Author's Note: Thank you to Jimli and Arista Everett June for following and especially for the reviews; and thanks to UrgingBee for following and favouriting this story.

THE WIZARD'S PRICE

CHAPTER 2

When King Ludovick died Artus was still only a boy, so Queen Kalanta reigned in his stead. As young as he was, Artus had to learn what would be expected of him when he became King. His first official duty was a state visit with the Queen to their neighbours, King Gustav and Queen Margaretta of Eburon.

King Gustav was the nephew of the old King of Eburon who'd never married. The King had been very old already before he had acknowledged Prince Gustav as his heir. Then he had insisted that as Gustav was the Crown Prince, he should live in the Royal Palace with his family. At least Prince Gustav had obtained leave for his pregnant wife and two youngest children to stay in their home in the countryside but he'd had to bring his three older children to the palace that was run like a military camp. Soon he'd learned what the military preparations were all about. The old King had ordered the invasion of Peratha Prince Gustav had been horrified. Nevertheless he had been made to join and lead Eburon's army in the unprovoked attack on the peaceful neighbours.

After the war the old King had started to show signs of paranoia as well; one day accusing his nephew of plotting to overthrow him and the next day telling him there was no one else he could trust. For no reason the King had burst out in uncontrollable rages, ranting and raving like a maniac. During one of these attacks he had suddenly slumped down in his chair, dead.

Thus, barely a year after the signing of the peace treaty the old King of Eburon had died and his nephew had become the new King. Immediately after his coronation King Gustav had sent an official dispatch to King Ludovick of Peratha ratifying the peace treaty and voicing his hopes for friendship between the countries. King Ludovick had invited King Gustav for an official visit during which the two kings found they wanted the same things for their countries. Ever since that day, the monarchs had visited each other's country once a year, a tradition Queen Kalanta was eager to honour.

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The first official visit wasn't easy for Artus. He had to sit through long talks on politics and economy between his mother and King Gustav; he had to attend a lot of official ceremonies; he had to accompany his mother on visits to war monuments, exhibitions and museums; and to top it all the evenings were tedious and interminable. During a particularly dreary dinner party, a boy quietly came to Artus and said, "Come, let's get out of here. This thing is boring the pants of me."

Silently Artus followed the boy; glad he could finally stretch his legs. Without a word the boys went up stairways and round corners until they stopped in front of a door.

"This is Anna's room. She was my nanny when I was little and she always has some sweets for me. Come, I'll introduce you."

They entered the room, but when the strange boy wanted to introduce Artus, all he said was, "Nanny Anny, this is…this is..."

Nanny scolded the boy, "Prince Carl, are you telling me you have not introduced yourself to your guest? Has all my work been in vain? You run around like a young barbarian with manners to match. I'm ashamed you did not learn any better. A Prince should know how to behave like a gentleman."

"Oh, pooh," said Prince Carl. "As if anybody cares about MY manners. I'm just one Prince too many. I know my father would rather have had a Princess, to marry off the some King."

Then he turned to Artus, clicked his heels, bowed and said, "I'm Prince Carl, youngest son of King Gustav and Queen Margaretta. This is Mistress Anna, my former nanny and only friend."

Artus bowed as well and introduced himself to Prince Carl and Anna.

While the visit of Queen Kalanta and Prince Artus to Eburon lasted the two boys who were of a similar age spent every spare minute together. For the first time in their lives, they had a friend. It was a sad parting for both when the Perathans returned to their country.

Artus and Carl kept in touch by letter for a while. Suddenly Carl stopped writing and in the end Artus too gave up. Then King Gustav and Queen Margaretta made their annual visit to Queen Kalanta. Amongst the nobles who had come with them was a very gloomy looking Prince Carl. King Gustav apologized for bringing his youngest son.

"We don't know what is wrong with him. He just sits about, looking miserable or angry; he doesn't speak to anybody and when asked 'what is wrong' he just shrugs his shoulders, goes to his room and locks the door. That's been going on for months now. We're at our wits' end. Then we thought the excitement of a trip and the change of scenery might be good for him but he's been like this for the whole journey. I do apologize for bringing such an unpleasant guest to your court."

Queen Kalanta said, "That is no problem. I'll leave it to Artus to put your boy at ease."

