The Prince of Warwood and The War of Kings

by Clinton, J. Noel

  Xavier smiled. “So, what are we doing with the manure?”

  “You’ll see.”

  The group arrived at Delegate Grant’s house seconds before Court appeared with a barrel of manure. “I’ll just pop back and get another one,” he said before he disappeared again.

  “Okay, mates! Here’s what we do…”

  “Wait a second!” Xavier blurted as his eyes fell on Grant’s black Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster. The convertible top was down. “Oh, man! This is too good to ignore!”

  Court reappeared, muscling a second barrel next to the first. “There. So, what’s the plan?”

  Beck started laughing. “Great idea, X! He’ll think twice if he tries to overthrow the king again!” He turned to Court and Garrett. “We’re dumping both barrels into the car. And,” Beck continued, pulling a can of red spray paint from his bag, “we’ll leave everyone a message that Grant is a traitor.”

  “I can take care of the manure so nobody has to touch it,” Xavier told the group. “You guys can write messages on the car. When we’re done, I’ll teleport all of us back to the coliseum. We’ve got to be fast so no one sees us!”

  The group nodded in agreement and then set to work. In less than a minute, manure filled the sports car with the words, “Grant is a traitor” painted on the hood and sides of the car.

  “Time to go,” Xavier said with smug satisfaction.

  “Prince Wells?” Mr. Nottingham gasped, but the boy and his friends vanished a second later.

  At the coliseum, the boys celebrated the victory, cheering and fist bumping one another, except Xavier. Dread gnawed at him. Jon Nottingham had seen him.

  “Xavier? What’s the matter?” Court asked.

  “Mr. Nottingham saw me. I’m busted.”

  The group suddenly froze, and Beck summed up the group’s thoughts with a simple, “Oh, shit!”

  “Yeah, exactly. I’ve got to get home. Don’t worry about it, guys. I’ll take the fall for Delegate Grant’s car.”

  “X, we can’t let you do that, mate. This is going to bring trouble—huge, colossal trouble,” Court protested.

  “Yes, you can. Look, would you have done any of this if I hadn’t told you about what Grant tried to do in the legislative meeting? I think I’d rather take the fall for the car than for Dad to find out that I blabbed about the meeting.” Seeing Court’s hesitant face, Xavier rushed to continue. “It’s supposed to be a confidential meeting, Court. If you don’t let me do this, colossal trouble wouldn’t begin to cover it.”

  Xavier had no idea if the meetings were confidential or not, but he didn’t want his friends getting in trouble for standing up for him and his dad. They deserved medals, not punishments.

  Finally, Court nodded and stepped away. “All right, mate. If you’re sure.”

  “I am.”

  “Good luck, X,” the boys muttered regrettably.

  “Thanks. See you at school tomorrow… if Dad doesn’t murder me tonight,” Xavier joked before teleporting to the palace.

  He stared up at the palace with his heart in his throat. Inhaling deeply, he walked across the drive, through the entrance, and down the hall. Henrick stood guard outside the royal residence.

  “Hello, Prince Xavier. How was your day?” he asked.

  He shrugged. “It was all right. Dad home yet?”

  “No. I don’t expect him for another hour.”

  Nodding, Xavier opened the door to the residence. “Talk to you later, Henrick.”

  “Xavier, honey, is that you?” Mrs. Sommers called from the dining room.

  “Yeah,” he answered, shutting the door.

  “There’s pizza in the fridge. You can heat it up in the toaster oven if you want it hot.”

  “Okay. Thanks.”

  He stood in the middle of the room, not sure what to do. He flopped onto the couch in the receiving room fighting the panic rising inside him like a tsunami. He had really stepped in it this time. His father would go ballistic, but Xavier wouldn’t hide this time. He wouldn’t run. He would face his father and his punishment head on. Though he didn’t have it in him to feel bad for doing what he did to Grant. He felt an enormous sense of satisfaction for getting even with Grant for treason because that is how Xavier saw Grant’s actions in the legislative meeting. It didn’t matter to him that the delegate had done it legally. In his mind, treason was treason no matter how you went about it, and Grant had gone about it in the most devious, cowardly way. He had enlisted another man to stick his neck out and present the legislation that would lead to the dethroning of the king. Yeah, the man definitely deserved every bit of what he and his friends had dished out. He couldn’t feel sorry about having done it. He wouldn’t be sorry!

