Nefarious Adventure

By Evil Orange Crayon

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters present in this story, whether they are owned by Disney or other folks.

So, yea... I was playing my video game earlier farming gold and whatnot and I saw this character and I thought "Wow, that guy is pretty smexy, I wonder what kind of evils I could commit with him," and this is what came out. This is TOTALLY not at all finished and I usually wouldn't post something that I didn't have more chapters to offer up to you, but I'm kind of curious about the reception it will receive. It's rated for the evil that I intend to do in later chapters.

At the southern edge of Enchancia was a ridge of dark and foreboding mountains. They surrounded the vast majority of the southern edge of the kingdom. For a long time the general impression was that it was a waste land beyond the mountain range. King Roland the second and the kings before him hadn't sought to take ground there for reasons that the rest of the kingdom were unaware. So, history lessons only spoke of nothing beyond a desert of dark colored sands.

It was not long after her eighteenth birthday that they found out there was another kingdom beyond the Black Mountains. A prince came with a contingent of knights and goods in hopes to open up a trade route with Enchancia and then soon the rest of the kingdoms of the world. The prince in question was a handsome man, he had olive colored skin and dark hair that framed his face, which had a neat trimmed beard to it. He also had the most peculiar colored eyes, they were crimson and when she peered at him through the corner of her eye she sore that they glowed.

He was charming as well as handsome, he didn't really have an accent like her sorcerer did. He wore a suit of armor that seemed to glow with magic, similar to his eyes and he had a crown that looked as if it burned like fire. He was tall and though his armor didn't give a lot of room to tell his physique, it appeared to hug him tightly giving the idea that he was well built. Amber nearly swooned.

"It's a pity that I've already given my hand to Zandar, Victor is so pretty to look at," she hummed lightly and sat beside her at the table as the both admired the prince. "I wonder if Daddy will try to offer him your hand as a means to secure a treaty with him."

She grimaced, "I hope not. I really would prefer to pick my own husband."

"Sofia," she sighed, "I understand the feeling, really I do. But as a princess we have duties that we owe our kingdom."

"Aunt Tilly got to pick who she married, why can't I?"

"Oh," she fussed for a moment with her skirt, "Don't look at it like that. Really, look at the man. He's delicious. Those eyes, that deep voice. What's not to like?"

She shook her head at her sister, "You're lucky. You grew up with Zandar. We don't even know this man. I hope that dad knows better than to strike some sort of deal with someone we don't even know. What is the name of his kingdom? We know absolutely nothing about him or his people." Her stomach knotted up as she considered the options that her sister seemed too keen for her to accept.

"I suppose it is best to learn about your potential allies first," she fluttered her fan in front of her face as she watched the foreign man unabashed. "You have a better head for politics than I thought, Sofia. Though you're not against the idea of being betrothed to him because you have interests in someone else, are you?"

She leveled a look at her sister, her chest tight at the idea that her sister knew more than she let on. "I've been far too busy to worry about boys. I've started taking extra lessons with Mister Cedric since we graduated from Royal Prep. With dad having us sit in on petitions and other things, I really haven't had the opportunity to meet anyone. Which, is fine really. You and James should be married first and start sewing your roots to lead."

The other girl's eyes narrowed and she thought for a moment she saw through her lie, but when she didn't question it she thought herself safe. "Let us try to learn more about Prince Victor. Maybe we can find out what's beyond the Black Mountains."

The prince in question was seated close to their father, opposite the queen and seemed to be regaling them with tales of what his land was like. James sat on Amber's other side, seemingly unconcerned by their visitor as he was too preoccupied with the roasted boar that was the main dish of their meal. She strained to hear the conversation of the foreign prince, learning that while yes, there was a lot of dessert between their kingdoms there was also a vast mountain range that the prince had built his kingdom within.

They simple called it Blackrock Mountain, because that was indeed what the castle was made from. He referred to his kingdom as Nigrum and assured them that it was rich in magic and culture that they had never seen despite being based mostly in the mountains. He spoke of dragons and dwarves, and while she had seen dragons before she hadn't come across a dwarf in her adventures so she found herself curious. At one point during a tale about a vicious sandstorm that nearly wiped out one of the outstanding villages of his kingdom their eyes met, her breath caught. There was something about them that she couldn't define, it set her on edge.

