Chapter 2: Arthur and the Faeries

It was discipline on the plan today. After breakfast, Arthur had disappeared from his room where he was supposed to be studying. At first, Kai believed the boy had sneaked off to go to the woods and pick some berries for himself for a snack. Father attributed it to boyish mischief. "You'll have to teach him a lesson when he comes back," he said that morning before he and Mother went off to visit their neighbor for dinner and negotiations for sheep grazing lands. "You are acting Lord of the Castle while I'm out. He's your squire, he needs to respect you."

Kai waited for the prodigal to climb back in. He would have to give him a thrashing now, something he truly didn't want to do.

Six hours later, household guards were scouring the woods and even the village, searching for a scruffy boy with golden hair and freckles. Like his parents, Kai himself was beside himself with worry for the little rascal. He even participated in searching houses and demanding for more scouts to be found. As the local lord's heir, he had the power to do many things, but finding Arthur didn't seem to be one of them. He had failed.

When his parents got home, he didn't know how he would tell them. It would break their hearts. They had never had another child after Kai, and Arthur had been their baby lambling.

Kai didn't even care that he had failed his mission and would be in deep disgrace. Father would certainly take him over a barrel and tan his hide, he would take a thrashing every day for a month if it brought his beloved brother back.

By evening, the entire castle was frantic. Twelve hours had passed. Guards were searching the woods by torchlight, and Kai was looking very pale and terrified. "We can't lose the boy," he kept muttering to himself, feeling as if Mother's jewels had been stolen. Arthur might have been a poor orphan relation, but he was family now. They all loved him. When he found who had stolen him, heads would roll.

He was waiting for a fresh horse in the garden, feeling like he would scream in frustration. Who could have taken that child? He was just a poor orphan from a minor part of the family. Still, Father was lord Ector, the Baron of Lockwood Manor, and would gladly pay to keep his ward safe.

"Gods of the Old and New, let him be safe," he said out loud, as he tried to formulate a plan. He paced around the trees, miserable. "I'll never forgive myself if anything happens."

"Who are you talking to?" a sweet voice asked from above.

Kai whirled around and saw his skinny little brat of a fosterling brother sitting in a tree. Just sitting there and smiling as if he was relaxing after a good meal.

"Where have you been?" he demanded, grabbing the boy off the thick branch and hugging him tightly. "How did you even get up there?"

"A nice old man taught me magic," Arthur said cheerfully. "I was a falcon today and I flew all over the kingdom."

Kai felt anger replace the relief. "Do you know how worried we have all been?"

"I didn't realize it would take so long," Arthur said, his blue eyes surprisingly guileless. "I flew all the way to the sea and back."

"Tell me the truth. Where were you?" Kai ordered.

"I was flying around as a falcon," Arthur replied, his blue eyes surprisingly guileless. "I told you."

"You expect me to believe it?"

"It's the truth, Elder brother."

This haunted Cai. Arthur was not known for dissembling. He could be mischievous, but he was always honest. He was a good boy.

Besides if he was being deceitful, he would have come up with a better lie. "Tell me everything," he said, kneeling to look at him.

Arthur chattered away. "An old man came to me while I was in my room this morning. He said I was special and would do great things someday. He asked me if I could be any animal, what would I be? I asked if I could be a Merlyn and he said yes, he was a merlin too. The next thing I knew, I had sprouted feathers and was a falcon. I flew around, I ate squirrels, they were delicious. So much better than when they are in a pie. I loved it. Flying is so wonderful, you can see everything. I saw the dark gray sea and the clouds and the green lands. I was so fast! When it got dark, I came home. I landed on a branch, but I couldn't turn back into a boy until I heard your voice."

Kai held in his worry. Given how clean Arthur's clothing was, it was likely the truth. It was faerie spells or one of the other dangerous creatures of magic. Arthur was old enough to know not to speak to strangers. "When a strange old stranger sneaks into the castle to speak to you, why did you not run away to the guards?"

"He seemed harmless," Arthur said, not understanding the seriousness of his actions.

"Oh, and if he had been an ogre or a faerie who wanted to eat a delicious child, what then?" Kai Would have to make sure Arthur never did this again. "You should have never agreed to anything without telling us."

Arthur looked up at him. "I'm sorry, I didn't think," he whispered, realizing he was in trouble.

"He could have kidnapped you or harmed you. Magic is dangerous!"

"He said he was a good wizard and was helping me learn!"

"That doesn't mean it's true! You have been sheltered in the nursery and don't understand how dangerous the world is! What if he wanted you for lunch? Sweet tender children are the favorite food of the dark elves, faeries and goblins, and all other creatures of the night. You should never have done this," Kai said, knowing his duty.

"Oh," Arthur whispered, looking frightened. "I am sorry, Elder Brother!"

"Well, I am sorry too, sorry we're going to have to have a very unpleasant lesson right now, after I bring you back inside," Kai said. He had given the boy a few light teasing swats on occasion, but only as a joke. Father had done the discipline till now, but he was acting Lord. He'd have to be thorough. Father and duty demanded it.

He picked up the boy and carried him inside. "I found the naughty rascal," he said to the relieved crowd of servants. Arthur hid his face, ashamed. "I will deal with him. Tell the household to ignore any noise they hear, it's going to be very loud. For a little fluff, he has quite a set of lungs. He will apologize to everyone in the morning."

"Young lord, perhaps you should wait for your father to handle it. You've always had a soft spot for the boy," Steward Hugh said with a rueful smile.

"I am standing in for my lord father. I promise he'll be sleeping on his stomach tonight. I will do my duty," Kai said, getting a nod of approval from the Steward.

"Sleep on my stomach?" Arthur moaned in terror, his head buried in Cai's neck. "No!"

"A thrashing is just what you deserve. That was very naughty, young master!" The steward scolded. "You worried all of us!"

Arthur squeaked in fear at that. "I'm sorry," he pleaded. "Please don't thrash me!"

"Quiet," Kai said grimly, as he carried the boy upstairs to their room. "You caused such trouble for everyone, you're fortunate I don't do this at breakfast tomorrow in the great hall."

That had been done to him when he was ten and he still burned with shame. True, he had eaten all the cherries from the kitchen so none were available for the feast, so he had deserved it. It still didn't negate how bad it felt. He had been so sick that he had thrown up and had to stay in bed for days.

When he was finally recovered, Father had stood him up for the entire hall and said that the reason that there had been no cherry tarts last night was that a certain little lord had decided to be greedy. He then turned the boy around and mercifully let him hide his face, before giving him the most thorough spanking with his hand. After Kai's screeching turned to helpless broken sobs, he had the indignity to have his hose dragged up his sore flesh, and to choke out an apology to the household, after demonstrating his penance. Worse, he had been taken down into the kitchen and personally apologized to Cook. Father had asked for a chair. Kai's hose had again been yanked down and he got five swats with a wooden spoon. "Justice has been served."

Cook had joked that not even he could sear a rump roast so well. "Roasted to a crisp." Father had laughed and swatted Kai's sore rear. The biscuits Cook sneaked him did help, and everyone assured him they forgave and loved him.

It was two-year-old Arthur who didn't understand what happened, but comforted him best with silly songs and hugs.

Kai had promised himself to behave and be a good example for his baby brother.

Now, he would live up to that promise.

Next Chapter: Arthur and the Consequences of Being with the Faeries