One maid whispered into the ear of a servant. That servant whispered into the ear of another servant. The cook overheard the conversation and brought it to the kitchen. There the story was retold with vigor. Vigor and lies. The kitchen staff spread it to the guards working the walls during breakfast, adding more details, and dramatizing it. The guards told the clergy members leaving the palace. The clergy told it to close friends at the market. Those close friends brought the tale to the inns and taverns across Kos. From there the story spread to the entire city, in a matter of hours.

There had been a murder in the royal palace.

Vigilant had been woken up early in the night by a very distressed Sacred Shield. The mare had practically thrown him out of bed and rushed him to the council chambers. There she had ordered ten guards to block the door and update her on the situation. After a few hours of guards, servants, and nobles alike searching through the palace the alarm was called off. Vigilant had been allowed to leave the council chambers and return to his room. Not that he stayed there long. The investigation could now begin, and it would begin in one of the hallways close to the prince’s own bedroom.

“How did this happen?” Trina Jiros asked.

“I don’t know. We have guards that patrol these hallways, especially the ones close to the prince’s quarters. I take full responsibility for this failure in security, and I will accept any punishment you deem reasonable, your highness,” Sacred Shield said.

The admiral and the leader of the guard had been the first on the scene. When the guards had rung the alarm in the middle of the night, screaming that there was a body, everyone had panicked. Servants had slammed open their doors, rushing to the scene to see what had happened, which only created more chaos. Vigilant himself had tried to see who had died, but Sacred Shield had forced him to run past the horrifying event. Only now did he see why. It was truly horrible and spoke of something dark and twisted. The world spun and it was like the light died around everything but the thing on the floor. When Vigilant swallowed he felt like tar had stuck itself at the back of his throat. His eyes were wide and his tail thumped into the ground in fear. The strike of the paddle created a rhythmic beat to the horror before him. The body of healer Kira.

“Why?...” was all the prince could say.

He had not known Healer Kira beyond her being the mare that looked after his and his mother’s health. However, she had seemed to be loyal and kind. Until the bitter end. Her warning at the funeral would not have come from the mouth of a traitor or opportunist. Vigilant shivered and looked at the healer's corpse. Who else had known? Who else could have possibly gotten hold of the information that Kira would seek him out? Maybe she simply had been followed. That still left him asking who could have murdered her. They must have known about the message she had meant to deliver and killed her for it.

Kira’s body was laid out on the floor like she was sleeping. There was no visible damage to her with the exception of her purple face and bloodshot eyes. Her final moments had been horror. Wide eyes, mouth open in a scream, and body straining against something. She had died alone and afraid.

It was his fault.

“I could have saved her… I could have exited my room and waited for her...” Vigilant said.

“Whoever did this left a strong magical imprint. Forcis bleeds through her corpse. It is very likely they would have killed you if you had been here. Do not blame yourself for something you couldn’t have stopped,” Sacred said and rubbed his back.

Trina looked over the body. “Felreth Shield is right. The mage that did this had enough power to completely stop the victim from moving and choke her. You would have been no match for such an assailant.”

"How can you tell she couldn't move?" Vigilant asked.

Trina just pointed her tail at Kira's hind legs, a grimace crossing her face. "Left leg is broken. Snapped like a twig. Someone with extensive training with the energies from Forcis could have kept the healer in place. With enough power to snap bones we are talking about a master of the craft. No mere levitation spell or making things slightly lighter."

Sacred scowled. "Such power means demons would have been attracted. That mage must also have a formidable mind to withstand possession."

"It just means the mage is an even bigger threat, both to herself and others. Such power in the hands of a demon would be devastating for the entire city. Furthermore, we need to burn the healer's body as quickly as possible. Realmbleeding might occur if she is buried," Trina muttered and motioned for the guards to take away the corpse.

