Chapter 23: Nobelesse De Nuit

"Hansel!" Sir Ivan yelled. Standing in the middle of his estate, he called out in all directions, searching for his 9 year old son. Holding his hands over his forehead to block out the sun, his eyes drifted over to the hill that served as his servants quarters.

Back in his cabin, Prince had just woken up and was planning out his next venture.

"So, we're really going back to that place, have you thought this through Prince?" Pedro asked.

"Yes, I will gain infamy, money, and revenge all at the same time, the only thing left is my progression here.." Prince said. "Just how am I going to convince Sir Ivan to trust me?"

CREEEAAAK!

A small child creaked the door open, peeking his tiny brown eyes through the crack of the door. After checking to make sure no one was awake; the boy darted through the room, jumping into a barrel next to Prince's bed.

"What the?" Prince thought.

Moments later, Sir Ivan came barreling through the door searching high and low for his little boy. After making no progress, he awkwardly walked over to Prince, and made a gesture towards him.

"Prince," He said, scratching his head. "I heard you defended Meri from a Grizzly attack! My word you must be very skilled with a blade!" He remarked.

"It looks like the lord was watching over me yet again." Prince said humbly.

"Well now, I wonder if you could assist me with something, you haven't seen a 9 year old boy run through here have you?"

Prince paused momentarily, trying to figure out the best approach to the situation.

"Heh, just my luck" He thought

"9 year old boy?" Prince asked

"Yes my son Hansel, he's a tiny boy with brown hair and brown eyes, he's run away from his english instructor again, and he has exams coming up soon!"

"Again?" Prince said.

"Yes! He has such a tiny attention span! You take your eyes of him for one moment and he's halfway to Champagne I tell you! You haven't seen him have you?"

"Unfortunately not,," Prince said. "But, if I was a 9 year old boy, I know exactly where I would be hiding." Prince said.

"Really! Where would that be?"

"Leave it to me," Prince said smoking. "I'll have your son returned in ten minutes time."

"Very well!" Sir Ivan said. "I will leave this to you! I have been searching for about an hour now, I'm rather exhausted, I will return to the manor and if I do not hear back,I will send out a search party…. Again…" He grumbled.

Sir Ivan creaked open the door to the shack and nodded his head before taking off.

"Alright" Prince said, turning towards the barrel. "Come out of that bin before I call your father back in here" Prince said

Hansel popped open the lid of the bin, opening it slightly. He poked out of a tiny crack in the lid examining the room. Drifting his eyes around the room, he made eye contact with Prince.

"I can see you…" Prince said

Hansel's eyes popped open in terror as he slammed the lid to his barrel shut, hiding back inside.

Before he had time to react, Hansel was lifted out of the barrel by an african man hanging by his shirt.

Jimi leaned his head to the side, shaking it in indignation.

"Hey let me go!" Hansel yelled

"Good job Jimi," Prince said approaching the kid. "Tell me boy, why are you running away from english lessons?"

"I'm not going to waste my time talking to a servant! LLLLL" Hansel said sticking out his tongue.

"Really? That's too bad, and I was gonna tell you about an even better hiding spot, one no one could ever find you in… I guess I'll just call Sir Ivan now.." Prince said

"Wait!!" Hansel said holding out his hand "What is this spot!"

"You first" Prince said "Why are you running away from lessons."

"Because English is stupid! French is the better language! I hear we are about to go to war with England anyway!" He yelled.

"Oh? But have you ever seen an english girl before?" Prince asked.

"No…" Hansel said blushing

"Oh? They are absolutely beautiful! They seem to like French boys too… It's too bad, you won't be able to understand them."

"Really! No way! How do you know all this! Servants don't know multiple languages!" The kid barked.

"I'm not just a mere servant." Prince said "I was once a king with many servants of my own, that's why I know many languages."

"Oh yeh? Then say something in English then!" Hansel barked

"Hello Hansel, good day to you" Prince said bowing.

The simplicity of which the words were flowing out of Princes mouth was so amazing that Hansel couldnt help but be captivated by them.

"Amazing!" Hansel said, clapping "You're even better than my teacher!"

Jimi put Hansel down, as the little boy ran up to Prince admiring him.

"Mr King how many servants did your castle have?" Hansel asked.

"Hmmm " Prince said "Honestly I don't know way too many to count, but I'd guess over 1000" Prince said laughing

"Whhhaaatttt!" Hansel said

"Also I had an army of over 10,000 men, and an evil sword that cut control darkness" Prince said

"Mr King! Your amazing!" Hansel said beaming.

"How about this," Prince said. "If you come with me quietly to your father, I'll teach you something to say to him that will save you from being punished!" Prince said

"OK! Mr. Kingly servant!" Hansel said.

"Hansel!" Sir Ivan rejoiced running up to his child, "How many times have I told you not to run off? I was worried to death about you!" Sir Ivan said

"I'm sorry father, please be merciful," Hansel said in English "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you."

Sir Ivan's eyes popped open.

"By the grace of god Hansel, when did you learn that!" He said.

"Just now! Mr King taught me!" Hansel said.

"Mr King?" Ivan said looking back at Prince

"Yes! He's even better than teacher is! He found my hiding spot so easily too! Mr King is the best!"

