I used to live in the kingdom's countryside. The bright sun shining down on the never-ending fields of crops. The tall stalks of corn would sway in the wind one year only to be replaced with short bean plants. Rotating the type of crops from year to year to keep the soil rich and compact. That's what I was good at in those days. The days I lived in a small three room cabin stuffed full with sibling and other family oddballs. The oddballs being a crazy drunk uncle and a grandmother with an obsession for cats.

I didn't normally stay in the house because it was too crowded for me. The dusty, smelly barn with its creaking floorboards and nooks full of old straw was where I spent most nights. Outside, the fields we didn't use for crops were used as pastures for the numerous cows that we raised and butchered to make most of our living. That was my old life. My better years. With the burning sun and plain landscape as my only problems.

The idea of things so simple would normally be the only reason needed to bring tears to my eyes, but today the unwanted waterworks had been brought on by many factors.

Maybe it was the boring counsel meeting or the nightshade poison that was inevitably mixed in with my white wine. Maybe it really just was the thoughts of simpler things that caused my distress. But to be honest, I liked to think all these things were just small colors in a much bigger painting.

I was taken from my family when I was ten. A rumor had spread to the King that I looked like the crown prince. The rumor wasn't false, but my family hadn't really thought it mattered at the time.

So what if I had the same face as the King's only son?

It's not like we were completely the same. I mean we each grew up in a different environment, so our personalities were definitely opposites.
But apparently all that really mattered was that we looked the same and the fact that we could easily be confused was a sore spot for the King. I guess he wanted his only son to be special. As if being the next in line for the thrown wasn't special enough.

I was meant to be killed.

Which would bring me to the oh-so very important meeting that I was a part of at the moment.

"The attacks are only getting stronger." The head of the King's army argued. "Your son is more than ready for battle and seeing him fight will inspire the men."

I smiled as all eyes fall on me. I used my classic grin, the one that I knew made me look like what I truly was. A peasant with not a care in the world. Of course none of the men at the table knew I wasn't really the crown Prince Eden, with the King being the only exception.

I give a wink to Sir Irvine. "It's not a matter of strength, but persuasion. I won't be going anywhere unless my dear old daddy lets me."

King Seaward threw a glare my way, which I decided to accept with smirk. "Respect, son." His growl only encouraged me. "We've talked about this."

I winked and snapped my fingers into two little guns. "Sorry dad." I drew out the last word in an attempt to make it more painful for him.

Now I promise I'm not normally so rude. Honestly I wouldn't have a problem with the King if he hadn't taken me from everything I knew only to use me as a decoy for all his true son's would-be killers. Trust me when I say I really do know how to be polite when I want to be.

King Seaward's long-ish black hair swayed as he shook his head in faux disappointment. I wasn't his real son, so he didn't really have any reason to be anything but embarrassed and possibly a little mad.

When his eyes left his hands to meet mine my heart skipped a beat. The soft smile that played on his lips was like nothing I had ever seen before. It was powerful and, in a creepy way, wicked. It was a small smile that promised pain.

I narrowed my eyes at him. 'Give it your best shot old man.'

The smile slipped from the King's face as he turned to Sir Irvine. "You have my permission." He glanced around the table of uppity-up lords and ladies before resting his gaze on me.

I wouldn't squirm beneath his black-blue eyes, the same eyes as the prince. The only true difference in our appearances.

Instead I wrinkled my nose and squinted my eyes. Green eyes. Looked better on me than the prince's looked on him in my opinion.

The King smiled. "Send him to the front lines."

I smiled back and turned to Sir Irvine. "Send me with the next troop!"

If I was going to die, I would much rather be fighting than drinking poisoned wine. Speaking of wine. I grabbed my chalice from in front of me and took a nice long whiff. The smell of white wine greeted me with a hint of unripe tomatoes. I smiled and spun the liquid to make a small whirlpool in my cup.

It's poisoned with nightshade. Just as I had suspected.

"King Seaward, your majesty." I said looking up at the man at the head of the table. With my chalice in the air, I continued. "My drink is poisoned, again."

The look he gave me made me think he wanted me to drink the wine anyway. To be honest he would love nothing more than to pour the drink right down my throat. But what example would that give, daddy dearest?

"Guards!" King Seaward called in his thunderous voice. The same voice that used to keep me up for days in fear.

Soon the guards came rushing in and took the chalice from my outstretched hand. It was no different from every other counsel meeting, so no one was really surprised. It was fairly common knowledge that the King's only son was constantly avoiding death. I'm pretty sure that was the only reason I hadn't been killed the first day the King discovered my existence. It was safer to keep the real prince locked away and use his look-alike for public appearances.

I smiled to myself in spite. My face and complete physical appearance were nothing but a curse. Why couldn't I have just been born an average-looking farm boy like the rest of my brothers?

Brothers. I had three of them. Two were older and one was younger. I hadn't seen them in six years. I hadn't seen them since I was ten and the King found me.

I shook my head to disperse the thoughts. I didn't like thinking about my family, but no matter how hard I tried my thoughts would always go back to them and the home I was forced to leave behind.

