Warning #1: This story is an alternate reality of 'The Rise of Heretics'. You do not need to read the other story to understand, but if you ever do intend to read Heretics and hate spoilers, then click back and read the other story first. The first few chapters contains massive spoilers for the entire story of 'The Rise of Heretics'

Warning #2: The story involves a fourteen year old in an implied sexual relationship. The worst I'll write explicitly are the kissing scenes, but I will not write a detailed sex scene. I can understand if the subject of minors having sex offends you and will not blame you if you decide to click back.

Other than that...enjoy the story

Prologue

When I first met her, I was fourteen and she was six. The Holy Citadel Army had captured me in hopes that I would bring in a nice ransom. I was a high profile figure in Evergreen, but the enemy kingdom didn't know how valuable I really was. To the public, I was known as the only surviving son of Duke Garinel of Evergreen. But in reality, I was a child of House Esthinlor and the next heir to the throne of Evergreen. I wasn't sure how I ended up pretending to be a member of House Kaltora, but it provided a safe cover for me.

I was often captured since I traveled around Evergreen a lot. But if they knew I was the prince, they would kill me so that Evergreen would have no heirs and so the Holy Citadel would take over the Silver Country. Of all countries in the world, the Silver Country was the only one with two kingdoms. Once long ago, two brothers fought for the throne and it ended with one winning and the other leaving to create a new kingdom to spite the winner. Ever since then the country was split into two and warred against one another in an attempt to unify the country again.

One would think the High Priest would solve the problem since he was the spiritual leader of the world and could commune with the gods. However, that was too delicate a decision to make. If he chose one side, then he would have to betray the other. He chose to stay neutral and encouraged his successors to do the same. The gods didn't care who ruled what land as long as everyone followed the chosen way of life. He couldn't demand a resolution on behalf of them. The feud of almost two thousand years ago was never resolved and even to this day it brought misery. If only one king would step down, then the country wouldn't have to war, but both sides were too greedy to give up.

I had nothing good to say about my real father, King Pareph. As long as I've known him, he'd been nothing more than a selfish tyrant. He'd raise taxes for no reason and accept gifts from nobles in exchange for letting them do whatever they pleased on their lands. I really had to wonder how or why the people loved him. Perhaps it was only pride for the kingdom. My father wanted nothing to do with me and was not hesitant to send me away. I would almost think that he hated me, but then why bother having a child? Maybe he was resentful that I was the cause of my mother's death. I was told that she died giving birth to me.

I didn't care about his reasoning and I didn't care much for his rule. Someday I was going to be king and I was going to make things right again. When I was little, the High Priest, Lord Sorbin, told me that I was destined to end the war and unite the country. He said the gods had given me their blessing and granted me special powers. I wasn't sure if he really meant that last part or if he was trying to cheer me up at the time, but it encouraged me nonetheless. I wanted this stupid war to end because I was tired of it all. I lost too many friends and family to it and I hated seeing the downtrodden look on the people.

I had four more months before I was to turn fifteen. Fifteen was the age of maturity where boys could join the army and girls could marry. It didn't mean that I was an adult yet since the age of adulthood was twenty, but it was the age to begin building a life for the future. I intended to join the army so I could fulfill my destiny and end the war.

But for now…I had to find some way to escape. Since I was a noble, they would usually lock me up in some well-furnished room, but they learned their lesson. As I said before, I've been captured often and I learned how to escape from every prison they've put me in. But this time was a little tougher. For one, they put me in a dungeon and chained me to a wall and they managed to take me to the Holy Citadel. I was far from home and had a long journey to take before I was within Evergreen borders.

I wasn't sure how long I've been imprisoned since there were no windows. My only clue of the time was the noontime visit from my current jailer, Lord Sathren. Sathren was the Duke of the Holy Citadel and a royal court magician. He was the greatest enemy of Evergreen next to the Holy Citadel king. They say that House Rothembel bred strong warriors and powerful magicians and Sathren was proof of that. He'd often win battles with his explosion spells alone. Many feared him. Even I feared him some, but I hated him more than I feared him. He was responsible for many deaths and often threatened innocent bystanders. But I suppose I shouldn't really be surprised with my feelings towards him. He was the enemy and all people from the Holy Citadel were cruel.

But this day ended up different because when he came to visit, he had a child in his arms. I could tell it was a girl by the length of her hair. He set her down and gave her two bags of candy before ruffling her brownish gold hair.

"I will be right back. Do not talk to any bad men while I am away," Sathren told the child in a soothing voice before he headed further down the hall. I assumed he was going to talk to the dungeon master and was probably watching her from a distance. I knew from the moment I saw the girl's gold eyes that she was his daughter and he wasn't foolish to leave her alone with criminals.

