The prophecies always said that when the apocalypse began, the Chosen One would collect the three vases to save the world.
Legends said the powerful Dirt Whisperer, Parmenthius, created and hid the vases around the world to protect the people from their unfathomable power. They were meant to lie hidden until the Chosen One could collect the three vases.
Centuries later, the Creator descends upon humanity, crushing them beneath his monstrous feet. The prophecies have come true, so Galintron sends the Chosen One, Prince Derrek, on a quest to save the world.
The only problem is, Prince Derrek dies in a horrible accident before leaving the castle. The kingdom is quick to assume all hope is lost.
However, the younger, talentless Prince Kebin volunteers to hunt down the three legendary vases. Nobody is impressed or amused, yet Kebin sets off on his own to save the world.
The prophecies always said that when the apocalypse began, the Chosen One would collect the three vases to save the world.
Legends said the powerful Dirt Whisperer, Parmenthius, created and hid the vases around the world to protect the people from their unfathomable power. They were meant to lie hidden until the Chosen One could collect the three vases.
Centuries later, the Creator descends upon humanity, crushing them beneath his monstrous feet. The prophecies have come true, so Galintron sends the Chosen One, Prince Derrek, on a quest to save the world.
The only problem is, Prince Derrek dies in a horrible accident before leaving the castle. The kingdom is quick to assume all hope is lost.
However, the younger, talentless Prince Kebin volunteers to hunt down the three legendary vases. Nobody is impressed or amused, yet Kebin sets off on his own to save the world.
Ornissa Vludeboden was the most beautiful girl I had ever laid my eyes on. I was certain I would marry her before my life was over. I just had to make sure she knew who I was before that day came.
In my home of Galintron, life felt like it was coming to an end as the prophecy foretelling the end of the world came true. A great catastrophe occurred â the Creator of humankind, furious with our civilizations, with our war, famine, and devastation, came down to our world to smite us.
The Creator terrified the Galintronians, despite our prophecy of a hero that would collect the three vases, the secret weapons, capable of killing even the Creator.
Even the greatest scholars hadnât predicted exactly what the catastrophe would be, but they had prepared my older brother, the heir to the throne, Prince Derrek, to be the hero of legends.
Yet, they were still terrified when we all gathered in the grand foyer of the palace to see Prince Derrek off. I blended into the crowd. Prince or not, I wasnât one for the spotlight. I wasnât the warrior Derrek was. I wasnât as handsome, or trained to face the harsh world outside Galintron. I hid in the crowd and stood on my toes, straining for even the slightest peek of my love, Ornissa.
Her curly brown hair swayed slightly as she turned her head, curls bobbing into place as she faced the grand staircase. All heads turned as Prince Derrek made his appearance. I stood facing sideways in the crowd, watching a smile curl Ornissaâs lips.
âHeâs so handsome,â a woman whispered beside me.
I sighed and faced forward as Derrek strutted at the top of the stairs. He was too pompous to even walk down the stairs like a normal person. The title of âprinceâ was almost too minor for him in the glory he felt he deserved as the prophesied hero.
Derrek wore decorated, polished armor that was more visually pleasing than battle-worthy. The gilded pommel of a sword hung at his hip. He had the look of a heroic knight from a bedtime story for children.
As jealous as I was, I had to admit he did look impressive.
I stood back on my toes, looking back at Ornissa, but she had vanished as a procession of old men pushed through the crowd. I swept my head back and forth, searching everywhere, but was unable to spot any sign of her, any bit of her curled hair.
Instead, I noticed a hunched old man with a long, wrinkled nose waving me forward. The nobles around me gave me an odd look, before quickly stepping aside. They finally realized who I was as Elder Goona insisted that I step forward.
âDo you not wish to watch Derrekâs departure to glory?â Elder Goona asked quietly as I stepped beside him.
âI could see fine from back there.â
âYou seemed to be looking for someone else.â
âI donât know what youâre talking about.â
âHm.â Goona glanced at me sideways, then nodded to Derrek. âFinally, the day of the prophecy.â
They had taken their time preparing Derrek. The Creator had been marching across the lands, spreading devastation and death, for months. What made today special, the day of the prophecy, was unknown to me.
