The arrow struck the Regent’s shoulder armor.
Enough to turn him.
The Captain slammed into him.
Both fell.
The Regent rolled free.
Then grabbed the Prince.
A dagger touched the boy’s throat.
Everyone froze.
The Queen was not there to see it.
The Prince wished she were.
Then decided perhaps that was better.
The Regent pulled him backward.
“Drop the sword.”
The King did.
“Bow.”
The Prince let it fall.
The Regent looked toward the fortress center.
“Oath Stone.”
The King shook his head.
“No.”
The dagger pressed closer.
The Prince felt its cold edge.
The King’s face broke.
“Father,” the boy said.
The King looked at him.
“Fear is useful.”
The King understood.
The Prince stomped backward onto the Regent’s foot.
Then threw his head back.
It struck the man’s nose.
The Regent cursed.
The Prince twisted.
The dagger sliced his tunic but missed skin.
The Captain charged.
The Regent shoved the boy aside and ran.
Toward the fortress temple.
The King shouted.
“Stop him!”
They followed.
Beneath the temple stood an ancient circular chamber.
At its center rested a black stone carved with hundreds of royal names.
The Oath Stone.
The Prince had heard legends.
Every king touched it during coronation.
He had assumed it ceremonial.
The King explained between breaths.
“It records blood oaths.”
“How?”
“No one knows.”
The Regent stood before it.
He pressed his bleeding hand against the surface.
Nothing happened.
He laughed bitterly.
“Seven years.”
The King stared.
“You never understood.”
“Tell me.”
“No.”
The Regent grabbed the Prince.
Again.
The boy shouted in frustration.
“Stop doing that!”
Even the King almost laughed.
The Regent dragged him toward the stone.
“Royal blood.”
The King’s face changed.
The Prince understood too late.
The Regent cut the boy’s palm.
Only shallowly.
Blood touched the stone.
Golden lines ignited beneath its surface.
The entire chamber glowed.
Words appeared.
Not magic exactly.
Something older.
Carved channels filled with light.
A map.
The Regent stared.
Beneath the kingdom lay a network of ancient fortress roads and hidden grain vaults.
The King whispered, “The Founders’ Roads.”
The Regent smiled.
“With these, I control every siege route in the realm.”
The Prince looked carefully.
One symbol pulsed brighter.
The capital.
Then another line.
A secret entrance beneath the Queen’s palace.
The Regent laughed.