Neko-laus 3: A tale of two kings

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Chapter One
A Princely Sum


I honestly had never let the thought pass my mind about getting Mom’s approval regarding my bed buddy. I mean, look at him. Really, I mean it. Look at him. Six weeks in the Wild and his skin had taken on a darker hue. He still looked pasty compared to me but match that newly tanned flesh with those blue eyes and the strands of gold how could you turn that down? Okay I hardly turned down anyone before but that doesn’t make me a slut just a little over indulgent. That was before the end of everything in the Shambles, now it’s just a rumble in the jungle with my tiger of choice. However, Mom made it clear that she did not approve.

Mom thought he had potential for being a witch but he was dangerously untrained. I thought Mags would go all attitudy on her when she announced her professional opinion to the Council of Witches but to my amazement and utter shock he just nodded and asked for a tutor. After testing the Council agreed that Mags was a danger to himself and others, without really knowing the full extent of how true they really were. Needless to say he was assigned to apprentice to a Master Witch. I kind of hoped it would be Mom but she was too busy to take on the training commitment that was required to get him under control.

Wendy was tested and declared untrained. I guess dangerously was a term only given to someone who could really do some serious damage. Okay, that came out wrong. I like Wendy now that he’s not sniffing around my ass and My Ass. However Mom found he had the time to take on partial training duties with him. His other Witch was older and was blind in one eye. He was making stunning progress.

Mags…not so much.

And I couldn’t help. Not because I couldn’t do magic but suddenly I was in a magistrate position and there was court every frickin day from sunrise till noon. After that I was in charge of matters of state which took up the rest of the day. If I wasn’t buried under piles of paper then Baret was trying to cut my hair, change my clothes, and take my blades. Nobody. I mean NOBODY takes my blades. It would have been easy to walk away from this but I could see the parallels in Grim running the RIPpers and surround territory effectively or having to handle infighting and killings because disputes got out of hand. Now that I had a raging headache every day from listening to complaints I could appreciate the sheer artistry Grim handled himself with. There were times I just wanted to stab the complaints both because it was so petty. The Wild and the Shambles were more kin than not.

Then to make my headache even more complete there were women and girls everywhere. Wendy, Mags and me were like the prize horses that had suddenly been added to the herd and all the mares were coming out to offer up the goods. Well that sounds better than we’re being circled by bitches in heat.

And to top that off, I perform marriages.

Big doe eyes are looking at me when they should be looking at who they are marrying. Mama doe is staring at me with that self same expression. Shudder. Considering no girl would look twice at me growing up I find this all to be a whole lot of distasteful. Besides, why would I want that when I got…whoa, what’s going on?

I tossed down the brush I was using and headed to the open window. Someone was getting a dressing down in a most humiliating public way. I stuck my head out fully intending to enjoy the much needed diversion and found my Mags standing there dripping wet as his Master Witch Skore yelled at him. What the hell?

“A child can do this, blackshirt. A mere child. Why can’t you? You claim to be the best of their witches but you can’t even light a candle. If Lady Witch hadn’t charged me with your training I would have kicked your ass back to the farm long ago…”

What killed me was that Mags just stood there, dripping wet and took that verbal abuse. I moved to jump out the window and rush to his defense when I felt a hand fall on my shoulder. Mom. It had to be here because she was the only one who could sneak up on me.

“What do you think you’re doing, Nicholas?”

“He’s mocking…”

“Master Skore is teaching. Leave it be.”

“But…”

Mom leaned out the window and looked down at the scene. “Your Magnus is the most spoiled child I have ever encountered.”

“He’s not a child.”

“Then that makes it worse, Nicholas. He’s a very powerful, very pampered and very spoiled man. He has never had to suffer the consequences of his actions because someone has always stepped in and either cleaned it up or took the blame.”

I opened my mouth to argue but then had to snap it shut because it was true.

“I blame his parents.”

“He doesn’t have any parents from what he’s told me. His own mother sold him to the Empire when she found out he was worth something.”