âLook at my son,â King Hovis Doyle said. He walked up, clapping his hand onto Goonaâs shoulder. The king was a large man, both in height and weight. âWhat a hero.â
âHi, father,â I said.
âOh, hello.â He nodded to me, then faced Derrek again with a massive grin on his face.
âWould you excuse me for a moment?â I asked.
Goona elbowed me and pointed forward. âDerrek descends to grab his destiny.â
âFine, Iâll watch,â I muttered.
Derrek finally took his first step after all his showmanship. His armored foot clunked on the marble stair, muted by the ornate rug running down the grand staircase. It was a slow, almost exaggerated step. He waved with one hand and stroked his groomed beard with the other, a massive grin on his face the entire time.
I sighed and looked behind me. There were plenty of beautiful people in the crowd, all of their eyes on Derrekâs descent. I recognized, and despised most, of those gathered. They didnât notice me, looking right past, as I searched one last time.
Ornissa stood a few rows back, her brown hair a bit disheveled. She stood, eyes on Derrek, in a dress with dirt on her hands and knees. She stood in the grand foyer barefoot with dirt clinging to her feet. Everything about her stood out from the nobles around us. Ornissaâs eyes widened and her jaw dropped. Gasps surrounded me. I spun back around.
Derrekâs foot slipped, caught on rug as it bunched up beneath his heavy, armored foot. The rug, and Derrek, slipped off the polished marble stair. His face was filled with terror for a brief moment as it felt like time hung in the air.
Then, in the gasping stillness of the gathered crowd, Derrek plummeted, hitting each stair with the extra weight of his armor. The thunk of his body made the crowd flinch with each strike until he stopped at the bottom, frozen in a lump, half wrapped up in the ornate rug.
My father stood still with wide eyes. He had received the rug as a gift from the king of Kolorid. I had to assume he no longer wanted the rug, though I was unsure who else would take it.
Elder Goona finally stumbled forward and grabbed Derrekâs head. He turned back, tears gathered in his eyes. âPrince Derrek is dead.â
âImpossible,â King Hovis muttered.
âWe are doomed.â Goona stood, stepping away from Derrek as my father fell to his knees beside him. âThe Creator will destroy us all.â
âThere has to be another solution,â another Elder said.
âPerhaps we were wrong,â another said.
âPerhaps we werenât,â Goona said. âOur hero is dead.â
I looked back at Ornissa. Her eyebrows were lowered. She glanced at me briefly, but looked back at Derrek as if she didnât even notice me.
âIâll go find the vases,â I blurted. A few murmurs spread across the crowd. Many uncertain glances were cast my way.
âNo, you wonât,â Hovis said, looking back. âYouâve never lifted a sword once in your life.â
âYouâre right, but I am volunteering anyway.â
âOh, Prince Kebin,â Goona said. He placed his hand gently on my shoulder. âYou really arenât all that talented.â
âThank you, Goona.â
âI donât mean that in a rude way, my boy. You are a great student. I have enjoyed our lessons together. But a warrior? A hero?â
Nods of agreement spread in the crowd.
âLook, I wasnât asking for permission. I am going to go,â I said proudly. I wanted to look back to see Ornissaâs face. I wanted to see if she was impressed. My stomach was a pit, and I had an uncomfortable feeling that she was embarrassed, but I acted proud anyway.
Hovis spoke to some soldiers, who carefully picked up Derrekâs corpse and carried him from the room. The crowd wept and watched him go as eagerly as they had watched his descent.
Hovis walked up and smiled weakly. âI am proud you are feeling brave, Kebin.â
âThank you.â
He nodded and walked away, trailing after Derrek. The crowd waited a moment then flowed out of the foyer, trailing behind their king.
âIs that it?â I asked, hoping Hovis could hear me.
âI believe it is, Kebin.â Goona kept his hand on my shoulder and sighed deeply. âYou are sure about this?â
âYes.â I looked around, but Ornissa was gone. Only Goona and I remained in the foyer.