"My King." A lord from the north spoke up. Lord Hillguard, the ruler over the Province of Hillguard, was a younger lord of only seventeen years of age. He was a handsome fellow, with light brown hair and grey eyes. He also happened to be the first of two friends I had made in my six years of being Prince Eden. "Should we address the threats of war in the North?"

King Seaward drew his hand gently across the rough wooden table they all sat around. "Yes. What new news do you bring?"

Hillguard stood to address everyone around the table. "As I'm sure you've all heard, the Grey Peak Clan share the Northern Border with us and lately they've gotten restless."

"Okay, okay." Lord Goldrein grumbled in his usual bored tone. "We all know where this going, so just get to the point already!"

Hillguard signed before continuing. "Okay, fine. The Grey Peak Clan has just declared war on us. They promised an invasion and with our limited resources I don't see a way to hold them back."

Gasps sounded around the room, but I had no idea why. Everyone saw it coming. The Grey Peak's had been pushing Hillguard for more land for years. It was really a surprise they had waited so long to attack.

King Seaward shook his head and rubbed his temples in frustration. "Uh!" He signed. "I don't have enough men for this! Sir Irvine call the draft." He pinched the bridge of his narrow nose. "I really don't know what else to do."

Groans rolled around the room as the highest commanding knight stood to arrange the draft. The King's relationship with his people was already strained, hence the constant assassination attempts on the crown Prince. Assassination attempts that I had been dodging for six years.

I didn't like the King, but if the people rebelled at a time like this the whole kingdom would fall. My life as the Prince's replica wasn't great, but being a slave to the Grey Peaks would certainly be worse. Assuming I didn't die somewhere along the way.

"Wait!" I called to Sir Irvine before he left the room.

All eyes turned to me, something I had grown quite familiar with since I had "become" Prince Eden, as the knight turned around.

"Yes? Do you have an idea my Prince?"

I swallowed the panic that was rising in my throat. I was about to propose something crazy. Something that would probably get me killed in the end.

"Instead of fighting the pirates on the South Shore," I began. "Maybe I should first go the Grey Peaks and discuss a possible ceasefire for the time being."

No one said a word as they contemplated what I was suggesting. It was common knowledge that the Grey Peak Clan was a barbaric group and more likely to kill me on the spot than accept a proposal of peace. But did we really have a choice? We were already weak and there was no chance of survival if we had to fight a two front war.

King Seaward was the first to speak. I wasn't truly his son, so it wouldn't really affect him if the Grey Peaks killed me. "I'll allow it." He said slowly as if it pained him. "I'll send you back with Lord Hillguard and you'll stay with him until you can arrange a meeting with the Grey Peaks. Do whatever it takes to make peace."

Normally a father would tell his son stay safe. To take risks, but not anything too drastic that might end in death. I didn't get that from the King because if I died than it would be just one less thing he'd have to worry about.

With a nod from the King, the counsel dispelled and I rushed out into the chilly castle hall. Taking deep breaths I raced through the dark, stone catacombs I was forced to call home. I hated the castle. It was big, yet at the same time it was claustrophobic.

I just wanted fresh air, not the musty stale castle air. I wanted to go out into the gardens and past the castle walls. I wanted to keep running until I got home. I wanted to see my real home with my brothers and sisters. How were they? I hadn't seen them in years? Were they all okay? Did they have enough food? Enough money?

I shook my head as the glowing sun's light blinded me. Galloping in the fresh air, I raced out into the perfectly sculpted garden. The sweet smell of the pink lilacs calmed me down as I sat down against a vine covered wall.

Why did I do it? Why did I condemn myself to a possibly painful and slow death to help a King who took me from everything I loved?
"It was my kingdom." I told myself softly. "It wasn't for King Seaward."

"You big idiot!"

I jumped around defensively at the unexpected voice. Maybe I should have expected Hillguard to follow me. "What do you want, Lord?"

Hillguard grips me in a playful chokehold and it almost feels like I'm with one of my older brother's again. "Come on, Ed. How many times do I have to tell you? Just call me Dorian."

I felt a slight pang in my chest when he called me Ed. He's my closest friend in the whole kingdom and he doesn't even know who I am. No one truly knows who I am.

"Fine, Dorian." I said with an emphasis on my use of his first name. "Are you going to answer my question or will I have to ask it again?"

Dorian laughed and ruffled my hair before releasing me. "I came to tell you that you're a complete moron."

I shrugged it off like the idea of a certain death didn't scare me. "Yeah. Well I didn't see anyone else willing to negotiate with those barbarians."

Dorian's grey eyes sparkled with the worry of an older brother trying to look out for his younger sibling. "That's because no one else is stupid enough. But, hey, on the bright side we get to be roommates for a few days before you die."

I couldn't help but laugh at how happy he made the word death sound.

"Definitely. How could I let myself die without first spending a night in the Hillguard quarters? I've heard a rumor that the Lord there hosts the best and biggest feasts!"

Dorian smiled and rested his arm across my shoulders. Leading us out of the royal gardens and away from the setting sun, he laughed joyously. "Well, lad, I can assure you that what you've heard was not just a rumor."