Master Skore picked up a bucket and threw it at Mags. No, no he can’t catch. Sure enough the bucket hit him high in the shoulder then bounced off to hit the ground. I thought Mags would kick it back at Skore but he just bent over, picked it up and headed to the cistern.

“That would explain it then, that self-importance that is his core. If he was catered to at every turn that is why he is so helpless.”

“Is that why you hate him?”

“I don’t hate Magnus, Nicholas. I just don’t see what the appeal is aside from his physical form. I can’t even say that if he was just standing there he would be appealing but that air of…”

“I think the word you’re searching for is entitlement.”

“Yes, that suits him. He has an air of entitlement that is rubbing everyone the wrong way.”

“It’s not as bad as it used to be.”

“I don’t think I want to even consider how bad it could have been. Master Skore teaches the children, Nicholas. He has patience and understanding way beyond anyone else in the Witches Council. I have never seen him berate a student like this before.”

“Oh yeah, that can be part of his charm.”

“What did you do when he was being so…charming?”

“I beat the crap out of him.”

Mom tossed her head back and laughed.

“What do you think of this?” Mom gestured to the unending stack of parchment and wooden scrolls that just seemed to magically multiply on my desk. The desk. It’s not MY desk.

“When do you think you’ll be done with Wendell?”

“He is a very talented witch but he lacks confidence. One of your companions has too much and the other not enough. That mechanical eye is something else. Madame Tera says that the scar on his face and that eye shouldn’t bother his casting but…how long ago was he scarred?”

I watched Mags pull up the full bucket and then turn and follow back down the path leading to Master Skore’s home.

“I don’t know. He’s a rather new addition to the team.”
“Tera seems to think that it’s more a mind disability than physical one.”

“So do I”

“She can’t get him to take that eye patch off outside of the house.”

“Mags said something about him wanting to paint. Maybe if Madame Tera got him to pain her house.”

Mom busted out laughing again.

“What?”

“I don’t think that is the kind of painting he meant. Once upon a time, Nicholas, this palace used to be bright with color. There were paintings on every wall depicting the history of our kingdom. In the Great Hall there used to be a painting showing the Royal Family, but it was ordered destroyed.”

I could imagine by who. The bastard who killed my father.

“It would do wonders if you would get your portrait painted.”

I turned away from the window now that I couldn’t see Mags backside anymore. “Let me clear up this misconception now. I am not a prince.”

“Of course not Nicholas, you are King.”

“No, no you’re not listening to me. I not a prince and I definitively am not King material.”

“Nicolai was a Prince. He was the second son of the Kingdom but he was a prince. With the King dead, and without heirs, you are the next King, Nicholas.”

“It seems that everyone has conveniently forgotten that I killed the last King.”

Mom stepped forward quickly and slipped her hand over my mouth. “No one knows what happened that night but you and me. Those creatures that always hung on his side, who transgressed against you, have been silenced. As far as the court knows those dogs finally turned on their master and it will remain so.”

“Ojislayer followed me all the way to the Shambles. How can this be a secret when everyone is still calling me that? Uncle Slayer.”

“Conjecture and wishful thinking.”

“After what he did to me…to us after all those years, you want him venerated as soon sort of hero?”

“He is not remembered as a hero. He was a cruel, petty and jealous man who didn’t even try to hide it from his people.” Mom’s hand slowly shifted sideways and stroked my cheek then reached up and brushed my hair back from my eyes. “The day you were born, your father was the first one to hold you. I knew just from the expression on his face that you were all that he had ever wanted. I saw the black, black hair and when you finally opened your eyes to world you had the topaz hue of the Royal family. Each passing day I saw you turn more and more into your father’s visage. I told you the day you stormed into the Great Hall, my heart stopped for a moment because I thought Nicolai had walked into the room.”

Mom paused.

“He stole your father from you. He stole your birthright. You should have had a noble’s education and training. You should never have known hunger. You should never have known cold. I did all I could in my power but after all I’m still just a mother. A woman who couldn’t protect the two most important people in my life.”

