Arutha looked at his wife, and then the Ambassador. We regret that the press of official duty prevents us from undertaking so long a journey, Your Excellency.
The Ambassadors expression didnt change, but a slight hardening around the eyes indicated the Keshian considered the rejection close to an insult. That is regrettable, Highness. My mistress did so consider your presence vital a gesture of friendship and goodwill.
The odd comment was not lost upon Arutha. He nodded. Still, we would consider ourselves remiss in our friendship and goodwill to our neighbours in the south if we did not send one who could represent the Royal House of the Isles. The Ambassadors eyes at once fixed upon the twins. Prince Borric, Heir Presumptive to the Throne of the Isles, shall be our representative at the Empresss Jubilee, my lord. Borric, suddenly the focus of scrutiny, found himself standing more erect, and felt an unexpected need to tug at his tunic. And his brother, Prince Erland, will accompany him.
Borric and Erland exchanged startled glances. Kesh! Erland whispered, astonishment barely contained.
The Keshian Ambassador inclined his head toward the Princes a moment in appreciation. A fitting gesture of respect and friendship, Highness. My mistress will be pleased.
Aruthas gaze swept the room, and for an instant fixed upon a man at the rear of the room, then continued on. As the Keshian Ambassador withdrew, Arutha rose from his throne and said, We have much business before us this day; court will resume tomorrow at the tenth hour of the watch. He offered his hand to his wife, who took it as she stood. Escorting the Princess from the dais, he whispered to Borric, You and your brother: in my chambers in five minutes. All four royal children bowed formally as their father and mother passed, then fell into procession behind them.
Borric glanced at Erland and found his own curiosity mirrored in the face of his twin. The twins waited until they were out of the hall and Erland turned and grabbed Elena, spinning her roughly around in a bear hug. Borric gave her a solid whack on the backside, despite the softening effect of the folds of fabric of her gown. Beasts! she exclaimed. Then she hugged each in turn. I hate to say this, but I am glad to see you back. Things have been dreadfully dull since you left.
Borric grinned. Not as I hear it, little sister.
Erland put his arm around his brothers neck and whispered in mock conspiracy, It has come to my attention that two of the Princes squires were caught brawling a month ago, and the reason seems to be which would escort our sister to the Festival of Banapis.
Elena fixed both brothers with a narrow gaze. I had nothing to do with those idiots brawling. Then she brightened. Besides, I spent the day with Baron Lowerys son, Thorn.
Both brothers laughed. Which is also what we heard, said Borric. Your reputation is reaching even to the Border Barons, little sister! And you not yet sixteen!
Elena hiked up her skirts and swept past her brothers. Well, Im almost the age Mother was when she first met Father, and speaking of Father, if you dont get to his study, hell roast your livers for breakfast. She reached a point a dozen paces away, swirled in a flurry of silks, and again stuck her tongue out at her brothers.
Both laughed, then Erland noticed Nicky standing close by. Well, then, what have we here?
Borric made a show of glancing around, above Nickys head. What do you mean? I see nothing.
Nickys expression turned to one of distress. Borric! he said, almost whining.
Borric glanced down. Why, its He turned to his brother. What is it?
Erland slowly walked around Nicky. Im not sure. Its too small to be a goblin, yet too big to be a monkey save perhaps a very tall monkey.
Not broad enough in the shoulders to be a dwarf, and too finely tailored to be a beggar boy
Nickys face clouded over. Tears began to form in his eyes. You promised! he said, his voice catching in his throat. He looked up at his brothers as they stood grinning down at him, then with tears upon his cheeks he kicked Borric in the shins, turned, and fled, his half-limping, rolling gait not slowing him as he scampered down the hall, the sound of his sobs following after.
Borric rubbed at the barked shin. Ow. The boy can kick. He looked at Erland. Promised?
Erland rolled his eyes heavenward. Not to tease him anymore. He heaved a sigh. Hes sure to run to Mother and shell speak to Father and
Borric winced. And well get another round of lectures.
Then as one they said, Father! and hurried toward Aruthas private quarters. The guard stationed at the door, seeing the approaching brothers, opened the doors for them.
Once inside, the twins found their father seated in his favourite chair, an old thing of wood and leather, but which he preferred to any of the dozen others in the large conference hall. Standing slightly to his left were Barons James and Locklear. Arutha said, Come in, you two.