  A loud, firm knock on the residence door jolted Xavier to his feet and out of his thoughts. He walked toward the door, already knowing who was behind it. Squelching down the panic that suddenly rolled in his stomach, he shuffled to the door and opened it to greet Mr. Nottingham and Delegate Grant.

  “YOU!” Grant spat, shoving an accusatory finger in his face. “You were seen vandalizing my property, and don’t try to deny it!”

  “I wasn’t going to deny it, Delegate Grant,” Xavier answered evenly and narrowed his eyes at the finger in his face. “Could you get that thing out of my face?”

  Flustered by the nonchalant attitude the boy gave him, Grant dropped his hand and glared menacingly at the prince. “Where’s your father? I want to talk to him.”

  Now, Xavier didn’t plan to hide his indiscretion from his father, but he sure didn’t want this yahoo getting to him first. “Uh, okay. Come on in, and I’ll get him.”

  Henrick started to say something, but Xavier quickly closed the door.

  “Have a seat,” he told the men as he started up the steps that led to the bedrooms on the second floor.

  Mr. Nottingham sat comfortably in the sofa, but Delegate Grant remained standing and peered interestedly around the room.

  Xavier entered his father’s bedroom and sighed. Now what? He had abilities! He could transfigure into his father’s image and get rid of the men before the real thing came home. With his plan decided, he began meditating and breathing deeply. Then he pictured his father. Slowly, he felt the tingling heat build in his chest and spread throughout his body. He turned and watched with fascination as his body morphed into the spitting image of his father, ripping the clothes he wore. Xavier quickly scoured through his father’s closet and pulled out a pair of kakis and a shirt. He dressed quickly, not bothering to tuck in the shirt tails. Finally, he exited his father’s room and descended the steps to the men. Jon Nottingham stood and bowed slightly at him, but Grant elbowed past him.

  “King Wells, your son was seen by Jon vandalizing my vehicle!”

  “Really now?” Xavier asked, doing his best imitation of the king.

  “Yes!” Grant shouted.

  “Delegate Grant, do not shout at me. I’m your king,” Xavier spat at the man, trying not to burst out laughing.

  “Sorry, sire,” Grant muttered before continuing, “but it’s true. Jon caught him in the act before the boy teleported away from the scene of the crime.”

  “Hmm.” Xavier nodded, trying to think of something his father would say to that. He finally looked at Jon. “Is this true, Mr. Nottingham?”

  Jon hesitated, looking a bit shaken. “Uh, yes, sire. It’s true. I saw the prince and a group of boys dumping manure and spray-painting the delegate’s car.”

  Xavier nodded his head. “I see. Well, okay, I guess I’ll deal with this. Thank you for coming to tell me.”

  “I demand to know what you will do! I deserve that much!” Grant argued.

  “Mr. Grant, I’m going to deal with it. Xavier will be punished. Now, thanks for coming. Please leave.”

  Again, Jon looked hesitantly at the person he believed was the king.

  Xavier all but pushed the men toward the door, but just as he reached for the doorknob, it swung open and the genuine King Wells
and Ephraim stood in the doorway.

  As Jeremiah took in the scene in front of him, from the two shocked, jaw-dropped men to his twin image, he battled a sudden, slightly delirious urge to laugh. Instead, he looked at his general, who was hiding a smirk behind his hand as he rubbed his jaw contemplatively.

  “General Hardcastle, did my evil twin escape from the dungeons again?” he teased.

  Ephraim gave up on hiding the smile. “It appears so, sire.”

  Jeremiah moved toward Xavier and studied him like an insect. “Hmm, interesting. I guess we better cuff him and lock him up again.”

  “Dad!” Xavier groaned in his father’s body. “You know it’s me.”

  “Yes, I do, and I’m sure you have a great explanation as to why you’ve transfigured into my image while you entertain two guests.”

