The royal chambers had been changed to honor a hero. The death of King Duckworth, a man much heavier and skilled than his name would suggest, was depicted in a stained glass window. The sunlight reflected in the multicolored glass beaming his visage–a mighty man of gleaming blond hair and matching beard, clad in armor of white with the crest of a duck on his armor. He thrusted a blood red sword towards a shadowy foe.

  Queen Alexandria Duckworth stood in the light of the glass, but her body was surrounded by the darkness of the chamber. Alister ran to his mother and exclaimed, "Mom. I came as quickly as I could."

  Alexandria turned around. The lines on her face and the mixture of black and grey hair reflected her mature age with a weary grace. She offered Alister a kind smile, even with her eyes tearing. "I'm glad you are thinking of your father as much as me."

  Alister nodded. "I wrote all kinds of heroic poems for him. I wish he was still here."

  "Yes…" Alexandria said, the light gone from her eyes. "I do too."

  Alister paused and the gravity of death hit him. His fists balled up and began to shake. "I wish he could have vanquished these subdemons from the land completely."

  Alexandria turned to view the sword. The Devil's Hangnail in the king’s hand was thrusted towards the shadows.

  "I do too. But…. I must hold out hope. One day, a hero will come and take our treasured sword and end them once and for all. In the name of your father and in the name of justice itself."

  Alister deeply wished he could have done it. His hands, unblemished by calluses, still clenched up at the thought of those wicked creatures robbing his father of his life.

  But sadly, even he knew his pen (and his wonky info-magic) was mightier than his skill with the sword.

  He could barely hold a regular one, let alone a mighty weapon capable of slaying demons into oblivion.

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  "I wish I could be the one," he said, looking away.

  His mom walked slowly towards him, suffering and sadness in her eyes. She still managed a soft smile and embraced him tightly. "I know," she said.

  The skirmish last year had impacted him in ways he couldn't imagine.

  In one day, his father vanished and only the various honors he received remained. His legend was told in the glass window above them.

  The mother and son hugged for a long time.

  Together, they looked up at the marvelous portrait one more time, bowed to it and left the room.

  As they exited into the bright royal hall, his mother asked him another question. "My dear son. What do you plan to do for the rest of this week?"

  Alister wore a much different expression on his face. From arched eyebrows to a clever smirk, it was befitting of a scamp in a Prince’s body.

  There was a question he wanted popped even if it might not be the right time to do so.

  "Well," Alister said. "I heard about this marvelous event at Meager Mead's tavern. It fascinates me and I must see it!"

  Alexandria narrowed her wrinkled eyes. "You may only go to town with your crown guard but I still prohibit any place where there is excessive germs, unwashed ruffians or brawls."

  Alister gave a wink.

  "What about brawling…with words? There's a brand new poetic craze sweeping the kingdom where people have Poetic Spars. We lash each other with rhythmic grace instead of weapons!"

  Alexandria thought for a second and shook her head.

  "Absolutely not. The castle psychologist has diagnosed you with extreme mental fragility. You would never be able to take some poetic barbs at your manhood."

  Alister sighed. He expected as much from his mother.

  He was always frail as a child, and after his father's passing, his mother grew even more protective…even to an irrational level, he believed.

  At last, he smiled with resignation. "I guess I'll just find something else to do. There's plenty of other things in the castle that need attending to.”

  He raised his finger with gleaming eyes.

  “Maybe I'll just have a poetic spar with myself then. Poet solitaire. Or Rin. Now that's an idea! I'll spar with her even if she can't jam two feet together in iambic pentameter."

  His mom smiled kindly. "Very good. I'll leave you to it. Oh and Alister. Thank you for being here with me on this sad day."

  Alister nodded and gave a playful salute. "Of course, mom. Dad was the best parent there was…other than you!"

  His mom continued to smile as he walked away.

  Even though he was delighted to help her honor the king's passing, he did indeed have something to attend to.

  He was going to talk to Rin.

  Not for a poetic spar he'd obviously decimate her in.

  No.

  She was going to take him to town for a true battle of words!