He felt tears looming at the edges of his eyes, threatening to overflow when his father intervened. “Lana, I understand how you feel. Xavier knows what he did was wrong, but he was provoked. I probably would have reacted the same way at his age.”
He peered up at his father, grateful and a bit taken aback. Of all the things he had expected his father to say, this wasn’t even close.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“Well…” Jeremiah looked at him, silently asking permission to tell Lana. Xavier blushed but nodded. “Well, it seems Andrew kidnapped him from the showers, paraded him through the hall, and threw him into the girls’ dormitory.”
“Oh, my! What a horrible thing to do!” she gasped.
“Yes, it was, and he will face consequences. But, Xavier realizes that Andrew’s actions were not an excuse or just cause to use his powers against him. Don’t you, son?” Jeremiah demanded sternly.
“Yes, sir,” he answered dutifully and began eating his breakfast.
“Lana,” Jeremiah began softly. “Since you’re here, I have something I need to talk to you both about.” He inhaled deeply before continuing quickly, “Ephraim and I need to go on a short trip.”
“A trip?” Xavier asked through a mouthful of oatmeal. “What kind of trip?”
Lana had already surmised the answer. “A trip to gain information about William LeMasters and the status of Warwood?”
The king nodded.
“What? You’re going back to Warwood? What if he catches you?” Xavier gasped, standing.
“He won’t, Xavier. That is why only Ephraim and I are going. We can teleport out of there the moment there’s any sign of trouble,” he explained, moving toward the boy and rubbing his head soothingly.
“When do you leave, Jeremy?” Lana asked steadily, but she couldn’t completely mask the worry in her voice.
With an arm draped over Xavier’s shoulders, he reached for Lana and pulled her to his side, giving her a light squeeze.
“Tomorrow morning,” he whispered. “I need to see what strengths and weaknesses LeMasters’ has in order to develop a plan to get our kingdom back. Please, don’t worry. I’ll be back in two days, three at most.”
Lana and Xavier both nodded solemnly. Jeremiah gave them another light squeeze before releasing them.
“Son, after you’ve finished your breakfast, I want you to go to the dormitory, pack all your belongings, and move them here.”
“Here? Why?” he rebuked.
“You attacked another boy today! You will no longer share the dormitory with the other boys. You will stay in the royal chambers from now on…”
Xavier interrupted, “But, Dad, I like it there.”
“Xavier! This is a matter of consequences for your actions; it’s not a debatable topic. Now, do as you’re told!” he demanded firmly.
“Yes, sir,” he grumbled. Then a thought came to him. “Dad? If you’re going to be gone for a couple of nights, can’t I stay in the dorm until you get back?”
“No, Mike will be staying in the Royal Chambers with you until I return.” His father’s answer squashed any remnants of hope he had left.
He sighed heavily. No more late-night storytelling and joking around until the guardian came into the room to yell at them. No more waking up with his friends all around him. No more feeling somewhat normal. “Fine, I might as well get started with moving my stuff then,” he grumbled as he stomped from the room.
When Xavier entered the dorm, it was empty. Of course, everyone else was in class, and he was thankful for that. He didn’t feel like facing a lot of questions from his friends at the moment. They would understand soon enough when they found his bed stripped and his trunk gone. He began throwing his books and tablets into the trunk along with his pillow, bed linens, and a week’s worth of clean clothes.
Then, just as he began dragging his trunk out of the dormitory, Drew entered, with red, puffy eyes. The boys froze when they saw one another. Drew shifted his weight nervously.
Finally, he muttered, “Need some help with that?”
Xavier looked down at the heavy trunk he had been struggling to heave down the rows of bunks before looking back at the older boy. “Ah, yeah. Are you offering?”
Without a word, Drew moved toward him and lifted one end of the trunk while Xavier lifted the opposite side. “Where are we taking this thing?” he asked.
“Dad’s chambers,” Xavier grumbled, and Drew looked down at him guiltily as they walked out of the dormitory.
