by Wood, Andrew
After another strange night, and with the same face having haunted his dreams, that of the old man trying to talk to him, and Luken not being able to hear, an all too frequent occurrence with it now appearing to happen each time he slept. What the dream meant he had no idea, though when he awoke it had always felt to him so very real. Going through his usual routine of dressing, going for breakfast, where unsurprisingly he was the only member of his immediate family at the table, before returning to his room, to wash and ready himself to ride out with Caldar. Deciding on a dark blue tunic to wear over his shirt he strapped the sword belt around his waist, the gift given to him by his brother only the day before. After several poses in the large mirror on the wall in his room, of him drawing the sword and holding his position, before repeating, then ultimately deciding no matter how he tried picturing himself, holding such a weapon just did not look right on him.
Once out in the yard, the officers were already mounted, his brother was just doing likewise as he caught sight of him. The main bulk of the cohort was already lining up in the cities market square, and once the officers had ridden over, they would all make their way out of the southern gate and head for their destination. A young stable hand stood waiting to one side with a large grey stallion, the mount already saddled and its reins held in hand. Luken approached and patted the large horse on the neck, "hello boy" he added as he did. He had named his horse Aldac, apparently, he had read it was an ancient word meaning spirit, or that was as close a translation as he could find. Taking the reins and looping them over the neck of the horse, placing his foot in the stirrup he hoisted himself up onto the saddle. He politely thanked the stable hand, before turning his horse and walking it over to his brothers.
"Morning little brother, looks like we picked a fine day at least" Caldar said looking up to the near perfect cloudless skies. Despite it still only being mid morning the suns pleasant warmth could be felt, though there was a faint hint of a breeze. "We are ready your highness" one of the officers shouted over to Caldar, "let us ride out then little brother" he said to Luken nudging his horse into a slow walk. Falling in beside him, the two princes rode affront about thirty mounted officers, behind them a hundred cavalry, some of whom flew the royal colours, and following up what appeared to be an endless line of horse drawn wagons. Once through the square, the four hundred foot soldiers about turned and joined on the end of the long train. A few of the residents stood lining the main street as they passed, bowing their heads as they noticed the Crown prince and his younger brother leading the way, and probably many stood in awe, or maybe even concern, at the large contingent of armed men being despatched.
Luken stayed quiet for a little while, not quite certain what to say, and contently he listened to the rhythmic noise of the horses hooves clip clopping on the cobbled street. Noticing the city gates approaching he knew now was the time to say his farewell, "Goodbye Caldar, please take care" he said in a croaky voice. For some strange reason he did not know why, he felt as almost this was a final farewell, and he would not see his brother again. Caldar had ridden out on duty before, this time though it was on a large scale, and Luken knew by reports there would very likely be some fighting, and knowing his brother as he did, he knew Caldar would almost certainly be riding at the front of any such engagement. "I will be fine little brother" he replied leaning over and patting him on the shoulder, "I promise you I will return, do not worry," he added sensing his siblings anxiety.
Luken looked over and smiled at his older brother, trying to hide the feelings he had, "see you soon then" he said, as he pulled over once they had reached about a half mile outside the city gates. Another rider pulled up alongside Luken, one who would be his escort back into the city, a Captain of the Guard named Jak Corley. Although Hamalin was deemed as a reasonably safe place, any royal would be usually be escorted around by at least one guard, and Luken quite liked the grizzled old man next to him. It took over half an hour for the rest of the cohort and their supply wagons to pass them, having long since lost sight of the brother he worried over he decided to head back. Turning his horse and setting off at a slow trot, his escorting Captain did likewise, not speaking they neared the gates once more before Luken pulled up.
Pointing to a overhanging branch from a tree near the road, "look, now there is something you do not see very often, I do not suppose you happen to have a pencil and paper with you Jak?" he asked more in some remote hope than any real expectation. The elderly man did not quite understand what was being pointed out to him, "look on the branch, it is a long eared owl if I am not mistaken" Luken enlightened him. "Oh right you are highness, and no sorry I do not have anything for you to draw it with" Jak said, Luken did not really mind, "strange though, you do not see them out in the daytime, owls are usually nocturnal, and that one appears to be staring straight at us" the prince added. To the two men it did in fact look as if the bird was somehow watching them, even as they continued on, Luken looked back to see two round eyes following him down the road.
