The Missing Prince

Today’s short story comes before the beginning of book 1, THE FALSE PRINCE. However, it does contain spoilers. Therefore, please do not read this until after you have read THE FALSE PRINCE. If you want your own copy of that book, please order first from a local bookseller near you, or from my indie bookseller, The King’s English Bookshop.

Following news of the disappearance of Prince Jaron, an attempt was made to ask people from all over Carthya how they felt about the boy second in line for the throne.  

Cook (Castle Servant):

I can admit it now, I had a soft place in my heart for that boy. I can’t even count the number of times he would sneak in and out of the castle through the river below my kitchen. I don’t know where he ever went, though last year he returned to the castle with his hair shaved off. All he said to me was that it had been worth it. 

Mrs. Turbeldy (Keeper of an Orphanage):

I heard the pirates got him. And that’s for the best. I wouldn’t want a troublemaker like that anywhere near me.

Master Portknow (Jaron’s Geography Tutor):

I hate to say this of any former student, but that boy was unteachable. If not for his older brother, Darius, I would have quit teaching long before Jaron released those chickens in my classroom. One laid an egg on my schoolbooks! I quit the same day.

King Humfrey (King of Mendenwal):

It’s true that Jaron challenged me to a duel last year, but few people know it was in defense of his mother. Regrettably, I had said something unkind about her. Of course, I won the duel, but if anyone thinks that was a simple thing, they don’t know Jaron.

Amelia (Carthyan citizen): 

Two years ago, my horse was spooked and began racing away wildly through the streets. Jaron was nearby and found a horse that he used to chase after me. He saved my life.

Mulwort Bench (Stable Owner):

The boy stole a horse of mine. Sure, he returned it, but what was his right to take it in the first place? I reported him to the High Chamberlain who assured me the prince would be punished as soon as he was punished for other things he had done earlier. Apparently, he created trouble faster than he could be punished. 

Platt (Market Stall Owner): 

I once left the latch open for my chickens on market day. They scattered and damaged three other stalls, more than I could pay for. The owners of those stalls threatened to have me sent to debtor’s prison, but Jaron came forward and said he had unlatched the chicken coop and the castle would pay for the damage. He’d released chickens once in a classroom of the castle so no one doubted his claims now. I heard the boy got in terrible trouble, but I know it was me that left the latch open. I pray the Saints will bring him home again.

Jaron’s Priest:

I hope the boy is still alive, wherever he is. Because there is no chance of him resting with the Saints in the next life, no chance at all. He set fire to my pulpit once, while I was preaching! At first I didn’t mind the smoke, but when I saw the flames, I knew I had to finish my sermon early.

Master Bevin Conner (Regent): 

Avenia is responsible for the death of Prince Jaron.  They hired the pirates to sink his ship. In my opinion, King Eckbert has no choice but to declare war.

Eleanor (Mother in Drylliad):

A year ago, a banker came to collect on a debt I could not pay. When he tried to throw me and my children out of our home, the prince happened to be passing by. He told the banker that he needed to smile more, and when the banker said he smiled plenty often, Jaron wagered the banker that whichever of them could get more people to smile in the next ten minutes should pay the amount of my debt. The banker agreed, and Jaron immediately ran off. 

Believing the prince had already given up, the banker returned to his efforts at evicting me. But when the time was nearly up, Jaron came walking back down the road, with his head entirely shaved except for a large smile on the back, all that was left of his hair. People started laughing and pointing and running along after him, and when he passed the banker, he merely said that my debt had been paid.

Jaron liked to make the people laugh – at him or with him, he didn’t care. I wish they wouldn’t laugh now that he’s gone. Jaron was more than people ever knew.

Crown Prince Darius (Jaron’s elder brother):

I love my brother. That’s all I have to say. If he could hear me now, that’s all I would want him to know. That our family does love him.