Prince of Spades
Gilbert leaned over the display of jewels. He had no interest in them. To steal them would mean he would have to cash them in, and that would give himself away. What he had to do was steal things that couldn't be traced back to him. Like food.
Yes, what he was actually interested in was the pastry table beside the jewels. The glaze and sugar glistened in the late morning sun. Gilbert felt his stomach rumble.
With a smile to the jewel merchant, Gilbert slipped into the crowd and moved to a dark corner. Glancing around, Gilbert found a large family. He merged into their crowd and ducked his head. When they got closer to the pastry stand, he hip-checked the father into the stand.
"Oh! I am so sorry!" Gilbert said. He planted a hand on the man's shoulder and on the table.
The merchant glared at the two, keeping a close eye on them. "Watch where yer going."
"Of course." Walking with the man, Gilbert trailed his hand across the table. When his fingers collided with one of the treats, he quickly slipped it into his pocket. "I will take care from now on."
With a wave, Gilbert was back in the crowd. He hid his breakfast in his leather bag as he made his way back to his part of the town. Due to his white hair, red eyes and pale skin, Gilbert had been cast out by his parents and could only find a home in the rundown part of the kingdom.
He walked there slowly. People swerved around him. Some stared, others ignored him completely. Gilbert didn't care. He had grown used to all these people. Before he would get angry and yell, but that only ended with the guards hating him even more than they already did.
Gilbert threw one last look at the street. It was busy and bustling with life. In front of him stood the dark gloomy place where he lived. He turned and began to enter, until something knocked him over.
He looked up in anger to see a large black horse standing over him. Gilbert pushed himself to the side of the building, barely avoiding the horse's hooves.
"Watch where you are going, peasant." The man astride the horse said. The man was huge. With blond hair the burned silver and smoldering purple eyes.
Gilbert stood and glared at the man, not caring that a good four feet separated their glaring eye contact. "You watch where you're going. There are children on this road, hardly a place for such a large animal. Or the horse."
"Are you calling me an animal?" The man asked, glaring.
"Bitch, I might be." Gilbert said.
The man urged his horse forward. Gilbert had to leap back against the wall to avoid being stepped on. The man laughed at Gilbert's frantic moves.
"You're the animal. Jumping away from something bigger than you like the mouse you are."
Gilbert felt blush in his neck and cheeks. He narrowed his red eyes at the man but stayed placed against the wall. After a moment, the man laughed and left Gilbert. He tromped through the crowds of people, straight to the palace.
When he was gone, Gilbert peeled himself from the wall. He brushed his shoulders off and disappeared into the streets of the rundown buildings where he lived.
This part of town had been abandoned after a severe illness broke out among children. Many children died and their bodies, still carrying the disease, were left behind. The disease died out with the rats and bugs that ate the decomposing flesh. Gilbert would still find little bones and toys of the sick that were left behind. It was actually very creepy.
He walked silently through the buildings. Occasionally his footsteps would make a soft sound and another shunned member of society would glance out a window or around the corner to see who was intruding. Gilbert didn't make eye contact or speak to any of them. No one did.
Arriving at the building he had claimed for himself, Gilbert wound his way around the fallen and askew furniture. He made sure not to step or touch any of the dust covered area. He had a trail and didn't need to alert anyone of his whereabouts.
Upstairs was where Gilbert made his home. There was a makeshift door at the top of the steps he was able to block off so no one could get in. He had knocked all of the walls down of the bedrooms and made it one giant living area. A bed made out of stolen pillows and blankets. A short table with stale bread littering it.
Gilbert swung his bag off his shoulder. He dug his breakfast out before he tossed the bag to the table. He took a huge bite of the pastry and sat at his window. He pushed the curtain aside and hung his feet out. He munched happily on the treat.
His eyes wandered until he found the palace. He sighed and swallowed. "I'm going there one day," he said to no one. "I really am."
Matthew kept his face expressionless as he could, though his brother seemed to be fighting the giggles. At least the Queen, his brother's husband, managed to retain his royal manner.
The suitor in front of them, though handsome and very regal, was slowly losing his composure. Matthew had redirected everything the other prince had said. He had many riches to offer. Well, Matthew also had many riches and why would be need many more? His land was fertile and the people friendly. As was Matthew's home. The suitor really had nothing to offer.
