Loyalty

The next morning found Gai again in the mess hall slowly eating a small bowl of mush. He didn’t care what the honey touched goop was, he was just trying to delay his promised appointment with the Prince. All night he had sought a way out of it, but beyond being rude, there simply was no way. The Prince had given him plenty of openings to decline the day before and he had not taken them. He did not even know where he would meet the Prince, but if worse came to worse he could seek him out at his room. Who knew when the Prince normally woke? Sure he was in charge of the country now, but Gai had ignored the change in leadership as much as possible. His orders came by carrier pigeon and that had been most of his connection to the government since his King was isolated.

The sudden setting down of a bowl and cup on his table drew his attention up and to the face of a slightly tired but otherwise bright-eyed prince. Gai shot back in his chair and stood up quickly, this time not missing the scowl and wince that fluttered over the Prince who immediate seated himself.

Gai followed more slowly, “Highness.”

Prince Vos looked up and leaned conspiratorially across the table, “I think we should draw as little attention as possible to my identity today, alright? I have informed my advisors that I am taking day to complete some studies and office business in my private study today.”

“Alright, Highness. But how do you suppose no one will notice if they see you are not there?”

“Please, drop the honorific. My first name is Brennus, use that.”

Gai stared at the royal across from him. Dressed in plain brown pants and slightly darker and worn boots with an un-dyed cotton shirt and a very plain vest he would barely pass for a plebian with a job, much less anyone of wealth. However his features were still more refined than you saw in much of anyone below the merchants.

“What is it?”

Gai refocused on the Prince’s face and made a slight negative motion with his head, the Prince seemed satisfied with that.

Their meal was completed quickly enough and The Prince…Brennus…followed Gai to the window to return their bowls and cups. They then proceeded out to the stables where Gai was given his rejuvenated warhorse and Brennus was gifted with a less noble steed. Gai vaguely recalled it being a horse the youngest nobles at the palace used to train on. However, The Prince made not comment only thanking the stable boy and going about saddling the poor beast.

The grounds as they left the castle gates were just rising up with the clamor of soldiers and knights going through morning exercises. As they reached the empty land that separated the town from the castle – a precaution as the town surrounded the Castle anyway – Brennus seemed to sigh and relax into his horse. The sun was bright and rising not too far above the distant mountain line.

“Gaizka is my first name, please feel free to call me that today. It will raise less questions.”

Brennus smiled at him slightly and nodded before returning to focus on the road and enjoying the ride.

The town was crowded with the bustle of mid-week market: farmers from the country as well as passing travelers setting up shop with carts or makeshift tents. Some stores stretched bright cloth from their buildings to not be hidden in the hub-bub of the day. The Prince, while excited and obviously eager to be in town, did not seem nervous at all. He navigated his horse easily through the packed streets and Gai followed at a slower pace, his larger war horse requiring a bit more room than available. Finally they arrived at a stable raised for just such a purpose as to care for horses of travelers. Normally Gaizka would never trust his horse with anyone he was not a frequent customer of but the Prince dismounted and led his beast under the bright curtain and wood walls. Not wanting to be too far from him the Knight followed quickly as was allowed. The Stable had a shifting light with the thin cotton letting in varying degrees of light and casting a pale orange light over the rooms. The Prince was standing in a large stall talking with a boy much taller than himself, probably Gaizka’s height. His horse was already unsaddled and tethered to a post with lush hay and cool water in a bin just before him.

Gaizka made an ominous appearance as he rose behind the Prince, “Brennus.”
The Prince turned and inclined his head to the man who apparently worked at the stables, “This is Yuya. He will take good care of our horses.”

Gaizka barely managed to not argue the point and walked to tether his own horse next to the Prince’s and remove the saddle and bit. He saw as the Prince passed two shinning silver coins to the man before striding out of the shelter with Gaizka at his side.

Their first stop was a jeweler’s that tried to talk the Prince into buying a crystal necklace that he promised would charm against any ill will. The Prince bartered and looked but ultimately bought nothing. Then it was a cloth shop with standard quality cloth that had been dyed somewhere in the east and had made the long journey to the capitol of this country. These were goods that were hard to come by for most citizens, even much of the nobility. But the Prince should have had ten times quality cloth hand delivered to his rooms; instead he bartered cheerfully and actually purchased three separate large swaths of brilliantly colored cloths. These were folded and bound in a heavy cloth bag by the merchant and walked around the tent to be placed gracefully in the Prince’s waiting hands. The Prince thanked the man again, though honestly he was doing the merchant a favor, and they were off again. Several shops later and very few purchases left the pair tired and hot.

A young girl with rich olive skin of the north and blue-black hair rushed up to Gaizka with a woven basket raised in her hands. Poppies and violet bunches lifted a strong fragrance to his nose. The small voice calling up to him plaintively raked on his already strained nerves till he turned with a glare and laid a hand against the girl’s shoulder while bellowing, “Leave me be!” The girl shook with fear and bit her lip till blood stained the otherwise perfect skin.

A gentle hand on his elbow dragged his eyes off the girl and to the impassive expression of the Prince. Without comment he bent down and cleaned the girl’s chin with a sleeve of his shirt and hugged her closely whispering something as he did so. Without her notice several coins dripped into her dress pocket before the Prince stood again, “Now then, little miss. Might you sell me pocket of Poppies?”

