’t let anyone else in. She needs quiet, ordered a doctor.

A lady rushed forward and began to close the big, oak doors. The king reached forward and caught them before they closed.

Will thou let me see her? he asked.

She shook her head. I’m sorry.

I need to see her, the king begged.

Again she shook her head before closing the doors and locking them. The king was left alone in the hall.

He could hear the doctor’s quiet voices, but none of his wife. The calm was broken with sudden shrieking. The king pounded his fist upon the doors.

Is she all right? Won’t you open the door? he cried, his heart aching and blood rushing.

He threw his shoulder against the door. It would not open. He determined that he would reach her; nothing would be in his way!

With his sword drawn, he struck the doors. Over and over he smote them and gashes streaked across the wood. The doors were slowly breaking; he was going to see her, now!

Samuel, spoke an older voice.

The king paused. He turned to see his best general and long time friend stand before him. Both looked alike, almost as if they were brothers. Grey hair, beards, and a strong stature were shared between them.

Now he held a look of fear and grief, which caused Samuel to sheath his sword.

She’s going to be fine, Samuel, he assured.

I know not whether she live or die and they will not permit me through my own chamber, Brongsten, Samuel sighed.

The general walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Have faith.

Throughout the castle were the screams carried. People walking along or even working had stopped and were praying. The news was taken from the castle, down from the mountain which it was built upon, and brought to the only city below. There it was called for a national time of prayer.

The screams grew louder and Samuel covered his head while shaking uncontrollably. It felt like an eternity. Every shout of pain cut through his soul. He heard the doctors giving support to his wife through her pain.

Almost there, one more time, a male voice spoke.

Large tears streamed down Samuel’s cheeks when the piercing sound of her last shriek came. Then the sound of a child crying came through. The crying only lasted a moment before silence.

Samuel could not bear the tension anymore. He darted to the doors and hammered them again.

Open the doors, Samuel pleaded.

Brongsten came beside the king and was also troubled at the silence.

Hello? Is all well? he asked.

Finally some soft voices could be heard. Though soft, they were filled with anticipation and fear.

I am afraid, Brongsten, breathed Samuel.

Brongsten glanced at his friend. In all the years they’d fought wars together and faced the world, he’d always seen his confidence. This fear was a rarity.

I-it’ll be all right, Brongsten quivered. He was surprised at his own emotion.

Footsteps approached the other side of the doors. The handles turned and a door creaked open. A young maid revealed herself and brought with her a bundle of towels.

My king, your son, whispered the girl.

She carefully placed the towels into Samuel’s trembling arms. He gazed down at the perfection of his child. The new born looked up to his father with wondering eyes and smiled.

Brongsten peered over to the baby and grinned. The lady stole a glance back inside the chamber before turning back, with grief in her eyes. Perceiving her sadness, Brongsten questioned her.

What’s the matter? he interrogated. What has become of the lady?

Her lips quivered. Sh-she’s dying.

Samuel bolted into the room. The maidens had moved away from the doctors while they finished their work. The queen lay still upon the bed. She was bleeding out from her early delivery. The king knelt beside the bed with the child in his arms. The lady sleepily opened her eyes, and smiled at the sight of him.

He placed the child by her side. She turned her head to look upon the child, and she forgot her pain for a moment. Samuel took his wife’s hand. He wanted, no, he needed her to hold on. He couldn’t do this without her.

I’m dying, Sam, muttered the woman.

Samuel squeezed her hand. No, you can’t. I won’t let you.

This is out of our power, Sam, she gasped. She looked again at the baby. You have to raise him.

I can’t, not without you, Samuel sniffled.

Yes, you can, she encouraged, smiling wide. We know the power this child shall hold. He must be taught right.

Samuel bowed his head into his wife’s hand, letting the tears come quicker. He kissed her hand and gazed up to her. She struggled to gasp breath. Her final moments drew closer.

What shall we name him? Samuel asked.

Her lips moved without sound. She took in a painful breath. Charlie.

The king nodded in agreement, but her body suddenly relaxed. Her head came to the pillow and her eyes fixed upon the child. There she breathed her last.

