A Prince's Duty (The Royal Houses of Sea and Snow, #1)

by Marquez, Jude

“I will stay with him, Your Highness,” Issat said. As if Eamon had any doubt.

  “As will I and so will Willhelm and Nicolin,” Lissandra said.

  “I will?” Nicolin said from the door.

  Lissandra looked at him.

  “Of course I will. There is no place I would rather be,” Nicolin added hastily and stepped back into the hallway.

  “If there is a word of trouble, if Alexios tries to enter-” Eamon began.

  “He might try but he will not succeed. I am under direct order that no one but the Crown Prince himself may come or go from this wing,” Willhelm said.

  Pursing his lips, Eamon nodded. He glanced once more at Alik, asleep on his bed, and left the room.

  ONCE IN THE HALLWAY, he headed for the library where he and Edmond met daily. Between the two of them, they kept each other constantly abreast of what was going on within their own borders. Eamon realized that when one of his family married Alik, he would have to expand his council to others he might trust with information to tell him of the northern borders.

  He made a note to include that in his conversation with Edmond.

  As he rounded a corner, two of his father’s guards ran into him.

  Young men, still terrified of Eamon, they both stumbled back and righted themselves, before bowing.

  “Your Highness,” the said in unison.

  “Excuse me-” Eamon muttered and attempted to step around them.

  “Prince Eamon, His Majesty sent us to find you. He bids you come to his chambers at once,” Terric said.

  Eamon ground his teeth together. No doubt Alexios ran to his father and told him how Eamon intervened on Alik’s behalf. He did not need this confrontation right now.

  “Edmond is in the library. Bring him and his men to me, immediately,” Eamon ordered the other man, Sanson, and watched as he scurried off towards the library. He turned back to Terric and nodded, let him lead the way.

  King Therris was waiting in his own sitting room and sure enough, Alexios was sitting next to him, looking like a spoiled child who was denied his favorite toy.

  Eamon hated this room more than any other in the castle. It was wall to wall bookcases though Therris read none of the books. He kept them there so that Eamon could not read them without his permission and so that others would think him more intelligent than he actually was. It was almost always kept dark and the thick blue and gold curtains kept the sunlight out.

  Sanson led the way and when Eamon stepped in, he couldn’t help but notice all the men in the room were either Grayhaven knights or fiercely loyal to Therris.

  Eamon swept the room and let the men feel his gaze as he measured each of them. They were either too old to fight for Eamon, too young to enter his guard, or too inept. Grayhaven knights were laughable.

  “Father,” Eamon said.

  “Son. I hear there has been excitement in your wing, has there not?” Therris said.

  “I suppose you could call it that,” Eamon said diplomatically.

  “You suppose?” Alexios asked.

  Eamon did not answer.

  In the hall, there was the sound of marching soldiers, headed their way.

  The men, around Alexios and his father, shifted uncomfortably. Therris looked mildly interested, like he was about to watch his son battle an opponent in a ring for his own amusement.

  Edmond led the men in, took up a spot next to his brother and the men lined up behind them both.

  “Son. I don’t recall inviting you,” Therris said.

  “Eamon did,” Edmond said.

  “Of course he did,” Alexios muttered.

  “Would you like to tell me what all this is about? Why you have forbidden Alexios from your wing and essentially, barred him from seeing his only son?” Therris asked.

  The knights behind the Kings shifted around but the ones behind Eamon remained silent and still. Edmond twitched, an aborted movement like he was going to look to his brother, but stopped himself.

  “I care not for how he treats the Crown Prince,” Eamon said.

  Therris raised an eyebrow.

  Eamon remained silent.

  “Tell me, how does he treat his son?” Therris asked.

  “By choking him, striking him, and kicking him. It required Lissandra to come and see to him. She worries that he might need to be stitched together,” Eamon said.

  None of the knights behind Alexios looked surprised.

  “And that is your business why?” Therris asked.

