Thread: The Prince's Plight

Lox's head exploded with pain at the impact of the woman's fist into his jaw, and though it pained him almost to tears his eyes instantly narrowed as she hopped back and got out just a few words before he was on top of her. There wasn't a lot Lox could do in his condition but long ago he had learned the terrible lesson of sacrificing parts of his body and even in his life if it meant taking down your enemy. Dura lex sed lex Lox intoned as he rushed her with open arms, and to the whores credit she managed to snatch her knife up and jam it into his already weak shoulder before his arms curled around her. The agony didn't blur his vision but sharpened it instead as his mind turned over why he had to have been taken by such a filthy whore and not simply killed on the battlefield while driving her back and dropping his shoulder at the last moment to smash her between the wall and his entire body weight. Everything blurred at the knife still clutched in her hand ground against the joint and bone of his shoulder, and he was satisfied to feel from her body something pop and give way underneath but it all was pointless in the end. She couldn't kill him as much as he would have loved dying in combat, and even though she was still in her prime and armed there was no honor in killing the whore inside his prison cell. Your time will come little puppy, I will have you in proper combat and you will regret not killing me when you had the chance... twice. Lox made sure she understood she should have ended his life then and there with that dagger, and from the way his right hand reached down to snatch the waist of her breeches and physically yank her away from the wall before tossing her into the group of guards rushing into the door he made it clear that even if she did deliver a death stroke he would have life enough left in him to take her as well. The guard captain who had been put in charge of the ten men to keep the wild prince roared at his men, who for all their worth were having difficulty constraining the smaller enraged knight as they dragged her away from the tiny cell to leave Lox alone with the a single guard. Breathing heavily Lox evened a look at the lone guard and heaved a sigh before switching to his native Corovian tongue as he recognized a far cousin, a term commonly used for those who chose to fight for the enemy but were still respected due to their prowess and the solidity of their resolve. There was an extremely cunning mind within the castle to know enough about his society to send him a far cousin to speak with, someone who also knew every man under their command and trusted this one enough with speaking to royalty of their old home. How have I sinned cousin? Lox asked almost pleadingly as he sat down heavily on the bed and leaned forward with a bone weary sigh. What have I done to be given such a hand by fate? Did I not fight for my country as all men must? Have I not ruled the men under me with a fair hand? Did I not trade my horse for the heavy armor so I could fight at the shoulders of my brothers? Is there no justice, or am I bereft of it because I refuse to give up the one thing that I built and hold dearly... The guard bowed his head in quite respect, and Lox was surprised to see the sorrow in his face as he looked up and spoke gently. Forgive me lord, I wouldn't allow such a travesty to occur of my honor didn't bind me. I was sent to speak to you daily and to deliver requests. My name is Finwhick, and I will try to make your stay as comfortable as possible... The man was quiet then as he looked uncertainly at Lox's still bleeding wound and the dagger protruding from his shoulder, but Lox ignored it and spoke so softly he almost wasn't heard. I will cooperate with you Finwhick if my honor allows and I have but two things. A room with a window to allow me a view and a grand piano within. The guard bowed and left promptly were the same tiny healer who had treated Lox no more than half an hour stepped back in to treat him again. Finwhick wasn't really a guard per say, as he was trained in combat but he served instead as an advisory to the king. He knew that for the kings plan to humiliate the prince to work without the knight Reina or Lox killing each other there had to be some kind of intermission between the two, and the trick to doing this was playing on the kings humor. It didn't take long for him to secure a visit with the monarch while he sat at a large feast to celebrate their victory and the capture of the prince. More than a few heads turned when he was asked to report, and there was murmuring throughout the entire hall at the news that the prince and the knight were already at each others throats but everyone stopped dead when Finwhick made Lox's request. The king blinked owlishly, and there was twittering laughter that soon exploded into full merriment as the king laughed and nodded, gesturing towards one of his servants to make the arrangements. It was unthinkable that a beast could be taught to play a piano, and though he knew it might get destroyed it could be replaced if only to hear the wild prince going insane and breaking it. It would also be prudent to move the prince and the knight away from each other for a time... and while he fully expected them to fight he hadn't thought they would attempt each others life on the same day as the sentence. They both needed time to cool off...