Finally entering back in through the city gates and up the main street, now starting to fill with traders and the customers to whom they shouted their wares. Luken heard a man yelling, and then a small child ran in front of their horses, "Gotcha you little brat, I'll have you flogged" a rather large balding man shouted as he shook the child in question. Noticing the Captain the man turned to him, "You guard. I want this brat arrested, for stealing..." Luken became enraged, "Sir you will stop man handling that little girl, now!" he shouted, behaving completely out of character. "Oh and who might you be you pompous little youth..." the man was cut off again as the Captain of the guard drew his sword."You sir, are speaking to Prince Luken, son of King Sethin, and if you so much as open your mouth again I will run you through here and now." The man's face drained of colour, realising how costly his words could prove to be, so he quickly dropped to his knees, "begging your pardon your highness, please forgive me" he begged pathetically to the sneers of the gathering crowd.
Luken was not a man of violence and nodded to his captain, who replaced his sword in its scabbard, "now tell me why a grown man is chasing a little girl, and manhandling her in the street", he asked. "I'm a boy," said the child, in a small quiet voice. With long scraggly dirty hair, and filthy ragged clothes it was difficult to tell what the child was. Having long hair, Luken had assumed incorrectly it being a girl.
Dismounting from his horse, he walked over to the child, and kneeling down to its level "please my young friend accept my apologies, now perhaps you can tell me why this man seems intent on doing you harm?" Flicking the dirty hair off his face, the boy slowly held out his grubby little hand, which contained a small bread roll. Standing back up, Luken turned to the still grovelling man, "you chased a child for a bread roll?" the man stuttered, "he stole it" he eventually plucked up the courage to blurt out, "it was on the floor" the boy shouted back, "on the floor or not it is still mine and you stole it."
Luken sighed, "stand up" he ordered the man, who obliged though kept his head dipped slightly, "You are a baker I take it, and think yourself a reputable man?" he asked. Nodding "yes your highness, I only sell the finest quality products" the man replied, "so" Luken added turning to face those gathering, "you would have picked up this roll off the dirty floor and sold it to one of your customers?" A few laughs came from the surrounding crowd, "ah no your highness I would not," now Luken finished up, "so why do you chase a poor innocent child half way around the city, and frighten the life out of him for a bread roll you would only have thrown in the waste? Now I suggest you leave this poor boy and go about your business, and if I ever, ever" he emphasised the word once more," see you manhandling a child again, I will personally see you suffer the most severe of my father's punishments. Understand?" The man nodded, and without any further hesitation he quickly darted through the crowd and off up the street, to the sound of more jeers.
The captain started dispersing the people, "come on, nothing to see now, go about your business" he shoute
d. Luken knelt back to the young boy who still held the bread roll. Looking more closely he could see the boy wore no shoes, and looked very emaciated, "so my friend what is your name?" "Taylor," was the boy's reply, "well Taylor where do you live? Are your mother and father around here?" The small boy, who he guessed by the size of him could be little more than six maybe seven years old, shook his head, "I don’t have a mother, and my father left me outside a shop a long time ago and never came back for me. I guess he did not want me anymore." The dirty and tear stained face, of a pitiful, poor existence stood before him, and he felt the need to do something about it. Luken picked the boy up, "come on" he said "how would you like to ride on my horse with me, and we go find you something to eat?" A nod of the head, and what he thought a little smile, was the reply.
Lifting the child onto his saddle before getting up himself, and holding his arms around him with the reins in his hands, they once more rode off towards the palace. Luken was not entirely sure what he was going to do with Taylor, by the smell, coming from him, the young boy desperately needed a bath, and a haircut would not go a miss. Captain Jak Corley continued riding alongside, "would you like me to take him to the orphanage your highness, they would take him and they will feed him and scrub him clean." Luken had visited the orphanage once, and pitied every child he had seen there. He had deemed it more a prison than a home, true they were fed and given clothes and a bed of sorts to sleep in, but they were also badly treated and quite often beaten for the slightest of misdemeanours. "No Jak, thank you, I will sort him out," he said a little more sharply than he had intended, though quite what he was going to do he had no idea.
