Prologue IP0
Island People Prologue
Island People is a young adult fantasy book centring on a young prince. The book starts with his kidnapping and follows his adventures as he not only escapes from his kidnapper but gains critical allies and friends.
The entire book is scheduled on Substack, and there are several sequels. This is a book I wrote years ago, so it is in a bit of a rough form. Critiques and comments are more than welcome, they are requested.
Most people would have held such a meeting in the dark corner of a bar. Duke LaCrosse was no such fool; how better to advertise a clandestine meeting than to have it in a clandestine manner? Instead, he and the five other men sat on a hilltop around a roaring fire, roasting several ducks they had just killed, and discussed treason.
“Is everything ready?” the Duke asked the small man sitting across from him.
“Yes. The Heroiini has been paid off and understands his instructions.”
“How ironic, to use a Heroiini.” --this from the man to the Duke’s left.
“Yes,” replied the Duke. “And it provides us with a wonderful deniability if he is caught.”
“Why not just kill the boy?” interjected the man to the Duke’s right. The others stared at him.
“He is the Duke’s Nephew!” the man on the left said, shock evident on his face.
“Yes,” replied the Duke coldly. “Besides which, once everyone finds out the child has been kidnapped, we will produce evidence showing that it is the horsemen who have done it. And since he is merely kidnapped, and not dead, I will be able to come forth as a regent… and begin, with strong justification, the actions we need to take against the other races.”
“I don’t like it. It is a loose end. I don’t like loose ends.”
“You worry about gathering the army we need, and I will worry about the politics.”
“You’ll have your Army. But if everything goes right there should be nothing to do.”
“The King is popular!”
“The King will be dead, his Son kidnapped by a Heroiini, and a popular Cousin of the King will come forward as regent, swearing to find and restore the Prince. Who will rise in arms against him?”
After pondering this in silence for a while, they finished discussing their plans.
Brilliant opening paragraph! I am captured immediately and want to know what happens next.
I didn't like the way I couldn't keep track of who was saying what in the following conversation.