The maids cried and embraced each other. Brongsten stayed by the open door. Emotions whelled in his chest and longed to burst out. He supported himself against the door and placed his head onto it.

Samuel stayed kneeling, never believing she was truly gone. He wouldn’t let go of her hand or leave the bedside for a long time.

*     *     *     *     *

Thousands of miles from the castle of the kingdom of Ladron there was another castle of the rival realm, Zondras.

There also sounded the screams of a woman giving birth. She lay in the king’s chamber. The witch doctors surrounded the bed as she cried out in great pain.

By her side knelt her husband, King Edward XVII, and he grasped her hand. Both were very young in age; Edward was exceedingly strong and agile, and his black hair looked roughly brushed but neat.

With all her might she screamed. Her body tensed as the doctors awaited the child. Another cry joined the lady’s, the cry of a newborn.

The witch doctors brought up the child and cleaned it, then wrapped it in cloth.

What is it? the mother groaned.

It is a boy, my lady, a doctor spoke.

She let out a relieving sigh and relaxed against the bed. Edward kept a troubled expression before the child came.

They brought the baby to her and she cried for joy at the sight of him.

What should we name him? she asked her husband.

Whatever you like, my love, he spoke, a smile etching across his face.

Suddenly she lurched forward, crying out again but in agony. The doctors surrounded her again and saw her bleeding.

Is it another child? Edward hoped.

Nay, but she is in danger, one cried.

The doctors tried to use their evil magic to cure the queen. Nothing seemed to work. The lady gripped Edward’s hand and suppressed her screams.

It’s too much; the early labor has caused too much damage, one doctor spoke, shaking his head.

Edward turned to this doctor. He was enraged at his talk. She would not die, not now.

What did you say? he asked through gritted teeth.

There’s nothing we can do, the doctor clarified. She’s going to die.

You better hope she doesn’t, Edward shouted. Tears flooded his eyes and he turned to his wife.

They tried almost every remedy but nothing could heal the lady. She was quickly passing from the wound.

You have a son, Ed, she gasped.

I know, he choked, not meeting her eyes.

Take him. Give him love, Ed, she said.

She managed to pass their child to Edward, and he takes it in his arms. It still cried and he struggled to rock him.

What’s his name? she asks, struggling now to take in air.

Edward was glad to name his son, for he had already chosen a suitable name. Maximus.

A strong name, she exhaled painfully.

He will rule the realms, be sure of it, my love, Edward whispered.

Her breathing slowed and fearful tears ran down her cheeks. Edward squeezed her hand.

No, don’t. You’ve got to stay, he choked.

I-I can’t, Ed, she whispered. It’s too cold.

Her grip slackened and she lay still with her eyes gazing to Edward.

No, no! Hurry, bring her back, Edward cried to the doctors.

We cannot, sire, spoke a doctor. There is nothing powerful enough to raise the dead.

Edward charged at the doctors and grabbed the nearest one. The other doctors backed away to the wall.

It would be very unwise to disobey, Edward seethed.

It’s not that we wouldn’t, but it is not possible to bring her back, shouted a doctor by the wall.

Edward cast the doctor, he had held, to the wall. He snapped his fingers and armed guards entered the room and bowed to their king.

Arrest these men and have them executed in the courtyard for the murder of their queen! he spat.

The doctors screamed in fear and fell to the king’s feet. They begged for mercy. The guards took hold of them and dragged them out.

Edward barely breathed. His feet dragged as he approached the bed and calmly lifted the child from his mother’s arms. Glancing at his wife’s soulless body, he could not contain his grief.

His sobs rattled his body, and he held the child close for comfort. The tears blinded his sight, and he was unable to bear his wife’s presence. So he fled from the room.

He found himself stumbling up to his throne. Sitting back, he commanded his servants to serve him wine. There he drank many glasses while holding tightly to his son.

In the late hours of the night, Edward cradled his son as he slept. The doors to the courtyard opened and a messenger came forward.

He bowed low to Edward. My king, great news has come from Ladron-

Edward cut in.