A/N: As requested by Saberin, Halt leaving Clonmel
Raider: Ugh...no, I haven't. Yes, there was something similar in the last run...but Kineta's kid wasn't there. Some of the backgrounds given last time are being repeated this time to fill in the same holes from the main story.
Saberin: Lina and Shigeru were always fun to write :)
NOTE: I'm not John Flanagan.
055: Poison
Seventeen-year-old Halt paced his bedroom with anxiety building with every step. A goblet of wine sat untouched on a serving table next to the still open bottle. As he paced his toe caught the edge of his rug. After stumbling he fell to the ground purposely and yanked up the carpet inspecting it for foul play. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to get a grip.
Ferris isn't smart enough to rig a rug he thought to himself.
His door opened. Halt jerked towards the wall as though something would fly at him. Finley stepped inside looking around until she found him.
"I got your message. What's going on?" she asked. Halt rushed forward, pulling her in and slamming the door behind her. He turned the deadbolt and, as an afterthought, shoved a chair under the handle.
"Ferris is trying to kill me."
"Again?"
Halt glared at Finley. "This is serious."
Finley glanced down at his hand still on her arm. He released her and went back to pacing. Finley crossed over to his bed and collapsed onto it, making herself comfortable.
"You're the crown prince. Throw him in the dungeons."
"I can't do that to my brother!"
"So take up proper training and defend yourself."
"I do take proper training!"
Finley rolled her eyes. "Training with the soldiers, not just me and your guards."
Halt frowned. He collected the glass of wine from his table and brought it over to Finley. "He's tried to poison me again. Look!"
Finley took the goblet and held it up to the light. She swished the liquid inside, getting a better view of the sticky red on the sides. She held it under her nose and sniffed it lightly.
"You see?" Halt beckoned.
Finley held the glass to her lips and took a long drink.
"Finley!"
Halt slapped the goblet from her Finley giggled as she wiped the spilled wine away from her chin. As for the goblet, Halt would need a new carpet.
"It's poison!"
Finley rolled her eyes. "It's sugar."
Halt stared at her. "Sugar?"
Finley nodded. "You left it out too long. The sugar stuck to the side of your cup."
Halt stared at the goblet and his stained carpet. His mother would be furious.
"Do Ferris's half-brained schemes really bother you this much?" Finley asked seriously. Halt collapsed next to her on the bed.
"He's trying to kill me, Finley. Even if this time was just me being paranoid…he tried to drown me. He's tried to poison me and he tried to crush me. What will be next? Shooting an arrow at me?"
Finley poked at his ribs playfully. "If that's his plan then you are safe."
Halt sighed. "Finley…"
"Halt, unless you stand up to him he'll keep doing this. He's not smart. He's not brave. If you intimidate him he'll back down."
"My parents…"
"Your parents are ignoring the problem."
"Caitlyn…"
"Caitlyn knows Ferris has issues. Come on, Halt. Take a stand for once in your life."
Halt stared at Finley. "What can I do, Finley? What? Toss him in a dungeon? Kill him? I'm not like that!"
Finley sat up. "No, you're too soft."
"Too soft?"
Finley nodded, not backing down. "Too soft."
"I'm going to be king."
"Exactly. Toughen up."
"Finley!"
Finley got to her feet, stepping around the wine stain. "Seriously, Halt. I can't take it anymore. You need to toughen up if you're going to be our king."
Halt stood, sizing her up. "What do you suggest, Oh Wise One?"
Finley crossed her arms. "Don't get mad at me. I'm trying to help you."
"Then help me. What do you think I should do?"
"Knock Ferris in his place. Stand up to your parents."
"I've tried explaining what's happening to my parents. They brush it off!"
Finley sighed with frustration. "Not just about Ferris."
"What else then?"
Just like that, Finley pressed her lips against his. Halt backed away in shock. Finley took a couple of steps into the kiss before letting him go. Halt stared at her.
"What was that?" he demanded.
"Most call it a kiss."
Halt shook his head. "We've talked about this. We can't have this."
He could feel her anger building. "Because your parents say so, right?"
"Because love ends in marriage or heartbreak. Because if I loved you Clonmel would…"
"You're afraid."
Now Halt was yelling. "I'm not afraid!"
Finley went for the door. "Then you're weak."
"Finley!"
Finley kicked the chair away from the door and then spun on her heels to face him. Tears streamed down her cheeks. "Do you want to be with me or not?"
Halt sighed. "Please don't do this, Finley."
Finley shook her head reaching for the door. Halt reached out and grabbed her arm.
"Finley…"
Finley swung her arm in a wide arc, breaking his grip, and shoved his chest. Halt stumbled back.
"Good bye, Halt."
With that, Finley released herself from his room. She slammed the door behind her. Halt was sure she caught the attention of guards outside but they wouldn't question their general's daughter.
Halt sighed. He collected a bag and began packing. He couldn't do it anymore. Pressures of his parents, fear of Ferris…Finley…he just couldn't do it anymore.
"Good bye, Finley."
