[-Point of View: Prince Ryowolf Cithitsar-]
My mind raced... "Such a defiant tongue aught to be severed from the mouth of this slave sire!" Shouted the Bishop. The Royal Knights drew their blades, and despite my orders to sheath them, they listened to the Bishop and advanced on the Blackbird. My eyes slammed such expecting the blood of this blackbird to run the soil into a crimson paste, but not that day. Swords were pitifully drawn and curses were wastefully cast, as they were all beaten by this seemingly strange man, a slave at that, who'd used only the might within his body and his fists.
For some reason, I was in awe, child-like wonder, watching him bring down my escort. As he rushed me, a small sword was his weapon against me, but it never pierced my heart or throat, just hovering an inch from me. "Why have you stopped? I asked timidly... "Is now not the most opportune moment to strike me down?" The Blackbird retracted the blade from me, wiped it down, and handed it to me. He then went on to say, "Wealth in monetary value isn't so easily killed. Whilst you serve a benevolent king, you choose to rally behind faithless foot soldiers and ill-tempered fools. Forsake this path, before it costs you that which you seek." As the blade landed in my hands, he simply turned, patted the child on the head, and left. The crowd of soulless-eyed bystanders and spectators did not cheer, but no one stopped him from leaving either. He left as he came, in silence to wherever he should hail from.
I ordered scouts to find him, then bring me to him. They combed the kingdom's lands, going door by door breaking down chained doors of blackbird quartering. My aid looked at me with a disdain I would come to give back ten-fold. "Sire, why waste such efforts on a measly slave? Surely the market has…" His sudden silence came at the demand of a well-deserved, swift backhand across his face. "Dare use that word again, and I shall have you thrown out of this kingdom." My words were uttered like the breath of a dragon's fiery breath. I, to this day, don't regret my actions. Not even a little.
It took four days to find his home on the outskirts of one of the outer most border of the Eckhart Village. I mounted my steed and set off at once. With an order of double time, we arrived an hour later. Upon arriving, I ordered my soldiers to stay put, as some of them wanted a chance to get revenge for the Blackbird's actions four days ago. However, that was not my purpose. I knocked upon double doors painted white with golden flake-lacing of the opulent plantation. A few minutes passed, then the doors opened. I was surprised to be greeted by another man, but not the blackbird.
"Prince Ryowolf Cithitsar of the Cithitsar Imperial Kingdom … to what do I owe the pleasure?" Asked the man, with a "thick as molasses" accent, wearing luxurious and high-coin value white clothing. I cleared my throat before addressing him. "I am here to speak to the blackbird of this residence. You see, I have…" Before I could continue speaking, the man interjected with a tone of arrogance and disdain. "Oh, my boy told me of that ungrateful bastard's actions." He took off his hat and bowed before me. "I wish to offer my sincerest apologies for my Blackbird's behavior. He's been punished accordingly. Please, follow me."
As we walked, my mind raced to what he meant by "punished accordingly". However, after this man unchained a rotting door, I came around to find the most grotesque display of inhuman cruelty. The blackbird had been fettered in necklaces of iron and bracelets of chains. He was covered in bruises and dried blood covered his body. Though, out of this man's cruel actions, I learned of the blackbird's secret truth. He'd hidden most of his milk chocolate complexion as it had imperfections. In the dim sunlight of this slave house, I could make out a variety of scars, and parts of his pigmentation were discolored and were as fair as my complexion. He was what most masses hated to no end, uniqueness not born of their uniformity.
Though he was bruised and bloody, he'd maintained magnanimity and was still upright on his feet. The thick-accented man grabbed the whip that was dangling off of his hip when I could stand watching and stopped him. "Young Prince, it's best you let me…" My body acted of its own accord, kicking the dapper man down into the mud and squalor before he could utter another foul word. His eyes were wildly aghast. "What is the meaning of this outrage!? I am the Margrave of this land!" I looked at the man with contempt, "You claim to be a duke, yet I see not a hint of power, valor, or even intelligence with your eyes. Your Blackbird belongs to me now." He sneered at my declaration, picking himself out of the filth while my men unchained the blackbird. "What of… compensation for the loss of my property?"
A wicked grin crossed the man's face as the blackbird passed him. I looked upon my bishop, "Stay behind and watch this man. Should he try seeking further compensation other than my generous mercy in sparing his life, chain him and stake him there, burn his lands and home with pitch, then brand him once everything of his all but ash." I said taking the blackbird to my carriage and left whilst the wicked man's home burned with a righteous holy flame. "Of the many wicked souls I've encountered... that man surpasses the lot of them..."