"What? I'm sincerely sorry for my mistake, but what kind of barbaric punishment is this? I know the laws, and you can't just do whatever you please!" Eryx staggered backward, his hands held out in a gesture of surrender.
"Shut it. I make the rules here, peasant. And what do you think would happen if I filed a complaint against you?" Cassius sneered, wiping the dripping brown sauce from his clothes.
Eryx quickly grabbed the swan-shaped handkerchief from the tray and hurried to the bathroom. He dipped the cloth in cool running water and rushed back into the chambers.
"Here, Your Highness. This should bring you some relief," Eryx said, handing the cloth to the prince.
Cassius gritted his teeth, his gaze fixed on Eryx, but he remained silent about the torture threat. Instead, he unbuttoned his soiled shirt and stripped it off, exposing his upper body. Eryx's eyes involuntarily wandered over the prince's chest, tracing the path of a single water droplet as it traveled down his well-defined pecs and across his abdominal muscles, coming to rest near his belly button.
Nervously fidgeting with the fabric of his shirt, Eryx felt a sense of shyness overtaking him in the presence of the half-naked prince. The sight of the prince's superior physique only added to his anxiety. His attention was drawn to a patch of redness near the bottom left part of Cassius' abdomen.
"Oh no, did he get burned because of me?" Eryx's mind raced with worry, his stomach twisting uncomfortably.
Cassius observed Eryx for a moment before snatching the cloth from his hand and placing it on his burn mark. "Peasant, I'll give you one more chance. Entertain me."
"Entertain you? Do you want me to sing you a lullaby, Your Highness?" Eryx retorted, his frustration evident in his tone.
"You don't need to worry about how to entertain me. I'll figure it out. Just make sure you give it your best, as your life depends on it. Literally. Now, tell the guards to bring my fishing gear," Cassius declared.
"Huh?" Eryx blinked in confusion, his hand fidgeting with his hair.
"We're going fishing, you idiot. That's why. Now, hurry up," Cassius ordered, his tone impatient.
Eryx gritted his teeth but had no choice and so followed his orders.
Eryx scrambled to find someone who knew where the prince kept his fishing gear and managed to make his way back to the royal suite in less than fifteen minutes.
Then along with four other soldiers, they took the royal boat and traveled to the island where the prince said he could find some exotic species of fish.
Once they reached, he strolled behind the prince, feeling pensive and melancholic. Along with one of the outer boulevards, with an empty stomach and his hands in the pockets of one of his old army trousers.
On the island, Eryx only saw a few haberdashers on the outskirts of the coast and a few fanatical anglers who seemed like they often spent half the day sitting side by side, rods in their hands, and feet dangling over the water.
The sunlight floated over the river with light mists that moved along the current, warming the backs of those enthusiastic fishermen with the welcome glow of a new season.
Despite the lovely weather, Eryx's mood was sour. He was still feeling angered by the prince's attitude, his life had changed a lot in the past few hours, and it had changed for the worst.
They swiftly reached the shoreline and found themselves at the edge of a vineyard, its terraces rising above them. The sun was nearing its zenith, casting a bright light over the landscape. On the other side of the river, where the fishermen stood, Eryx could see the village of Daemarrel, appearing deserted and lifeless. The hills of Penzance and Norfolk dominated the distant horizon, while the vast plain extended towards Calanthe, its cherry trees barren and the earth gray.
Descending the vineyard slope, they observed two guards taking the lead, while the rest sought refuge beneath the comforting shade of a large cherry tree. The guards moved cautiously, crawling on their hands and knees, using the vines as cover. They aimed to reach the riverbank and secure a boat for fishing, but an exposed strip of open ground stood in their way. The guards sprinted across it, reaching the river and crouching low amidst the dry leaves. One guard pressed an ear to the ground, listening for any signs of approaching footsteps, but no sounds reached their attentive ears. Satisfied, the remaining guard, the prince, and Eryx approached the locals to rent a boat.
"You appear troubled, commoner. Relax," the prince remarked casually, waving a dismissive hand. "They are just taking extra precautions due to the ongoing war in neighboring kingdoms. It's my mother's way of ensuring safety."
Eryx stared at the prince, his face devoid of emotion, yet inside, a whirlwind of thoughts and concerns raged. The sky transformed into a deep crimson hue, mirroring the peculiar shapes of scarlet clouds that adorned the entire expanse of the river. The setting sun blazed on the distant horizon, casting an otherworldly glow that seemed to engulf the prince's boat in flames. Rustling leaves quivered with a wintry tremor, kissed by the golden rays of the sun, creating a captivating spectacle. One of the guards, equally enchanted by the beauty of the moment, couldn't resist expressing their admiration.
"What a marvelous sight, Your Highness!"
But the prince seemed distracted, his attention captured by his latest catchâa trout. Moments later, he reeled in another, this time a gudgeon, and then yet another, one after another, as if he had stumbled upon an enchanted school of fish. Eryx couldn't deny the miraculous nature of the scene unfolding before him.
