The paper she's reading says something to the effect of: "REWARD for any information regarding the whereabouts of the prince Lucius Boreas Fractalus." Sorry the picture's so huge :>username:: Knickknacks
viscet name:: Paja
gender:: Female
gfbp:: Female
~*~
The poster jumped out at Paja almost as soon as she entered the square, printed in a straight, bold handwriting so different from the elegant loops that had been used by the previous herald. She hurried closer, slipping through the crowd to get a better look at the words printed there:
Reward for any information regarding the whereabouts of the prince Lucius Boreas FractalusPaja plucked the poster neatly off the wall, scrutinizing it for a moment before tucking it into her pocket, drawing her cloak more closely about her, and hurrying from the square as quickly as she could without drawing attention, her fur fluffed out against the winter winds and her skin prickling with fear and apprehension.
They’re looking for him.If he was even alive.
- - -
Two weeks.
That’s how long it had been since a group of revolutionaries had destroyed the ice palace, and with it the benevolent monarchs and countless staff members. The Winter Empire had been shocked into a haze of mourning and disbelief, and the revolutionaries had assumed control of the capital city, their seemingly remorseless leader setting himself up as the governor.
Paja was a member of the resistance against the new rule- an underground group searching for some hope of overthrowing the new governor. For no matter what he claimed about restoration of justice and a new order, the governor was corrupt and ruthless. He’d destroyed the palace and murdered a huge group of Viscets to assume his position.
Most of the resistance’s hope rested on the one possible heir to the old throne- Lucius Boreas Fractalus, the youngest son of the former king. The prince was a rebellious soul, and rumors abounded that he hadn’t been at the palace when it had blown up. The governor had his followers searching for the young prince as well, but neither party had any success as of yet. To the resistance, and those who were still in mourning, the possibility of Lucius still being alive was a beacon of hope, giving them a cause, a potential king to fight for.
There was, of course, the possibility that he wasn’t alive- they would know immediately if the governor caught him, but there was the possibility that he had died in the explosion after all, or perished on the Ice Plain in an attempt to flee the city.
Paja hoped he was alive. But if he was, how would he be when they found him? Strong, full of righteous anger, ready to lead them and overthrow the rule that had killed his family? Weak and broken, begging for their protection? The same as he’d been before the explosion, flippant and laughing and charming? That last option, Paja thought, would be the worst- they could care for a broken prince and marshal behind an angry one, but a laughing one? That wasn’t what the kingdom needed, or wanted. She thought, too, that it would be almost frightening to be around someone who could laugh in the face of his family’s murder. Or perhaps the prince would use laughter as a mask to hide his hurt.
All of this was conjecture, anyways, Paja thought, trying to force her whirring mind into a calmer state. She was almost to the nearest hiding place of the resistance. The leaders would want to hear her news, and be comforted that the prince hadn’t fallen into the hands of the governor.
Wherever you are... please don’t be dead. Stay safe, Lucius Fractalus, Paja thought.