After the meal was complete and the king and prince went to his study for an evening brandy, she found her way to the tower of her sorcerer. There was something about the visiting prince that she couldn't wrap her mind around. She couldn't place it. Even though it was late, she knew he would still be up so she tapped lightly at his door.

He threw the door open with a bit of a huff before he gave pause when he saw her, "Princess it's late. You are beyond my working hours and you know this."

"I-I need someone to talk to, Mister Cedric. We have a visitor and-"

"A visitor?" He looked curious now and stepped aside to allow her in. "No one told me about a visitor. I'm hoping this means that I don't have to play entertainment then since no one bothered to let me know about them."

"They came out of nowhere this morning, we didn't expect them at all. I'm surprised you didn't see their parade come in the front gate," she sat on her stool and looked up at him. "His name is Victor Nefarius and he says his kingdom's name is Nigrum."

"Nefarius? Are you kidding?" He snorted, "You can't be serious. Don't tell me your father is giving this man the time of day."

She nodded, wincing because with the sound of his name she came to the same conclusion. It was suspicious, "He seems nice enough and I think he's won dad over. They brought a lot of ore with them in hopes to open up a trade route with Enchancia and then the rest of the Tri-kingdom area. The ore I saw wasn't like any other stone I've seen. It shone like magic, but it was black. He seemed to have a lot of magic around him."

"Curious," he rubbed his chin lightly. "Did you see him carrying a wand?" She shook her head and he looked intrigued, "That is interesting." He stood up and went to one of his shelves, "I've not heard of the kingdom before. But, it's not got a very inventive name. Nigrum, Latin. Means black." He plucked a book from the shelf and returned to her side, placing it on the table. He started leafing through the book, "You look worried, is there a particular reason why?"

"Amber thought dad might offer him my hand as a way to settle a treaty," she swallowed hard. "I know it's part of being a princess, but I'm hoping she's wrong."

He put the book on the table and looked at her, looking equally concerned, "What makes her say something like that? The man hasn't even been here a day. I've not met him or seen him either." He grimaced as if he were just as disturbed by the idea of her being married off to a stranger as she was, "Your father isn't so cruel that he would do that to you, Princess. Not only that I am sure your mother would protest."

She nodded, hoping he was right, "I'm hoping that's not what he's interested in either. He looks to be a great deal older than me. The idea doesn't bother me too much," she added, hoping without hope that he wouldn't take it as an insult. She still dreamed that he would suddenly become aware of her mooning over him and return her affections. "I would just prefer to have a choice."

"How he is still a prince if he is old?" He looked curious, their discussion of the man seemed to do nothing but shine him in a bad light. "And how do you not know that he does not already have a wife?"

"He mentioned a king of his land, his father, but I don't remember his name. I was sitting next to Amber," she sighed lightly in defeat. "She seemed more keen to talk about how handsome he was then let me listen to what he was saying."

"Oh," he sounded somewhat despaired, "He's handsome, is he?"

She smiled her best smile and reached over to touch his shoulder, "Amber has exotic tastes, remember? She's betrothed to Zandar from Tangu." It was promising that he would be disappointed by her finding another man attractive. "He didn't mention a wife that I could hear. Him and father went into his study for an after dinner drink. I am hoping it is only to discuss opening trade. When Amber mentioned that my hand might be offered up in a treaty, I got scared. That's why I came in here to talk to you."

He smiled at her in return and rested a hand atop hers, "Well, then, that is a way to make me feel appreciated. While I admit, there is just cause for you to worry. I find that you may be worrying a bit too soon. It's a bit presumptuous to come to a neighboring kingdom and demand the hand of it's sole single princess. While your father may entertain the idea, I'm sure he will give you an option to decline. He's never been cruel to you."

"You're right," she nodded and stood. "I'm sorry to have bothered you, Mister Cedric. But, thank you for putting my fears at ease."

"Yes, well," he stood as well, his hand coming to the small of her back as he started to guide her to the door. "I suppose I don't mind you too much. Though, do try to keep to reasonable hours princess. I do need my beauty rest."