"Maybe it's time to take your leave, Prince Ivan." Arthur finally said, shooting his husband a glare. Alfred's giggles immediately subsided.
The prince flushed with anger. He turned and stormed from the courtroom. That's when Alfred's guffaws of laughter rose again.
"How rude of you two!" Arthur snapped, standing.
Alfred wiped tears from his eyes, his laughter now under control. "Mattie, you really need to stop making them feel stupid."
"It's not my fault he was a pompous baboon." Mathew said, folding his arms.
Another giggle bubbled in Alfred's chest, but it was quickly shut down by Arthur's glare. "Anyway, Mattie, we really need you to choose one."
"I don't want to marry because someone told me to." Matthew said. He stood and stalked to the large windows that overlooked the palace walls to the forest.
"You are the only heir to Spades." Alfred said, suddenly serious. "You need to marry a prince. That prince will then have bedmates to create a new heir for his kingdom and ours. Or you could choose a princess, though you seem to refuse to see any of them."
"You know I don't care for the female body. Much like you. And that's ridiculous, Alfred. You know that the children will go to his throne, not ours. Why don't you just bed with one of the maids?"
Alfred's usual gentle blue eyes hardened. "I would never do that to my queen."
"Then why would you want one to do that to me?" Matthew snapped.
"That's just the way things are! You refuse to bed with a female, but get hurt when I say someone has to have a child! It can't go both ways!" Alfred said.
Matthew glared at his brother. "If you would let me go outside the palace, I might meet someone who would gladly take your spot as king when you die."
"You know I can't let you outside. Everyone would tear you apart." Alfred said. "And even if you did find a lover, who would succeed you?"
"I'm sure we would figure something out. There are plenty of orphan children-"
"They are not of royal blood, they cannot sit on the throne." Alfred said.
"Excuse you, my dear husband." Arthur spoke up. "If you remember correctly, you picked me from ten other much more suitable children from a non-royal household."
"That was different." Alfred said.
"How so? You didn't love him at all, you just wanted a pretty face to play with since your brother was never good enough?" Matthew snapped. He knew it would hit Alfred in his heart. He knew it would hurt the couple. He knew he would feel that twinge of guilt in his stomach, but he was tired of being denied exactly what Alfred had done!
"Matthew!" Arthur said, his face flushing.
Alfred stood over his brother. Though they were merely a year apart, Alfred was a good three inches taller. "I want someone who can take care of you. I had the means for Arthur, but while you are simply a prince, you need someone more."
Matthew glared at his brother a second more before pushing past him and leaving the throne room. He walked past the servants, the guards, the few noblemen trying to convince Alfred to to let their daughters marry Matthew.
He didn't pay attention to any of them. He didn't look at them, answer any of their calls, and kept walking. When he arrived to his room, he slammed his door, startling the small bear on his bed.
"Kuma, I can't stand it here." Matthew threw his hands in the air and paced the room.
Kuma was a polar bear Alfred had brought home after a visit to another kingdom. The bear had a disease when he was a baby and it had stunted its growth. He grew and stayed the size of a boxer dog. Matthew hadn't seen Kuma grow in a year. He was his best friend.
"I'm always told what to do, what not to do. I have to follow the rules when Alfred doesn't just because he was born first." Matthew threw open his balcony doors. The cool air felt good on his heated cheeks. The sun shone brightly above him. The afternoon was perfect. Yet he was inside.
"I just want to be like everyone else, Kuma." Matthew sighed and leaned heavily against the railing.
"Pouting is very unbecoming for a bride to be."
Matthew looked over his shoulder and saw his best friend, well human best friend, Luis entering his room.
"I'm not a bride to be. I'm a lonely prince who is going to die with seven cats." Matthew said. He looked away from Luis as he came to stand beside him.
The pair couldn't be anymore of opposite. Luis was taller than Matthew and Alfred. His skin was a warm chocolate color. His black hair tied in long ropes, pulled back into a ponytail. He had warm honey eyes that could pick up almost anything, as a guard should. While Matthew was a pale, blond prince.
"Why cats? They're kind of stinky." Luis said.
Matthew nudged Luis's shoulder. "Shut up."
"You'll find someone eventually. Anyone would be lucky to have you." Luis said, his eyes traveling over Matthew's face.