“I’m still alive.”

“There is survival Nicholas and there is living. I examined your body while you were weak, Nicholas. You are scarred in places that show you lead a difficult life after you left this place. I fear you’ve only been surviving. Now that you’re back, I’ve going to give you everything you have ever been denied.”

“If I’ve never had it, how would I know that I’m being denied?”

“Nicholas.” Mom’s cry was sorrowful.

“I’ve asked you to call me Nicky.”

“You know I can’t.”

“Because that is what you used to call Nicolai?”

“Do you even remember your father?”

“Bits and pieces but not much.”

“Everyone called him Nicky. He was kind and had a devilish sense of humor but when it came down to it he was a warrior and took up arms when he had to. His reputation with the blade is what drew the King’s hatred.”

I shook my head. I didn’t want to walk down memory lane. The road was too pitted with traps and sharp tearing recollections. It might have only been a child’s remembrance but you didn’t have to be an adult to know horror. “Not that I don’t appreciate this visit but you’re here because Baret came crying to you again.”

“You are making his life a hell.”

“I am who I am. It took me a long time to get down that journey of discovery and I’m not changing for anyone.”

“Nicholas, you don’t know who you are.”

“What?”

“You’re like a feral child that made his way back home after so many years lost out in the woods.”

“WHAT?”

“You found your way out there in that far off world but that is not OUR way. It is not your way. Now, I’ve upset you.”

“When are you going to be done with Wendell so I can hand all this back to you?”

“Nicholas. Nicholas, this is your duty as the Crown Prince. I have taken over as Regent only because I knew in my heart of hearts that you were safe and would return to us one day. You’ve lost so much, including your blood innocence and while I couldn’t protect you, I swore that night I would keep your legacy intact.”

“I’m only here to get Magnus and Wendell help with their magic.”

“Yes, your Tigers.”

“I had hoped you would teach Magnus.”

“I can’t be objective to the man bedding my son.”

“You had no problems with my choices before.”

“Females wouldn’t have looked at you because of the King. Fathers would never have allowed their daughters near you in fear of retribution. Hunters and Warriors were usually out of the palace so learning from them offered little danger…”

I could feel the big but in the air. “I’ve already chosen my partner.”

“No one is saying that Magnus is not your partner.”
“But…”

“He can’t be Consort.”

Consort? “I don’t need a Consort.”

“Nicholas. You’re not a child. You know the way the world works.”

“Apparently I’m too feral to realize…”

“Don’t you dare take that tone of voice with me.” I snapped my mouth closed.

“In the six years you’ve been gone, our lands have been encroached almost on a yearly basis. I’m the Witch of the West but everyone knows how old I am and my power is waning. They know that there is no direct heir to take over the throne and since they haven’t been able to take it by force…”

“Mom?”

“Baret is distressed because you won’t let him fit you for your new clothes.”

Clothes? What does new clothes have to do with enemies attacking the kingdom?

“They could not take us on the battlefield so now they send their eligible and fertile daughters to face us.”

“They trained their daughters as warriors?”

“Nicholas…have you ever lain with a woman?”

I could feel my face flush crimson and I ducked my head so my hair swung forward to hide some of my embarrassment.

“Tomorrow’s eve is a festival where four of the seven neighboring kingdoms have made it known that they are sending eligible daughters to visit us.”

“Well good for them. What does that have to do with…”

“They are coming for you, Nicholas.”

“I doubt that I would have any trouble with them. My blades…”

“They are coming to be chosen as your Queen, your Consort.”

I’m not stupid. I know I’m not so the fact that I didn’t want to face what Mom was saying was a conscious decision on some part of my mind.
“I have Mags.”

“He can’t provide you an heir.”

“Well I hope not.”

“Don’t make light of this Nicholas. Your marriage and coronation will quell a lot of unrest in the kingdoms and restore the status quo.”