She turned to look at me and I glared back at her. She may have appeared innocent now, but I knew she was going to grow up to be a spoiled brat. She was my enemy too. Her face greatly resembled her father's but with a little more feminine features. She also still had some baby fat due to her age.

"Want some?" she eventually asked me as she held out a bag of candy. Her tiny hand went through the bars of my cell and waited for me to take the package. I couldn't believe this was happening. Apparently Sathren wasn't watching, otherwise he would've shouted at her by now. I could easily grab her and hold her hostage like they did to me.

I was highly tempted to do it, but I stopped at seeing her large innocent eyes. I just couldn't bring myself to harm a young girl, even while knowing she was my enemy. Instead I just darkened my glare and muttered, "No."

She tilted her head in a very cute manner while still holding out the candy, "Are you sure?"

"Didn't your father tell you not to talk to me?" I interrupted her in a sharp tone. I was annoyed by the fact that I couldn't harm her and I hated the trust she had in me when she didn't even know me.

This time she did lower her hand, but didn't back away from the bars, "He told me not to talk to 'bad men'. You're just a boy and I don't think you're 'bad'."

…Well she had me there. I wasn't a bad person, but there was no way a child could tell that. Some part of me was feeling sick that such a nice and innocent girl was going to become a rotten noble of the Holy Citadel court. I had to remind myself that she was Sathren's daughter and she wasn't going to stay nice forever. The girl then placed the bag just inside of my cell in case I changed my mind.

It was then I snapped. I was upset with the fact that I was imprisoned, but there was something about her and her innocence that was driving me mad. She shouldn't be nice or considerate. I think I was more upset that I couldn't bring myself to hate her. I was supposed to hate her but she was making it hard.

"Do you know why I'm in here?" I almost snarled at her. I had no right to take it out on her, but I was angry and I wanted her to act more like the enemy I wanted to loathe, "Your father put me in here so he can use me to force Evergreen to give up some land. I'm a hostage!"

In hindsight, I realized I was expecting too much out of her. She was only six and didn't understand much…or so I thought. For the most part, she didn't cry after my outburst. She just stared back at me, appearing to sympathize with me.

"I know…" she said softly, "Someone from your side tried to take my brother. It's not right."

I was exasperated to hear this. Sathren's own son was captured once? And now he was holding me captive? How was this supposed to make things even? And what was this girl trying to accomplish?

"And so you offer me candy? What's the point? It's not gonna make things right!"

She flinched a little, but still didn't back down, "…I wanted you to smile a little. You should try the candy. There's a surprise inside."

It seemed like she had something else to say, but she was cut off when a boy about ten years old lightly hit her upside the head. She faked an 'ow' and turned to glare at the boy. The boy had the same colored hair and eyes as her and also bore a striking resemblance to Lord Sathren. I didn't know how many children he had, but I wondered if this boy was the son who was captured.

"Sathra! You know better than to talk to prisoners! This is why father never lets you visit the dungeons," the boy scolded as he hit her again. I could tell he wasn't hitting hard, just a light bop on the head. But Sathra was pretending it did hurt to make it seem like he was.

Suddenly she began acting like the brat I was initially expecting when she yelled at him and then kicked him in the shins.

"Lord Sorbin said that I needed to visit the sick and the imprisoned. How can I visit if I can't talk?"

It was only when the High Priest's name was mentioned that I noticed her clothing. Both Sathra and her brother were wearing white robes with the clergy symbol on them. This meant that they were both going to be members of the clergy someday. The clergy was neutral to the war so anyone who was a member didn't fight in it. Technically that meant she wasn't my enemy.

"Father! Sathra kicked me!" the boy whined, ignoring his sister's words. I was surprised to hear a far off reply as if Sathren wasn't even anywhere near this hall.

"Jethen! Stop picking on your baby sister!" Either Lord Sathren had great trust in his children or he was a terrible father…

Sathra shot Jethen a smug look before he sighed. He noticed the bag of candy she left in my cell and pointed to it, "You don't need to talk to visit. The lesson Lord Sorbin wants you to learn is compassion for others. Giving him candy is enough."

Jethen's eyes then narrowed when he saw the second bag of candy in her hands, "…I thought father only bought you one bag."

"I asked for another one," she chirped happily. Her brother sighed again and rolled his eyes.

"Lord Sorbin should also make you learn selflessness. How could you say you made a sacrifice if you got something for yourself?"