“Your dad’s kicking you out of the dorm? For good?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Xavier groaned.
“Sorry about that. Really, I am. I’m sorry about…well, everything, Your Highness,” he finished, and it sounded as though he truly meant it.
“Don’t,” Xavier replied with a snicker. “Don’t call me Your Highness; it might go to my head.”
Drew laughed. “Okay, Xavier, then.”
“Drew?” he began timidly as they descended the stairs to the level below. “Why have you been harassing me? It seems like you didn’t like me from the first day we met. Why?”
Drew didn’t answer right away, but finally he stopped and lowered the trunk before turning to him. “Your dad and I have always been tight, ever since I could walk and talk. He used to do stuff with me, and I always felt like I was something special because of it. You know? He had been giving me private tutoring lessons on justice and government. I want to be a judge, maybe even part of the High Council some day. But when you came to Warwood, all of that ended. He was too busy with you. I guess I was jealous. He had always treated me like a son, but now, he has you, his real son.”
He looked at Drew’s hurt-filled eyes. “I’m sorry, too. Dad sure is a bit dense sometimes. I should know; I live with the man!”
Drew smiled again, and the despair in his eyes disappeared.
“Maybe you should talk to him about it. When you go in at lunch, you should tell him what you told me,” he suggested.
“I will, but I deserve a good beating for what I did this morning not to mention the way I’ve been treating you from the beginning. God! Looking back, I don’t blame you for zapping me! In fact, if you want to do it some more, I’d let you and not tell a single soul,” he stated.
Xavier laughed. “Well, I’ll have to get back to you on that.”
“Ok. Just let me know,” he said with a shy grin as he lifted his end of the trunk and waited for Xavier to do the same.
As the boys entered the Royal Chambers, Drew staggered at the sight of the king kissing Lana Applegate. Xavier dragged his truck and the older boy across the room, elbowing his father playfully as he moved past him.
“Jeez! Get a room!” he teased.
“Get a room?” his father bellowed, releasing Lana, lunging at him, and tackling him to the floor. “You better watch your manners, boy, or I’ll sic Lana on you!”
Jumping at the opportunity, Lana joined father and son on the floor and began delivering multiple wet kisses all over Xavier’s face. “Oh, he’s nearly as fun to kiss as his father!” she taunted, kissing him more as his father held him still.
“UGH! YUK! Get off me,” he spat, laughing.
Chuckling, Jeremiah released him, stood, and helped Lana to her feet. Drew stood anxiously next to the trunk with a small grin. Xavier got to his feet and went to the other boy.
“Thanks, Drew. Thanks for helping me carry that thing down here.”
“Not a problem,” he responded, looking timidly at the king. “Sire, I will be in to see you at 12:30.”
“All right, Andrew. I’ll see you then,” Jeremiah replied, nodding at the older boy.
“See you in fencing class, Xavier,” he whispered and left the room.
Once Xavier unpacked his things and settled into the small bedroom in his father’s chambers, it was nearly lunchtime. His father had left a couple hours before to supervise training and preparation sessions with the Royal Guard. So he wandered into the Grand H
all for lunch alone, but he was fine with that. He didn’t feel up to being around the mountain’s entire population of children after being chucked naked into the girls’ dormitory. Plus, he was certain that the news of his caning would be wide spread by now. No, the last thing he wanted was to be subjected to giggles, ridicule, and taunts.
He quickly filled a plate with pasta noodles and salad. Then after grabbing a pint of milk, he rushed toward the door, but his luck of not being seen ended there. Just feet from the doors, they slammed opened, and loud, chattering children burst into the room. If he hadn’t stepped to the side, they would have trampled over him. The line of children hiccupped then they saw Xavier standing next to the door with downcast eyes. Their thoughts rushed into him, and he suddenly wished he had the ability to become invisible.
“Xavier!” Erica blurted, scrambling through the crowd over to him. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” he whispered, allowing her to pull him to the side, as the other children continued on their way toward the buffet.
