The Broken Crown

Chapter 1

“What's wrong? Why are you upset?” A boy asked into the inky darkness of a dungeon cell. He was young, around fifteen  or sixteen but looked twelve. His auburn hair was long for a boy but he didn't mind. He liked it, especially when he was supposed to pay attention and he could put his hair in his face and fall asleep. He was skinny, not bone skinny but not fat or chubby. His rose dawn eyes went well with his pale complexion. “What's wrong?” He asked again but yet again the figure in the shadows had yet to answer him. It had been nearly two months since his father had conquered the rival kingdom of Karseth and captured the crowned prince Arlyn Reth. “Would you talk to me more if you knew my name?” again, nothing except the rattle of chains and a grunt of disgust. “It's Kybon, Kybon Westhouser.” After he said his name Kybon heard a guard walking down the steps for daily checks. “I'll see you later tonight” And with that kybon was off bouncing up the steps. He didn't know why Arlyn didn't talk to him. He tried to get his attention and tried to talk to him. He wanted to be a friend to Arlyn and help him get out of the dungeon. Soon he had a thought and one his father would approve of. Kybon went to his father's the one room and bowed. “Father, I have had an idea. A fitting and amusing punishment for the crown prince.” Kybon’s father looked up at his son His raven black hair blending into the dark steel armor. The only parts of him that stood out was his blue grey eyes and his milky complexion. Kybon (If not for his hair and age) could almost be considered his brother.
“What is it boy?” His father barked looking back down at the paper he was holding, a list of more kingdoms to be conquered now that Karseth, the only other kingdom that could have taken them over was gone.
“Well, father I have an idea, the prince of karseth should have a fitting punishment, let's strip him of his title and put him into servitude.” The king looked up at his son.
“Where would he be? We have a surplus of mines, there are no more jobs in the military and he has no cooking skills, where pray tell would we put him?” Kybon thought for a second and wondered. ‘Where would we put him, we have enough guards and soldiers and the mines are packed, the only thing left was, yes it’s perfect!’
“He could be my royal guard, father think about it, he has had training as a prince and even if it is to his homelands rival country Karsethians are loyal to a fault and would never dare be disloyal to an ally or their owner.”  Kybon’s father looked at his son.
    “Very well Kybon, but he is your responsibility, if anything happens to either of you i will hold the other responsible am I understood?” Kybon looked up at his father and beamed.
“Yes father, I accept these terms and will uphold my end, you have my word.” With that Kybon was dismissed from his father's throne room and went to his room. “Finally, now I can help Arlyn, maybe not the best way, but at least he won't be in that dank cell anymore.” Kybon plopped onto his bed and looked at his ceiling, he should go and celebrate. Tomorrow he would ask Leanne if she was doing anything and is she wanted to go and celebrate in the town with their new friend. At that moment there was a knock at Kybon’s door and he went to answer it. “Hello?” When Arlyn opened the door he saw a boy standing there, he was taller than Kybon and looked only a year older, his dark green hair was the color of wild ferns from a dense wood, his skin was darker than Kybons and his red eyes were like two pools of red wine that were poured into goblets and were put on display.
“Master Kybon?” The boy asked, he looked down on Kybon with a sneer. He spoke with a slight hint of annoyance and anger but if he was he was trying not to show it.
    “I am he, and you are?” Kybon asked looking up at the boy, looking in his eyes, those damned eyes, were they wine? Or, now that kybon looked at them closer, were the pools of blood… At that point the boy sighed and kneeled down.
    “I am Arlyn Reth, your new royal guard”