As the body was covered with a white sheet and placed on a stretcher Vigilant just blinked. He barely registered the healers that carried away Kira’s body with solemn faces. The admiral had said he would have lost the fight. So Kira would have died either way? Damn that! Vigilant knew that if he had faced the murder he would have won! He would have saved Kira's life and obtained his mother's message. Yet Trina thought he was weak. Too weak to save his people. Too weal to fight off a single attacker. Was he not supposed to lead this kingdom? His tail flicked back and forth and his lips curled back to reveal sharp teeth. A growl rose from his chest and his claws dug themselves into the stone floor.

“You say I would have lost the fight, that Kira would have died either way, but I would have won! As the prince of this nation, I can fight for my people. I demand you recognize that! I have studied with some of the best magic tutors-”

“And you have not finished your studies. You have not finished your lessons in etiquette either, since you can address me that way,” Trina glared at him and bared her own teeth.

The prince took a step back, cheeks burning. She was not only his elder but a mare. It was obscene for a stallion to scream at a mare, yet sometimes allowed. If the stallion was a lord he held a higher position than any commoner mare. It meant he could be angry at her. Vigilant on the other hand had screamed at a council member, one of his guardians. As a minor, he had no other legal guardians left but the Shekel council. His only family member left was Irmith of Cashau, who was his second cousin twice removed. Yet, she could not be his legal guardian. By law, in the circumstance that both parents of the heir died, he or she was to be raised and guided by the watchful eye of the council. No distant family relations could break that law. So that meant he had basically insulted a mare that held the same legal position as his mother.

So how did a stallion apologize for offending a mare of such high standing? Vigilant tilted down his ears, laid down on the floor, held out his forelegs, and bowed his head. “I am sorry I treated you that way, my Lady, it will not happen again.”

The admiral looked at him with an uncaring stare before nodding. “Good. Now get up and go back to your room. We will handle this from now on.”

“What? But I can help!” Vigilant stood up with his tail striking the floor.

“Do you know why healer Kira was sneaking around in the middle of the night?” the admiral bent down, her face intensely close to his own.

Her blue eyes seemed to pierce his soul.

“Any information may help us catch who did this. Do you know why she was here? She was assaulted close to your quarters,” Sacred Shield added.

“I-” he wanted to continue, but then he remembered Kira’s warning at the funeral.

She had said that he would be in danger if she told him. The message from his mother brought dangers so great that he wouldn’t be safe, even in the presence of the royal guard. Not to mention the Shekel council, who had all attended the funeral. Kira had been afraid, even with the leaders of the nation in the room.

“...No. I don’t know why she was here,” Vigilant finally mumbled and looked away.

“Then I want you to return to your room,” Trina said and waved her tail towards a few guards.

Vigilant was escorted away from the scene, looking back over his shoulder at the two council members. Could he trust them? His heartbeat thumped in his ears and his ears flicked. He licked his dry lips and kept his gaze on the floor as a bead of sweat slid down his face. The guards, the council members, the servants. They were all watching him. All their eyes were black.

Vigilant paced around in his chambers. On several occasions, he had stopped in front of the window to watch over Kos. The city remained vibrant and filled with activity. Ships left the port and sailed into the Lafau Bay before continuing their journey through the passage of Verdan, a strait that laid between Cosea and the mainland. On a sunny day with clear skies, one could just barely see across the strait and look upon Silvelt. The republic had several port towns set up across from the Cosean capital, yet they had never prospered like Kos. Despite everything Vigilant had to smile as he looked over his city. It was beautiful. Blue roofs, white buildings, cobblestone roads, and paved streets alike. Lanterns lit the homes during the night. He loved it. Kos was the cultural and economic hub of the nation after all. It had so much to offer anyone that took the time to look. Today the city had lost a great mare.

His gaze fell to the floor and the prince closed his eyes. Where could he even begin his search for answers? Right now he needed some kind of confirmation about everything Kira had told him. The message had been penned by his mother, so that meant only a select few knew what had been written. So that meant finding anyone who had been present on the day of his mother’s death. That left four people, his mother, healer Kira, and his mother’s two personal servants. Two of them were already dead, which left him with two people. If the letter had been taken from Kira’s corpse that meant he needed testimonies from the others that had been there.

Vigilant needed to confront his mother’s retainers.