“The boys are talking…” she started carefully. “They said that…you used an electro force against Drew and that your father…well, they’re saying the king caned you! Is it true? Did you really zap Drew? Not that I blame you…in fact, I would have loved to have seen it, but it’s illegal. Did you really do it?”
He simply shrugged in response, his eyes avoiding hers.
“Look, Xavier, I know it must have been really embarrassing…but it wasn’t that bad!”
“Not that bad?” he hissed, looking at her for the first time since their conversation began. “Tell me that after someone chucks you naked in the boys’ dormitory…”
“Okay, okay. You’re right. I’m sorry. But, Xavier, the girls aren’t dwelling on it or anything…well, maybe a few are, but they’re silly airheads! The point is… are you just going to hide away forever?” she demanded.
A small group of giggling girls sauntered by him and looked him up and down.
“I was going to try to. Besides…I told Court that I’d have lunch with him. I better go. See ya,” he gushed before rushing out.
Xavier arrived at the infirmary just as Courtney’s lunch was being served.
“Hey, Court! Thought you might like some company for lunch,” Xavier announced, entering the room.
“X!” he exclaimed at the sight of him. “Thank God! Mom won’t let me get out of bed! I’ve been bored out of my mind!”
“Well, I’m sure that didn’t take long, seeing how you’re practically out of your mind to begin with,” he ribbed.
“Ha, ha! You’re a riot!” Court spat playfully.
The boys sat for several minutes eating in silence. Then Xavier asked, “Court? Why did you do it? Why did you jump in after me?”
He stared at him in disbelief. “I can’t believe you need to ask that! You’re my mate, my best friend, and my prince! I’d die for you…”
“Don’t say that!” he spat. “I don’t want anyone else to die for me! I can’t take the guilt of someone else dying to protect me.”
“Is that what all of this has been about?” he asked, straightening. “You feel guilty for Maggie’s and Uncle Dublin’s deaths? You still think that their deaths were your fault?”
And Mom, Xavier added silently, but he didn’t say it aloud. Ignoring the questions, he demanded forcibly, “Don’t ever risk your life for mine again! Okay?”
“Xavier…”
“Promise me, Court!” he hissed.
“NO! I won’t!” he retorted, sitting up tall.
“I’m ordering you as your prince…”
“Order all you want, Xavier! I’m not doing it! I have a higher calling than your orders. It’s my duty!” he blurted.
“What? Your duty? Your duty as a citizen? What do you mean, it’s your duty?” he asked.
“What’s going on in here? I can hear you boys arguing at the other end of the hall!” Ephraim blared, eying his son, and Court’s rebuttals died away.
“It was nothing, sir,” Xavier muttered.
Ephraim continued to study the boys skeptically. Then he finally moved to sit on the opposite side of Court. “Well, son, if there’s no sign of water intoxication or swelling on your next scan, I imagine you’ll be discharged.”
“Oh, thank God!” he bellowed with relief.
“Yeah, we’ll see, but until then, do as you’re told and stay in bed! If another healer tells me you’ve been sneaking out of bed again, I’ll tan your hide.” Ephraim warned before looking at Xavier. “Young sire? Lunch break is about over. You might want to get a move on. I expect you in fencing class today, and you don’t want to be late.”
“Yes, sir,” he responded.
Chapter 16
Farewell
As Xavier entered the advanced fencing classroom, Drew wasn’t anywhere in sight. Assuming his meeting in the Royal Chambers must have run over, Xavier timidly drifted through the crowd of older students pulling on protective tunics, gloves, and helmets. Skimming the room, he saw a table in the back stacked with gear, and he weaved his way to it. It didn’t take long for him to realize that the equipment was three sizes too big.
“What’s the matter, Pipsqueak? Can’t find anything in midget size?” Jonas remarked loudly and laughed at his own joke.
Red-faced, Xavier ducked away and stood off by himself, trying not to feel too out of place.
“Prince Wells?” a tall gangly girl whispered. “Sir Hardcastle wanted me to give you this.” She held out a tunic, gloves, and helmet.
