Waking the Prince Read online

  “Your spies have detained a serf who they believe might have seen the prince in a remote village. At first this serf would not speak to them.”

  “And then?”

  Lorenzo swallowed. “They were able to convince him. The serf spent several years in this village and he remembers a man bringing a babe shortly after the prince was smuggled out of the palace.”

  Veronious sneered. “Imbeciles. Why has it taken so long for even the simplest of information? This village, where is it?”

  Lorenzo watched the young man squeeze his balls, his lids lowered in ecstasy, as white creamy liquid oozed from his cock, and Lorenzo forced his mind back to his purpose for entering the bedchamber. “The village is called Amir. It is on the furthest edge of the kingdom. Nearly on the border of the next.”

  “I know of it. Have them search every domicile, Lorenzo. Burn them to the ground if they must, but I want the prince brought to me. Alive.”

  Lorenzo bowed his head. “As you wish.”

  Veronious grabbed him by the hair and pulled his head back hard. “I know you desire James. If you find me the prince, I will give him to you.”

  * * * *

  The rain had ceased and his mother and Magnus both slept when Roland slipped out of the hut as quiet as a mouse. Unbeknownst to his mother, Roland often went for a nighttime walk. Amir looked almost pretty at night by the thin strips of moonlight poking through the thinning clouds.

  The air was just a little cool and he thought about going back inside for his cloak, but decided it was too much risk of waking the big warrior who’d insisted on sleeping too close for comfort to Roland.

  Amir was silent as he made his way to the stream just outside the village. He crouched down next to it and poked the water with a small stick he found. Glancing above, Roland spotted a few stars breaking through.

  He wondered, as he often did at night, if this was really the life he had to expect to live for whatever time he had left. A life steeped in loneliness and despair. Roland was no fool and he knew his mother didn’t have many years left. What then? He had no wish to be tied to some maiden who would interest him not at all. Even if most men would be faced with such an eventuality. Roland shuddered.

  “Are you cold?”

  He started just a little, grateful he had not yelled out at the sound of Magnus’s voice from just behind him. Tired of crouching, he sat in the dirt and tried to act casual, in spite of the hammering of his heart. “What are you doing here?”

  “I followed you when you left the hut. Are you cold?”

  “No. I don’t need a nursemaid, you know.”

  Magnus sat near him and leaned back on his hands. Roland couldn’t read his expression in the little light the moon breaking through provided. “‘Tis not good to wander at night with no protection.”

  “I have never needed protection.”

  “Your situation has changed.”

  Roland exhaled. “Even if I knew what you were talking about, I still do not need you following after me. I can take care of myself.”

  Magnus snorted. “You did not know I was even here until I spoke and I was close enough to strike you down.”

  “No one but you is interested in striking me down.”

  “Ah, young one, you know so little. Helen wants me to wait to tell you, but I think it is better for you to know now so you can prepare better.”

  Roland leaned forward, trying to study Magnus better. “What? What is it? Why did you come here and who are you really?”

  “I am your sworn protector.”

  He laughed. He could not help it. He needed a sworn protector? “Protection from what? The rain? Burns from the sun? A blistered foot?”

  Roland felt the heavy breath Magnus blew out rustle his hair. “There are those who are even now desperate to find you. They want to capture you or, if that is not possible…kill you.”

  He wondered if the big warrior had a drinking problem. Shaking his head, Roland stood. “Me? You speak nonsense. Why would anyone be trying to kill me? I am an ordinary farmer.”

  Magnus rose from the ground. “Nay. You are Prince Roland, only son of King Stephen and Queen Eleanor, and it is your destiny to slay the sorcerer, Veronious.”

  Chapter 3

  “You’ve lost your mind,” Roland said, his voice whisper soft. And then he moved to walk around Magnus.

  Magnus closed his hand around Roland’s wrist, preventing the young man from moving. “I’m completely serious, your highness. My father, Thaddeus, the man you saw the grave of today, spirited you away from the palace and the king and queen when you were only a babe. I accompanied him to Amir myself as a boy.”