  Grant finally recovered from his state of shock and looked accusingly at the twin image of the king before stepping up to the genuine article. “Sire, the prince has ruined my car! He filled the interior with manure and spray-painted derogatory lies all over the exterior!”

  Slowly the king turned to his carbon copy. “He did what?” he whispered, temper gurgling into his words.

  “He vandalized my car, sire.”

  “I’m afraid it’s true, King Wells. I saw him myself,” Mr. Nottingham commented softly.

  The king glared at Xavier before barking, “Son, change back, now!”

  “Yes, sir,” Xavier muttered and instantly reverted to himself. His father’s clothes hung on him, and he quickly grabbed the kakis to keep them from dropping to his ankles. “Father, I was going to tell you.”

  “Were you now? Is that why you transfigured yourself into my image?”

  “No… I mean, yes. I did it because I wanted to be the one to tell you first. I thought… I…” Okay, so maybe transfiguring into his father wasn’t the brightest idea. Finally, Xavier blurted, “Read my thoughts! Read my thoughts, and you’ll know I’m telling you the truth!”

  Jeremiah studied his son a moment and shook his head. “I don’t need to do that. I can see you’re telling the truth. I’m not sure how the transfiguration plays into your plan to tell me though.” The king turned to the men. “Gentlemen, I need to discuss this situation with Prince Xavier. Rest assured, Lucas, he will be punished and he will put the car back to rights.”

  “What about my reputation? He destroyed my reputation, sire! How will he put that right?”

  Jeremiah looked from Lucas Grant to Xavier and back again. “How did he damage your reputation, Lucas?”

  “He wrote lies all over my car in spray paint. He wrote that I was a traitor!”

  The king closed his eyes in exasperation. Slowly, he opened his eyes and met Grant’s. “I’m sorry he did that. He doesn’t fully understand our laws yet. I’ll make sure that he does by the end of the week, where he’ll make amends in church. He will apologize to you publicly and denounce the things he wrote on your car. Is there anything else?”

  Grant’s anger deflated and he shook his head. “No, sire. Thank you.”

  “No need. You didn’t deserve this treatment. I will see to it that this is resolved,” he reassured as he stepped with the men to the door and saw them out.

  Once the door shut, Jeremiah pressed his head against it and sighed. Without looking at his son, he ordered, “Xavier, go upstairs and change. I’ll be up in a few minutes.”

  “Yes, sir,” Xavier muttered and shuffled to the stairs. Hesitantly, he turned to his father. “Dad? I wasn’t going to lie to you or run. I planned to face what I did head on. I swear it.”

  The king turned and looked at the crestfallen boy. “I know. Go change, son.”

  Xavier changed out of his father’s clothes and paced. Then he pulled out his math book from his duffle and sat at his desk. He opened the book to the page marked with his paper and stared unseeingly. He wouldn’t be able to concentrate on his homework until he talked to his father. Nearly twenty minutes later, his father knocked on his door before opening it and entering. Xavier closed his book and stood.

  “Dad, I’m sorry.”

  Jeremiah motioned for him to sit as he sat on the corner of his desk. “How about you start by telling me why you did what you did and then who helped you.”

  “No one helped me. I did it alone.”

  His father eyed him disbelievingly. “Well, I know that’s a lie, but I won’t push it. Why did you damage Delegate Grant’s car and reputation?”

  Xavier shrugged, but answered, “Because he tried to overthrow you. In my book, that’s treason.”

  “Xavier, I told you that he had done so legally…”

  “Yeah, I know, Dad, but to me, it doesn’t matter how someone does it. If you try to overthrow the king, you’re a traitor! He didn’t even do it with any kind of honor! I mean, how big of a coward would you have to be to make some poor sucker do it for you?”

  Jeremiah nodded and worked to suppress a grin. He couldn’t let the boy know that he found the entire situation humorous. He agreed with the boy, but he had passed the law providing citizens the ability to question him and pass laws. He couldn’t arrest a man exercising his given right no matter how he went about it or the subject of his proposal.

  “Son, I understand how you feel, but if I were to arrest Delegate Grant just for proposing a new law, regardless of the subject matter of that law, how do you think our citizens would perceive such an arrest?”