He already knew it would be a hard thing to do. These stallions had been by his mother’s side for a long time. They had been with her through strife and peace. Watching over her needs. They had prided themselves on how efficiently they could carry out their tasks. They had even been there with her as she slowly succumbed to the disease, gasping, pleading, crying…

Vigilant swallowed thickly and rubbed his eyes. Not now. He couldn’t think about it now. As crown prince, he held important duties. His mother had left him a personal letter. That preceded any grief or darkness. His queen had given him something, so as a stallion it was his duty to find it. At any cost. The prince would look towards his door and bite his lip. Armor clanking and talking could be heard from the other side. They wouldn’t stop him, but they would follow him. Could he trust any of them? Mares that had sworn to guard the crown with their lives? It felt silly to not trust them after everything he’d seen them do for his mother, but that had been for a mare. They had protected a queen. Would they see a young prince as of equal worth? His ears dropped. Kira’s warning still rang in his mind so he decided against it. Trina and Sacred would both still be out there as well.

Vigilant began pacing again when he noticed the window. It was like a light shone on his face and a smile spread across it. Vigilant would hurry to the window and unhook the latch, letting it swing open. The salty breeze and the cries of seagulls made him smile and look out over Kos once more. The jewel of the west. He would quickly regain his focus and look out the window. There was a small ledge underneath it, large enough to stand on, but just barely. He looked left and right and followed the stone outcrop. The left side led towards the hallway where Kira had been murdered. Large glass windows traveled the length of the hallway, and they shone in the sun. No good. He looked right once more and saw a balcony. The doors attached to the balcony were covered with dark curtains. It was his best shot. If he could successfully get there and then sneak his way to the servants' quarters then he could find the two stallions. Vigilant looked down for a second and saw the courtyard below. A few guards marched past and the gardeners whistled on happy tunes as they worked. His legs trembled and he felt sweat coat his body. Just before he exited his room Vigilant would quickly rush to his wardrobe and pull out a white cloak. It would help disguise his blue skin against the building outside.

Once Vigilant actually took a step out of the room the world spun. He was so high up! A fall from this height and he would break a lot of bones, if not die. How far was it to the ground? Six meters? Ten? By the gods, he was terrified. He shook and his tail swished quickly back and forth. Vigilant swallowed thickly when his last paw left the comfort of his room and gently sat down on the ledge. The balcony wasn’t that far away, but it looked like a mountain to him. If only he could just shift there! The blasphemous thought was quickly purged from his mind, but he couldn’t help but envy the plane-walkers. There were so many stories of stallions and mares shifting from one location to the next in combat, delivering devastating blows with their swords. Just lingering on such admiration was a sin. It was taboo of the highest order to revere magic from such impure and evil magic users, but their abilities would have been useful right about now.

Gods, he was high up.

Vigilant would slowly press on, one paw at a time. He was reminded of a mare testing out the newest fashion, as he walked on the thin ledge. Now and again he would stop as ponies passed him on the ground, and he would stop breathing entirely when the guards on the outer wall moved into view. Yet by some miracle, a blessing from Burthis herself he reckoned, Vigilant made it to the balcony. As the prince pulled himself up and breathed heavily he mumbled a quick prayer before he slowly opened the balcony doors and snuck into the room.

Vigilant hunched underneath the curtains as he entered the room, stretching out his back when the last silk strand left him. While there was low light in the room Vigilant could almost see perfectly, eyeing the quarters. Fine marble floor, paintings of the silfy emperor hanging on the wall, a grand king-sized bed nestled in a corner, and a grand oak desk with piles of documents resting on it. He had snuck into the silfy ambassador's private quarters. Vigilant’s face paled and he looked around for the stallion in question, but he didn’t see anyone. Then the bathroom door swung open and an ashen grey stallion exited it.

"Well then, why do I owe the pleasure, prince Vigilant?"