She seemed to take offense from the comment and puffed her cheeks. She then fisted her hand and held out the candy to him with a glare. But any malice or intimidation she wanted to express was lost in her cute childish pout. Jethen stared at her incredulously and crossed his arms.

"I don't want it," he declined gently.

"I'm not selfish! Take it!" she insisted.

"That's not how it works!" Jethen almost shouted at her, "It doesn't count if someone doesn't want your charity."

I was somewhat amused watching them bicker, but it soon faded when I felt Sathren's presence return. Lord Sathren was a man of presence. He seemed well built for a magician and yet still had a scholarly look about him. He had neatly trimmed brown hair and a short beard. His infamous glasses framed his gold eyes. His victims only remember his glasses and manic eyes before they are surrounded by smoke and flame. But I didn't see the monster that everyone else described at that moment.

His eyes were a lot softer as he glanced down at his children. He walked over to his daughter and leaned over her to see what she was holding, "I will take it. We can share."

Sathra smiled brightly at him before handing the bag to him. Sathren fished out half of the bag's contents and placed it in his daughter's hands. He then told Jethen to take Sathra elsewhere before he turned to face me.

"How are you fairing, Duke Gahn?" He appeared polite and respectful as he inquired, but I could hear an undertone of mocking in there.

I held up a chain and muttered, "How do you think?"

Sathren only shrugged before he took a piece of candy from the bag and placed it in his mouth, "If you would cease running away all the time, you would have had better accommodations."

"I don't run," I growled slightly as I glared up at my jailer, "Your prisons are too weak. I'll get out of this one too."

"We shall see," he replied, unconcerned with my vow. He then glanced down at the discarded bag that Sathra left in my cell and gestured to it, "Enjoy the gift my daughter has given you."

He then left me to my solitude. I felt like shouting at him as he left, but knew it was no use. Calling him names wouldn't get me out. Instead, I stared at the candy bag and wondered how such a cruel man could have such a sweet daughter. I eventually reached for it and quickly found out what Sathra meant by 'surprise'. Hidden amongst the candy was a slender key. I thought it was too good to be true when I found that the key was indeed the one to my chains and my cell. …Did Sathra give this to me on purpose or were the gods granting me another blessing?

I didn't stay to ponder and quickly made my escape.

I had a decent head start in my escape when someone noticed me missing from my cell. Since it was the noon hour, someone had to come by to bring me food. I managed to climb out of the dungeons undetected and hid amongst the drapery within the palace walls. From what I've heard, the castle of the Holy Citadel was expansive and included at least five manors attached to the central palace. It was going to be hard to find an exit that didn't lead to one of the manors.

I decided that the first priority was to get out of the central palace. As maids and knights frantically ran about, I ducked and rolled between hiding places. I only had a minor ability to fight with the sword since I've mostly trained in archery. I didn't want risk confronting any of the knights. Evergreen was designed as a city of hunters and archery was a required practice. But the Holy Citadel had no use in bows and arrows. I didn't expect to come across anything to use.

When I came across a window, I was dismayed to find that I was on the second floor of the palace. I could jump out that window and find a way to safely land on the ground, but I would've risked being seen. If only I had waited until evening…

I came across a large hallway and knew it lead to one of the manors. I decided to sneak down it and hope there was no one searching for me there. Luck seemed to be on my side when I managed to reach another hallway full of rooms. None of them seemed to be a master suite so one of them would serve as a good hiding place. Since this was an issue between the kingdoms, I knew I didn't have to worry about being tracked by someone who could read and trace me through spiritual energy. Only the clergy had that ability and they were not going to help the king's men unless I happened to be an enemy of the clergy.

I picked the room closest to me when I started hearing several armored men running down an adjacent hall. I was about to sigh in relief until I noticed that the room was occupied. Of all the rooms I picked, it happened to be Sathra's. I wondered if the gods were toying with me. She was glancing at me from the corner of her room where a little desk was set up. She didn't seem all that shocked to see me and eventually turned back to write on some paper on her desk. Apparently she didn't care that I was here. I guess if she didn't care, then I could stay for a while.

"Um…" I started awkwardly to break the silence as I rubbed the back of my head, "Were you the one who put the key in the bag?"

"Uh-huh," she replied cheerfully, not looking up from whatever she was working on. Suddenly I felt bad for shouting at her earlier. She was trying to tell me what was in that bag before her brother interrupted. …I guess giving me candy did make things right.

"Why?" It wasn't that I wasn't grateful, but it was strange for someone like her to let someone like me escape. I knew she was going to be a priestess someday (since that was the only role women could take in the clergy), but she was born in the Holy Citadel and under her father's rules. Why would she betray her father and kingdom?