  “Because this is my home, he is my guest, and while Alexios is here on my island, he will not raise a hand to Alik,” Eamon said.

  “Your home? Your island?” Therris asked and leaned forward. It was probably meant to intimidate Eamon but Eamon had long ago lost any fear of his father.

  “Yes,” Eamon said.

  “And what am I?” Therris asked.

  Eamon would not step into that trap.

  “I could take the crown from you for this disrespect,” Therris threatened.

  “Do it,” Eamon said.

  “You will be without a home, without an island, without anything to your name,” Therris threatened.

  “I have other places that I can find a home. And I have men that will follow me,” Eamon replied and looked over his shoulder. “But you will be without your Bladebringer. And who will train your men when I leave?”

  “Believe it or not, I have another son,” Therris smirked, like he won the battle.

  “I will go with my brother,” Edmond said.

  “You will not,” Therris threatened.

  “Stop me,” Edmond replied.

  “If Alik is to be a part of this family, whoever he might choose, my protection to him is the same as any other of my family. If you raise a hand to him, if you press me, I will strike you down, King or no,” Eamon turned to Alexios. “You are here for a general and his army. Do not press me. These men are loyal to my rule, not my father’s. If I see one injury on Alik that cannot be explained, one scratch, I will strike you down, take your lands with my own army, and drain all the wealth you like to wave about.”

  Alexios stood. “How dare you! You do not speak to a King-”

  “You are no King!” Eamon roared. Everyone but Therris and Edmond shrank back away from Eamon. “You have one warning. Do not push me or my men. Drink, eat, but stay far, far from my path, Alexios. Do not think you can control me.”

  With that, Eamon swept from the room, and his brother and their men followed him out.

  "WHERE IS OUR GUEST?" Queen Christenne asked when she swept into the library. Both Eamon and Edmond were there, seated at a large, scarred table. Between them, there was a map laid out that they were studying.

  “Resting in Eamon’s room,” Edmond replied.

  There was nothing but a stony silence in the library when the two brothers arrived in the library. Edmond knew better than to press Eamon during a time such as this. Instead, he let Eamon pull maps from the shelves and blank parchment from a different shelf. The men split themselves up once more; half to stay with the princes, the other to go to Eamon’s wing of the castle.

  “Is that so?” Christenne asked.

  Eamon and Edmond watched her with wary eyes but did not reply. Neither one knew for sure if she knew what happened with Alik and Alexios. Since she didn’t seem surprised that Alik was currently hidden away in his room, they both had to hope that she did indeed know.

  "Don't look at me like that, you two," she said warily. "I just want to know what you have concluded so far."

  "Concluded?" Edmond furrowed his brow. "He is a nice enough fellow. I'm not sure I would care to bed him though."

  Eamon snorted. He wanted to ask his mother if she had spoken to the king, but did not want to see that look in her eyes that meant that she was being forced to choose between her children and husband once again.

  Edmond turned to him, "Have you no opinion brother? We have all seen how he watches you and Lissandra. And he told me this morning that we would not ma
ke a good pair but that he would only like to be friends."

  Eamon turned to him and opened his mouth to say something. It made sense, then, why Alexios lost his temper with Alik. Perhaps Alexios was supposed to be consulted on who Alik wanted to marry and who he denied. And if Alik informed Edmond that morning while Eamon was sparring, he more than likely said it off the cuff and now was expected to pay the price for making a decision without Alexios’ consent.

  It would not surprise Eamon. He knew firsthand how controlling kings could be over their children.

  The surprise was written all over his face but their mother beat him to it.

  "Did he?" Christenne said. "What else did he have to say?"

  Edmond shook his head. "Nothing much more, mother," he said.

  Christenne tapped her fingers on the table for a moment and then looked to Eamon who had his hands pressed to the table top and was studying the map with a singular intensity. The reports that Edmon gave him from the merchants that traveled the seas was not a good one. The Vresal ships were beginning to gather themselves and there were more scouts than ever in the villages.