“Whoa…what do you mean marriage? I told you that I have Magnus.”

“The kingdom is here only because that man left a legacy of fear behind him, a legacy that I have enforced as your Regent. What do you think will happen to that little boy and girl out there playing so innocently in the courtyard right now if you were to step away from your responsibilities. There were rumbles of war like an approaching storm before you got here, Nicholas. If that storm breaks it just won’t be the warriors and witches that get washed away. Those little ones will die with the rest of us. Can you stand there and tell me that you can allow that.”

“I have no ties here.” Even as I spoke it, I knew I was speaking lies.

“Then you can lie that at my feet.” Mom turned and looked back out the window. “I knew my fate was tied with the King long before I met your Father. I could have pretended you were his child. They were identical twins so when you were born you could have been accepted as his son. You would have been raised as the Crown Prince. You would have had the finest teachers, the best weapons masters all the food you could have wanted in your stomach. I robbed you of that because I wanted to be with the love of my life. The King would have never looked at you with scorn and he never would have raped his own son.”

“We were selfish Nicolai and I and now because of those five years we shared, this Kingdom is in jeopardy. Nicholas, you can’t get something for nothing. Everything costs something somewhere along the way. That is a sorrowful lesson that we had to learn. Wendell has told me that your Magnus was the greatest witch the black shirts had. All of you are here because this is the only place that you could think of that would save his life because his magic has slipped his control. It’s a life for a life.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Witches Council is saving your Tigers.”

“So you want me to save the Kingdom. And if I refuse?”

“It’s a life for a life.” Mom turned around with a trail of tears streaming down her face. “Don’t force me to take sides Nicholas you might not like the answer.”

“You’re forcing me to make a decision.”

“No. There is no decision to make just acceptance. You are Nicholas Ojislayer, Crown Prince. In a few days time there will be a huge festival and you will choose your bride and ally. On the night of the summer solstice you will be crowned King.”

“And if I refuse?”

“This kingdom will be burnt to the ground before the summer solstice. Bodies of its people will be strewn across our lands. This is the vision of the Oracle. She is young but so far her predictions have not been wrong. Unless there is a wedding and the cementing of a powerful ally to our starwalking Prince, there is nothing but bloodshed.”

“But…I love him.”

“I’m not telling you to toss Magnus away. He just can’t be your Consort.” Mom hugged me tight. “Hold on to him tightly but know when you have to let go and do what you have to do. Now that I’ve upset you, will you and your Tigers be coming to dine with me?”

“Yeah.” Mags and Wendy liked talking shop with Mom. I just sat there and listened to their stories as the evenings rolled on.

“Yes.” Mom corrected softly.

“Yes.”

“There is Duty, Nicholas but you can still find happiness.” Mom kissed me on the cheek and left the room. Her regular armed escort surrounded her as she walked down the halls.

Mom hadn’t said anything that I hadn’t suspected. I’d heard the whispers in the halls. The quickly cut off conversations and suddenly scurrying of servants feet away from me. I heard squeals of laughter and crossed back to the window. Leaning against the sill I crossed my arms in front of my chest and watched the children run around and play in the late afternoon sun.

There was no decision to make just acceptance.

This was like me walking into the Shambles alone. I wasn’t going to survive here on my own. Until Mags started showing some improvement with his magical control, there was no other place to go. More children showed up and now they were chasing each other around the fountain. This was going to be like taking over the Skullz and then establishing territory and gauging allies. Step one for me to take over the Skullz was to kill their leader.

Check. I’d already killed the King back when I was sixteen. No matter how much I loathed the name Ojislayer, I did earn it.

Step Two. I needed to bring the warriors under my leadership. I’ll pull my Lieutenants from there.

“Your Highness.”

I glanced back over my shoulder as Baret carried in more documents for me to read and seal. Step Three. I needed to keep my Groom happy. In the long run once I had him on my side he would be the first line of interference.

Still…acceptance sucked.

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*too much talking. Man, they just would not shut up no matter what I did to them* :)