âCertain?â
âYes, Goona. I am going to go find the vases myself.â
âHere.â Goona handed me a roll of paper. âPrepare well, at least. Derrek was going to begin his journey investigating rumors east of Galintron. Tevoon has stories of vases, most of which we believe are false, but Derrek wanted to ensure our neighbors werenât hiding something so valuable.â
I unrolled the paper. It was a map of eastern Galintron and the petty kingdom of Tevoon. âThank you.â
Goona squeezed my shoulder gently. âGood luck then, Kebin.â
I nodded and watched the old man shuffle away. I was left in the foyer by myself, in an uncomfortable silence.
I stood at the bottom of the stairs and looked at the top, the last place I had properly seen Derrek. I didnât feel all that sad about his death, even though I felt like I shouldâve been.
I woke up the next morning feeling unsure. I stepped out of my room, hair plastered to one side of my face, to find a servant standing just in front of me.
âUh,â I said.
âGood morning, Your Grace,â she said with a slight bow. She carried a tray holding breakfast, with steaming tea and bread with butter melting on top.
âMorning.â I stared at her, a bit dumbfounded for a moment. I wore only ragged trousers, unfit for a prince, and could feel the weight of morning breath in my mouth. Each word I spoke was like a rancid wave washing out.
âWould you like some breakfast?â
âDo I know you?â I asked. She was a servant, obvious enough from the cream-colored uniform, but she didnât look familiar.
She bowed her head, avoiding eye contact. âI previously served Prince Derrek.â
âOh.â I took the tray from her. The steam blew gently over my face. âI donât usually have servants.â
âBut youâre the prince,â she muttered.
âNot the heir,â I said, stepping back into my room.
âYou are now, Your Grace.â
I frowned. I hadnât considered that. âIâm still going to go find the vases.â
âI have no doubt you will find them.â She continued staring at the floor.
I smiled. âBe honest. You have to have some doubts.â
The servant looked up quickly, only glancing at me, before looking back at the floor and shaking her head. âOf course not.â
âWell, thanks for the food, I guess.â I slowly closed the door with my foot. She remained still. âAm I supposed to dismiss you?â
âYes, Your Grace.â
âOkay. Can you not call me that?â
âOf course, Your Majesty.â
âThatâs not right either.â
âAbsolutely, Your Royal Highness.â
âYeah, okay. Iâm going to eat this now.â I shut the door the rest of the way, remaining standing with my nose almost brushing against it. The steam continued rising from the tea, carrying along a pleasant, floral aroma.
I walked to a chair, sat, and was immediately startled by a loud knock on my door. âCome in,â I said, desperately hoping it wasnât the servant.
Goona stepped in and closed the door behind him. âGood morning, Kebin.â
âDid you send the servant here?â I asked.
âDid I do the what?â Goona sat himself on my unmade bed and smiled.
âDid you . . . what do you need?â
Goona sighed, as if he was bearing all the stress in the world. âKebin, are you ready to go on your quest?â
âDo you think I can do it?â
âOh, certainly not.â
I pressed my lips together. I donât know why I had expected any other type of answer.
Goona leaned forward. His rancid breath washed over me, smelling of old onions and garlic, with a faint hint of alcohol. âWhat do you know of the world, Kebin?â
âWhatever you taught me, Goona. You were my teacher after all.â
Goona frowned. âThat does not bode well.â
âAre you calling yourself a bad teacher?â
Goona slapped his knees and stood. âI should be off. There are funeral preparations. You were invited, you know.â
âI wonât be going. I think it would be better for me to leave.â
âIt will only smell like smoke anyway.â
âAre you burning him?â I asked.
Goona shrugged. âFollow the map, Kebin. The Elders all agree that Tevoon is the best way. There are rumors across the world, of course, but only some of them seem true. Tevoon has been haughty and smug for decades.â He walked to the door and stopped. âThe world is dangerous, Kebin. Donât do anything stupid.â
Goona left, closing the door behind him.
