Secret Prince

Chapter One At first Morwid couldn't say what had awakened him. One moment he was dreaming peacefully of his old life in the castle, the next he was wide awake, his failing eyes straining against the darkness of the sea cave.Drawing his blanket around his shoulders, he sat up, listening for any sound of approaching danger, but all was quiet, save the trills of the forest creatures and the crashing of the sea against the rocky shore below. He lit a torch and moved to the opening of the cave. Above him the night sky glowed with the color of blood. Along the horizon a sphere of light pulsed and grew until it blotted out all the stars. As if launched from a huntsman's bow, it arced across the heavens, trailing fire, then disappeared in a shimmer of gold that briefly lit the dark sea. The old warrior trembled with hope and longing. "When the heavens are red with fire, he will come," he whispered. "So say the prophets."He ran his fingers along the rocky ledge above the entrance to the cave till they touched the prize he had guarded since fleeing the castle so many years before. The Book of Ancients held spells and stories, curses and cures, promises and prophecies for the kingdom of Kelhadden. Morwid took it down and clutched it to his chest. He had no need to read it now; he knew every page by heart. But the weight of it, and the smell of leather, dust, and secrets mingling in the air, comforted him.Too anxious for sleep, he stood for a moment holding the book until his hands and heart steadied, then he returned the tome to its place. He stoked the fire that burned day and night against the chill of the cave and set his blackened water pot on the coals. While the water heated, he opened a pouch and measured into a bowl a pinch of bloodrose and a dusting of dried balsam leaves. Muttering to himself, he upended the entire contents of a second pouch into his bowl. "Plenty of sage," he murmured, "for I shall surely need all my wisdom when he comes."Morwid poured the bubbling water over the herbs and, when the mixture had cooled, drank it down. Then he laced his leggings, picked up his fishing line and basket, and left the cave. The sky had lightened to an ordinary shade of gray; the rising sun was a seam of fire on the horizon. Atop the farthest promontory stood the castle at Kelhadden. Sheltered by a thick growth of alders and oaks, its granite turrets and towers glittered in the growing light. High on the roof a red-and-yellow banner danced in the morning breeze. Morwid set off toward the sea, moving carefully, for the trail to the bottom of the cliff was treacherous with sharp crags and hidden drops where the unwary could tumble to certain death. Though he was slow of step, his thoughts were agile as ever, darting from one question to another. When would the promised one arrive? Would he come alone or with a legion of warriors? Would he allow Morwid to accompany him to the castle? This thought brought a smile to the old warrior's face, for he had long dreamed of standing sword to sword with Ranulf on the day when the odious Northman was ousted at last. Though many years had passed since Ranulf had overrun Kelhadden and seized the entire kingdom for himself and his kinsmen, Morwid's memory of the humiliating defeat he had suffered that bitter winter was still rapier sharp. A desire for revenge burned in his gut like fire. Now the comet and the red sky promised deliverance. Buoyed by the prospect of his imminent return to the castle, Morwid felt neither the pains in his knees nor the sharp stones beneath his feet as he made his way to the shore.He reached the sand and cast his line into the rolling waves. The first rays of morning sun penetrated the depths of the sea cliffs and cast a golden glow across the water. The smells of salt and kelp hung heavy in the air. As fine a day as any for a trip to the village, he mused. Though Morwid detested traveling in disguise, heLove, D. Anne is the author of 'Secret Prince', published 2005 under ISBN 9780689844263 and ISBN 0689844263.