IAIN KELLY

THE KING’S HEIR

They found him lying between the petals of the ornamental pink flower that was the centrepiece of the fountain.

A little too much consumed at the masked ball.

Nymphs and faeries ruled the gardens that night, dancing in the shadows created by the fireworks.

He had been in good humour, blessing all with goodwill, even the plotters.

Until the news had been broken to him – another daughter at the stroke of midnight born.

He put on a brave face, the festivities continued, he drowned his sorrows behind his mask of joy.

Better that than drowning the new princess for the crime of not being a son.


from-david-stewart
Copyright David Stewart

Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).

To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.


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85 responses to “THE KING’S HEIR”

  1. pendantry Avatar

    I love the way you leave the twist to the very last word!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  2. neilmacdon Avatar

    I’m sure she’ll lead an army against the Armada

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      If only he was so enlightened. Thanks Neil

      Like

  3. MrBinks Avatar
    MrBinks

    Delicious ending.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much.

      Like

  4. Tannille Avatar

    Good riddance. He’s simply not progressive.😀Fun story though.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      To be fair to him, back then not many were! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  5. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    I hope he learns to appreciate his daughter. Nicely done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Perhaps it will inspire him to change the laws of inheritance in the kingdom 😉

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I sense disapproval – thankfully most royal families have changed their laws since these times. But not all.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Reena Saxena Avatar

        It is not just about royal families. We had to declare sex detection tests during pregnancy illegal, to prevent female foeticide. There were cases of female infants discarded on streets, and stray dogs organised help to save the baby.

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Anita Avatar

    Daughters are the best.
    I am sure she’ll make him proud!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      He will learn that soon enough 🙂

      Like

  7. Anthony North Avatar

    Ouch! Nice one.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Anthony

      Like

  8. ceayr Avatar

    Women, eh, they’ll want the vote next…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      And take all our jobs.

      Like

  9. Rowena Avatar

    Great story with beautiful language, Iain.
    I had a great something grandfather who survived the Irish Famine and made good here in Australia becoming a wealthy grazier. Only one of his sons had children…my great great grandfather and they had 8 daughters. Apparently, the old man was quite cranky in his old age and wasn’t happy every time another granddaughter was born. The property was sold and the family moved to Sydney.
    Best wishes,
    Rowena

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      A happy ending perhaps, if not for the old man, at least for the others!

      Liked by 1 person

  10. J Hardy Carroll Avatar

    Oh man. That last line is a doozy. Well done

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Susan A Eames Avatar

    Wow, there’s a lot going on here – and what a last line! Great take on the photo prompt, Iain.

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Susan

      Like

  12. pennygadd51 Avatar

    I admire the way you recreate the thoughts and feelings of a time very different from our own. Nicely done!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Penny

      Liked by 1 person

  13. granonine Avatar

    Poor little girl. What an awful world into which she is born. Sadly realistic.

    I started reading “State of War” yesterday. Best yet!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Oh, my first bit of feedback from a purchaser! Glad you are liking it so far, look forward to hearing your thoughts by the end. Do leave a quick review or drop me a message 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. granonine Avatar

        Will do. The tension in this one starts on the very first page 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  14. Keith's Ramblings Avatar

    Hopefully, he was one of those that determined to change history.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Let’s hope so. Thanks Keith

      Liked by 1 person

  15. pensitivity101 Avatar

    He’s the King, he can change the rules.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Good point – will others let him though?

      Like

      1. pensitivity101 Avatar

        depends how many Court Jesters and side kicks hes got I suppose!

        Liked by 1 person

  16. magickmermaid Avatar

    I like the twist at the end! And here’s hoping he will become enlightened. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I’m sure he will 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  17. notestowomen Avatar

    The little princess might just turn out to be their best monarch yet.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I don’t doubt it.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. Colline Avatar

    So many men have not appreciated the gift of daughters. Nicely done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Fortunately nowadays plenty of fathers do appreciate it, including me 🙂

      Like

  19. msjadeli Avatar

    Funk dat! Not a king I’d follow! I’m glad he has enough conscience to be bothered by it. Interesting story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Just as well you weren’t around a few centuries ago 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      1. msjadeli Avatar

        I’m sure that if I was I wouldn’t have lived long…

        Liked by 1 person

  20. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar

    I think it’s even worse for the queen… she has to suffer yet a life-threatening pregnancy

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      And take the blame.