"Lucky to have a bunch of money." Matthew grumbled.
"Cheer up. I'm sure someone is out there for you." Luis said. He waved his arm, over the gardens, over the palace walls, over the village. When he lowered his arm, his hand was near Matthew's.
The blond kept his frown in place. That is, until he registered what Luis said. "You're right."
"I know." Luis said.
"I just had to open my eyes to what was right in front of me." Matthew straightened his back, a new shine in his eyes.
"Yes?" Luis said, obvious excitement in his voice and a gentle blush on his cheeks.
"The village!" Matthew said. Luis seemed to deflate. "No one knows what I look like there, so I can go out and find the perfect partner there without my status or money getting involved! I'll just fall in love!"
"I'm not so sure about that, Matthew." Luis said. "I don't think Alfred would allow it."
"That's the thing, Alfred's not going to know." Matthew left the balcony and rushed to his closet.
"How can you ensure that?" Luis asked, following Matthew slowly.
"You won't say anything." Matthew stated, giving Luis a look. "And I'll just change into something more modest."
"Do you have anything 'more modest'?" Luis raised a dark eyebrow.
Matthew hummed as he walked up and down his closet. Then he grinned and spun to face Luis. "Give me your clothes."
A visible blush darkened Luis's cheeks. "What?"
"Your clothes are pretty ordinary, right? I mean, it's no peasant wear, but it will do."
"Oh. Then what will I wear?" Luis asked.
Matthew stopped in unbuttoning his shirt. Then he smiled. "Run to your room and get me an outfit then. I'll wait here."
"What if I run into Alfred?" Luis said.
"Tell him that I don't want to see anyone." Matthew placed his hands on his friend's shoulders and pushed him to the large doors. "Hurry! I won't be able to see where I'm going if the sun is down!"
With Luis outside the room, Matthew swung the door shut. Then he moved to his bathroom to mess up his hair.
Luis returned a few minutes later, his arms wrapped around a bundle of clothes. "Are you sure about this?"
"No. But if Alfred won't let me leave this place, how else am I supposed to find someone to marry?" Matthew asked. He threw off his clothes and snatched the armful from Luis.
"Well-" Luis was cut off when Matthew began to strip.
He tossed his clothes into a corner and slid into Luis's. They were too big, but they did make Matthew look like a commoner.
"How are you going to get out?" Luis asked, his ears a light shade of pink.
Matthew paused and looked around his room. Then his eyes caught the garden wall outside his balcony. And the large tree that grazed the tips of the wall. He grinned and faced Luis. "I'll climb the tree."
Luis stared blankly at Matthew before shaking his head. "Do you even know how to climb a tree?"
"Better late than never." Matthew grabbed one of his deep blue cloaks from his closet and strapped it under his chin. He made sure his non-royal clothes were covered before moving to the door. "You'll cover for me right?"
"This is crazy." Luis said. "But I'll try. If you're not back by dark, I'm sending the guards out to look for you."
Matthew threw him a grateful smile before leaving his room. He skirted around the main hallways and took the back staircases instead. He got outside and broke into a run. Matthew didn't get to run much, but when he did, he almost looked like a newborn horse. Luis would make fun of him, but Matthew didn't care. He liked running.
He got to the large tree and glanced around. He took off his cloak and tucked it under a bush. He then began scaling the tree. He was clumsy and slipped a few times, resulting in some scrapes on his arms, but he pushed forward. He could almost taste his freedom.
When he got to the top, he perched on the edge of the wall. It was a straight drop down, more than ten feet. He swung both legs over the edge and watched them dangle. After a moment's hesitation, he rolled to his stomach and slid down. Matthew landed on his feet before falling and rolling to his back.
Matthew felt his feet tingle from the fall, but he managed to stand with slightly shaking knees. He dusted off his pants until he remembered he was going to peasant, a little dirt would help him fit in. He glanced around before jogging around the perimeter of the wall. He went the long way to avoid the watch towers.
When he finally got to the town, his heart was pounding in his throat. He had never been this far without an escort or his brother. After a few steps, he began running down the street, eager to get to the shops.
