~ Chapter 7 ~

As Logan climbed out of the carriage he smiled. It felt good to be home after being gone for so many years and looking up at the castle he turned to the driver of the

royal carriage and said "could you have my bags sent to my room along with my sword"

The carriage driver nodded his head and seeing Logan take a wooden sword box with symbols of the four heroes from his Mother's reign as Queen of Albion he said

"of course Prince Logan and your brother King Alexander is expecting you in the War Room". Logan smiled and entering the castle he made his way to the War Room

anxious to see his younger brother and tell him of his travels and finds in Oakfield, Bloodstone and Westcliff.

King Alexander paced the War Room nervously expecting his brother's return. Fifteen years had been a long time and even though Logan had wrote letters to him for

the first seven years they had stopped leaving the king to wonder if his brother was alright. Hearing the door to the room open Alexander spun around and saw his

brother placing a wooden sword box on the map table. Logan had changed, no longer was he pale but tanned and his eyes looked like they had gotten a lot of rest.

His ebony black hair had grown past his shoulders and was now kept in a ponytail and the goatee he had while he was king was still there. Approaching him

Alexander said "it's good to have you home Logan, I actually missed seeing you around the castle".

Logan smiled at his younger brother and said "well I've been very busy. I went to Oakfield and while I was there I visited the ruined remains of the Temple of Light

and got help to rebuild it to honour Mother's time as a hero. That took a few years so when that was finished I went to Bloodstone which was quite boring but I did

hear plenty of stories about some guy Mother married but they refused to give me any more on it and last I visited Westcliff where I worked as a blacksmith but

enough about me how are you Alexander?".

Alexander sat on a sofa and chuckling quietly he ran his hands through his brown hair and replied "I'm well Logan and so is Elise. We have a son, he's ten years of

age called Walter". Logan smiled remembering Sir Walter Beck and sitting beside his brother he asked "and how's Rose?"

Alexander shook his head and smiling proudly he replied "Rose has become a fine young lady but she is a bit of a prankster. Last week she put a whoopee cushion on

the throne and you can guess what happened when I sat on the throne to listen to some new ideas for Bowerstone. Now tell me Logan who's the sword for?"

Logan laughed at the whoopi cushion story and standing up he said "I see you've had your work cut out for you with Rose. Now for the sword, while working as a

blacksmith in Westcliff I saved enough money to have a fellow blacksmith make this sword for Rose". Logan walked over to the beautifully carved sword box and

opening it he pulled out a shining steel sword with gold roses set into the middle of the blade. The leather that wrapped around the hilt was a fine leather died purple.

Alexander stood and approaching Logan he marvelled at the craftsmanship of the sword and said "it's a beautiful gift Logan, I'm certain that Rose will love it and, and

I'm sorry".

Putting the sword back in its box Logan shrugged his shoulders and asked "what could you be sorry for brother?"

Alexander took the crown off his head and placing it on the map table he rubbed his eyes wearily and replied "I shouldn't have been so cruel to you fifteen years ago

ordering you to stay away from your own daughter Rose. I was just angry and jealous that you had managed to capture the heart of Elise".

Logan nodded his head and placing a gentle hand on his brother's shoulder he said "brother you had the right to be angry but I am grateful for you raising Rose as

your own".

Alexander smiled grateful that his brother did not show any hard feelings towards him. Taking a deep breath he said "thank you brother for not hating me, now why

don't you go get washed and dressed and I'll get Rose ready to meet you".

Logan nodded his head and left the War Room and walked to his princely chambers. A bath would feel nice after the long journey home. Plus it would also calm the

nerves building up inside him at the thought of seeing Elise again and meeting their now fifteen year old daughter Rose.

The Cock in the Crown tavern was busy and noisy as its doors swung open and a man dressed in a black suit and top hat walked in and made his way to the back and

sat at an empty table. The customers immediately quietened as they all knew of this man and his itchy trigger finger. Casting the bartender a stern look the man with

the top hat began to admire his cane smirking at his reflection in the round silver handle. The bartender turned to his young attractive waitress and said "Rosie get

the best bottle of red wine with one of our crystal glasses and a roast beef dinner and take it down to the man in the back with the top hat". Rosie looked to the back

and seeing who it was she nodded her head and got the best bottle of red wine, a roast beef dinner and a crystal glass and put them on a tray before carrying them

down to the man everyone feared.

Reaver twirled his cane as he watched the waitress carry his meal across the floor and place it in front of him. Smirking Reaver waited until the waitress had poured

his wine and taking her hand gently he looked into her terrified eyes and said "ma Cheri when I've finished do come back over here as I have a few questions I need

answered". Rosie nodded her head and said "of course Mr. Reaver".

Reaver watched the waitress walk away before eating his meal and drinking half a bottle of the red wine. When he was finished he beckoned the waitress back who

rushed over to the table not wanting to irritate the itchy fingered sharp shooter. Reaver waited until she was seated beside him before asking "now ma Cheri tell me

about the Princess of Albion, has she any fighting skills like her hero father King Alexander?"

Rosie held the fear back as she replied "no one ever really sees the princess except for last week when the queen took her shopping in the Bowerstone Market. I did

hear from a friend who works in the palace that the princess does have combat training every morning but it has been heard that the princess does not like combat

training".

Placing some money on the table Reaver kissed the waitress's hand and said "thank you ma Cheri that is all I need to know". Leaving the blushing waitress Reaver

exited the tavern before muttering to himself "Princess does not want to train well this is going to be harder than I thought".