Chapter Three: Father Daughter, Mother Son

Chapter Three: Father Daughter, Mother Son

Calla waited for her father's reply. She had explained to him about her feelings about marriage and about her feelings towards Cavin.

"I just want you happy, Calla."

Calla looked up, surprised. The King smiled. "You're my treasure and Cavin is a prized page. He would make a fine prince and king. But I want him to ask you, not the other way around."

Calla smiled, "Can I let him know you don't mind our relationship then? We were nervous, because he's a page and I'm a princess. I know he's of noble blood but well,"

"Go ahead, my dear."

Calla leapt up and hugged her father. She ran outside, calling, "Cavin!"

The King of Dunywn smiled at his prized knight, Sir Tuxford.

"Young love."

The knight nodded. "Yes Your Majesty. I noted Cavin's interest a while ago and then after a while I realized it wasn't just admiration. I think they were chosen by Fate."

"But why did she wait until now?"

* * *

Igthorn stood at the ready. Celina had said that she had a gift for him. The Duke was not ready to trust her. But he also was not crazy enough to rebel against her. She had far too much power. He wasn't about to risk his life.

Suddenly, the door opened. Igthorn's heart sailed.

"My dear, Lady Bane, welcome!"

Instead of rejecting him as she usually did, Lady Bane smiled and flung her arms around the Duke's shoulders. She kissed the Duke hard and long on the lips.

Igthorn's eyes went wide and as he was released, he was floating on air.

"Wha-"

Lady Bane silenced him by leaning against his chest and fingering his torso muscles. He chuckled lovesick.

"Oh Igthorn, where has my sight been? Why didn't I see my heart is only yours?"

"I.. I…"

He heard Celina's voice. "I've sealed her in a spell. Her heart is yours. Now go into Dunywn, kill the king. And then you'll have only to conquer the princess."

Igthorn smiled. "My dear, how about you and I go conquering a kingdom?"

Lady bane smiled. "Name it."

"Dunywn. We need to kill the king."

Lady Bane smiled, and fingered the Duke's chin. Her long black hair fell around her shoulders.

"Done and delivered."

* * *

Buddi sighed with boredom and put his book away. He chose another in the room, called, Forbidden. He opened it but before he could read a word, the door opened. Buddi sat up.

Ursa walked in, with a tray of food for Buddi. She noted Buddi was reading, the only thing she had not forbidden him to do. She inwardly hated punishing him this fiercely but her concern of him getting too close to Glens was more powerful than her pity.

"Here Buddi. Eat."

The cub took the tray and waited for Ursa to leave.

She didn't.

Buddi took a bite of his sandwich, which he noted that Ursa had fixed it herself. It was his favorite, turkey. As the cub ate, a hand placed itself onto his head. Buddi turned his head. Ursa smiled at him gently.

"I know that being inside like this is terrible, Buddi. But you need a good dose of discipline."

Buddi sighed, :I didn't mean to."

Ursa looked at Buddi with sympathy. "Buddi, I know but well, I'm afraid that their softness will wear off. You're already too sensitive and shy for your own good."

"Am I really that bad?"

Ursa smiled, "Buddi, there is nothing wrong with being sensitive or shy. But yours is too extreme."

She sighed, "But you're tough too I think. I don't need that ruined by Glen influence."

Buddi looked at her. "But they're my friends."

Ursa nodded, "I know and they can continue to be. But until you get over this fascination, I don't want you alone with them."

Buddi sighed, "Ursa, it isn't-"

"Buddi…"

The cub sighed. Ursa knew he liked the glens and she could normally accept that. But after that event two days ago…

But Buddi looked miserable. Ursa knew that he couldn't help his feelings; he was a very sensitive boy. Ursa moved closer and hugged his shoulder gently. Buddi looked up at her.

Ursa hugged him tightly. It wasn't just the fact that Sunni was a Glen. It was the fact that he had gotten his first crush. That meant he was growing up. Ursa hated that. Buddi was her only child, the Barbics' only child. When she told Gritty that, he'd been amused and said, "You're definitely a mother."

Ursa knew it wasn't fair. She knew Buddi had to grow up. It would have been easier if it had been another Barbic cub that shared Buddi's first kiss. Ursa liked Sunni but she was too soft for her liking and Ursa was not about to let her cub go to a weaker one.

Buddi finished and Ursa took the tray and left, calling, "Just one more day, Buddi then you can go outside. There are lots of cubs here. Try to play with some boys your age."

Buddi sighed. He knew Ursa didn't want him hanging with a Glen because they saw them as weaker than themselves. Friendship was fine but friendship with privileges wasn't. He wished Ursa would let him be friends with whomever he wanted. But she had raised him to be tough and didn't want anything to threaten that.

Buddi sighed, "I wish that Ursa wouldn't chain me down so and expect so much from me."

Buddi picked the book up and read the title page. It had a quote from Peace, the main character of the story. Buddi read it aloud,

"They can bind my things and bind my body. But they cannot cage my heart."

Buddi smiled to himself, "That's right. They can't bind my heart."