  Xavier frowned. He didn’t want to think about that! He didn’t want to think about how anything Grant had done had been right. “I don’t know,” he mumbled, pouting slightly.

  His father nodded and commented, “I think you do or you wouldn’t be so disgruntled about it. Son, kings, great kings don’t simply do what they want and punish whomever they please. We have laws to follow and rights to honor. Do you understand?”

  Begrudgingly, Xavier nodded. “Yes, sir.”

  Jeremiah studied him a moment. “Now, after school and training tomorrow, you will report to Delegate Grant’s house and clean up his car—without powers.”

  Xavier’s jaw dropped. “But, Dad! That car is full of horse shit!”

  The king didn’t quite keep the smile from his face this time. “Yes, and you put it there. So you will clean it out.”

  “But without powers? Why? I could have that thing looking like new in less than a minute with my powers.”

  “Yes, son. However, cleaning up the car isn’t only to put the car right. It’s to teach you a lesson. How can you learn that lesson if you use your powers without fully understanding what Delegate Grant would have gone through if you hadn’t been caught? He does not possess the ability of telekinesis, so he would have had to clean his car out by hand. In addition, you will publicly apologize to Delegate Grant in church Sunday and make it known to our citizens that he is not a traitor.” The king patted his son’s leg and stood. “Oh, and son? You’re grounded for three weeks.”

  Xavier scowled. “You know? This is the worst punishment you’ve ever given me! Can’t you just spank me instead?”

  The king lost all will power and laughed.

  Chapter 14

  The next morning, Xavier entered the dining hall for breakfast to find his father and Ephraim there.

  “I know, Ephraim. I’m not sure how they’re getting in!” the king was telling him.

  “How who is getting in?” Xavier questioned, flopping into his chair and scooping a spoonful of egg into his mouth.

  The men looked uneasily at the boy and said nothing.

  Xavier looked from his father to the general. “Oh, come on! How am I supposed to learn about being king and the problems of a king if you don’t share things with me? What’s going on?”

  The king sighed and glanced at Ephraim before answering. “Son, a few dark soldiers penetrated the kingdom’s security. They made it as far as the palace gates before they were stopped.”

  Xavier frowned. “How are they getting into the kingdom and past the gatehouse sec
urity?”

  “That, young sire, is what we’re trying to determine,” Ephraim told him.

  “So this morning I will be interviewing the guards on duty. Then I will send the royal guards out to walk the kingdom’s security wall and see if we can determine where they penetrated our defenses,” the king told him. “When you arrive this afternoon, we’ll go through the reports of the security check and interviews. Do you have a particular power you’d like to work on today during combat training?”

  Xavier shook his head. “Not really.”

  “Okay, I’ll find some men to help us out. Now, after your training, you’re expected to report to Delegate Grant’s home and clean up his vehicle.”

  Xavier made a face. “Are you sure I can’t use my powers?”

  The king pinned him with an unwavering stare. “No powers, son.”

  With a disgruntled sigh, Xavier finished his eggs.

  After breakfast, Xavier met Robbie at the usual spot so that they could walk to school together. Xavier told her about the break-in.

  “Wow! This is serious, Xavier. If dark soldiers are getting into the kingdom, you’re not safe,” she concluded, her eyes wide with worry.

  “Robbie, I’m not in danger,” Xavier dismissed with a snicker. “I can take care of myself.”

  Robbie didn’t look convinced.

  “Hey, X!” Beck shouted as he and Garrett raced across the field in front of the school.

  Once the boys fell into step with Xavier and Robbie, Garrett asked, “So? What’s the verdict?”

  “What are they talking about?” Robbie asked.

  “We taught that traitor Grant a lesson yesterday for trying to overthrow the king,” Beck answered.

  “Oh no!” Robbie groaned and looked at Xavier. “What did you do?”

  Before Xavier could answer, Beck grinned and responded wickedly, “We filled his sports car with manure.”

  Robbie’s jaw dropped.

  “Yeah, but unfortunately, Xavier was seen at the scene of the crime,” Garrett added.

  Robbie’s eyes darted back to her boyfriend. “And you’re still walking? I’m surprised King Wells didn’t murder you for that.”