The stallion smirked and looked over the cloaked royal. His sharp teeth were revealed for a second before he sat down by the desk. The ambassador looked a lot like a cosean pony, but he had rougher edges and more scars. He had a long fin on his back and his tailfin had a jagged cut in it. With the dark circles underneath the stallion's eyes and grey streaks through his black mane, he looked like an old warrior. It was to be expected, considering that the silfy people were shark ponies after all. War and fighting was as much part of them as lanterns were part of Kos.

"I need to sneak out, I need to talk with someone. Please let me pass, I don't know when my guards will discover I have left," Vigilant said and looked out the window from which he had come.

The ambassador looked him over for a second with a raised brow. "I have something that I need to discuss with you, and I have tried getting an audience, yet it seems there are many other ambassadors and officials before me. If you could say... allow me to move on the top of that list then I will not tell your guards of your little adventure."

"I swear upon the stars, you will get your audience. Thank you, ambassador... Um... I actually never learned your name," the prince said.

"Veilas. Veilas Stormborn of the fifth fleet, now ambassador for the ruler of the northern sea and rightful heir to the crystal throne. I am also the only stallion in this damn city with a spine," the silfy pony growled before walking over to the door and opening it.

Vigilant hurried out the door, mumbling. "I have a spine..."

"Prove it to me by not getting caught by a few mares playing dress-up."

With that the door shut behind him and the prince was free. He peeked around the corner and heard the low chatting of guards. Perfect. Vigilant would leave the hallway and hurry away from the guards, looking for the stairs.

“...Can’t believe it would happen in the royal palace of all places,” a voice suddenly said.

‘Thousand divine curses,’ Vigilant thought.

The prince had one hallway to the right and one to the left in front of him. The voice had come from the left. It was the way to the stairs. He swore and made sure his cloak covered his flank. His cutie mark stood out. A crown in front of a pair of crossed swords surrounded by a ring of seashells was hardly inconspicuous. If they spotted it he might as well have been announcing to the whole castle that he was sneaking out. When he rounded the corner he was met by two servants. Vigilant kept his head down and quickly walked past them, pulling down the hood to cover his face. The two stallions were dressed in black suits and they carried trays with food. It was most likely his lunch. Vigilant's stomach rumbled and he muttered. He hadn't eaten anything since the day before. Sacred Shield had not allowed anyone to enter the council chambers while they searched for the killer.

“If only I had stayed in my room for five more minutes...” the disguised prince grumbled.

“What are you doing here?” one of the servants asked him.

Vigilant was completely frozen. He slowly looked over his shoulder and magically pulled the hood over his eyes. “Yes?”

“You should have left hours ago, revered brother! The church started service thirty minutes ago!” one of the servants said.

The disguised prince blinked for a second before he realized. White cloak, hood over his head, seashell pendant around his neck. They thought he was a clergy brother! A stallion in the service of the church. Vigilant opened his mouth, tried to speak, and then choked the sentence. This was actually perfect. The gods must have blessed him to allow this.

However, he still felt insulted for some odd reason.

“Quite. I appear to be tardy, but that will have to do. I was asked to stay to answers some questions, I happened to be close to the murder at the time,” Vigilant said, deepening his voice.

“Oh by Burthis so it is real? I just thought it was a rumor! That is horrible!” the other servant cried.

Vigilant slumped his shoulders and looked away. “Yes… Quite horrible...”

“Well, you better hurry to the gate! They will let you out if you tell them you’ve been questioned. The palace is on lockdown, but that should not influence the work of the clergy,” the first servant said.

Ah, of course. Why wouldn’t the castle be on lockdown? Someone had been murdered. That did make Vigilant grit his teeth and curse his bad luck. If his mother’s servants had left the castle he would not be able to go after them. The guards on the wall would not be as gullible as these servants, right?

“Thank you, I will go do that immediately,” Vigilant said and started to walk away.

“Revered brother, that hallway leads to the wrong set of stairs. You’ll go to the servant quarters if you go that way!”

‘Oh for the love...’ Vigilant turned around, a wide grin splitting his features.

“I walk in Burthis light and Cirelin’s blessed water. I always find my way. Do not worry about the holy, sir, worry about the food you are carrying,” Vigilant would bow his head and then continue walking.