      Like

  21. J.A. Prentice Avatar

    Great story! I love the line “Nymphs and faeries ruled the gardens that night, dancing in the shadows created by the fireworks.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  22. Dale Avatar

    I fear few were the men in those days who could appreciate a gaggle of girls… The whole name passing on thing, for one…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      And to think it is only in this generation that the British Royals have changed to allow the first born daughter to have a claim to the throne ahead of her younger brothers!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Dale Avatar

        Crazy! And about time!!

        Liked by 1 person

  23. Nobbinmaug Avatar

    How dare she!

    It’s crazy that it was borderline criminal to have a daughter. If only those kings knew, it’s the male who contributes the deciding chromosome.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Unfortunately scientific knowledge was a few centuries late in catching up with that one.

      Liked by 1 person

  24. Brenda's Thoughts Avatar

    Back then, he needed that male heir to maintain power and the throne. It’s quite ironic that most fathers think they want a son (though I do understand the context of your story) but, in the end, are crazy about their little girls. Incredible storytelling as always, Iain!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Brenda

      Like

  25. justjoyfulness Avatar

    Everyone is unhappy because of a stupid belief! And yet no one challenged it, not even the kings, even though they had all the power :/

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I wonder what other beliefs have caused unhappiness because no one questioned them?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. justjoyfulness Avatar

        We are are subject to lots. I can reel off a few personal ones, lol 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  26. draliman Avatar

    Yeek. A prevailing sentiment for many even today, and not always within royal families. Nice one!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      You would think men had proved themselves useless enough by now…

      Like

  27. plaridel Avatar

    she’ll be a better monarch because she’s a woman. check about this post i wrote about women being smarter and all.

    Men Smart, Women Smarter

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Well, I’m not sure how much gender has to do with it – good or bad.

      Liked by 1 person

  28. theministryofshrawleywalks Avatar

    Christ, thats harsh! Good stuff mind.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      They were harsh times

      Like

  29. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    The world will be much better if fathers treat and love daughters and sons the same.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I think it is getting there in most places

      Like

  30. Na'ama Yehuda Avatar

    Even kings were slaves to some insanity, eh?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      More than most I bet

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Na'ama Yehuda Avatar

        And queens and princesses even more so …

        Liked by 1 person

  31. Laurie Bell Avatar

    Whoa
    There’s a terrible twist.
    Well done. Didn’t see that coming

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Laurie, hopefully just fiction these days!

      Like

  32. Eugenia Parrish Author Avatar

    Henry VIII didn’t kill his princesses — just his wives. The Windsors seem to be running to boys okay, just enough princesses to keep things interesting. What a fun take on the picture. I could just see the carousing nobles and the king wondering how to deal with these darn brats.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Henry VIII didn’t kill his princesses, but Elizabeth was overlooked as his heir for her younger brother originally, until she eventually became monarch as she was the only Tudor left! Thanks Eugenia

      Like

  33. subroto Avatar

    And then before he knows it she will have grown up and will be after his job. Maybe she will return the favour then and not have his head chopped off.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Or maybe she will! 🙂

      Like

  34. Dawn M. Miller Avatar

    One can only hope he will love her as a person, his child. Enjoyable read.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  35. magarisa Avatar

    Despite being narrow-minded, he seems to have a good heart. Hopefully, he will find it in his heart to love her. Excellent sstorytelling.

    Liked by 1 person

  36. David Stewart Avatar

    Sounds like it’s time they changed the laws of the land. If he’s like Henry VIII, he’ll be looking for a new queen soon. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Yep, some kings are never happy.

      Like

  37. Anagha Yatin Avatar
    Anagha Yatin

    How and why a daughter not considered as the heir? The archaic patriarchy rules, I must say.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Times have changed in many places fortunately, but not all.

      Like

  38. Woman walking Max Avatar

    An absorbing tale, a sense of 1001 nights, in keeping with the photo prompt. I’m glad the daughter was spared.

    Liked by 1 person

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