The Prince’s Dagger

In the enchanting realm of Elmsworth, Prince Cedric from the mighty citadel of Gravewind was betrothed to the captivating Princess Isolde of Sylverhedge. The towns were distant yet intertwined by fate, and the union promised a harmonious alliance. To nurture their bond, they met weekly for picnics and strolls through the resplendent meadows.

By Prince Cedric’s side was his devoted aide, Roly, a cunning man of keen intellect but harbouring a clandestine heart. Always present was the maid, Beatrice, a gentle and endearing girl who was bound to serve as the future lady in waiting.

Amid their meetings, a burgeoning love story began to unfold; but one of unrequited love and desires. Roly, the prince’s aide, found himself increasingly drawn to Beatrice. However, she held her heart captive to the charismatic prince, a man she could never truly claim.

Roly’s envy grew, festering within him until it consumed reason and fuelled a desperate plot. The Prince carried a renowned dagger, a family heirloom embedded with jewelled wisdom and said to be magical. This blade passed down through generations, possessed an arcane power: it amplified the traits of its wielder.

Over the course of a few nights, Roly yielded to his jealousy and took the dagger. Shrouded in the shadows of the prince’s regal cloak, he visited Beatrice’s chambers, veiled and masked, masquerading as Prince Cedric. He whispered, to disguise his voice, promising an elopement to another town, a prospect that filled her heart with hope. Unbeknownst to Beatrice, the dagger he wielded magnified Roly’s deceitful tendencies, further twisting his character’s shadows. It was not the tool itself but the wicked intentions of the one who held it that tainted the night.

Love, envy, and magic converged, setting in motion a chain of events destined to unravel in the kingdom. 

In the grip of power and delusion, Roly’s obsession with the dagger consumed him. The blade seemed to whisper promises of affection into his ears, its allure too potent to resist. Encouraged by the amplified traits of malice, he stormed into Beatrice’s chamber, dagger in hand, intent on kidnapping her and spiriting her away from the palace as promised. He grabbed her arm, and despite her pleas and struggles, dragged her towards the stables where his horse awaited.

The commotion raised an alarm throughout the palace. The prince, awakened by the noise, discovered his missing dagger and then his missing aide. Swiftly, he summoned his men and rallied an army to chase down the traitor.

In the pursuit, the air was thick with tension and urgency. The hunt led them through the dark forest, the prince’s determination unwavering. As they closed in on Roly, the magic within the enchanted dagger reached fever pitch, its malevolent energy coursing through him.

Finally, they cornered Roly who was now consumed by the twisted power of the dagger. He brandished the blade, its exquisite jewels glowing ominously with a smoky amber light. In a fit of rage and madness, he swung the dagger towards the prince but the blade turned against him as if possessed by a will of its own.  The dagger seemed to defy gravity, reversing its course and striking Roly in the chest. In an instant he was reduced to dust, the darkness within him extinguished.

As his form dissipated, a haunting howl echoed in the distance, signalling the departure of Roly’s tormented spirit into the shadowy realms beyond. The danger had passed but the memory of the enchanted dagger’s wrath lingered, a cautionary tale of the perils of misuse of power, in the kingdom of Elmsworth.

Inktober 2023

31 Days – 31 Drawings – 31 Tales