Zaurac

INSPIRATION

As soon as the prince received the letter and saw on it the seal of his queen-mother, he already knew that his father's health had deteriorated severely. Refusing to despair, he decided to make the usual six-day journey in four. The problem with this plan was that taking the shorter route meant that the prince would have to cross a narrow strip of land ruled by one of his father's fiercest enemies, full of bandits and spies. Before embarking on this journey, the prince sent his faithful servant and companion along the usual route with a letter detailing his journey, in case of any delays or problems that might befall him.

On the second night, though travelling cautiously, the unknown face of the prince in a busy tavern caught the eye of an experienced spy, who promptly arrested and imprisoned him in a nearby fortress. Meanwhile, the dying king, who was prone to sudden fits of delirium punctuated by long periods of sleep, grew weaker by the hour. That night, the king dreamt of his son, flying above the clouds and suddenly falling to the ground before being rescued by a black boat that flew up and snatched him moments before impact. The king awoke from the dream alarmed and unable to contain his patience any longer. In the presence of his queen, he instructed eleven of his bravest royal guards to track down the prince and bring him home.