The Plan

First off, Conner assured us that his plan wasn't treason. 

He said that Carthya was on the brink of a civil war, and that his plan would prevent treason, in "a roundabout way." 

He said a major change was coming to our country. 

He then told us that Veldegrath, the prime regent, was planning on taking the throne. 

He said that Avenia was planning war. 

He told us that the king's youngest son, Jaron, had been lost at sea four years ago, when the ship had been attacked by pirated.

I had heard this story before. 

Avenia had been accused of hiring the pirates. 

If the king, Eckbert, had had any proof, he would have gone to war. 

Conner said that three regents had been sent to Isel, a seaport town from where Prince Jaron's ship launched. 

They were looking for proof of either his life or death. 

A body had never been found. 

He said Jaron was next in line for the throne. 

We didn't understand. 

King Eckbert and Queen Erin ruled now. 

And the Crown Prince, Darius, was next in line. 

Conner said he would tell us the greatest secret of our lives "thus far." 

He said that they, the royal family, were all dead. 

He said they had been murdered. 

We asked him if he meant to find Prince Jaron. 

He said that Jaron was certainly dead. 

He said he could even prove it. 

But he wouldn't tell us, because it was, as he called it, "my secret and mine alone." 

He said to trust him. 

So, his plan was to turn one of us, an orphan, into a prince, in two weeks. 

To me, this plan was either lunacy or treason. 

I didn't believe Conner when he said it wasn't treason. 

Even Tobias said it seemed impossible. 

Conner didn't like that. 

He made Tobias stand up, and started examining him. 

Apparently, he had the right shade of hair, but he wasn't a quick enough thinker. 

Roden didn't resemble the prince as much, but he lacked confidence when necessary. 

He was also uneducated, but strong. 

Apparently, I had the wrong color of hair, I used my left hand instead of my right, which was completely wrong, and I had an Avenian accent.

I told Conner I didn't want the throne. 

He could choose one of the other boys, and I would go wherever he would never see me again. 

That upset him.

He said he didn't care "a devil's inch" what I wanted. 

He said I had the same personality as Jaron. 

He said all he had to do was weed out the bad manners and defiant nature, and I could convince the nobles that I was Jaron.  

I told him that if he weeds those out, there would be nothing left of me. 

If he stripped me of those, he'd find that I was as boring as Tobias and as predictable as Roden. 

I told him to take their physical similarities to the prince, and give them personalities (I didn't actually think either of them could adopt a personality.)

Conner said Jaron was a fighter, and I had done nothing but fight him since he found me. 

I told him that if he tried to use me for this fraud, I would continue fighting. 

I told him to choose Roden. 

Roden would gladly be a puppet king, while Conner ruled from behind the scenes. 

Conner said he had no intention of ruling. 

He would just be there to "help us out." 

He said all he wanted was to keep Carthya from the brink of a civil war. 

I told him I hoped Avenia destroyed Carthya, and I left the room.

Mott was waiting outside. 

I told him I wanted to be alone. 

He told me to go with him. 

We walked into the courtyard, where there was a wall with several swords on it. 

He told me to choose one. 

I asked him how I would know which one was for me. 

He said to pick whichever one calls to me. 

I picked up one that had a medium sized blade, and had a dark brown leather wrapped around the hilt. 

It also had a circle of dark red rubies set into the pommel. 

As soon as I grabbed it, it slipped through my hands and landed on the ground. 

Mott darted forward and picked it up, like I'd committed some sort of sin by dropping it. 

He told me the sword was too heavy for me, and to pick another. 

I told him it was heavier than it had looked, but it was fine now. 

I told him it had called to me. 

He asked me why. 

I told him it was because of the rubies. I could sell those and make a fortune. 

He said if I tried that, he would use that same sword to run me through.

He tried to teach me to fight, but I wouldn't cooperate. 

He said he had figured me wrong. 

Jaron had been a fighter, and I was just putting on a facade. 

He said I had to try to become the prince. 

I told him that even if I did, I would also end up dead like Eckbert one day. 

He said it was interesting that I had chosen the sword that I did.

It was a replica of Prince Jaron's sword. 

He said that if Conner could look at me and see a prince, I should be able to too. 

Then, he led me to my room, where I waited for the others to show up. 

Errol showed up, and said he was there to dress me for bed. 

I felt ridiculous. 

While he was dressing me, I asked him about the girl at supper. 

He said her name was Imogen, and that she was a mute. 

Before he left, I asked him where my old clothes were. 

He said they were being washed. 

I told him that they had been fine the way they were, but he assured me that they hadn't. 

After he left, and before the others came in, I went to the window, fully intending to climb out. 

As I stood there, I let my emotions rise over me. 

Conner's plan was worse than even I had anticipated. 

I could never leave now. 

Conner would hunt down anyone who knew of his secret, and kill them. 

My choice was clear. 

I could either become Conner's prince, or he'd kill me.