I sipped the tea, took a bite, and thought about how the Elders came up with only a prophecy in decades of research.
The castle was quiet when I left my room. King Hovis Doyle and his whole staff had gone down the hill, into the valley near the Doyle family crypt, where the pyre had been built. Trumpets blared down in the valley, barely echoing their way into the halls as I walked to the stable.
Teddy, my horse, stood saddled in the middle, all by himself.
âHello?â I called.
Nobody responded. I walked up, whispering to Teddy as I ran my hand along his coat. A small note was tied to the saddle.
To Prince Kebin,
I prepared Teddy before I left for Prince Derrekâs funeral. I know Derrek was the Chosen One, but I think you will do a great job. Maybe in the future they will know me because I cared for your horse.
Good luck.
Kolvam the Stablehand
I smiled and climbed onto the saddle. Teddy exhaled loudly, shifting his weight back and forth. âI know, Teddy. I havenât been riding a lot lately.â
I ran my hand through his mane. When I thought about it, I had never really ridden often. Some days, I would come down to the stables just to end up reading and talking to Kolvam.
âLetâs go,â I said, gently pressing my heel into Teddyâs side. He started forward, moving without any urgency.
The hill down from the castle was quiet, leaving only Teddyâs horseshoes clacking against the stone road. It was odd seeing everything so abandoned. A pillar of smoke climbed into the sky behind me, rising above the castle. Instruments droned on quietly, barely reaching my ears.
My stomach wavered as the gates came into view. I had left Galintron before, of course, but I had never done so by myself. Somebody else always accompanied me.
I took a deep breath and read Kolvamâs note again. Derrek may have been the Chosen One, but at least I could walk down a flight of stairs. I had already accomplished more than he did.
âKebin,â a voice called as we walked out of the castle gates. âWait, sorry. Prince Kebin.â
I turned around as Teddy continued walking forward.
Ornissa Vludeboden stood right outside the gate. Her hair was wet and the rising sun shone brightly on her face. I hadnât even realized I passed her. She was smiling while squinting into the sunlight.
âOrnissa,â I said quietly. âYou know my name?â
âUh, yeah. Youâre the prince.â
âOh, right. That makes sense.â I stopped Teddy, who wanted to keep moving. He snorted loudly.
âAre you off to go save the world?â she asked.
I nodded and held up my crude map. âHeading east.â
âEast? My family doesnât like Tevoon much. What do you think you will find there?â Her smile faded as she watched me, waiting for a response.
âA vase, hopefully.â I smiled at her, hoping to see her smile back. She covered her eyes from the sun and squinted at me. âDid you come to see me off?â
âUh, no. I have a meeting with the Elders. I hope this works out for you. Hopefully Iâll see you again sometime.â She lifted her hand. âBye.â
She turned and disappeared inside the gate.
âThatâs it?â I asked quietly. She was already gone.
I pressed my face down on Teddyâs neck and sighed. That was the most I had ever talked to her, and I panicked the entire time. My hands were clammy and my heart raced in my chest.
âI guess we can go,â I said to Teddy. The horse continued walking down the road, away from my home, and away from Ornissa.
âDid she seem impressed?â I asked Teddy. I knew he wouldnât give me a real answer. I still hoped he would give me something that I could act like was a yes or no. Anything to convince myself would have been enough. Teddy swayed his head gently back and forth as he walked.
âThat seems like youâre shaking your head.â I patted my hand on Teddyâs neck. âI didnât think she was impressed either. Iâll just have to find the first vase. That will be enough, wonât it?â Teddy snorted. I smiled and took that as a yes.
By the time the sun was setting, I was outside of any land I recognized. Some Galintronian flags were raised along the roadside, giving me enough information to assume I hadnât left Galintron. Not yet, at least.
Some tents were pitched off the road, near a grove. A creek trickled quietly nearby, the last remaining daylight glowing on the moving water.
âHello,â I said, as I approached the group near the tents. A few people worked to build a fire while another peeled carrots. They looked at me and nodded.
âCan I join you? I havenât built a fire before,â I said.