They rode for a few minutes towards the palace, "do you have a house?" Taylor asked, "I live with my mother and father" Luken replied with a smile. "Is it a big house?" came the next question, "I would say so, it is this one," he pointed ahead as they approached the gates. The youngster flicked the hair from his face and looked in awe at the palace, and even more so when they rode though the gates and into the yard, "I thought this was the king's house" he said. "It is, but I live here, the king is my father, and the queen is my mother," Luken explained. "Is that grumpy old man your grandfather?" Taylor asked pointing at the Captain, who looked stunned at the remark. Luken laughed, "No Taylor that is Captain Jak Corley, he is my friend, and I am sure yours too," before adding "though between you and me he does get a bit grumpy sometimes," in a voice slightly above a whisper so the unimpressed Captain could hear.
Once they had stopped and dismounted, Luken left the somewhat crestfallen Jak to deal with his horse, before taking Taylor by the hand and walking to the side entrance leading to the kitchens. Popping his head through the doorway, he noticed one of the staff he knew, and after she had noticed him, came out to see what he wanted. Curtsying before him firstly, "your highness, what may I do for you?" asked the short round faced lady, rubbing her hands on her apron as she spoke, "well Mitsie, it is really what you can do for my little friend here, he is very hungry, and I said we would find him something to eat, and maybe a drink please." Another curtsy and she turned quickly back into the kitchen, and was gone no more than thirty seconds before reappearing with a small tray. On the tray was a slice of bread with butter on, as well as a few slices of ham and a small piece of cheese, on a little side plate was a slice of fruit pie and in a cup was what Luken presumed to be milk. "Would this be sufficient highness?" she asked handing it over, "that is excellent," he replied. "I have another little favour to ask you, if I may Mitsie," he said ushering her over to one side slightly, speaking out of earshot from Taylor.
Passing over some coins, he had taken from the small purse attached to his belt she nodded and walked off at pace to carry out her orders. Luken carried the tray in one hand and held Taylors hand with the other, as they walked to find a quieter spot, across the other side of the palace yard. Once happily situated, the two sat down on the ground, "here we are," he said and gestured for the young boy before him to eat if he wished. Taylor quickly grabbed the meat and shoved it in his mouth, then picked up the bread and tried shoving it inside his dirty vest before Luken stopped him, "no need for that my young friend, it is all yours Taylor. Take your time; no one is going to take it away from you." The boy flicked his hair, and looked at him, continuing slowly to eat, then gingerly picking up the cup and drinking the milk. "I think we need to get you washed after you have finished eating, and let us get that hair of yours cut. I'm sure I saw a little boy under there somewhere, we would not want everyone making the same mistake as I did and thinking you are a girl now would we?" Taylor shook his head, picking up the fruit pie and smiling as he savoured the taste.
After eating, and returning the tray to the kitchen, they found another of the serving staff waiting for them. "This is Dareen" he explained to Taylor, a taller thin woman, with grey hair and pointy facial features, "she will look after you for just a little while, she is going to take you down to the baths and cut your hair," but the youngster suddenly gripped Lukens leg in fear. "Hey come on, I'll tell you what why don’t I come along as well" he said trying to put the youngsters concerns at ease, much to the boys delight. Once down at the baths, Taylor seemed happy he was not going to be taken anywhere unpleasant, and did not seem to mind Luken leaving. Dareen had the rather unenviable job of stripping the dirty clothes off the boy, washing him and trying to make some job of managing a head of hair, which looked totally out of control, with most of it knotted together.
Luken made his way back to his rooms, quickly followed a few minutes later by Mitsie. "I managed to get a few things your highness, they appear to be of his size, and I hope they are alright". Luken looked at the small clothes being shown him, "they are perfect, thank you," before pondering, "I have one more little favour, Taylor will need to sleep somewhere, could you maybe find him a little bed and have it put in the dressing room next to my bedroom," he asked.