Matthew stared at the booths and vendors as he passed, slowing down. He let his eyes wander across the buildings and the people. However, the further he got, the more rundown the town was. Matthew felt a frown form on his face. The shining buildings gave way to crumbled ones, refined people transformed into children with dirty faces and rags for clothes. Matthew spotted a pair of children begging a fruit vendor for a rotten apple. He felt his heart ping painfully.
Striding up to the stand, Matthew grabbed the biggest apple he could find. He plucked it up then handed it to the children. "Here you are."
"Thank you, sir!" the older looking one grabbed the younger and they sprinted off.
Matthew smiled and walked away. That is, until he felt a rough hand on his shoulder. Matthew turned quickly and slapped the hand. "How dare you touch me!"
A man scoffed in his face. "How dare you give mah apples away!"
Matthew blinked in understanding. "Oh, right. I'm sorry." he reached for his pocket and found that he didn't have any money. He had forgotten he was not in his clothes, and not a Prince.
"Yeah, so give me the money or I'll call a guard." the man said.
"Of course. I'll just go to the palace." Matthew turned back.
"The palace!" the man roared. He grabbed Matthew's arm and yanked them face to face. "Ye really think that I would let you go to 'the palace' to get money? Theif!"
"If you would let me go this wouldn't be an issue!" Matthew felt the eyes of the people around them on his body. Why wasn't anyone helping?
The man withdrew a knife from his hip and raised it above Matthew's arm. "I'll show ye how we treat thieves around here!"
Matthew felt his heart pound painfully in his throat. "Wait! I didn't mean-"
"There you are!"
Matthew was suddenly pulled away from the man. Now he was encased in the arms of a much younger man. Matthew felt his mouth work silently. He was so confused and frightened.
"I am so sorry about my brother, he is always getting into trouble." the younger man said. His snowy hair blinked in the sun and red eyes glinted with mischief.
"He said he was going to the palace." the man growled, close to Matthew's and the new stranger's face.
"Yes, yes, about that. My brother thinks he's the prince." the white man said with an eye roll and shrug. "He tells that to everyone he meets. Now if you excuse us, my brother really needs to relax." the man turned Matthew on his heel and pushed him off.
"Since ye seem the be the smart one, why don't you pay for the apple he stole?" the vendor said sharply.
The stranger gasped dramatically. "He stole from you! Oh, Edgar, I thought we talked about that!"
Matthew sputtered. Who the hell was Edgar and what was this man doing?
The white-haired stranger rooted in his bag. "How much was the apple, sir?"
The vendor grunted the cheap amount and the stranger placed the single coin on the counter. "There, now if you'll excuse us." he turned and took hold of Matthew's shoulders, hauling him off. "Come, Edgar. "
"Where are we going?" Matthew asked as the man behind him kept pushing and nudging him forward.
"Just shut up or people will think you're intelligent." the man said softly.
Matthew was rather insulted at that comment, but thought, for his own safety, to keep his mouth shut. They walked past people, the man beside him grinning and waving at everyone they passed. Matthew noticed that people would glare and nudge children away from the pale man.
As they walked, Matthew also saw the buildings around them begin to get shabbier and shabbier. Finally, the pale man let go of his shoulders. "What were you thinking?"
Matthew opened his mouth to defend himself but the man kept talking.
"You don't lie to the fruit guy. He knows everything. What you need to do is charm his pants off and hope he doesn't notice you swiping his fruit. You need to learn your victims before they know you. Don't give them a reason to know you. Are you new here or something?" the man finally finished.
Matthew didn't know what to say. No one had ever talked to him that way before. How should he react?
"Or maybe you're just dumb." the man said.
Okay that was it. "Who do you think you are?" Matthew snapped. "You have no right to call me names and drag me to this place! I can handle myself!"
"If it wasn't for me, you would have one hand and be bleeding out on the ground!" the man said, crimson eyes narrowed.
Matthew held his head high, though he felt his bottom lip trembling. He really didn't know how to react to this. He wasn't a Prince to this man.
The person before Matthew sighed and ran a hand through his white hair. "The town is going to be hectic for a while. We can go back to my place. No one will find us there."
"You'll help me even more? After being so cruel?" Matthew asked.
"We all have to be mean sometime." the man said. He adjusted his shirt then turned. "Let's go."
Matthew hesitated before following the man. At least he was better than the town people.