“Oh gods he’s right, the prince must be fuming by now! Go, hurry you idiot! He will surely throw lightning at us if we even more late!” the two servants hurried down the corridor Vigilant had come from.

Vigilant blinked. "I wouldn't have thrown lightning at them! How dare those lowborn... Ah forget it..."

Out of sight, out of mind.

The disguised prince would head down the stairs and look around. The layout had completely changed by going down just one level. His paws touched a yellow carpet that felt like chewed meat to stand on. Vigilant craned his neck back and his horn touched the ceiling, prompting him to quickly back off with a hiss and rub the appendage. There were several wooden doors on both sides of the hallway he found himself in. A few had signs like ‘kitchen’ or ‘mail office’ but many were unnamed. He jumped and folded down his ears when a loud metal clang could be heard from somewhere on the floor. Finally, he sniffed the air and scrunched up his face. Meat, fish, vegetables, cleaning supplies, and sweat. Was this how they lived? Underneath the splendor upstairs? Vigilant had never actually been down here before. How did they survive in such an environment? It was horrible! The prince would gag before he continued further down the hallway. The queen’s own servants must have the most luxurious rooms, which meant he just needed to find doors made from fine oak or ones with golden signs on them. That should be easy enough.

It wasn’t.

There was not a hint of luxury or wealth down in the servant's quarters. Were the crown not paying them enough to at least show off their most prestigious position? Was this some sort of protest against his mother? Had they ignored their surely huge salary just to spite her? They were all just common. damn. doors. Where should he go? The hallway split into other hallways with more doors and so few said anything. At the fifth time of him opening a door to find an empty office, Vigilant promised himself that his first act of king would be to put propper signs in the servants quarters. When he was finally ready to give up a door opened and a concerned stallion peeked out.

“I thought I heard something. Are you alright, your highness? Why are you down here?” the stallion asked.

It was Marcis, one of his mother’s servants.

“Bloody finally!” Vigilant cried and hurried into the stallion’s room. “Close the door, we need to talk.”

The confused servant would do as told, locking the door as well. “Why are you down here, your highness? Shouldn’t you be in your room? Someone was murdered!”

“That is why I am here. Healer Kira was murdered, carrying a message from my mother to me. You and Feris were the last ones to see my mother alive, which meant you saw her writing a letter, correct? I need to know what was on that letter, it is life or death!” the prince hissed.

Marcis stumbled back for a second, eyes wide. “Kira is dead? Gods… So close to the queen’s passing? Gods...”

The stallion would walk to his bed and sit down on it.

“Yes, she is dead. She was murdered by someone who did not want me to read whatever message my mother had written to me. You need to tell me what was on that letter so that Kira did not die for nothing,” Vigilant said.

The prince would pull out a chair from Marcis’ desk and sit down upon it. Vigilant eyes Marcis expression. The servant’s mouth was open in shock, his eyes flicking back and forth. Marcis shook his head and looked to the floor, his paddled tail flicking slowly. The commoner swallowed thickly and pressed his ears against his head before he opened his mouth to speak. Vigilant splayed his ears wide and leaned forward from his seat.

“I remember nothing of that night, your highness...”

Vigilant blinked then he growled. “What do you mean you remember nothing? Was my mother’s death that unimportant to you? Was the pay not high enough for you to care?”

“No! No! I loved serving the queen! Your mother was kind to me!” Marcis said.

“Then talk,” Vigilant leaned back in the seat and glared at the stallion.

Marcis got off the bed and paced back and forth before answering. “I went out drinking after she passed. Both me and Feris went out to drink.”

“So you drank your memory away?” Vigilant asked.

The prince looked at the servant in disgust. It was one thing to indulge oneself in a drink or two. It was a whole other thing to suffer blackouts and memory loss. Was this the servant of his mother? A good for nothing drunk? A good for nothing drunk who could not even serve his own monarch? Vigilant growled.

“No! I have never done anything like that! I had three drinks! By the gods, I would never do you such a disservice, my liege!”

