Chapter 10 - In Due Time

My body ached.

From my head to my toes hurt. I groaned as Savi pulled my shirt across my arms.

"Savi."

"My Lord?"

"Have Sir Vlakd know that I shall not attend my archery lesson during the day as planned. I am much too sore from the lesson before." I instructed him.

"Yes, my Lord. But I need not for the Queen, our Luna, has already made it known to him that you would be absent from your lessons."

I looked at Savi with surprise. Not that I suspected he told lies, but I was filled with wonder as to why Mother would do such a thing.

"Why is that?" I asked him.

"I am not aware of her motives, my Lord. It is time for the morning meal."

"Let us go then."

By the time I sat at the table, everyone was already present. Father looked to be in a fairly good mood.

That pleased me because I saw a chance to bring up Ally and the plans I hoped were already set in motion for her.

Mother said a prayer and we began with our porridge.

"Father..." I began to say.

"If your words are to be about the rogue son, I have done as you asked. I have sent men to verify her words."

"Thank you Father." I said, trying my hardest to keep my emotions from spilling into a smile.

"The men will arrive when the moon is high and if she lies, the rogue dies. Do you want to do the honors of ending her life?"

My hands stilled at the thought of ending my mate's life.

I cleared my throat and looked up to see Father looking at me expectantly, as well Mother, Derrick and Marla.

I kept my face calm when in reality, I felt myself suffocating.

"Yes Father." I said, my voice sounding as honored as I could make it.

Father's laughter nearly shook the walls. I could not stomach a smile so I took a sip of my porridge instead.

"That! That is my son!" He exclaimed loudly as he laughed.

I nodded, trying to keep an act up for him.

"I feared your emotions cloud your mind. A king must always be prepared to do what is necessary to protect his kingdom. You make me proud."

I bowed slightly.

"Yes Father. Thank you Father."

I stared at my porridge, meaning to feed myself but the desire to eat had already left me.

How could I kill her?

I could not.

I can not.

Moon Goddess, please let her words be true. Please.

"Zan." Prince Derrick whispered to me.

I turned to him. He did not speak but his eyes told me he worried about me. The same worry was found in the eyes of Marla.

I said nothing and took a deep breath before I continued to eat.

I nearly lost my resolve when I realized it was the same porridge I fed to Ally last night.

I can not kill her. She is my mate.

We have not had enough time together.

I have not protected her.

Has she even been fed this morning? Should I visit her once more before night time?

I could. With my lesson being canceled, I had the day free.

"Mother." I called to her.

"Yes, my son."

I cleared my throat again.

"Savi tells me you demanded my morning archery lesson be called off. May I know why?"

Mother smiled.

"Ah yes. We have a ball to attend tonight son. I have seen your dancing and it hurts me that you dance as a child."

Derrick nearly choked on his porridge. He excused himself but I had already seen his mocking smile.

"It is my wish that you learn to dance as a Prince dances before we attend the ball. Along with your brother. It is rather unfortunate that he also has two left feet."

It was my turn to laugh.

"As you wish Mother." I said to her.

"I am grateful."

"If you insist on fraternizing with that maiden, you must at least know how to dance." Father quipped.

I chuckled.

"I will Father."

Breakfast ended on a light note.

After we had our meal, I made my way to the ballroom.

"Savi, I want you to find out if Father has truly sent men out to check on the words Ally spoke."

"As you wish, my Lord." Savi said with a bow.

He turned away from me and I continued on my way to the ballroom. Derrick stood, waiting with Marla at his side, in the center of the ballroom.

Distanced from them was Agnes, a high maid. She had her head bowed as the other maids did in our presence but her eyes rose to meet mine when I walked in.

I held her gaze with great intensity, challenging her to keep her eyes up. She lowered them quickly.

"Must you always flaunt your authority, brother?" Prince Derrick asked as I walked towards them.

"The Crown Prince must always have his presence known." I said as I walked to him.

"How else would he show his poor dance skills?"

Marla held back her chuckle. I looked at Derrick harshly but a smile graced my lips. I stood beside my brother and turned to the dance teacher.

His name was Alphonso.

"Shall we begin this session my Lord?" He asked me with his head bowed.

"Yes." I said.

"Thank you, my Lord. Prince Derrick, you shall have your mate, Marla as your partner per usual. Crown Prince, per usual, your dance partner shall be Agnes."

I turned to her, meeting her eyes briefly. In them, I could see our past lessons. But not just that, I saw what we were beyond our dance.

I nodded at Alphonso as Marla walked to me.

"My Lord." She said with a bow.

"Now we shall take our positions."

I knew that part well enough. Just as Derrick did, I placed one hand on her lower back as she delicately placed her hand on my shoulder. With my free hand, I held hers and stretched it to our side.

I felt uncomfortable being so close to another maiden. Being close to her. I felt my inner spirit, my wolf, begin to get triggered.

There was a shift in my countenance and Agnes felt it.

"Now we shall go over the basic steps."

I took a step forward and she took a step backwards. Then we took a step to the side and paused before doing the same thing in an opposite manner once again.

As we stepped, Alphonso clapped to maintain the rhythm.

"Crown Prince, relax your stance." Alphonso instructed.

I nodded and tried to do as he said but I could not let go of the thought that my mat would not approve of my actions.

I focused on Alphonso's claps to ease my mind. I did not know when but instruments replaced his claps and I glided mindlessly to its rhythm.

"Drink deep of the music and think of me Crown Prince." Agnes said under her breath.

I nearly stopped at her words but instead of doing that, I pressed hard on her hand until the whole courtroom heard her bones break.

She fell to the ground with a loud cry.

"Know your place." I said to her.

Derrick and Marla looked at me and then at her, confused.

I could see Savi at the entrance. He had news that greatly interested me.

"Thank you for the lesson Alphonso. I will take my leave now." I said before I began to walk away.