  “If what you said is true, then your father would be a wanted man for stealing the royal child.”

  “Nay, it was at the request of your parents you were brought here to be raised. Veronious will stop at nothing to see you destroyed.”

  Roland shook his head. “You are mad.”

  “Shall we ask Helen if I speak the truth?” He could see doubt and confusion in the younger man’s eyes. Magnus knew this had to be difficult and he cursed fate for taking his father away before he could teach Roland what he needed to know. “Come. Let us go back to the hut. It is not safe here.”

  Roland glanced away, but not before Magnus noticed a little glistening of tears in his blue eyes. He released Roland’s wrist and gently pushed the prince in the direction of the small dwelling.

  Still, if Roland thought this was difficult, he’d be in for an unpleasant surprise. When they went on the hunt for Veronious.

  “Why me?”

  Roland spoke so quietly only Magnus’s trained ear caught the words. They stopped in front of the hut’s door. The prince looked straight ahead, not meeting Magnus’s gaze, but the hint of moisture had disappeared.

  “It’s your destiny,” Magnus said, aware it didn’t explain much. If anything. “Just as it is my destiny to protect you.”

  “If-if all this is true…I don’t know how to slay anyone. I am no warrior.”

  “I know. My father was to teach you what was required and to tell you about the prophecy.” Magnus sighed. “Now that task is left to me.”

  Roland did not respond, but entered the dwelling. Magnus was not surprised to see Helen awake and waiting for them. She sat at the table, next to her was a sack.

  “You have told him?” she asked.

  Roland gasped. “Then it is true?”

  “Aye.”

  The prince dropped to his knees. “No.”

  Helen looked at Magnus, her gaze sharp. “You must take him from here tonight. Now. I don’t know how I know this, but the sorcerer is close to learning where Roland hides.”

  Magnus nodded. “I feel it is time also.”

  “But you are coming with us,” Roland said.

  Helen shook head. “No. I would only slow you down, become a burden. I cannot have my presence endanger you, Roland.”

  “She is right, your highness.” Magnus reached for his belongings.

  “Do not call me that.” Roland scowled. “I will not leave without her.”

  Helen gave him a sad smile. “You must. I have packed your few possessions. Some clothes and some food for you to take with you. Roland, I always knew this day would come. You must go with Magnus and trust him.”

  “Very well, but there is no reason you cannot go with us,” Roland insisted.

  “There is. I am not part of this. You must face this without me.”

  “Your highness, we must hurry,” Magnus said. He pulled the prince up from the floor.

  Roland glared. “They will kill her. You know they will.”

  Helen stood and went to him. “If that is to be my fate, then let it be.”

  Magnus looked at her. “They might seek to torture you for information regarding Roland.”

  She nodded. “I will never betray him, no matter their method.”

  Still, it was not Magnus’s nature to simply abandon one in need to their fate. Yet, he
could not put Roland in jeopardy. Not for anyone.

  He reached for Roland’s arm, but the young price wrenched it away. Roland threw his arms around Helen, who returned the embrace, then kissed his cheek.

  “Go with God, Roland,” she said softly.

  Roland bit his lip, turned on his heel, and left the dwelling. Magnus made to follow him, but Helen stopped him. She showed him a dagger hidden in her cloak.

  Magnus nodded his understanding. “May God have mercy on your soul.”

  “Do not tell Roland.”

  “I won’t.”

  “Take care of my boy.”

  “Do not fear in that regard. It is my destiny to protect him to the end. To see it finished.”

  “Godspeed.”

  Magnus left the old woman to do what she planned. Veronious would get no answers from her.

  * * * *

  Roland had remained silent as they rode on Magnus’s horse out of Amir. It was not yet dawn when Magnus allowed them a short rest. Now the prince sat on a rock, gazing off into the distance, his face expressionless. He’d wrapped his cloak tight around him.