“Then why can’t you remember anything? Why… You know what? I will go find Feris. He might be more useful than you,” Vigilant jumped off the chair and walked to the door.

Marcis jumped in front of him. “He does not remember that night either! None of us do! All I remember is leaving the palace and drinking with Feris at the tavern!”

Vigilant glared at the servant and frowned. “What tavern?”

“Your highness, it is in the red-light district… You can’t-”

“What tavern, you miserable excuse for a servant!” Vigilant’s horn flared and sparks of lightning flew across the floor.

“The Shady Hollow! Please don’t hurt me! I’m sorry!” Marcis bowed deeply and shook like a leaf.

Vigilant huffed and grabbed the stallion’s head in a magical grip. “Is there anyone in the red-light district that can guide me there? Do you have a friend or someone that can tell me what happened that night?”

Marcis nodded, sniffling. ”Oliver of Hansha, you want to find Oliver of Hansha. He is a brown stallion, a cosean like you and me.”

"You will not tell anyone about this. If anyone asks you do not know where I am," Vigilant leaned in close and glared at Marcis.

"Where will you go? The castle is on lockdown," the servant stuttered.

“It seems I will be paying a visit to the red-light district earlier than anticipated,” Vigilant let go of Marcis and opened the door, hurrying away.

The prince left the servants' quarters and walked down the hallway. He grumbled to himself about the servant being less than useful. His tail swished back and forth and his ears flicked as he eyed the hall ahead of him. He just wanted answers. He thought about finding Feris and questioning him as well, but it seemed pointless. Marcis had not seemed to be lying. Yet it was too convenient. Both of the two people left who might know something had memory loss of the night his mother died. Something was off.

Vigilant searched around the servants' quarters for an exit. He listened for seagulls and marching guards. After a few minutes, he opened a door that engulfed the hallway with sunlight and he walked outside. A few guards passed him, one giving him a quick glance before they continued their patrol. Was his disguise really that good? He felt insulted. Right before them stood their ruler, their future king, and a white cloth was enough to disguise him. Vigilant mumbled and headed for the main gate. He kept his tail and head low. He did not look anyone in the eyes. Too risky. He almost creeped against the ground, making sure to be appearing as submissive as possible. This is how most stallions in the clergy looked. Heads down, pride buried underneath their paws. Vigilant saw one of the guards by the gate hold up a paw and aim a spear at him in a magical grasp. He stopped in his tracks and shook. They might tell him to remove the hood. They might even tell him to remove the cloak entirely. Could he run? Vigilant could blast them aside and storm past the gate, but they would catch him in a second. Maybe he could just order them to let him pass? No… No, he was a stallion and had yet to be crowned. The council ruled more than he did.

“Revered brother, you are late for the sermon,” the guard said.

“I am very sorry. I was asked to stay behind to answer a few questions… I know the palace is in lockdown, but could you let me pass? The priestess will be terribly cross with me if I do not return soon,” Vigilant deepened his voice once again.

For a second it looked like she would not let him pass. The guard examined him, her glare flicking over his body. She took a step closer, the spear closer to Vigilant’s body. He breathed quickly and shook. Then she backed off and nodded.

“I will make an exception for a member of the church. However, this is the only time,” she said and nodded to her fellow guards. “Open the gate!”

Vigilant looked in awe as the metal gate swung open and revealed the path down towards the noble district. He bowed his head at the guard before hurrying past. His paws left gravel for paved stone and he heard the gate close behind him. He looked over his shoulders and a guard waved a paw at him to hurry.

He had snuck out of the royal palace. With a cloak.

“I am having Sacred replace all of you when I get back...” Vigilant muttered as he followed the road.

He had one destination before him. The red-light district.

Author's Note

Thank you all for reading the forth and pretty long chapter of King of Cosea. I started at a university on August 31st so I have been busy with studies and things like that. But I have not completely forgotten about my duties to you all. I hope you are all enjoying the narrative I am trying to thread, and I hope to see some comments down below about what I can improve about the story. Once again thank you all for reading!