AN: As always, I am loking forward to read your reviews, do you like it so far? or maybe you have some suggestions?. Thanks and enjoy!
I couldn't say for sure if the way from the prince room to the principal hall is long or short, because of the speed at which Miss Canya was leading me. She was also indicating me key points to remember the way, some as a big column, an ancient tapestry, a huge stair, all mixed up with rules for me to follow along with her instructions. Of course none of those stucked in my brain.
The level of apprehension Miss Canya was irradiating increased when we came to a stop. At first I thought we had already arrived but a voice forced me to look up to the end of the big corridor.
-"Well, Miss Canya I think the kitchen now can stop wondering where you are"- A malicious voice said. I recognized the man as the one from yesterday, so I tighten our grip.
-"I didn't know I was supposed to report to you"- she said as she pulled me behind her. The comment, of course, neither intimidated nor scared her. The more I know this woman, the more I like her.
I thought he will ignore us when no replay was heard but, when she continued walking the man stepped in front of her.
-"Then maybe you would like to explain the king why his and prince Eiri´s guests were eating a cold breakfast…"-as he ended his sentence I felt his eyes through all my body, stopping in my face, but his time I held his gaze with a grimace of annoyance.
-"Taki… I was required to bring the boy to the king presence"- She said with disgust.
-"Really?, then allow me, after all If everyone here dedicates to their own obligations, these delays may not occur"- Taki said adopting an arrogant posture, and putting a hand on my shoulder. He was more or less the same high than the prince, but much more thinner, his bony hands felt cold against my skin .
-"Prince Eiri specifically told me to stay with him until further orders"-
-"I am in charge of the personal in service of the palace, which includes this slave, so why don't you go clean something, and let me do my job?"- he was now pushing me through a gate, I was about to protest when another servant arrived in a rush.
-"Master Taki, the king asked for the boy again"- the servant, a little older than me, lowered his gaze and kept silence, waiting for an answer.
-"you see?"- Taki said , and with that and a final push we were gone.
He grabbed me again from my arm, just strong as the first day we met, and led me through a small corridor that ended in a wooden door.
-"So, was the prince too rough with you?"- He whispered to my ear. I didn't answered, just kept walking, but accelerated my speed, in an attempt to get rid of him.
This must have annoyed him because he tensed his hold, -"I didn't think you were so bold boy, in fact I think I underestimated you, with that stare you gave me back there"- he suddenly put a hand on my butt and started to caress it, I couldn't turn around but I knew the other slave boy must be just behind us.
So he doesn't get a damn if someone sees him molesting me –"and the wound you made to the prince, I assure you, you will be paying soon for both, and just for you know, I am in charge of punishing the scum like you"-suddenly the door was opened, just before I could react to his words.
Is that the reason I was summoned so suddenly? I started to panic, what if the king wants to punish me for the scratch I made to prince Eiri? Maybe prince Eiri himself didn't like me at all and this is the way he is rejecting me, why would he defend me? After all, he did say we have just met, the fact that I love him matters nothing…. I felt betrayed, I wanted to cry so hard, and the fighting against my tears was already lost. The heat of the room hit me on the face. All the guests were sitting on long tables, drinking and eating, only the service was walking around, carrying food or wine, yes… wine in the middle of the day. No one noticed my entrance till Taki, let me go and pushed me to kneel in a spot in front of the main table.
There were sitting several men, but I knew the one directly in front of me was the king. First of all he was wearing simple but beautiful clothes, some gold jewelry, two servants were standing behind of him, at both sides, one holding a jar of wine and the other a napkin, ready to refill his cup or remove his empty plate.
As I wait to be announced, I look for a resemblance with him and my prince, but found nothing, this man was fat, heavily bearded, his eyes were brown, and his talking was… heavy. He kept talking to the man beside him, so I scanned the rest of the table.
Until I found him.
He was looking to me. I was felt the urge to run to him, tell him… beg him not to send me away, I was even willing to accept any kind of punishment if I could stay with him.
He seemed puzzled, when another man said.
-"Ohhh come on Eiri!, he is really small, almost like a girl"- the one talking was sitting in front of the prince, he was young, maybe prince´s age. –"Taki bring him here"- the young man signaled Taki to come closer.
Taki grabbed me again from the arm and pulled me up. As I approached to the table, I noticed the how prince switch his stare, and now was looking at Taki...and I liked what I saw.
I could not mistook the expression in my prince face. He was looking at Taki with pure hate.
-"Come here boy, you have been a naughty boy ah?"- He said as he touched my cheek to force me look at him- "Woww, you are beautiful!"- he turned my face, and I heard some others sitting in the table agreed with him.
–"Eiri, would you lend him to me?, I know I can also enjoy a man if he is this quality"- he asked.
Please say no, please please.
-"Are you putting yourself at the same level than me, Lucas?"- the prince said, and drank a sip of wine.
-"Well, I know we don't deserve the same presents but…. Arthur gave me a horse at my birthday, and I let you mount it"- after that, everyone in the small group laughed.
Idiot, how can he compare me to a horse? I pushed his hand from my face without thinking.
Suddenly someone pulled from my hair -"How dare you little rat?"- Taki said –"Do you want me to give this scum a whipping so he can learn his place sir?"- He asked, turning me to face the prince, who now have an angry expression.
-"Easy Taki, the young just has an attitude, nothing the prince can't handle himself"- I recognized the new voice, it was from the man that bought me, Arthur who was sitting next to the prince.
-"But…this kind of behavior mustn't be tolerated…"-
-"The boy was already disciplined, your service is not required"- the prince said, but Taki didn't let me go
–"Are you doubting my words?"- the prince said with a threatening tone.
-"No sir, of course not"- Taki answered and finally he released his grip.
-"And next time, watch the way you treat my belongings, I would hate to see a bruise on him, not inflicted by me"- Taki muttered something as an apology and then he left, a new servant approached me and made a bow to the prince –"The king has requested for the boy to sing master"- he said.
We were looking to each other, just for a few seconds, and then he made a signal with his hand and the servant took me again in front of the king.
Sing? The king just wanted to hear me sing? Why? Well, this is a turn of events, I thought I was summoned to get punished and now I know they brougth me here to sing. And in front of my prince above all.
I know he must have received tons of presents, but I am going to become the only one he wouldn't like to share, I am going to prove him my love, in the only way I know.
I am about to sing for him, and only to him.