“Uh, thanks,” he muttered, and the girl blushed.
“All right, you lot! Enough talking and let’s get to work!” Ephraim announced as he walked into the room dressed in his own protective tunic and gear. “Partner up!”
As the class scrambled to form pairs, Jonas approached him with a smug smile.
“I’ll be your partner, pipsqueak.”
“Ah, no thanks,” he muttered before turning away from the older boy, but Jonas grabbed his arm.
“I don’t think you have a choice. With Drew absent, I don’t have a partner, and everyone else has someone already.”
One quick glance around the room confirmed that Jonas was right, and Xavier grimaced.
“Alright, everyone, listen up! Today you and your partner will bout and practice the techniques you’ve learn so far. I will be making my rounds from group to group to make adjustments and offer advice as needed. Tomorrow, I will introduce a couple of complex moves that you can add to your repertoire. If there aren’t any questions you can begin.”
Xavier quickly pulled on the tunic and helmet, but he didn’t have time to properly strap his equipment in place for Jonas was at the ready.
“En guarde!” he bellowed as he lunged forward, thrusting his sword.
Xavier staggered backwards and was barely able to lift his arm to parry to defend himself from the attack. Forgetting every basic skill of stance, balance, and control that Henrick had taught him, he lost his footing and fell hard on his butt, and his helmet flew off and clattered across the floor. Jonas burst into laughter.
“Prince Wells! I know Sir Davies taught you better than that. Concentrate on your fundamentals, young sire,” Ephraim called.
“Yes, sir,” he responded meekly as he slowly got to his feet. He scrambled to pick up his helmet, slid it back onto his head, and took his stance across from his smirking opponent.
Then, without warning, Jonas attacked again. He managed to parry the first two strikes, but beyond that, the bigger boy’s brute force pulverized his defense maneuvers, and he served more as a piñata than an opponent. Although protective gear would usually prevent lacerations and pad the body from most blows, Xavier’s unfastened tunic was less effective, and by the end of the class period, his body felt like one big bruise.
That night, Xavier awoke to soft music drifting into his room. Rubbing sleep from his eyes, he climbed from bed and tiptoed toward the door. Standing in the middle of the common room with firelight licki
ng their bodies in a golden glow, his father and Lana swayed slightly with the music, but they seemed more interested in holding and staring at one another.
“Jeremy…must you go? Can’t you send someone else with Ephraim?” she asked quietly.
“Oh, Lana, I can’t do that. I must go; it’s my duty, sweetheart. I promise you, I will be back,” he whispered, stroking her cheek.
“I…I just have this horrible feeling that if you go, something…terrible will happen. I…I don’t think I could bear…to lose another person I love,” she choked out.
“Please, Lana, don’t cry. You’re not going to lose me!” he reassured her, holding her close. “I’ll be back before you know it. You can’t get rid of me that easily.”
They clung to one another for a long moment before Jeremiah finally pulled away. “Come. I’ll walk you back to your chamber.” Lana nodded and the couple moved toward the door. His father paused and called over his shoulder, “Son? You’d better be in that bed asleep when I return!”
Xavier stiffened before slumping with an exasperated sigh. “Yes, sir.”
Early the next morning, Jeremiah entered Xavier’s bedchamber fully dressed.
“Son?” he whispered, shaking him awake.
He blinked sleepily up at his father and moaned, “Is it time to get up?”
“No, it’s only five. You have another couple of hours to sleep yet. I just wanted to say goodbye,” he answered.
Xavier sat up quickly. “Goodbye? You’re leaving now?”
He nodded. “Yes, son. Ephraim and I need to get to Warwood before sunrise. It’ll make it easier to get into the kingdom undetected.”
“Oh,” Xavier muttered, biting his lip with worry.
His father cupped his face in his large hands and drew Xavier’s gaze to his. “Don’t worry, kiddo. I’ll be fine. Any sign of trouble, Ephraim and I will teleport out of there.”
The Prince of Warwood and The Sword of the Chosen (Book 3) Page 12