Sword Crossed Lover Tales Book 2
Author: jaymack33
Author's Note: Yes, this is the sequel. Yes, it has a similar chapter name as chapter 1 book 1. If you haven't read the last story you need to at least read the first chapter of that one to understand everything in this one. This starts out as a partial review of book 1 but with a twist, with different perspectives and added scenes. So this story is basically starting out as a prequel and then when I get there it will become a sequel. I just want to flesh out some of the characters more that I might end up using a little later in the story. Anyway here we go.
Chapter 1: A History Lesson
What started it all?
"Susan?" "If you don't give me another son"...he paused. "All I have is Jackson." "Have you seen our son?" "Have you?"
"Well have you my King?" "Maybe if you acted more like a father instead of letting him do whatever he wants you wouldn't be in this mess!" "Maybe if you spent more time with him than with those trampy concubines of yours that I'm not supposed to know about!"
"How dare you!" "I will not be disrespected like that!" "I am a King!" "You are my woman." "Jackson is hopeless and Millory doesn't count." "She is just a girl!" "You have to give me another son!" "That's an order!"
"Maybe the problem is you my King!" "Maybe your not the man you used to be!"
SLAP!
Miley with a tear in her eye ran off once again after seeing the way her father had been treating her mother for months now. A fire slowly built inside her with feelings she hadn't yet begun to understand.
As she was running she ran into Prince Jackson. "Do, you see how Daddy is treating mommy!" "Why don't you do something about it Jackson?" "Be a real Prince for once!"
"Like what Millory?" "He is still the King." "He is putting mommy in her place!" "But don't worry there little Millory, once I'm King little girls will be treated much better!" He gave her a condescending little smile as he patted her on the head like she was a simpleton or something! He needed a drink!
"Auggh!" "Your useless!" As she ran off again. Her feelings still remained!
A Little Later:
A 4 year old Millory checking that the coast was clear walked into her mother's room. "Mommy can I talk to you?"
"Sure you can sweetie." Miley hopped onto her mother's welcoming lap. "Mommy are all men evil?"
Her mom looked at her little daughter in her arms with thoughts and feelings. "Honey, sweetie look I know your a very curious little girl and maybe you've seen me and your father in some unfortunate situations, but he is still a King." He still is providing for us and giving us a good life." "We have to respect his authority." "I know my place in the world and no matter what 2 really good things came out of my marriage." Miley smiled recognizing the love of her mother and that she was one of those things.
"What's the other thing mommy?"
"Jackson!"
Miley looked at her mom like she had lost all of her marbles. "J-Jackson, mommy?" She had a hard time spitting it out!
"Yeah, I know he's a little spoiled." Miley gave her a look like that was the understatement of the year. Her mom gave her a look in return like I said what I said and I still mean it daughter!
"He is still trying to find his place in the world." "If his stupid daddy would just pay more attention to him instead of carousing around with all of those...well don't you worry about it Miley." "I have high hopes for you." "As beautiful as you are at such a young age." "I know you'll probably marry a handsome Prince one day."
Miley's eyes hardened. She pouted her lips into a frown full of pure disgust. "Never, mommy!" "I am never going to get married!" "I see the way daddy treats you." "They all suck!" "Right down to my brother Jackson!" "Hmmmph!" Miley pouted still on her mother's warm lap.
Susan stroked her daughter's long brown hair. "I'm sure you'll change your mind." "That's a long time from now." "You don't need to grow up that fast." "Not all men are like your father!" "He was a really good man once." "When we first met." We had some good years together, she thought to herself.
Miley scooted out of her mother's lap giving her mom a happy little smile. As soon as she was out the door and away from her mother's earshot.."not a freaking chance!" "I am never, marrying anyone." "Ever!"
A Sword-master's Tale (4 years later):
The Royal Barn:
Clang! "Good again Jake!"
"I'm going to get you this time master!" Jake lunged with his sword in hand and all the 8 year old blond got was a mouthful of hay. He spat it out frustratedly. He got back on his feet. He watched little Nicholas watching him in the corner of his eye with that annoying 6 year old I know something you don't look and decided what the hell let me try again and as his sword met with Nico's he was happy he hadn't totally missed this time. Their swords met for a while and then Nico caught him completely off balance and Jake toppled over landing by a cow. "MOOO!" Jake grimaced getting up directly leaning against a cow. Jake wiped something white off his face that had spilled out of a bucket. All he could think of was as he saw the smiling face of his sword-master and Nicholas laughing up a storm was.....Was....got milk?
Nico walked over to Jake. "That was a good one indeed young master." He picked Jake up by his hand. "Of course I have to go over to England to train another young Prince," he lied still not wanting to admit he was really training the Princess Millory in secret. Nico felt very embarrassed about it. He was being paid to teach Prince Jackson how to swordfight but that was a total waste of time. If not for that other little side project with the young Princess Millory and the fact that the pay was really good I don't know why I even bother anymore.
A little later:
"Honey I'm home." Helena who had been boiling up some water and getting some tea ready embraced her husband and after a small kiss she knew what was going to happen next.