  Magnus reached into his traveling sack and pulled out another, heavier cloak. “Here, use this if you are cold.”

  “I’m not.”

  “Do not be stubborn, your highness. I can tell by your trembling.”

  “I do not tremble.” Roland snatched the cloak out of Magnus’s hands and wrapped it around the other one. He lowered his lashes so they masked his eyes.

  Magnus sat on the rock beside him. “I am sorry, Roland.”

  Roland’s breath came out shaky, broken. “I cannot believe I left her behind.”

  “She knew what she was doing when she sent you away,” he said gently.

  “Only a monster leaves an old woman behind to die. She was my mother.”

  “You are no monster.” Magnus sighed. “If you look to one to blame, blame me.”

  “I do blame you.”

  He nodded. “You are my responsibility, your highness. My vow is to keep you unharmed so that you can fulfill the prophecy. Everyone else is expendable.”

  “Have you no heart?” cried the prince. “Expendable? No one is.”

  Magnus covered Roland’s hand with his. “Roland, living so far away from the royal city, you do not see much of it. Likely you did not learn much news in Amir. I know you are unaware of who Veronious truly is, but I assure you he is evil. After your birth, he took over the kingdom. Your parents, all of your sisters—”

  “Sisters?”

  “Aye, you have older sisters. But they have all been kept away from the people for years. He parades the royal family out on special occasions, but otherwise they are kept prisoners in a castle to the north. Their subjects know they are alive, but can do nothing but hope for the day when the king and queen can rule again. Veronious rules hard and ruthlessly. Under his rule all is darkness, the people oppressed and filled with despair.”

  Roland snorted. “You are dramatic.”

  “Aye, perhaps. But to Veronious all people of the kingdom are expendable. You are the only one who stands in his way.”

  Roland flinched.

  “The only one.”

  Roland met his gaze at last. His blue eyes glistened though no tears fell upon his cheeks. “And if I cannot do this? If I cannot kill Veronious? What then?”

  “You can. You will.”

  “But if I cannot? If I do not?”

  “Then all hope will be lost.”

  The prince closed his eyes as pain wracked his face. “You ask too much of me. I am a mere farmer.”

  “I know.” Magnus could not help it. He could not resist touching his prince. Cupping Roland’s jaw, he ran his thumb over the pouty lips. Roland opened his eyes and stared at Magnus. “If I could take this burden from you, I would.”

  “Perhaps the prophecy is wrong.”

  He shook his head, but did not stop holding Roland’s face, caressing his lips. He knew he was far too bold. Surely he would frighten Roland. He needed to stop such liberties. Magnus brought their faces closer, until they nearly touched foreheads.

  Roland leaned in closer still, if that were possible. There was no mistaking the interest, the desire he saw in those pretty blue eyes. No doubt mirrored by his own eyes. He wanted, almost needed, to taste Roland’s lips.

  But…he could not. Not ever. The prince was his to protect at all cost, not his to seduce. No matter how strong the ache to do so.

  Magnus dropped his hand from Roland’s face and pulled back, ignoring the confusion and hurt that briefly appeared on the young man’s face. But Roland hid it well and soon his face held no expression.

  “We must continue,” Magnus said, rising from the rock. “I wish to be as far away from Amir as possible.”

  “Where will we go?” Roland asked, also rising and walking the few feet to the horse. He swung up on the big steed and Magnus seated himself in front.

  “I know not. But it must be some place safe so I can begin your training.”

  Chapter 4

  Roland could barely keep his eyes open. He forced them, blinking wide. He’d given up asking Magnus when they would stop for sleep. He was convinced the man had a supernatural aversion to sleep. He yawned, swaying on the horse.

  “Only a little longer, your highness,” Magnus said.

  He opened his mouth to once again tell the big warrior not to call him that, but the effort proved too great. He swayed again and quickly uprighted himself.

  Perhaps if he engaged in conversation he would stay awake. Of course, he had tried that and been met with short, curt sentences and even grunts.