The twins came to stand before their father, Erland moving with a slight awkwardness, as his injured side had stiffened overnight. Something wrong? asked Arutha.
Both sons smiled weakly. Their father missed little. Borric said, He tried a beat and counter-lunge when he should have parried in six. The fellow got inside his guard.
Aruthas voice was cold. Brawling again. I should have expected it, as Baron James obviously did. To James he said, Anyone killed?
James said, No, but it was a bit close with the son of one of the citys more influential shippers.
Aruthas anger surfaced as he slowly rose from his chair. A man able to hold emotions in check, the sight of such a display was rare, and for those who knew him well, unwelcome. He came to stand before the twins and for a moment appeared on the verge of striking them. He stared into the eyes of each. He bit off each word as he sought to regain control. What can you two possibly have been thinking of?
Erland said, It was self-defence, Father. The man was trying to skewer me.
Borric chimed in, The man was cheating. He had an extra Blue Lady up his sleeve.
Arutha almost spat as he said, I dont care if he had an extra deck up his sleeve. You arent common soldiers, damn it! You are my sons!
Arutha walked around them, as if inspecting horses or reviewing his guard. Both boys endured the close perusal, knowing their fathers mood brooked no insolence.
At last he threw up his hands in a gesture of resignation and said, These arent my sons. He walked past the twins to stand next to the two Barons. Theyve got to be Lyams, he said, invoking the Kings name. Aruthas brother had been known for his temper and brawling as a youth. Somehow Anita married me, but bore the Kings ruffian brats. James could only nod in agreement. It must be some divine plan I dont understand.
Returning his attention to his boys, he said, If your grandfather still lived, hed have you over a barrel, a leather strap in his hand, no matter your size or age. Youve acted like children, once again, and should be treated like children.
His voice rose as he walked back before them, I sent orders for you two to come home at once! But do you obey? No! Instead of coming straight away to the palace, you vanish into the Poor Quarter. Two days later, Baron James finds you brawling in a tavern. He paused, then in a near shout, he exclaimed, You could have been killed!
His voice rose as he walked back before them, I sent orders for you two to come home at once! But do you obey? No! Instead of coming straight away to the palace, you vanish into the Poor Quarter. Two days later, Baron James finds you brawling in a tavern. He paused, then in a near shout, he exclaimed, You could have been killed!
Borric began to quip, Only if that parry
Enough! cried Arutha, his temper frayed beyond his ability to control it. He gripped Borrics tunic and pulled his son forward, off-balance. You will not end this with a joke and smile! You have defied me for the last time. He punctuated this with a shove that sent Borric half-stumbling into his brother. Aruthas manner showed he had no patience for the flippancies from his son he usually ignored. I didnt call you back because the court missed your peculiar sort of chaos. I think that another year or two on the border might have settled you down a bit, but I have no alternative. You have princely duties and you are needed now!
Borric and Erland exchanged glances. Aruthas moods were old business to them, and they had endured his anger which was usually justified before, but this time something serious was occurring. Borric said, Were sorry, Father. We didnt realize it was a matter of duty that called us home.
Because you are not expected to realize anything, you are expected to obey! shot back their father. Obviously out of patience with the entire exchange, he said, I am done with you for now. I must compose myself for the business of dealing in private with the Keshian Ambassador this afternoon. Baron James will continue this conversation on my behalf! At the door, he paused, and said to James, Whatever you need do, do! But I want these miscreants impressed with the gravity of things when I speak to them this afternoon. He closed the door without waiting for a response.
James and Locklear moved to either side of the young Princes, and James said, If Your Highnesses would be so kind as to follow us.
Borric and Erland both glanced at their life-long tutors and uncles and then at each other. Both had an inkling of what was to come. Their father had never laid strap nor hand upon any of his children, to the profound relief of his wife, but that still didnt prevent regular bouts of fighting practice, when the boys were unruly, which was most of the time.
Waiting outside, Lieutenant William quietly fell into step with the twins and the Barons as they moved down the hall. He hurried to open the door, which led to Prince Aruthas gymnasium, a large room where the royal family could practise their skills with sword, dagger, or hand-to-hand combat.