"Because a dungeon is for criminals and you're not a criminal. Even father said he wanted you released, but King Zirin wouldn't allow it," she explained. I noticed that for a six year old, she had a large vocabulary, but she couldn't pronounce some of the big words correctly. I was stunned to hear that Sathren had no interest in keeping me imprisoned. Why didn't he tell me that? Ever since I came here, he'd done nothing but torment me.

Suddenly, someone was pounding on the door, "Lady Sathra! Are you in there?"

"Yes!" she called out, "One second!"

For a moment I thought she was going to let the guard know I was in here and get me arrested. But instead she jumped out of her seat and pulled at my arm. I moved to where she wanted me to go and ducked down behind her bed when she pointed to it. She then ran over to the other side and opened the door.

"You seem to be alone," the guard outside stated before he announced, "Someone has escaped from the dungeon so please lock your door and refrain from leaving until we find him. I'll have a few guards patrolling your wing for your protection."

"Okay!" she chirped before she closed the door and locked it. So she really did intend to help me.

At my silence, she continued, "You can stay here as long as you want."

"Are you sure?" I wondered as I watched her return to her desk, "It's a little improper for a lady to keep a strange man in her room."

"Really?" She actually did seem surprised to hear that. She didn't seem to know much about proper etiquette, but then I wouldn't imagine Sathren would expect his daughter to be interested in boys anytime soon. Sathra tilted her head slightly before she went back to writing something down, "Then I guess it's okay. I'm not a lady."

I almost laughed. She was so cute and innocent. I honestly couldn't believe someone like her existed in the Holy Citadel. I was impressed to see that she could already read and write at her age and eventually became curious. I wondered what on earth a six year old could be working so hard on. I was stunned to see open books full of words way too difficult for a child to understand. I read the titles and found books on biology, history, advanced arithmetic, and spiritual theory. I knew she was to train to become a priestess, but one usually studied such things when they were close to thirteen or so.

I glanced down at her paper and found that it was a financial ledger, "Are you organizing funds?"

At this she blanched and muttered, "…Yes. Father is making me because I played with his falcons without permission. …Or was it for drawing in his spell book?"

…This was punishment? Sathren definitely was an odd parent. Though I guess if I had a genius child, I would encourage them to do this kind of work too. I backed away and sat down on her bed. I couldn't really move until nightfall and I had nothing left to do but wait.

A few hours later, I eventually grew bored waiting for the evening and started reading one of her books. I've spent some time in a temple when I was younger and did study a few things. History was one of them. But as I thumbed through the pages of her book, I realized that the book was incomplete and incorrect. It only went back as far as five hundred years ago and it didn't mention the whole story of the events then. Strangely enough, this version of history was a lot nicer sounding than the truth. Was everyone here being brainwashed with lies?

At that moment I briefly entertained the thought of taking Sathra with me to Evergreen. I couldn't sit idly by and see a talented person be poisoned by a false history and lies. …But even though she's talented, there was no way I could get her home easily without having to kidnap her. I decided that my thoughts were premature and let it drop. The Holy Citadel's temples were male only and any priestesses were sent to Evergreen to study. She would eventually be there whether I acted or not. I just hoped the early development wouldn't destroy her mindset.

I was in for a surprise when I heard the door suddenly unlock. I quickly rolled off her bed and was about to crawl under it until I felt a familiar presence. I was developing a sixth sense that could detect people within a certain radius of me. I could only tell the difference between people I knew and didn't. But in time I would be able to sense emotions and hidden intent. The only ally I knew in the Holy Citadel was…

"Lord Sorbin!" I called out as I stood up. He appeared mildly surprised that I was here as he closed the door. Lord Sorbin was an elderly man in his eighties with thick whitish-grey hair and a long beard. He had pearl white eyes and lightly wrinkled sun kissed skin.

Like Sathra, he was also noble. Only the nobility had the eye colors of red, purple, white, black, and gold. This was due to some old spell a former High Priest cast so that noble blood could be distinguished from commoners. My eyes were red, like my father's. I found it odd that no one really noticed since the children of House Kaltora had black eyes.

"Ah, so this is where you went, Prince Gahn," he said as he slowly stroked his beard. Only Lord Sorbin and my father knew about my true heritage. He had to know since the High Priest had to approve of a new king before they could rule. Lord Sorbin watched over me closely, waiting to see if I was truly worthy of taking the throne. He could decide I wasn't worthy and choose someone else or worse, let the Holy Citadel's royal family take over. But I knew he favored me. Why else would he claim that I had a destiny?