"Ok, I need you to go back and learn more English," Sir IVan said. "I will forgive you this time but if you run off again I will spank you! You hear!"

"Yes father…" Hansel said. "Goodbye Mr King!" Hansel said, waving.

"Prince, thank you for finding my son but what is this about Kingship? And since when have you known English?" Ivan asked.

"I don't remember," Prince said "My memory is hazy as to how I ended up on the streets, but I know english well, I told your son I was a king to captivate his imagination, that is important when teaching a child new things."

"My word, you are truly impressive!" Ivan said "I think you would make a great teacher! But not to my son, unfortunately that job is taken by a dear cousin of mine, you understand, don't you?" Sir Ivan said

"I see" Pedro said "Trust and family are first just like you said"

"Heh, and I bet you any money he will be unwilling to refer me to someone either, in fear of someone else using my abilities"

"Prince you have my sincerest gratitude, bringing you to the manor was surely a fate of god, I would even ask that you join us for dinner tonight, it is the least I can do." Sir Ivan said.

"I must excuse myself" Prince said "I am humbled by your offer, but tonight I have already made arrangements with some of the other servants, I do not want to tread so heavily into your manor in the first week here." Prince said humbly.

"Very well, thank you again Prince, I am sure our paths will cross again, if it is to gods pleasing." Sir Ivan said walking off.

"So whats the plan? Are we going to kill his cousin?" Pedro asked.

"It's always killing with you" Prince laughed. "No, I have a much simpler idea."

Prince made his way back to the cabin where he and Marlin prepared themselves for their journey.

"So what exactly are we going to Vienne for?" Marlin asked. "We won't reach there until night right?"

"Correct," Prince said "And for your sake it's best if you do not know why."

Prince handed Marlin a hooded rag to wear over his upper body.

"Once we leave the manor put on this hood, and no matter what, do not take it off until I instruct you." Prince ordered

Marlin hesitated, refusing to accept the shady item Prince had placed in his hands. Lookin back at Prince, he trembled softly, becoming anxious.

"If you want to stay here thats fine with me" Prince said taking off "But know that you will never change."

After taking in a deep breath, Marlin picked up the rags and followed close behind Prince.

As They came to the end of the manor, two familiar faces stood idly, waiting for him.

"And where do you think you two are going!" Meri said with her hands on her hips.

Marlin shuddered, and looked away from her.

"Vienne square," Prince answered.

"What are you going there for? Your not going there to find whores are you!" Meri barked

"There's… there are whores there?" Marlin asked.

"Oh yes, and much more than that, but that's not our primary objective," Prince said walking past Meri.

"What do you mean! Are you saying thats a second objective then!" Meri yelled.

As he and Marlin continued walking on he heard the jingling of chains dragging behind them.

"Jimi?" Prince said confused.

Jimi shook his head and then smiled at Prince and Marlin. After a brief pause he extended out his hands and made the motion for grabbing a woman's boobs.

"HAHAHAHA" Prince and Marlin laughed.

"Even you Jimi!" Meri yelled, catching up with them.

Prince stopped in his tracks.

"Look guys, I'm going to be completely honest with you, I'm not going to Vienne for good reasons…" He said

"What are you going there for?"

"I'm going to pull one of the greatest heists in the history of France." He answered.

Meri, Jimi, and Marlin all looked shocked, but stood resolutely.

"Well you can't do this by yourself then right? Your going to need some help" Meri said.

"Meri, MArlin, Jimi… you are going to help me do this even though it's illegal?" He asked

"You saved my life," Meri said. "I still owe you for that"

"Jimi?" Prince said

Jimi extended out his arms again making the squeezing motion.

"Marlin?" Prince said

"If doing illegal things is what I have to do to progress...Tthen so be it!" Marlin said "Also… I've never been with a whore before…"

"Marlin!!!!!!" Meri screamed.

"Shut up woman! Your one of those whores as well!" Marlin said.

"Hahah yeh Marlin let her have it!" Prince laughed.

"Prince! YOu told him!!!!!!!!" Meri screamed.

"Sorry, it kinda just slipped out…" Prince said scratching his head.

"I swear I'm going to rip your balls off and feed them to a grizzly!" She yelled.

"Ooo Kinky! Your going to have to grab my balls to do that" Prince said raising his eyebrows

"You Pig!" (Meri)

"YOu Whore!"(Marlin)

(Jimi making squeezing gestures towards Meri)

"Jimi!!!!! I wont tolerate that kind of language from you!" (Meri)

A tear came to Prince's eye, but he forced it back.

Jimi eyes locked with Prince's briefly. As Prince fought back his emotions, Jimi made the strange movements with his hands again.

"Real funny Jimi!" Prince said.

"Alright guys, are you really going to follow me, are you all willing to become members of my clan?"

"Your damn right we are!" Meri said.

"Alright! As of today you are members of Nobelesse De Nuit, tonight our first mission is to rob one of the greatest band of thieves in all of France!" Prince said raising his arms.

"We are going to rob The Den of Wolves!"

(Back at Godefroi's Castle)

"My King," Weishing said. "The dukes have gathered at the great table and are awaiting your arrival."

"Very well," Godefroi said. "It's time to start the new order of France!"