10 Prince Theon's charge

"Your majesty, pardon my forwardness--"

"Go on," the king said.

"It will be advisable to allow General Zarin to use the main force of the Northern Army to combat these millitants --"

"No one said the Northern Army was going to be deployed!" the prime minister retorted heatedly. The king raised a finger for silence.

"Messanger, is that all that Zarin, that boy, said?" General Harfad asked.

"Replying to Left General, on the contrary,"

"Proceed, then," the king said wearily, "and then, recess,"

The eunuch bowed and resumed reading.

"Your majesty, Royal Assembly, I am as surprised as you are that there are still safrohi around, with the nerve to amass a band and attack our border. There have been several coordinated attacks, but not on the Army Base. These safrohi concentrate on the people. And with the edge of their supernatural powers, they have successfully resisted serval attempts of arrest. With this in mind, I ask your majesty, Royal Assembly, approval to deploy a unit of the elite subdivision in pursuit of these bandits."

The eunuch bowed and rolled up the scroll.

"A unit?' General Harfad always found fault for whatever it was that Zarin suggested, "doesn't your majesty suppose that--"

"I don't suppose anything. Recess!"

The court filed out in order of rank, from the attendants to the marquises, lords and ladies.

Soon, only the royals remained. Prince Theon turned to face the throne, from which the king had risen. He went down on one knee.

"Father, grant me leave to go to the North to assist General Zarin. I--"

"Enough, you silly boy! Out!"

The queen and Prince Theon exited the hall. He started to talk to his mother of his plans to 'show his worth' and 'prove himself' at the Northern Border. The queen agreed with his every point but shushed him as well.

"You do not need to prove yourself to any simpering official of the Assembly. You have been born into the Royal Family, albeit not the first child but his majesty has chosen you as his heir. Whatever the matter is at the Northern Border, it will take a long while before it reaches the capital. Therefore, we have to pay more attention to the here and now,"

"So what do you suggest, mother?" Prince Theon looked curiously at her with his golden eyes.

"When recess is over, I will make sure to steer the topic away from the North back to here in the capital. A new minister for Rites will be selected right away and preparations will begin for the crown princess selection. Do not worry about anything--"

"That's all very well. But I feel it is my duty as Crown Prince of Valencia to protect our Northern Border. The people...my people, must see that I am a millitary man as well as a scholar. It will not do to be cooped up in the palace, feasting daily, while my people are dying in their hundreds by the day in the North," he said with passion.

"Heir is right, my queen," said a smug voice, "that is being loyal to the people,"

The prime minister! The queen clenched her fists under her flowing sleeves.

"Greetings, uncle," Prince Theon made a customary bow in the prime minister's direction.

"You--" the queen did not want to loose her temper in front of the prince, "what do you want?"

"I was merely agreeing with the prince. If he succeeds in driving back the safrohi-- and I bet he will-- not only will he be respected by the Assembly, the people will also forever remember him as a hero who saved them in a time of sore need,"

"Thank you for your support uncle," prince Theon inclined his head.

"Who else will I support but you, your highness? Had your cousins Picus and Taurus been around, they would have accompanied you in a heartbeat," the prime minister sighed.

"No one said the prince was going anywhere--" the queen started to say.

"Isn't that the summon?" the prime minister cocked his head to one side, "I think recess is over," and he bowed and left quickly.

"Mother, let's return,"

"Son, you must know that not every one at the Assembly cares for your welfare--"

"Mother, my welfare has been put foremost for sixteen years. It is time for me to also put my people first. I've decided, mother. I'm going to the North and to General Zarin,"

***

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