“Ah, sir. Please, which one you want?”

The Prince selected one from the top center and presented her with the one bronze it cost. Then she was off like lightening, disappearing into the crowd, undoubtedly to return the small coin to her mother before shouting her wares again. Brennus prayed she picked a better customer next time.

Turning to his companion the Prince smiled slightly, “I think some lunch is in order. This bustle gets to my delicate sensibilities.”

With a silent nod the Knight led the way to a relatively nice tavern that was crowded but not packed on days like this. They were quickly given a seat – probably because the hostess recognized a Knight easily.

Seated with cool mugs of water and ale before them Gaizka finally began to relax, “Brennus, this isn’t your first venture into the city is it?”

The smile the Prince gave him was impish and knowing, “Well, when I was quite young my tutors brought me to learn about bartering and the general economic system of the cities. Then as a teenager I stole away with a few friends and lived like youth is wont to do. Still into my adult years I ventured out, the people provided much interesting conversation and histories. What better way to know the country I was one day to rule than to experience it myself.”

“You spent a lot of time out here then?”

“I suppose, more than most nobility sons and daughters. I had my first ale at a grimy tavern and made a few friends in some of the dirtier parts of the city. I suppose looking back I should be glad nothing befell me, but I was young and incautious. I played my role of street rat fully, enjoyed the performance, like some great play.”

The Prince sighed lightly and took a drink of his ale, “Of course, when my father…fell ill…I couldn’t risk it. And then when he was unable to appear in court and I was forced to take over his duties there was no time. No possibilities. I risked a lot spending my youth in the town. Now I see so much more I could have been preparing for. So much I could have already accomplished.” The Prince rested his chin on his hand and gazed over the crowded tables, “But I suppose that’s always how it is. Retrospect provides a lot of insight not available in the moment.”

The Knight nodded and finished off his own ale quickly before continuing the conversation, “So, what sort of illness befell your father?”

“Ah, I cannot tell you.”

“Because you don’t know?”

“Because you won’t understand.” The Prince’s expression was firm and Gaizka was sure this was another topic that would lead to them crossing blades, so he changed it quickly.

“Why did you buy all that cloth?”

“Huh?”

“From the merchant out there?”

“Oh, well, because it’s pretty.”

The Knight was astounded, flattened, by the simplicity of the answer. It was Pretty! Did the Prince have no concept of how nobility typically acquired pretty things? Or that there were far prettier things available? Gaizka knew and he didn’t even desire pretty things!

“Pretty?”

“Of course! One is yellow with bright flecks of gold and another deep sea blue with faint patterns bordering it. They are absolutely delectable, lovingly made and carted here for just this purpose!”

“Then why not purchase any myriad of the sparkling jewelry we saw?”

“Why, because it was cheap.”

Gaizka shut his eyes briefly against the illogical nature of the Prince. When he opened them again the Prince was no longer sitting across from him. He stood sharply and raked his eyes over the crowd. There! He was leaning across a table forearm to forearm with a ruffian. “Pr..!” Gaizka nearly shouted the honorific and if that were revealed the ensuing frenzy could cause some serious hard but how many would recognize his first name? Growling under his breath Gaizka moved toward the table slightly but it was quite crowded. There was nothing for it, “Brennus!”

The boy turned his head and motioned the Knight over. When he arrived Gaizka glared down into the face of the rough looking kid who matching him eye for eye. The Prince held out a hand to the ruffian, “This is Nathan. He and I used to hang out a lot. Unfortunately he doesn’t stay around a lot and I can’t always see him when he is in town.”

“Gypsy.”

The boy bowed over the table and looked up into the sharp eyes of the Knight unflinchingly, “With pleasure.”

The Prince smiled at the other boys and two girls at the table. All were dressed in swaths of cloth with flat bellies or smooth chests revealed between the layers of clothing. Several had piercings and gold chains linking across their face or ears. Nathan turned his attention back to the Prince, “So Bren, is this your body guard or something? Or do you owe him a debt?” The statement was accompanied by a waggle of the eyebrows and the Prince laughed gaily at the statement.

“Oh, my friend. He is neither. He was simply kind enough to sacrifice part of his day for me. I insisted on some company as I did not know what kind of friends I may run into. And as you know, my skill with knife and sword are paltry at best.”

“Indeed. But such a fine specimen, I must wonder where you acquired such a friend as this.”

The Prince was silent but gave a careful look to Nathan before turning to his companion, “I am afraid I have overstayed my visit.”

The Knight recognized the escape immediately and easily dismissed himself to pay for the uneaten food and drink while the Prince – Brennus – bid goodbye and retrieved his bags. They did not pause for any merchants on the way to their horses and once there the boy had already had them saddled and was waiting outside the stalls. The Prince nodded to him and flipped a coin before mounting swiftly and with much more skill than previously demonstrated. The crowd seemed to melt before him as he rushed from the crowded streets leaving Gaizka to follow less easily.

On the open road the Prince did not ease his pace but urged the weak beast into another cantor. The Knight kept up easily enough, though he didn’t understand fully the Prince’s change in demeanor. However, glad to be done for the day he made not attempt at conversation.

Inside the walls the Prince was out of his saddle before the horse stopped completely. His reins were tossed to a stable hand and he was gone before Gaizka could lead his own beast to it’s stall.