  And yet the king of Ataton threatens his own Crown Prince. Eamon ground his teeth together. He had not received any updates from his own scouts on the Vresal mainland in weeks now. His hopes were not high for them.

  "And what say you, son?"

  "Unfortunately, mother, I haven't had the time or luxury to learn much of our guests," Eamon replied softly. He thought briefly of Alik feeding the wolves, though he was terrified. He thought how Alik slept in his bed while they spoke of him. Eamon did not give voice to his thoughts though. Those seemed far too private, something all his own.

  "You need to make the time," Christenne urged gently.

  "I have other matters occupying my time," he said and there was a note of irritation in his voice. "Unlike my sisters and brother, I do not get the time luxuriate in the manners of the court and all the romance therein."

  "It's hardly romantic," Edmond said.

  Eamon sighed and sat back. He waved Doran and Jeremiah over and tapped a point on the map. "Shore it up here. I'll have the wolves patrol from here to here," he said and swept his fingers along the map, "Ready a contingent of men. They'll take shifts throughout the night. If there is anything suspicious, anything at all, I wanted it reported to me immediately."

  "Sire," they said and bowed.

  "What news, Eamon?" Christenne asked and stood up. It was a relief for at least one of the heads of state to be interested in what he was doing, even if it was only a passing interest.

  "Scouts. Small contingents of men, here and here. The Vresal army pushes too far, mother," he said.

  "What does your father have to say?" Christenne prodded.

  Edmond shook his head and tried to stop her but it was too late.

  "Father makes wedding plans and drinks with King Alexios over the kingdoms becoming one. Father seems to forget that the reason for this wedding is that the Vresals are pushing deeper and deeper into our lands and we have not the means to supply the army that we would need to push back. Father has left it in mine and Lissandra's hands to decide how to deal with the Vresal captives that we have. Father threatens to take the throne from me and protects Alexios after he beat Alik. Father is about as helpful as Kane when it comes to strategy," Eamon said bitterly.

  "How can I help?" His mother asked and for the first time in months, since the word of the Vresal scouts and contingents first started showing, Eamon could feel a crack in his veneer. His shoulders tightened and he gripped the table and Edmond tugged his mother away, for fear Eamon might upend it.

  "I know not," Eamon finally said after a moment. He shook his head and relaxed his grip on the table. When he looked up at his mother and brother, he looked like the young boy he almost never was. "I know not," he repeated.

  Chapter 6

  Eamon declined both lunch and dinner and retreated to his room where Issat and Lissandra were playing a game of cards and Alik snored softly on the bed. His arms were flung out wide and there was a thick blanket over him.

  “How was the meeting?” Lissandra asked, but kept her eyes on her cards.

  “Which one?” Eamon asked and tore his cloak from his shoulders and threw it on the ground and then kicked it viciously into the corner for good measure. Then he dropped himself into a chair and put his head in his hands.

  “I thought you were only to meet Edmond?” Lissandra prompted.

  “Father sent his men for me. Alexios told on me as though I am a child and I did something wrong,” Eamon said.

  “I imagine that went stunningly well.”

  “Father told me to mind my own business and I told him anything that happens on my island, in my home, is my business-”

  Lissandra’s eyes widened and she put her cards down.

  “Then father said that he can still take the throne from me and I told him to take it and he said that he would give it Edmond and Edmond said he would leave with me, along with all the men. Who knows, sister? You might end up being Queen without ever having to marry,” Eamon said.

  “I would leave with you. As would Avelina,” Lissandra said.

  “Me too,” Alik muttered, smacked his lips together, and promptly began snoring again.

  “He would never. The men would revolt and wherever you ended up, and I imagine it would be the Cerith Kingdom with Evander and Alyx, would be a bigger threat than the Vresal army. He only puts on airs for Alexios. It is you the men follow,” Lissandra added.

  It was the same thought that Eamon had but it all seemed too much, all at once.