  “Tell me about this prophecy of yours,” Roland ventured.

  “It is not my prophecy,” Magnus said, but did not continue.

  “Tell me about it anyway.”

  “Later, when we have reached our destination.”

  Gritting his teeth, Roland sighed. “And when will that be, pray tell?”

  “Soon,” was the frustrating reply. “You can rest against me, if you wish.”

  Roland nodded, too tired to argue. Wrapping his arms around the warrior’s middle, he laid his head against Magnus’s broad back. Closing his eyes, he couldn’t help thinking being this close to the man felt incredible. It felt…right. Which, of course, concerned him. It was not supposed to be this way. Roland knew that.

  At some point he must have dozed, because he jerked awake. The horse had stopped and the muscles in the back he’d been resting against bunched.

  “We are here, my prince.”

  Roland blinked and leaned away from Magnus, but still held on. His eyes adjusted and he noted twilight had descended. He could see a few rather ancient dwellings. He let go of Magnus. “Where are we?”

  Magnus leapt from the big steed and then reached up as though to assist Roland down. Roland smacked his hands away and jumped down himself. The warrior smiled.

  “A small village far to the west of Amir. I do not wish to be anywhere near Amir.”

  “Why do we not travel to the next kingdom?”

  “Veronious would expect that and have his men there to apprehend us.” Magnus’s hand rested on Roland’s arm. He did not move it.

  Roland noticed the village was very still, quiet. “Where are the people?”

  “Gone. This village was abandoned many years ago.” Magnus grimaced. “The dwellings will likely be rotting and leak when it rains, but for now we will be left undisturbed.”

  “I wonder if there was a reason the village was abandoned. It’s not cursed, is it?” Roland had heard of such places. Helen had told him tales of magic and curses. Now that he thought on it, he supposed it was her way of preparing him for the existence of Veronious and what would be required of him in her own way.

  The big warrior shrugged. “Some villagers are superstitious.”

  Which made him feel better not at all.

  “And why were they in particular here?”

  Magnus met his gaze. Roland coul
d not read his eyes. “It was said a great dragon would come to the village and breathe fire to destroy it.”

  His heartbeat quickening, Roland gaped. “A dragon?”

  Magnus nodded.

  “And did it?”

  “Nay.” Magnus chuckled. “At least, not yet.”

  Roland sighed and took several steps away from Magnus. From the looks of it the village had been deserted for quite some time. He could only imagine the state of the dwellings. But, at least he would be alone with only Magnus. Not that he should be glad.

  Magnus moved past him and headed for the first dwelling. “Stay behind until I have cleared the village.”

  “Cleared?”

  “I dare not trust that no one lurks unless I have checked. You must stay by the horse. If you hear any disturbance you are to leave immediately.”

  “What about you?” Roland asked.

  Magnus shook his head. “You are the only one that matters.”

  And Roland right then decided that he had grown quite weary of Magnus saying that already. Magnus entered the first dwelling, his sword drawn at the ready. Roland trailed behind him and peered inside. The hut was dark, dank, and smelled of rotting vegetation. He wrinkled his nose.

  “‘Tis foul.”

  Magnus, jaw tightening, turned to him. “I told you to stay by the horse. Does my prince have a hearing issue?”

  “Nay,” Roland said. “I heard you. More an obedience issue.”

  “Clearly you are adjusting well to learning you are of royal blood,” Magnus said dryly. He exited the dwelling and walked toward the next. “At least stay several paces behind so you can run.”

  “I wish to do more than run.”

  “You need to be trained first. And do be quiet.”

  “Why?”

  Magnus sighed. “Your loud voice has alerted anyone within the next two villages to our location. Hush, Roland.”

  Magnus checked the remaining dwellings, with Roland following, and found no one lurking. He chose the most intact one for them to use for sleep and meals.

  Roland stretched. “I’m exhausted. But I’m hungry, too.”