A/N: Ah another week, another chapter! I think this is one of my favorite chapters so far! Enjoy!
The prince was busy with all the preparations for Spain and so the king often sought out my company. Whether it be riding, hunting, jousting or tennis the king would call me forth. It was a tiring job to keep the king constantly entertained, but I enjoyed it. I truly enjoyed it because for once I didn't feel like my grandfather's pawn, I felt like a spoiled little boy. The king would often send me little gifts, each with their own exotic twist. He would ask me to dine with him, sometimes alone, and other times with ambassadors and cardinals.
"Has he said anything about giving you land?" My grandfather asked irritably during our next family meeting. I shook my head in denial.
"Can't you hint him on to it?" Boris piped in, "Remind him of your favours."
I turned to glare at him, I didn't need his advice.
"The thing is he's very alert for that sort of thing," Hiro pointed out, "Everyone does it to him all the time, they're always asking for favours."
"I should think that's what he likes about Kai here, is that he's not like that. I don't think he's ever asked for anything." Marie explained.
"He's got riding boots worth a fortune on feet," Boris put in sharply from behind me.
"But he didn't ask for them. He gave them freely," she said pointing to my boots.
"I agree with Marie he likes to be generous when it's unexpected." Hiro added, "We should let Kai play this his own way, it seems that the king likes it that way."
The profits of being the King's favourite started to show when he had given me rooms of my own, finely furnished inside the castle. I no longer was forced to live with my grandfather or Boris. I was free to sleep at the castle whenever I wished. I had a title of an English ambassador, and an income of a hundred pound a month. But I wasn't the only one doing well off my friendship with the King, my grandfather became Viscount of Rochford and was granted some stewardships of land, and Hiro was now knighted, he was Sir. Hiro Hiwatari.
"You should thank me for your good fortune, brave knight," I said teasing Hiro.
"And whatever did you do except make a fool of yourself so the King my laugh and grant you such fortunes?" Hiro hissed tugging at my new waistcoat.
"Why Hiro weren't you there when I defeated France's best fencer in the tournament yesterday?" I asked smugly knowing very well that my half-brother was becoming envious of me.
"No, it was quite boring I found watching the grass grow by the gardens much more interesting."
I laughed at his poor response, I laughed at his envy for me but most of all I laughed at loneliness. Hiro was lonely, I had the king, I had the prince and I had taken his sister before he even had chance to know her. I had everything and he had nothing except the duty of pushing me forward…because he was the other Hiwatari boy.
The sun was setting and we made our way to the prince's room as we did every evening. Hiro kept going on and on about how I needed to socialize with the young boys of court. "The court is gravitating towards you. You need to make alliances, have support. Like your own little army. It is the only way you'll hold this position. Your star is rising but so are your chances of making enemies."
"Who needs enemies when I have a brother like you?" I mumbled under my breath.
It had been a long tiring month and prince and he was finally present in his own rooms. I walked in Hiro trailing behind me, to go and greet Tala.
"Oh dear what do I see here? By god it's a ghost!" I said jokingly.
"Yes, yes I know I haven't been around but I thank you for keeping my father busy. The last thing I needed was him breathing down my neck!" Tala said waving his hands in exasperation.
I quickly scanned the room, looking for my loud sister only to find that little Max had drawn her into an alcove and I heard her giggle at something he had said. She saw me watching and said more loudly: "Lord Tate is writing sonnets to me Kai. Do tell him that his lines don't scan."
"It's not even finished!" Max protested, "I was just telling you the first line and already too critical."
"It's a good start, how would you go on Max?" I asked trying to help the poor boy who shirking under my sister influence.
"It's clearly not a good start," Hiro said, "To start a courtship with disdain is the very worst start you can make. A kind start would be much more promising."
Max frowned and looked back at his paper, "It goes on with the next line which I don't have yet and then it goes something, something, something, my pain."
"Oh! To rhyme with disdain!" Hiro declared provokingly, "I think I'm beginning to get this."
"But you must have an image that you pursue throughout the poem," Marie lectured Max, "If you're going to write a poem to your mistress you must compare her to something and then twist the comparison round to a witty conclusion."
"How can I?" Max asked her desperately, "I cannot compare you to anything. You are yourself, what can I compare you to?"
"Oh very pretty!" Hiro said approvingly, "I say, Lord Tate your conversation is better than your poetry, if I were you I would sit on one knee and whisper in her ear. You'll triumph if you stick to prose."
Max grinned and took Marie's hand, "Stars in the night," he said.
"Something, something, something some delight," Marie finished for him.
"Let's have a drink," Tala suggested, "I don't think I can keep up with this dazzling wit. So who will play me at dice?"
"I'll play," Hiro said taking a seat in front of the prince.
"Don't fight now," I said teasing the two of them, "Especially since Lord Tate here might write us a martial poem about fighting."
"I don't think something, something, something is very threatening," Marie laughed, "And that's all his lines every say!"
"I have a surprise for you," the king whispered in my ear while dined with the cardinal and his wife. (I was sitting in place for the prince since he was catching up on well-deserved sleep)
"What ever could it be?" the cardinal's wife asked a sly little smile upon her face.
"If I would say then it wouldn't be a surprise!"
"Oh please your highness, do tell do tell!" I said childishly.
"No, no you'll just have to wait until morning dear boy!"
So In the morning we rode off. The King was ahead of the crowd I was following him closely with Hiro at my side. Marie and Max were riding together behind us. Hiro had invited his cousin Tyson along with a few of his little friends who were all either knights in service or heirs of dukedoms.
The king stop in front of a dock where a majestic ship that was sitting on the ocean blue, it was so vast and beautiful with the sun ray shimmering off it.
"Do you like it?" The King asked simply.
"Oh yes! It's a most wonderful ship!"
"It is and it is also the most powerful one to date. It will carry our brave navy into the ocean to battle with French envoys that are rising against us now."
"But how do you know that we will win with this ship?" I asked taken a back at the sheer determination in the king's eyes.
"Why don't you look there," The king turned me around and point pointed to carvings on the boat. I narrowed my eyes to have a better look to see that there was a name written on it.
"Kai Hiwatari…"I said slowly, trying to process the information, "You named the ship after me?"
"Yes I did, a powerful ship needs a powerful name," he smiled and continued, "A beautiful boat for a beautiful boy."
I smiled back at him, the most radiant smile I ever had, "I thank your majesty for his most kind words and gifts of honor," I said bowing deeply.
"You must launch the ship now," He said handing me a rope, "It is your ship, you must launch it and send our soldiers to sea." He pointed to the men on the ship dressed in red, white and blue.
I tugged the rope and the court counted down from three and I launched the ship with a might thrust.
"Are you happy?" the king asked me.
"Yes, I am the most happy," I said watching the powerful ship set sail. I prayed that it would be powerful enough to withstand the storm ahead.
A/N: I know everything seems really happy right now but just enjoy it while you can because poor Kai is in for trouble. Anyway don't forget to review! Happy V-Day!
