NEW BEGINNINGS.
Twelve years ago, Kel was taken prisoner by Scanrans. Now she returns, escaping her prison with her eleven year old Son Wyl, who happens to be the Prince of Scanra and King Maggur's son.
CHAPTER SEVEN - Training.
Corus, Tortall.
Once again she had risen early, just like she used to. She had finished with her glaive practice and was now saddling Peachblossom, she still couldn't believe he'd waited for her; for twelve years.
But Daine had confirmed it when she had brought him in after going for a brief ride the night before, she had looked at him after Kel had expressed her shock that he seemed to have waited for her and laughed, saying that he had waited for her knowing she would try to escape, but that he had also not known it would take her so long.
Her mount had also said that he would have had an easier time in finding her, if she had stopped moving.
Smiling Kel swung herself up into the saddle, "I didn't expect you to wait." She told him quietly, "but I'm glad you did." Snorting Peachblossom tossed his head in response. "Ok," turning him to face the Quintain she patted his neck, "Charge."
Even after all these years, his speed still shocked her; raising her lance she aimed it at the center of the target, a moment later her lance splintered, breaking in half.
Grinning Kel snorted and shook her head, "lets see how many we can break before breakfast." She challenged him, picking anew lance and turning him about to face the Quintain again. "Charge."
xxx
"Are you going to eat all that?"
Wyl looked up at Kelanna in confusion, "what?" he looked at the tray, he only had a bowl of porridge, a couple of pieces of fresh buttered toast and a small piece of apple pie; compared to what he'd eaten at Steadfast, it was nothing.
Jonathan shook his head, "you're really going to eat it all?"
"Yes," Wyl dug into the porridge, "I'm hungry." He looked at them a frown crossing his face, he didn't understand why they liked him; but what really troubled him, was that he didn't know how to be a friend. He wanted to be their friend, if they wanted to be his friends anyway; he just wasn't sure what he had to do.
"That is a very serious look," Roger commented, "what are you thinking about?"
Shrugging Wyl sighed, "I've never had friends before, so I don't now how to be a friend." He said between a mouthful of milk, his gaze locked on the trio in front of him.
Blinking Kelanna shrugged, "well that's easy, you just be nice and be yourself."
Wyl's frown deepened, it was too easy, there had to be a catch. "That's it? I don't have to do anything special?"
"Well," Kelanna cocked her head, "you could give presents on our birthdays, but that's really about it." she said with a smile, "you know, other then being there when we need help or when we have a problem and need to talk."
"The point is," Jonathan said cutting across Kelanna before she could make the explanation complicated, "It's not that hard."
Roger smile and shrugged, "we like you, just be yourself and you'll do fine."
x
"Alright," Cleon's voice brought the pages to complete silence in an instant, "everyone pair up and get in line!"
Wyl tried to stay with Kelanna, but found himself paired with a blonde boy around his own age. He smiled at him, "I'm Wyl_"
"I know who you are," the boy sneered, "you might have the Princes fooled, but you won't fool me, you Scanran scum." The boy shook his head, bringing his staff up to his chest. "Your mother's no better, a stupid scanran whore!" At the last word, he attacked.
Wyl's eyes widened for a brief moment, then they hardened with determination; he blocked his opponent's blows, letting himself be forced out of line, allowing himself to get the taller boy's measure. He was strong, but he favoured his right side, leaving his left side wide open to attack; feigning a high strike, Wyl went in low to the right.
His blow landed, sending the blonde haired boy staggering back.
"Joren of Stone Mountain, swap places with Prince Jonathan, now!" Sir Cleon's was a loud booming roar, and the boy - Joren - scrambled to obey.
Jonathan grinned at him as Wyl stood in front of him, "that was brilliant."
Smiling Wyl glanced at Joren and winced, "my first day and I've already made an enemy."
Snorting Jonathan blocked his low strike and shrugged, "he's not worth having as a friend. In my opinion, you're better off with him as an enemy."
Wyl nodded, he was right; but it still made him sad, he hadn't wanted to get on the wrong side of anyone. Sure, he'd known people wouldn't like him, but he hadn't been prepared for Joren's anger. Of cause he knew about his mother's enemy who was obviously this boy's namesake, but he hadn't expected anything like this.
"Look, don't worry about it." Jonathan smiled easily keeping up with his strikes, "ignore him, he's not worth worrying over."
Wyl nodded and sighed, "you know, I'm used to people insulting me, but no one usually brings my mother into it."
Jonathan frowned, "I thought you were the Prince? why would people insult you?"
"Are you kidding?" Shaking his head Wyl sighed, "they couldn't take out their anger on King Maggur, so they took it out on me." Shrugging he moved into a high strike, "the only times I was officially the 'Prince' was when my father had his Lords visiting, then I was dressed in the finest clothes I had and paraded around like a puppet. If I didn't do exactly what he said, he'd have mother beaten for it."
Jonathan looked ill, "he didn't hurt you did he?"
"Not often, but sometimes, particularly when he was drunk." Wyl shook his head, "it's not really something I like talking about."
Inclining his head Jonathan smiled, "that's fine."
Looking at the Prince Wyl smiled, "do you know you Roger, Kelanna and your father are the only people who haven't looked at me like I was an abomination. Everyone else has only ever seen my father and looked at me like I was as bad as he was, but not you or Kelanna or your father or Roger." Shrugging slightly, Wyl smiled at him. "It's a nice change."
"You're welcome," Jonathan told him with a grin, "glad I could be of service."
Feeling his mood lighten, Wyl grinned; the prince was an easy person to like, so was his brother and Kelanna.
And the King, that had been the biggest surprise; he would have expected him to hate him, but King Roald had looked at him and seen him for who he really was. He hadn't cared who his father was, he'd accepted him instantly; and that was something he had never experienced before, not ever Dom or Lord Raoul had been able to accept him that fast or easily.
It didn't matter what his father had done, for the first time in his life he hadn't been blamed for his fathers crimes; he had been absolved, in that moment he had felt renewed respect for his mother's friend; Roald of Conte was a great king indeed.