His voice rose as he walked back before them, I sent orders for you two to come home at once! But do you obey? No! Instead of coming straight away to the palace, you vanish into the Poor Quarter. Two days later, Baron James finds you brawling in a tavern. He paused, then in a near shout, he exclaimed, You could have been killed!
Borric began to quip, Only if that parry
Enough! cried Arutha, his temper frayed beyond his ability to control it. He gripped Borrics tunic and pulled his son forward, off-balance. You will not end this with a joke and smile! You have defied me for the last time. He punctuated this with a shove that sent Borric half-stumbling into his brother. Aruthas manner showed he had no patience for the flippancies from his son he usually ignored. I didnt call you back because the court missed your peculiar sort of chaos. I think that another year or two on the border might have settled you down a bit, but I have no alternative. You have princely duties and you are needed now!
Borric and Erland exchanged glances. Aruthas moods were old business to them, and they had endured his anger which was usually justified before, but this time something serious was occurring. Borric said, Were sorry, Father. We didnt realize it was a matter of duty that called us home.
Because you are not expected to realize anything, you are expected to obey! shot back their father. Obviously out of patience with the entire exchange, he said, I am done with you for now. I must compose myself for the business of dealing in private with the Keshian Ambassador this afternoon. Baron James will continue this conversation on my behalf! At the door, he paused, and said to James, Whatever you need do, do! But I want these miscreants impressed with the gravity of things when I speak to them this afternoon. He closed the door without waiting for a response.
James and Locklear moved to either side of the young Princes, and James said, If Your Highnesses would be so kind as to follow us.
Borric and Erland both glanced at their life-long tutors and uncles and then at each other. Both had an inkling of what was to come. Their father had never laid strap nor hand upon any of his children, to the profound relief of his wife, but that still didnt prevent regular bouts of fighting practice, when the boys were unruly, which was most of the time.
Waiting outside, Lieutenant William quietly fell into step with the twins and the Barons as they moved down the hall. He hurried to open the door, which led to Prince Aruthas gymnasium, a large room where the royal family could practise their skills with sword, dagger, or hand-to-hand combat.
Baron James led the procession down the hall. At the door to the gymnasium, William again moved to open the door, for while he was second cousin to the twins, he was still merely a soldier in the company of nobles. Borric entered the room first, followed by Erland and James, with Locklear and William behind.
Inside the room, Borric nimbly turned and walked backwards, his hands raised in a boxers pose, as he said, Were a lot older and bigger, now, Uncle Jimmy. And youre not going to sucker punch me behind the ear like you did last time.
Erland leaned to the left, clutching his side in exaggeration and suddenly developed a limp. And faster, too. Uncle Locky. Without warning, he threw an elbow at Locklears head. The Baron, a seasoned soldier of almost twenty years, dodged aside, allowing Erland to overbalance. He then turned him in a circle by hauling on one arm, and pushed him into the centre of the gymnasium with the sole of his boot.
The two Barons stood away as both brothers stood poised for a fight, fists upraised. With a wry grin, James raised his hands palms out and said, Oh, youre too young and fast for us, all right. The tone of sarcasm was not lost on the boys. But as we have to be clear headed over the next few days, we thought wed forego the pleasure of seeing how far youve come in the last two years. He hiked his thumb behind him, indicating a far corner. Personally, that is.
Two soldiers, stripped to breeches only, stood in the corner. Each had massive arms crossed over impressively muscled chests. Baron James waved for them to approach. As they did, the boys glanced at one another.
The two men moved with the fluid motion of a thoroughbred war horse, supple, but with power waiting. Each looked as if he was carved from stone, and Borric whispered, Theyre not human! Erland grinned, for both men had large jaws, suggesting the protruding mandible of mountain trolls.
These gentlemen are from your Uncle Lyams garrison, said Locklear. We had a demonstration of the Royal Fist-Boxing Champions last week and asked them to stay with us a few extra days. The two men began to move away from each other, circling the boys in opposite directions.
Jimmy said, The blond-haired fellow is Sergeant Obregon, from the Rodez garrison
Locklear injected, Hes champion of all men under two hundred pounds. Ah, Erland should be your student, Obregon; his side is injured. Be gentle with him.
and the other, continued Jimmy, is Sergeant Palmer, from Bas-Tyra.
Borrics eyes narrowed as he studied the approaching soldier. Let me guess: hes the champion of all men over two hundred pounds.
Yes, said Baron James, with an evil smile.
Instantly, Borrics field of vision was filled by an oncoming fist. He quickly tried to move away from it, but abruptly discovered another had found the side of his head. Then he was considering who painted the frescos on the ceiling of the room his father had converted to a gymnasium. He really should ask someone.
Shaking his head as he slowly sat up, he could hear James saying, Your Father wanted us to impress upon you the importance of what you face tomorrow.
And what might that be, said Borric, allowing Sergeant Palmer to help him to his feet. But the Sergeant didnt release Borrics right hand, but rather held it tightly as he brought his own right hand hard up into Borrics stomach. Lieutenant William visibly winced as Borrics breath exploded from his lungs and his eyes crossed as he sank to the floor once more. Erland began warily moving away from the other fist-boxer, who now was stalking him across the floor.
If it has escaped your notice, your uncle the King has sired only daughters since young Prince Randolph died.
Borric waved off the offered hand of Sergeant Palmer and said, Thanks. Ill get up by myself. As he came to one knee, he said, I hardly dwell on the fact of our cousins death, but Im aware of it. Then as he started to stand, he drove a vicious blow into Sergeant Palmers stomach.
The older, harder fighter stood rock steady, forced himself to take a breath, then smiled in appreciation and said, That was a good one. Highness.
Borrics eyes rolled heavenward. Thank you. Then another fist filled his vision and once more he considered the wonderful craftsmanship displayed upon the ceiling. Why hadnt he ever taken the opportunity to notice it before? he mused to himself.
Erland attempted to keep distance between himself and the approaching Sergeant Obregon. Suddenly, the young man was not backing up, but striking out with a flurry of blows. The Sergeant, rather than back away, raised his arms before his face and let the younger man strike his arms and shoulders. Our uncles lack of an heir is a fact not unknown to us, Uncle Jimmy, observed Erland as his own arms began to tire while he futilely pounded upon the muscular sergeant. Abruptly, the Sergeant stepped inside Erlands reach, and drove another blow into the youngsters side. Erlands face drained of colour and his eyes crossed, then unfocused.