Artus bowed to the guests, said, "It would be my pleasure" and motioned to Carl to precede him. Carl slouched to the door. Artus felt like pushing him to hurry him out of the room. Instead he followed Carl with as much decorum as he could muster. As soon as they were well away from the official reception, Artus scolded the bad-tempered Prince.

"Thanks for looking so happy that we meet again. I'm sure I don't know why you came. It was obvious when you stopped writing that you didn't want to be my friend anymore. "

Then he suddenly stopped. There were tears in Carl's eyes and Artus was amazed that his happy, light-hearted friend of half a year ago had become so sad.

"What is wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing."

It was meant to sound sulky and rude but Artus could hear the stifled sob in Carl's voice.

"Nothing? Ha! As you would say 'pull the other one, it's got bells on'."

"What would you know? You're an only child. You're the centre of the universe to your mother. But what am I? The odd one out, one son too many!"

Carl had shouted the last words so hard that Artus feared it might be heard by the Queen and her guests. He grabbed Carl by the arm and dragged him as far away from the official reception rooms as possible to the small parlour that had become his private den. He unceremoniously plonked his friend down in a comfortable sofa and sat down opposite him.

"Tell," he insisted.

The forceful attitude of his friend had taken Carl of guard and before he realised it he was telling Artus about his problems.

"I never had anybody," he said. "I never had a friend at home. My brother is so much older than I am and even my youngest sister is four years older. My parents never had time for me either. My father has my brother, his son and heir. He didn't need another one. At least my sisters were important to form alliances. My mother too preferred girls. They talk about clothes and husbands and other boring stuff all day long. The only one who cared about me was Nanny Anny."

Artus remembered the woman he'd visited in her room with Carl.

"Surely she still cares about you, Carl. That was obvious from seeing you two together."

"She's gone," Carl blurted out. "She got married and she's gone. She lives somewhere in town with this man."

"You can still go and visit her, can't you?"

"I did …some months ago … and I saw her belly. She was expecting a child of her own. She doesn't want me anymore now she has a baby; nobody wants me."

He got up to run away but Artus grabbed him by the arms.

"I need you. You are the only friend I have ever had."

He saw the look of incredulity in Carl's eyes.

"Do you think my parents always had time for me? Father was ruling the country and I barely saw him. And now mother is always busy. It seems that the only time I see her is at official functions and during meals. You're not the only one who knows what loneliness is, Carl."

Silence. Then after some time Carl said, "I've behaved like an idiot, haven't I."

"Yes."

"I've been a selfish little sod."

"Yes."

"Do you want to be friends with an idiotic, selfish little sod?"

"No … but I still want to be YOUR friend."

"In less than a week I'll have to go back home though, and it'll be nearly six months before you and your mother come to visit us. Even then I'll hardly see you. It will be official duties and official dinners the whole time."

Artus hadn't heard a word of his friend's moaning. Something had occurred to him and he was working out the practicalities in his mind.

"Do you think your parents would mind if you stayed here with us? I'm sure it will be alright for my mother. We can learn together and play together and we won't be so lonely anymore."

Carl said, "That's a capital idea!" and cheered up considerably.

"We'll have to ask our parents first, so don't get your hopes up too high. They might say no."

But Carl thought it was such a good idea that nobody could say 'NO' to it.

That evening before dinner Artus told Queen Kalanta about the idea he'd had and how wonderful it would be for him and Carl. The Queen thought it would be an excellent solution to her son's loneliness but to Artus she only said, "I'll ask his parents if they agree and if they do, I have no objections."

When she posed the question to King Gustav and Queen Margaretta, the King said, "I hope you realise what you ask, Majesty. Our son is an impossible boy and might disrupt your quiet life."

"The disruption will come as a relief to my son. It is far too quiet here for a boy his age. He is getting far too serious. The friendship with your son will do him the world of good."

"Well then I give my permission. They might influence each other in a positive way. Your quiet son might quieten down my wild boy and we might have two well-balanced sons in the end."

And so the deal was done. Carl just went to fetch his belongings and returned as soon as possible. The two boys did everything together and became as close as brothers. Sometimes Carl went to visit his parents but more and more he felt that his home was now with Queen Kalanta and Artus. Eventually he called her 'mother' as well.

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