Two guards rowed the boat while the others carefully placed the fish into a fine-meshed net suspended in the river. As they did so, a look of pride washed over the prince's features, his eyes crinkling with happinessâthe kind of joy one experiences when one rediscovers a beloved pastime after a long absence.
Eryx's gaze met the prince's, and a mischievous spark flickered in those royal eyes. "Like what you see?" the prince asked, a playful smirk gracing his lips.
Eryx couldn't help but roll his eyes, a smirk of his own tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Don't flatter yourself, Your Majesty. Watching you enjoy fishing reminded me of all the times my father and I went hunting. The way your face lit up when you caught that fish, brought back memories of my father's expression when I successfully hit a bird."
A flicker of softness appeared in the prince's expression, a vulnerability Eryx hadn't witnessed before. But the moment was fleeting, shattered as Cassius abruptly ordered the guards to return to shore. As they reached the riverbank, the ground beneath them rumbled, causing the water's edge to ripple and the birds to take flight from the nearby trees.
Eryx turned his head, and his gaze fixed upon a white plume of smoke rising above the Norsfolk mountainside, just beyond the bank. The fort near the summit emitted another jet of smoke, followed by the rumble of detonations that reached their ears. Cannon shots pierced the air, and the mountain belched forth its deadly breath, the milky vapor rising slowly into the calm sky above.
"Shit, we need to go! Those people are Aberstwyth's army. Abort now!" Cassius's voice was laced with urgency.
Eryx's eyes widened, his heart pounding at an alarming rate. The danger was palpable, and the realization struck him with a force he couldn't ignore.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" the guards replied, swiftly moving to retrieve the royal boat. Two guards remained on the shore.
"And you, peasant, you've failed to entertain me. Expect to face the consequences of your actions back in the castle," Cassius sneered, his words dripping with disdain.
Frustration welled up inside Eryx, and he couldn't contain his anger any longer. "Seriously, now is not the time for your frivolous banter, Your Highness. Your life is at risk, and instead of focusing on our survival, you choose to engage in idle words?"
The prince opened his mouth, ready to retort, but Eryx's attention swiftly shifted. A sense of unease washed over him as if a shadow had passed nearby. He quickly made eye contact with the prince, silently signaling the presence of danger. Together, they turned their heads, scanning their surroundings.
Standing above them, five tall, bearded men emerged from the shadows, their menacing presence accentuated by their heavily armed appearance. Dressed as liveried footmen, they held rifles pointed directly at Eryx and the prince. Time seemed to freeze as their gazes locked, and a chilling realization washed over them both.
The prince's grip loosened, and the fishing rod slipped from his hands, cascading down into the river's embrace. The tranquility of the moment shattered, replaced by a tense atmosphere charged with the imminent threat of capture. Eryx's mind raced, weighing the possibilities and outcomes, as adrenaline surged through his veins.
In a matter of seconds, the three guards, the prince, and Eryx were seized, tied up, and hustled along to the outskirts of the island.
The rope bit into Eryx's skin, but it wasn't inescapable. He noticed the prince already working on the knots and using his fingers he had managed to loosen them.
Three of the men went ahead to bring their chief while the remaining two guards stayed back to keep an eye on us.
It was freezing and the sky was growing darker with each passing second.
Suddenly, the prince took his opportunity and firmly held the rope in his hands and seized one of the guards using the rope. Then he threw a dagger from the hilt of his belt toward Eryx to help him cut the rope.
The other guard, now under high pressure, immediately fired his rifle, which hit the prince's chest. The prince stumbled downwards to the ground, groaning in pain. Eryx seized the gun from the tied-up rival and tossed the dagger to the other Alynthian guards who were working to free themselves.
"You're outnumbered now. Let us go peacefully or face our wrath," Eryx spoke.
The guard wheezed. "As if you even dare to use the gun, kid. You're not even holding it properly."
Eryx pulled the trigger. A bullet tore into the man's right leg. A second found his left hand.
One of the Alynthian guards and Eryx supported the prince's weight on their shoulders and ran with all their might toward their boat.
It was not until the island was visible as a speck that Eryx breathed out in relief. And that's when the momentum of his actions hit him. He had almost killed someone out of impulse, tears pricked his eyes, but he blinked them away when he heard the soft strings of painful moans released by the prince.
He turned his body around gently and opened the buttons of his silk shirt which were now soaked in blood to check his wounds. There was also blood dripping from his lips. Eryx tore a piece from his sleeve and used it to apply pressure to the wound to prevent further blood from flowing out.
The prince looked at him helplessly. Seeing his always haughty expression being shriveled into one with such pain made Eryx quite sad. The prince kept closing his eyes and found it difficult to breathe properly.
"You will not close your eyes, Your Highness. I won't allow it. Look, I'm entertaining you. I'll even sing you a song, but stay with me, okay? Please."
Eryx slapped his cheeks hard and rambled at him.
He repeated himself as tears flowed from his eyes, and the prince slowly drifted into a state of oblivion.
A/N
Hi thanks so much for the read! If you enjoyed please leave a vote or a comment that's the best way to support me! Thanks so much xx, Anne.