Hello! I am so excited to have another favorite 3
I hope you guys enjoy this chapter where we see the first challenge in action.
The Disclaimer is that if I owned Cinderella, I wouldn't be stuck doing homework all day on a Saturday.
Reviews would make me as happy as Rapunzel seeing the floating lanterns in Tangled.
Chapter 7 Zero to Hero
Back at the palace, the king and all of his advisors were waiting on Kit to start.
Julius suggested, "We should just start without the Simpleton. He is probably wondering around the docks still. He doesn't have the skills like Kane or Kurt to trade."
The king appeared not to hear Julius though he may actually have not heard due to his worsening hearing.
"Yes Father, let me share my trade agreement now." Kane said.
"Or I could go." Kurt argued as he made a fist.
Just then, Kit entered with the captain and stood behind his brothers.
"Now that all of you are here at last," Julius glared at Kit before smiling obsequiously at Kane. "Kane, present your trade agreement." Julius bowed.
"Father, I have set up a new trade agreement. We will now trade in….exotic dancers!" Kane finished with an elaborate flourish as one of the girls, very scantily clad in black and red, entered the room and started dancing while Kane continued. "We will have an open agreement with the captain and promise him safe harbor."
As she went through a provocative move, Kane smiled and said "We should have no problem making a profit."
Kane eyed the lords of the court, their baffled and pleased expressions. "Or finding buyers."
Kane smirked and crossed his hands behind his back, confident in his deal.
"Oh, excellent idea, your highness. We will fill the royal coffers with this trade indeed." Julius turned to the king, expecting him to simply nod and say yes.
The king's eyes were wide with shock. "But we have never traded in slaves before."
Julius jumped in. "But it will be so profitable your majesty. Just think of the treasury. Well done Kane."
The king still looked a bit nervous as he read the agreement Kane had signed.
Kurt stepped forward. "My deal is much better." He glared at Kane. "I have got us trade with fire bolts. They will be great for sieges, very powerful." Kurt rubbed his hands together. "Just think of how our enemies will fear us, even more so than they do now."
"Good idea Kurt." Julius smiled at him.
The king frowned as he read over the agreement. "We can't afford this Kurt. The amount of gold is too much."
Julius interjected as Kurt nodded in agreement. "But sire, such a weapon is worth its weight in gold."
The king sighed and noticed his youngest waiting patiently.
"Kit, what do you think?" Perhaps his son would have more surprises in him like he did the day of the hunt, the king thought.
Kit hesitated as his brothers glared at him. Kane rolled his eyes. Kurt even took a threatening step toward him, cracking his knuckles. But he saw the captain eyeing him too and Alistair nodding encouragement and he straightened his spine.
"Well…I know mother would disapprove of the dancer trade, and our kingdom has avoided slave trade for years. I see no need to start now." Kit's voice grew with confidence. "The fire bolt trade is expensive. Besides, sieges involve the most civilian casualties. We should try to avoid that type of blood on our hands."
Kit gestured the captain forward. "I have found a new trade deal with this Roman captain."
Kit ignored the gasps of shock.
"He has agreed for a trade of knowledge. He will teach us how to make concrete and how to build arches. In exchange, we will trade the invention of a lodestone compass."
The king's eyebrows rose and Julius' jaw dropped. Kane frowned, dismayed that Kit had actually found a trade. Kurt began rubbing his hand on his sword, feeling the urge to hit Kit.
"Where did this invention come from?" the king asked.
"I invented it father." Kit said, wringing his hands behind his back nervously.
"And you agree with this deal, captain?" the king asked.
"Yes, your majesty. Rome respects strength and progress and I have seen both in Kit today." The court broke out into murmurs. Strength was never something associated with the simpleton. But talking to a Roman? That was impressive to some. Others, thought it showed how stupid he was to trust those people.
"Indeed." The king murmured. He spoke louder as he declared, "Very well, I have come to a decision. We will go forward with Kit's trade deal." The king inclined his head at Kit and smiled at his boy.
All Kit could do was to nod and shake hands with the captain and his friends.
Meanwhile, Julius, Kane, and Kurt all exchanged looks of disbelief and disgust and then glared at Kit.
Later that night, at the banquet for Kit's 21st birthday, they all met up to discuss what the heir challenge meant.
Several goblets of wine and mead later, and they were all laughing at being scared of Kit winning.
Julius swore to help Kane in any way he could by influencing the king.
Kane scoffed at his offer, "I don't need help to best Kit. He simply played father by virtue of pity and using the Queen's memory poorly."
Kurt agreed with a hearty swallow of mead. "He's so dumb, he probably didn't realize he was talking with a Roman, dirty bastards. I should beat Kit around, show him his place...then again.."
Kurt drifted off as he grabbed yet another mug and mead and a passing servant girl onto his lap.
Kane continued "Besides, how can a simpleton ever hope to win more than one event?"
Julius and Kane exchanged smirks.
Meanwhile, Kit had a wonderful time with his friends.
He was surprised by the congratulations he got from a few of the courtiers who usually never bothered to talk to him.
All in all, it had been his best birthday since his mother had passed away.
He went to sleep that night, dreaming of brown eyes sparkling at him among the trees.
Next challenge/chapter coming soon!