âSure.â The carrot peeler waved me over. He was an older, grizzled man. The others were travel-wearied and sat beside the fire pit as embers began to glow.
I climbed off Teddy and let his reins hang. He wasnât that energetic of a horse, so I assumed he wouldnât get too far away.
âAnything to contribute for a stew?â the man asked. He dragged a small cauldron over and began chopping the carrot, letting it splash in some wine and broth.
âUh.â I pulled my backpack off and dug through it. I had put some food inside, whatever I managed to find in the kitchen. I held out a red apple.
The man frowned. âHave you ever made a stew before, lad?â
âIs it obvious that I havenât?â
The man nodded. âLet me teach you some things.â
I sat beside him and watched the knife in his hands effortlessly slice through carrot after carrot. The blade pushed through, ending with the blade against his thumb, yet it never cut him.
âYou want vegetables and meat in a stew. No apples or fruits. You got that?â
I nodded.
âDo you actually understand that?â
âI think so,â I mumbled.
The man looked right at me, staring as if he was seeing me for the first time. âHave you ever been away from home before?â
I shook my head. My clothes were still in pristine shape, as they were usually kept within the castle. âThis is my first time.â
âDid you bring a weapon?â
âWhy would I need that?â
The man frowned. âLad, I could have killed you and taken your horse already.â
âAre you going to?â
The others at the fire chuckled.
âPeople who do that sort of thing donât normally warn you about it,â he said. âTrust is hard to come by on the road.â
âIs it?â
The man stood and grabbed a handle on the cauldron. âHelp me get this over the fire.â
I grabbed the other side and grunted as we lifted the small cauldron. It was heavier than I expected. The broth sloshed, almost spilling over the side. The others stood, helping guide us to set it over the fire, which had now grown into a steady flame.
It didnât take long for the aroma of the stew to fill the air. Smoke moved around the cauldron, slowly drifting into the sky.
âWhere are you headed?â the man asked.
âTevoon.â
The man nodded, as if it came as no surprise. âEat with us. Sleep here, and head out in the morning.â He looked at the apple. âWeâll take the trade.â
âThank you,â I said.
The man grunted and stirred the stew. âBetter than you dying out there on your own.â
I was really excited to read this book. It sounded like a great adventure for a young prince who would surely encounter numerous obstacles along the way. What I didnât expect was this story to turn the chosen one trope completely on its head.Â
Our story begins with the chosen one dying as he took his first steps on his quest. Death as a theme in this novel was handled in a very interesting way, and Iâm genuinely curious to find out what other readers thought of the approach. Right away the second born Prince steps up to fill his brother's place and fulfill the prophecy of finding the three vases that will stop The Creator.Â
The story is set up in a familiar cadence for middle grade, with each chapter containing its own beginning, middle, and cliff hanger to get you to the next chapter. We are quickly introduced to our secondary character who has striking similarities to a very polarizing character in the Star Wars franchise: Jar Jar Binks. The cat man, Lawrence, brings humor and moral ambiguity to this tale that really helped flip this from a traditional chosen one journey to something off kilter and comical. There were times I found myself rooting for Lawrence and other times I would smack my head in frustration (a sensation I'm sure many Star Wars fans know well).
Overall I enjoyed the machinations these two would find themselves in. The strongest parts of this novel for me was the writing in general, with great attention to details about overall mood and self reflection. There were a handful of typos throughout the novel that may need more editing, and I sadly didnât have the time during this review to write them down as I encountered them. My favorite part was the final task of the novel. The energy and suspense that flowed through those pages was truly electric, and I couldnât wait to see how they would make it out. The ending however felt very abrupt and disorienting.Â
I wish more time had been spent explaining the magic system of the Dirt Whisperers. I think this would help the reader understand the significance of encountering one in person, as well as encountering their magic and trying to defeat it. This novel is a fairly good start to what seems to be the beginning of a series about the morally ambiguous good guys trying to defeat the obviously malicious bad guy. I think young readers would be entertained by the antics of these characters, and be curious enough to want to know what happens next.