It was almost an hour later when Dareen entered Lukens sitting room, with a small boy holding her hand dressed in a small towelling robe. "I found one of your old robes at the back of the towelling piles your highness, it is hard to believe you were once that small" she chuckled. Luken knelt down to eye level with Taylor, "well let us see, ooh I see that there was a little boy hiding under all that hair and dirt, here I have got you some clothes." Taylor just stared at Luken, before the prince realised the boy had probably no idea how to put on a shirt or pair of breeches. So with help from Dareen, they managed to dress Taylor, a nice clean white shirt, dark blue breeches, white stockings, black shoes and a matching blue jacket, "ooh what a handsome young man" Dareen exclaimed as she stood back, admiring the sheepish looking youngster. Luken nodded, "Yes, a fine looking, well dressed little boy is what we have, thank you" he said turning to the serving maid, "it was no problem highness, he is adorable isn’t he" she smiled pinching the boy's cheeks as she did.
Luken looked at the remarkable transformation. Where only two hours ago, stood a dirty rag ridden child, there now stood a clean and presentable, if somewhat skinny, young boy. Taylor smiled at his new friend, his big brown eyes now visible, after his dark hair had been neatly trimmed back. Now he was all done, Luken had hoped by now, to think of what to do with the boy, only he still had no idea. "Come on, would you like me to read you a story?" he finally asked, to which the child nodded. Luken sat on the couch in his sitting room, after selecting one of his old childhood storybooks, but just as Luken was thinking Taylor was going to sit next to him, he was somewhat surprised when the young boy clambered up onto his lap, looking expectantly at him to start reading. Opening the pages, Luken started to read the story of a magical wizard and his apprentice, and Taylor hung on to his every word, listening contently for what appeared to be hours.
In fact, it had been hours, and with the book virtually finished and Lukens stomach rumbling for food, he recalled he himself had not eaten since breakfast. "Shall we go and get something else to eat?" he asked his new little friend, "yes please" came the reply, followed by a bi
g smile. Luken wondered at that moment, how anyone could have deserted this poor innocent child, leaving him to fend for himself, in fact, he had been amazed at how the child had even survived. Judging by the state of him, it had clearly been some considerable time since anyone had cared for him. The two walked together, Taylor clasping Lukens hand, as they walked down the corridor towards the dining room. It was no great surprise when he reached it, to see it empty, and for once Luken was somewhat glad his mother and father were not there. They would be certain to enquire of what his intentions were in dealing with Taylor.
As it was, Taylor sat quite happily next to the prince, and while Luken sat and ate roast pork with vegetables, the youngster had decided after much coaxing not to choose bread, to eat a bowl of beef and vegetable stew. Luken had a glass of wine, and to his amusement, Taylor imitated his drinking with his own glass of milk, picking up, and placing down the drink as the prince did. They finished off with some fruit, a selection of apple slices, a few grapes and a peach before leaving the table and heading back. "Will you read me some more stories please?" Taylor asked ever so politely, Luken looked down and nodded, "of course, come on," he said as they entered his sitting room. Darkness was very slowly starting to fall, so Luken lit a few oil-burning lamps around his room, before the two resumed their seating arrangement of earlier, with Taylor contently sitting on Lukens lap, listening as he continued the story of the wizard.
Once the story was finished, Luken closed the book, "I think it is time you went to bed, come on I'll show you where you can sleep," he said lifting the youngster off his lap. Helping him undress, and putting on a nightgown Mitsie had bought for him earlier, he lifted Taylor onto a small bed. Its mattress was soft and clean with cotton sheets on, and there was a soft pillow, and a feathered quilt to go on top. Once Taylor was in bed, Luken pulled the quilt up as far as the boy's shoulders, "time for you to sleep now" he spoke softly. The boy smiled before asking, "Are you going to look after me now?" to which Luken had no other reply than a nod to the affirmative, for which his reward was another big smile, before Taylor closed his eyes.