Baron James led the procession down the hall. At the door to the gymnasium, William again moved to open the door, for while he was second cousin to the twins, he was still merely a soldier in the company of nobles. Borric entered the room first, followed by Erland and James, with Locklear and William behind.
Inside the room, Borric nimbly turned and walked backwards, his hands raised in a boxers pose, as he said, Were a lot older and bigger, now, Uncle Jimmy. And youre not going to sucker punch me behind the ear like you did last time.
Erland leaned to the left, clutching his side in exaggeration and suddenly developed a limp. And faster, too. Uncle Locky. Without warning, he threw an elbow at Locklears head. The Baron, a seasoned soldier of almost twenty years, dodged aside, allowing Erland to overbalance. He then turned him in a circle by hauling on one arm, and pushed him into the centre of the gymnasium with the sole of his boot.
The two Barons stood away as both brothers stood poised for a fight, fists upraised. With a wry grin, James raised his hands palms out and said, Oh, youre too young and fast for us, all right. The tone of sarcasm was not lost on the boys. But as we have to be clear headed over the next few days, we thought wed forego the pleasure of seeing how far youve come in the last two years. He hiked his thumb behind him, indicating a far corner. Personally, that is.
Two soldiers, stripped to breeches only, stood in the corner. Each had massive arms crossed over impressively muscled chests. Baron James waved for them to approach. As they did, the boys glanced at one another.
The two men moved with the fluid motion of a thoroughbred war horse, supple, but with power waiting. Each looked as if he was carved from stone, and Borric whispered, Theyre not human! Erland grinned, for both men had large jaws, suggesting the protruding mandible of mountain trolls.
These gentlemen are from your Uncle Lyams garrison, said Locklear. We had a demonstration of the Royal Fist-Boxing Champions last week and asked them to stay with us a few extra days. The two men began to move away from each other, circling the boys in opposite directions.
Jimmy said, The blond-haired fellow is Sergeant Obregon, from the Rodez garrison
Locklear injected, Hes champion of all men under two hundred pounds. Ah, Erland should be your student, Obregon; his side is injured. Be gentle with him.
and the other, continued Jimmy, is Sergeant Palmer, from Bas-Tyra.
Borrics eyes narrowed as he studied the approaching soldier. Let me guess: hes the champion of all men over two hundred pounds.
Yes, said Baron James, with an evil smile.
Instantly, Borrics field of vision was filled by an oncoming fist. He quickly tried to move away from it, but abruptly discovered another had found the side of his head. Then he was considering who painted the frescos on the ceiling of the room his father had converted to a gymnasium. He really should ask someone.
Shaking his head as he slowly sat up, he could hear James saying, Your Father wanted us to impress upon you the importance of what you face tomorrow.
And what might that be, said Borric, allowing Sergeant Palmer to help him to his feet. But the Sergeant didnt release Borrics right hand, but rather held it tightly as he brought his own right hand hard up into Borrics stomach. Lieutenant William visibly winced as Borrics breath exploded from his lungs and his eyes crossed as he sank to the floor once more. Erland began warily moving away from the other fist-boxer, who now was stalking him across the floor.
If it has escaped your notice, your uncle the King has sired only daughters since young Prince Randolph died.
Borric waved off the offered hand of Sergeant Palmer and said, Thanks. Ill get up by myself. As he came to one knee, he said, I hardly dwell on the fact of our cousins death, but Im aware of it. Then as he started to stand, he drove a vicious blow into Sergeant Palmers stomach.
The older, harder fighter stood rock steady, forced himself to take a breath, then smiled in appreciation and said, That was a good one. Highness.
Borrics eyes rolled heavenward. Thank you. Then another fist filled his vision and once more he considered the wonderful craftsmanship displayed upon the ceiling. Why hadnt he ever taken the opportunity to notice it before? he mused to himself.
Erland attempted to keep distance between himself and the approaching Sergeant Obregon. Suddenly, the young man was not backing up, but striking out with a flurry of blows. The Sergeant, rather than back away, raised his arms before his face and let the younger man strike his arms and shoulders. Our uncles lack of an heir is a fact not unknown to us, Uncle Jimmy, observed Erland as his own arms began to tire while he futilely pounded upon the muscular sergeant. Abruptly, the Sergeant stepped inside Erlands reach, and drove another blow into the youngsters side. Erlands face drained of colour and his eyes crossed, then unfocused.