They walked in silence. Matthew wasn't sure if he should say anything. Though he was curious about the man. Tempting the temper of the stranger, Matthew decided to feed his curiosity.
"Why did you help me?"
"Any decent person would help someone else in trouble." the man said flatly.
"But none of the others blinked when that fruit man was threatening to cut my arm off." Matthew said.
"I said, 'decent.' Those people are the worst."
Matthew glanced at the man. He didn't look like much. His shirt was rumpled and filthy. His trousers fit awkwardly and his boots could use some new soles. The other villagers were dressed a tad cleaner, though not all of them. This stranger was definetaly in the worst condition out of them all. It made made Matthew think what was 'decent' to this man.
They walked into the rundown part of the town. Matthew gave the stranger a look. "Where are you taking me?"
"My place. I already told you." the man grumbled. They walked past a few more half-demolished houses before the man turned into one. "Watch out for sharp stuff on the ground. Your shoes don't look very sturdy."
Matthew huffed softly. At least his shoes were presentable.
They entered the rundown building. The man moved quickly up stairs and to the back of the large room. Matthew guessed that it used to be a family room of sorts.
"This is where you live?" Matthew asked, following gingerly behind the man.
"Yeah. It's the only place I'm able to live without being harassed." the man pushed a blanket aside and let Matthew step into another room.
This room had all the walls along with a window was busted out. A pile of blankets sat in one corner and a table in the other. A few trinkets were littered around the room.
"It's….lovely." Matthew managed to stutter out.
The man grinned. "Nice try. It's a shit hole. But I do have a great view."
Matthew winced at the swearing but followed the stranger as he moved to the window. He pushed aside a ratty blanket to reveal the sunset behind the castle.
"Isn't it awesome? Someday, I'm gonna live there." the man sighed and sat on the windowsill.
"Yeah. It's just great." Matthew sighed and turned away. "Why do you want to live there?"
"Because this has always been my life. Haven't you ever wished for something…." the man waved his hands, looking for the right word.
"Better?" Matthew suggested, glancing at his savior. "More? Something besides this?"
"You know the feeling." the man smiled a genuine smile.
"Unfortunately." Matthew shrugged and sat by the stranger on the windowsill.
"I thought I was alone." the man cupped his chin in his hands and looked back to the castle.
Matthew glanced at the person beside him. Maybe this weird man had actual feelings. "I like to believe that there is always someone to understand out there."
"That's a nice thought."
Matthew smiled and let his shoulders to slack. He felt that for the first time, in a long time, he was relaxed.
"There he is!"
That was nice while it lasted.
"Shit!" the man stood and stepped out on to the windowsill.
"They found me!" Matthew scurried back towards the stranger. He recognized the man coming toward them as the head of the guards.
"Do you trust me?" the man wrapped a stray rope around his hand and looked down at Matthew.
The Prince looked between the guard and the strange man who had saved his life. With a deep breath, Matthew clutched to the man's outstretched hand. "Go!"
The man leaped out the window with Matthew tumbling behind him. The blond resisted the urge to scream as they fell. They landed on a pile of old furniture, clothes, blankets and sheets. Matthew lay still, astonished at the fact he had just jumped from a building!
He didn't have long to sit and flatter himself though. The man was yanking him up and dragging him back to the streets. "Move it!" he shouted.
Matthew stumbled behind him, relying on the stranger to keep him from falling on his face. They turned a corner and the man stopped abruptly, Matthew ran into his back.
"What is it?" Matthew asked, peeking over the man's shoulder.
"We have you surrounded." Matthew recognized the voice of the lead guard.
The man chuckled and Matthew thought him crazy. Well, crazier. "That's what you think."
He turned and grabbed Matthew's hand, yanking the prince over to another building.
"Shoot the thief!" the guard shouted.
Bullets wizzed by Matthew. Terror shook threw his body. "Stop!"
The man stopped and looked back at Matthew. "What?"
The bullets kept coming and in the man's pause, the lethal metal grazed his cheek, drawing blood. "We can't stay here!"
"Stop!" Matthew shouted again to the guard. "In the name of the Prince of Spades, I command you to stop!"
"Cease fire! Cease fire!" the guard yelled.
"Prince?" the stranger stared at Matthew, hurt swimming in his scarlet eyes. "You're a prince?"