But suddenly I realized that there was now a third person that knew. I couldn't believe how careless Lord Sorbin was in revealing my rank in front of Sathra. She jumped up in surprise and shouted, "He's a prince?"

At my worried look, Sorbin assured me that it was okay, "Do not worry. She is in a similar situation that you are in and knows better than to reveal delicate information."

She didn't intend to, but she stood up proudly and pretty much disproved the High Priest's claim. She announced to me, "Yup! I'm going to be the High Priestess someday."

It was my turn to be shocked as Lord Sorbin sighed and closed his eyes. Sathra quickly realized that she unintentionally leaked information and covered her mouth with a tiny, "Oops."

"Sathra, be more careful," Sorbin chided, proving that her claim was true. I couldn't believe that this girl was the High Priest's successor. I thought only men could take on such a role.

"But how…uh," I wanted to ask how a little girl was chosen, but I didn't want to offend her. I knew that successors were chosen by birth and that she would have few years before she was to actually replace Lord Sorbin. But I just couldn't imagine how anyone else would accept that. In the Holy Citadel, women were supposed to raise children and stay out of the affairs of men. How would anyone take her seriously?

"I know it is a difficult concept in this day and age, but she is the chosen successor. I decided to trust the gods' decision and believe in her. Only her family knows of her purpose," Sorbin explained before he looked me in the eye, "Gahn, you must keep this knowledge a secret. A successor must not be revealed until they are close to the age of maturity. This way, they are protected from political influences."

I could see how that would be dangerous. All of the High Priests of the past tried hard to retain neutrality between the two kingdoms. If one of the kings knew who the successor was, they would try to entice and persuade them while they were young and impressionable. I glanced down at Sathra and studied her as she finally approached us. I couldn't help but feel that the world would go to hell if she were ever in charge. But then, who knew? Maybe if she held on to her kindness and her sense of justice, then she might be able to change the world for the better.

"How do you know I wouldn't try to influence her?" I wondered when I finally glanced away from Sathra. I knew I couldn't threaten to reveal her secret since I also have the threat of my royal status being revealed.

Lord Sorbin let out a small smile, "You must leave this evening. I doubt the two of you will ever meet again until it is time for you to take the throne. I also doubt she will remember you in time. The child cannot even remember what she had for her morning meal."

Sathra caught on to the mild insult and stuck her tongue out at him. I witnessed an extremely rare sight of the almighty High Priest retuning the gesture. Ever since I first met him, he was always serious. Seeing him act out childishly was a great shock. I didn't think he had the time to play around with children. Sathra soon had her hair in a mess when Sorbin ruffled it. He then finally revealed the true reason for his visit.

"Jethen has expressed his worries about your lessons. I was about to give you a lesson on selflessness, but it seems you have already learned it. Instead, you shall meditate for the rest of the day. I will place orders that you are not to be disturbed and your dinner shall be delivered to your room," he told her as he cast sly glances in my direction. I realized that he was trying to secure my hiding place with his order. He couldn't show any favoritism towards any kingdom, but nothing said he couldn't turn a blind eye to a few things.

Meditating sounded like something boring to me, but Sathra seemed happy to do it. Then again, maybe she knew that it was all a ruse to help me. I wonder if she really did learn the lesson of selflessness. She was risking a lot in helping me, but I didn't think she understood what she was really doing. Even with the High Priest's protection, if she were caught harboring criminals, then her king would find ways to punish her.

The High Priest soon left us and I ended up waiting a few more hours, until the sun finally began sinking to the horizon. Sathra only meditated for an hour before she grew bored and asked me about Evergreen. I told her as little as possible in case she accidentally revealed anything to her father or brother. I didn't want her to get in trouble because of me. When it was time for me to go, she pulled bed sheets out of her closet and helped me tie them together. I tied one end on the post of her bed and said my goodbyes to her. Lord Sorbin could've been right. It could've been the last time I would see her.

But before I could climb into the window, she pulled at my arm and gave me a determined look, "I won't forget you."

I had to smirk at that. She was adamant about proving others wrong. I wasn't sure if she really meant it or if she was just being rebellious against the High Priest's words. But her words did reassure me. If she was willing to go that far, then maybe she'll prove me wrong and be a better High Priestess than the High Priests of the past. I thanked her for everything she had done for me and then kissed her on the cheek. She blushed, but didn't appear all that pleased with the action.

While the gesture was purely innocent and a show of my gratitude, what really went through my mind at the time was 'Take that Lord Sathren. I just kissed your daughter'.

Lord Sorbin was right in the end, we never met face to face again. But even as time passed, I never forgot her and often wondered if we would ever meet again.

© Sorceress Myst 2010