She looked into his eyes and he had that far away look in his eyes like he was about to make that stupid trip to England again. "I don't see why you have to go that far!" "You already have a job here." "Your family is already here." "Why do you have to keep doing this to us?"
"It's just you know my reputation." "I used to train Princes all along Europe, but I did cut it back just to the British Isles." "Doesn't that count for something." He looked at his wife hoping she would cease and desist from the guilt trip she always laid on him before his regular trip to England.
"You sure you don't just do this to get out of the house from taking responsibility for your kids?" "For being there for your wife?" She offered him some tea knowing what answer he was going to give her. It was always the same. And she had this feeling he wasn't telling her something. She knew him way too well.
"Honey, sweetie, look I did cut back the travel." "And God blessed me with a beautiful wife." "Two great kids." "And he blessed me with the best sword-fighting skills in the world." "I am being paid a lot of money for this." "From two Kingdoms!" "I'm doing this for our family."
"Sure you are darling." "So, how is Prince Jackson's training going anyway?"
"Well..cough....well it's a work in progress." "I know I'll get King Stewart's heir ready when it's time." "It just really is a work in progress."
"Whatever, darling you better hurry up and finish his training and come back soon." "I will!" They kiss and then he departs. Helena picks up a baby Magdalena just cradling her in her arms. "Say goodbye to daddy!"
"Dada!" Her mother took her hand guiding it in a little wave as Nico headed for their boat.
7 years later:
The Welsh Court:
Nico walked with trepidation into the King's court. He had just been excommunicated from England. He felt shame. He didn't think he had done anything wrong. So, he taught the Princess how to fight instead of the Prince. It wasn't like I didn't want to train the Prince. They always blame the teacher. It's never the student's fault!
He approached slowly, wondering what he was going to say to King John Ryancrest. The King had really started to age. He didn't look as steady as he used to be. Luckily he has a really good son. I definitely didn't fail in his training. He had his head down and then he looked up at the King's bearded serious face.
"You, know Nico." "Apparently I have a lawbreaker on my hands!"
Nico put his head down in shame. He didn't know what to say. He just hoped he didn't lose his job over it. He hoped he wouldn't get blacklisted or something. Some of these Kings can be really vindictive you know.
"Do you know what I have in my hand here?" King John held a parchment recently unfurled from off the Royal seal of Stewart.
"What is it, my Lord?" Nico continued to bow, hoping not only to retain his post, but that he wouldn't get kicked out of Wales too. He had a family you know!
"Yes, well apparently this is an accusation that you are a fraud peddler." "That you pretended to teach his son how to duel and you did not carry it out." "What do you say by this?"
"My Lord, I am an honorable man." "I definitely tried to teach his son." "I was there and he never showed up." "Even when he did show up, he never really showed up." "I did teach his daughter how to...."
"Enough!" "You know what this means right, Nico?"
The normally brave Nico felt fear. Not, necessarily for himself, but for his family!
John kept his steely gaze over his servant! He took an equally hardened look at his strong son who Nico had been training into the young man now standing by his right side.
Prince Jake stared at his father shocked at how he was yelling at Nico. Nico, is so honorable why would he do this to him? Who cares what Nico did in England! He trained me well enough to beat him. Nico was the best sword-fighter of our time and then he trained me well enough to be his equal. And I'm still not sure I could have beaten him in his prime! Jake stared back waiting for it. Waiting for it!
"Nico I unfortunately have some very bad news for you."
Nico flinched waiting for the axe to fall. Hoping against hope for a reprieve.
"Now, you know normally when a King fires someone for services not rendered and another King receives his request that he should be shunned it is taken very seriously among royalty!"
"Yes, my Lord, I know!" Nico kept waiting. Will he just get it over with already! I feel like a fish dangling on a hook here!
"Well I took this very seriously and I decided there was only one thing to do!" He looked at his son frowning right back at him. And then back to the humbled Nico.
"I am afraid.....I am afraid.......his loss is our gain!" "I want you working full time for us." "You already trained my son excellently as a sword-fighter." "I want you to train him about life." "Prepare him to be the next King!" "I want you to be the head of our royal guard!" "You are family to us Nico, and you will always have a place here!"
Nico, numbly started to gather his thoughts as the shock of horror to sheer joy was a little overwhelming.
Jake stared proudly at his father. God, I love him. He is such a good King. I hope I'm even capable of being half the King he is!
And then off to the side Nico's family came out behind a curtain. They had known all along what the King's pronouncement was going to be.
"Daddy!" Magdalena jumped into his arms in an embrace.
"I love you sweetheart!"
"I love you too daddy."
Nicholas and his mother held hands as they came together finally. Finally they were a family united for good. Wales would always be their home. Always!
--To Be Continued--
Author's Preview and an end note: Well if you read chapter 1 of Book 1 along with this one you'll see this is a companion piece to that one. Chapter 2: Lilly's Tale. How Lilly met Miley. Please review and maybe I'll start writing it.