On to part two! I'd like to think that things are beginning to get interesting.
Please enjoy reading!
The Prince and His Valet
iv. – part 2
"Mortimer!" The teenage duck growled. The tall mouse only chuckled darkly, with his sword resting on his shoulder. "Really, Donald, is that any way to treat your elder?"
"I'll show you how I treat the traitors, you back-stabbing little-" Donald's speech trailed off into unintelligible quacks, which was just as well. Mortimer tsked and shook his head. "Such language! What would Instructor Horace say?"
His blood ran cold at what the treacherous mouse was implying, and immediately a question floated up in his mind. But the Prince beat him to voicing it. "What did you do to him?"
"Nothing that I need to report to you." The taller mouse sneered. Donald felt the familiar surge of rage rise in him as his hand tightened around his sword. Without warning, he charged towards the traitor, arms pulling the sword back for a swing, but the mouse was ready. He blocked the blow with relative ease, and used the duck's momentum to send the teen hurling back the way he came.
Donald landed at the Prince's feet, the royalty's concerned voice barely reaching him. He growled in anger and didn't even bother to pick himself up properly before launching himself at Mortimer again. His ex-mentor only matched his attack with a graceful block (Donald had seen him demonstrate this move countless times before), again making the young duck land on his tail feathers.
This only angered Donald more and fueled his desire to shred the mouse to pieces. He got up again and again, charging at the traitor each time with renewed strength. But each time, Mortimer was able to deflect his attacks and send him flying.
Finally, as he was delivered to the Prince's feet yet again, Donald found himself out of breath and panting heavily as he struggled to stand. His movements ceased, however, when the offending mouse pointed the blade at his throat. Said mouse looked down on him degradingly, "Really, Donald, is that all you have? I thought that I had taught you better than that."
Donald just scowled, still haven't recovered enough for a comeback. He could hear the Prince still struggling to free himself behind him, and part of him wondered if he should be worried that Mortimer seemed much more interested in him than the royalty he was supposed to overthrow. It didn't make sense. If he was the one planning this rebellion, he would've slain the Prince by now. Was Mortimer's goal really to overthrow the monarchy?
"Why are you doing this?" He heard himself asking before realizing it. Mortimer just smiled coldly. "Simple, my dear lad. I want power, and the King and his son are in the way of me getting that power. That doesn't leave me much of a choice, does it?"
Donald glared, willing his vision to vaporize the tall mouse then and there. As he thought about all the things he'd like to do to that treacherous male, he was completely caught off guard by the question that followed. "Say, Donald, why don't you join me?"
"What?!" That, surprisingly, had come from the Prince. "Are you completely mad? Donald would never-" He was stopped short when another knife flew in his direction, embedding itself in the wall only an inch away from his throat. "Silence, you insolent fool. I was not addressing you." The taller mouse said darkly. Turning his attention back to the mallard, he continued.
"I've been watching you closely, young lad. I can see that we share a mutual dislike towards the royal family. I know you've been holding in those feelings of hatred, particularly the ones toward the Prince. I've seen how he treats you unfairly, how he often makes you the scapegoat for many of his own schemes. Even with all the work you do for him, he never really appreciated you. Has he ever thanked you or showed you gratitude for the endless torment you go through serving him? Has he ever given you credit where it's do? You don't need to follow him anymore, lad. Come work under me, and I'll make sure all your work is rightfully rewarded." Mortimer pulled back the blade and held out his hand. A smile that held no humor settled on his face. "What do you say, Donald?"
There was a moment of silence as the two mice awaited the teenage mallard's reply, one with anxiety and the other with triumph. The focus of the group had his head slightly lowered, making it hard to tell his expression. But once he did look up, he had a look of annoyance on his face. "Two things." He told the taller mouse. "One, thanks for letting me know that someone in this blasted palace actually knew that it wasn't me who pulled those pranks. And two, it's true that serving His Highness can be a pain in the butt, and he is by far not the most generous master one can have, but…" There was no warning as he swung his sword at the older male, making the mouse jump back to avoid the blade.
Donald stood up, glaring hard at the traitor. He stood firmly in front of the Prince, sword posed to strike. "My loyalty lies with the King and the Prince. And nothing you say is ever going to change that!"
Behind him, the Prince was staring wide-eyed at him. He gave a small, relieved smile. "Donald…"
"When this is over, you're going to pretend you never heard that." The duck muttered quietly. The teenage mouse chuckled. "Right. Of course."
Donald was suddenly glad that he had his back to the Prince, because he really didn't want His Highness to see how wide he was smiling. Shifting his attention back to the problem at hand, he growled again at the older mouse.
Mortimer was looking at him with an amused smile that was unnerving. He mentally readied himself for whatever was coming next. Later, when he looked back to this moment, he would realize that nothing would've prepared him for what was about to transpire.
"Really, Donald. I'm impressed." Mortimer laughed coldly as his swung the sword a couple of times in the air. "You've really come a long way from that whimpering child when I first met you."
Donald blinked. He didn't hesitate to let the confusion show on his face. "What are you talking about?" He pressed. "We first met when I was ten. And if I remember correctly, I kicked you in the shin."
"Oh, no. My first encounter with you was much earlier than that." The mouse said, taking a step closer towards the mallard. Donald tensed, but the confusion was still there. What was he saying?
"But I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't remember. You were so young then, and I wasn't myself." The older mouse steadily stepped closer, as if intending to intimidate him. Donald stood his ground, but couldn't stop the foreboding feeling that something was very wrong. He held his sword high, trying to be ready for any sudden movements. "Then again…" Mortimer reached into his armor, and Donald tensed, expecting him to throw another knife, "…maybe this will help."
Donald took one look at the object the traitor held in his hand and felt his world implode.
To be continued…
Another cliffhanger! Be sure to check in tomorrow for more!
Writing this chapter was also loads of fun! If you want to question why he didn't just free the Prince and take on Mortimer together, you must remember that Donald's pretty much control by his rage in this chapter. And we all know he doesn't take the best course of action when enraged. Plus, I enjoyed giving Donald the full action spotlight here. XD
I also enjoyed letting Donald (confess his love) declare his loyalty toward the Prince. X3
What is it that Mortimer had that made Donald react like that?
~ruth~