  He glanced at Alik. “How is he?”

  “He’ll sleep through the night. The bruising will be worse tomorrow,” Lissandra said.

  “You two may go. I will be in here for the rest of the day.”

  “Hiding?” Issat teased.

  Eamon gave her a small smile. “I have letters to write. Perhaps I should warn Evander and Alyx in advance.”

  Lissandra did not like the sound of that but she nodded anyway. She gathered her things and then leaned down to kiss her brother on his forehead. He closed his eyes and breathed in the familiar scent of his other half; the sea, lavender, and clean silk.

  When they were gone, the room was finally silent but for Alik snoring and the ocean crashing against the cliffs outside.

  WHEN ALIK OPENED HIS eyes, it was dark. For a moment, he thought he was in his own rooms but then he remembered everything that took place and realized he was still in Eamon’s bed. He turned his head to look out the window and saw the moon rising above the ocean. He caught sight of Eamon in front of the fireplace, reading over something in his hand.

  “Should I send for something from the kitchens?” Eamon asked.

  “How did you know I was awake?” Alik asked and slowly pushed himself into a sitting position.

  “You snore.”

  “How dare you.”

  Eamon smiled at the papers in his hand but didn’t try to argue. “Did you really fire Issat?”

  “If I don’t fire her at least once a week, she’ll feel unloved. It’s my duty,” Alik said.

  Eamon did chuckle at that. “I’ll send for some food for you.”

  Alik went over to the small table Eamon was sitting at and poured some water for himself from the pitcher. He drank deeply, closed his eyes, and realized that it was spilling over his chin far too late.

  When he was done, he wiped his chin and stared down at the cup. “Even the water here tastes better, sweeter.”

  “The medicine that Lissandra gave you to sleep makes you thirst as well,” Eamon said when he turned around and found Alik drinking more.

  Alik nodded and set the cup down and slowly walked back to the bed. He leaned against it, worried that he would put too much pressure on his ribs by sitting and closed his eyes.

  “Is there something on your mind?” Eamon asked.

  When Alik looked up, Eamon was silhouetted by the flames from the fireplac
e and he had his eyes on a parchment in his hand. He didn’t seem overly concerned with Alik’s reply.

  “No, nothing.”

  “For growing up in the court of lies and tricks, you are terrible at it.”

  Alik didn’t know what stung worse; the insult to his home or his talents. “Blame it on the sleep medicine Lissandra dosed me with.”

  “I will blame it on you not really caring to lie anymore.”

  Alik was stunned into silence for a moment. Eamon still did not look up. “Know me so well, do you?”

  “No, not at all. Not even a little bit. You are a mystery, Your Highness,” Eamon said and wrote something on the parchment before folding and slipping it into an envelope. He sealed it and Alik couldn’t help but be entranced by the movements of his hands only to follow the line of his hands to his wrists, to his well muscled arms, up to his neck and finally his face.

  Alik prayed that he wasn’t staring silently so long as it felt.

  Eamon raised his eyebrows and Alik knew it was probably longer.

  “You don’t want to be here, do you?” Eamon asked.

  “You have a beautiful room, my Prince, and I am honored-”

  “Don’t speak to me like I am a mindless courtesan to be seduced. If it’s seduction you are after and nothing more, I will allow it. But if you are as forced to be here as me and my siblings, then tell me and let us face each other as men.”

  “You’ll allow me to seduce you?”

  “Did you hear anything after that?”

  “Frankly, no.”

  Eamon sat back against his chair and sighed. He turned from Alik and stared into the flames. He held up the envelope he just sealed for Alik to see. “While you were resting, I confronted our fathers. Well, they called me to them, but no matter. My father threatened to take the throne from me. Edmond and I both threatened to abdicate and take all our men with us.”

  “Who is that letter to?” Alik asked and craned his neck to read the recipient.

  “Evander and Alyx. I want to give them as much warning as I can before we are forced to make one choice or another during this time,” Eamon said.