china vases throughout the room.
The King Benoit and his Queen Elisabeth sat in their thrones at the back of the hallway. Their two sons, Marco and Ines stood beside them. Peter could not help but look at the two boys with interest, for it was known throughout the Kingdom of the rivalry that existed between the two brothers, Marco, the eldest wild and untamed, and his younger brother Ines, the perfect Prince. Although the Palace went to great lengths to keep the inner affairs of the palace a secret from the public, gossip traveled far and wide. Without forgetting his task, Peter defiantly walked toward the King and Queen.
Peter bowed on his knees before them.
“Your Highness, your Highness’, he nodded to them both.
“I beseech your pardon for my sudden visit. Yet we need your help. The village is under attack from bandits, and if they are not stopped the crops will be burnt and the villagers will starve. I beg of you your Majesty, please help us.”
There was a long pause. Silence filled the room.
Finally, the King spoke.
“Yes, yes, this does indeed seem a distressing situation.” He turned to the Queen.
“Would you not agree my darling?”
“Indeed. We cannot leave the villagers to starve.”
“No no, absolutely not.”
The King turned to Peter.
“We will help. I will leave this in the hands of the capable Prince Ines. You can expect an army of men by sundown. Be sure to meet them by the bridge. That is all. You may go.”
“Thank you your Majesty. I leave you with my heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the villagers.”
Peter turned to leave. Just as he was exiting the hall doorways he heard the King’s voice.
“Your name please.”
Peter turned.
“Peter.”
“Very well. That is all.”
Peter returned to his horsemen, now waiting in the palace courtyard.
He could not keep the smile from his face.
“Quick, we must return to the village immediately. The King has agreed to help. He is sending an army of men before sundown.”
“Yes Peter! Well done!” His horsemen slapped him on the back, and together they rode back to the village.
Chapter II
“Well, what a play of events. I wonder who these bandits are and why they are attacking the village.” Queen Elisabeth turned to her two sons and husband.
“Well, whatever their intention they must be stopped.”
“Ines, do you feel you can handle this?”
“Of course father, I will not let you or the villagers down.”
“ That is my boy.” The King smiled.
Prince Marco seethed with fury, looking jealously at his younger brother.
“Marco, I presume as usual, you have no interest?”
Marco responded quickly.
“If that is your opinion of me father, there is little I can do.”
“Right, there it is then. The matter is settled. Ines, I leave it in your hands.”
Ines bowed before his mother and father, and quickly left to the drawing room, to gather the troops and prepare for the oncoming battle.
A little while later, as Ines was drawing out the battle plans, Marco entered the room.
“I won’t let you down father. Not you or the troops.” Marco mimicked Ines in a high-pitched voice.
Ines did his best to ignore him. Marco made a sucking sound.
“That is what you sound like, sucking Mummy and Daddy’s bottom all the time.”
“Listen Marco, if you have no interest in helping to solve these genuine concerns and issues facing the country that is not my problem. Now please leave me, I do not have time for this now. There is a battle about to commence. I would gladly appreciate your support, but if all you are going to do is be mean to me then please leave.”
“I’m gone brother. I’ll be having a great time having a party while you engage in your battle with a bunch of losers. If ever you feel like having a bit of fun instead of being so serious all the time, do let me know.” Marco stormed out of the room as Ines shook his head.
Ines tried not to let his
The King Benoit and his Queen Elisabeth sat in their thrones at the back of the hallway. Their two sons, Marco and Ines stood beside them. Peter could not help but look at the two boys with interest, for it was known throughout the Kingdom of the rivalry that existed between the two brothers, Marco, the eldest wild and untamed, and his younger brother Ines, the perfect Prince. Although the Palace went to great lengths to keep the inner affairs of the palace a secret from the public, gossip traveled far and wide. Without forgetting his task, Peter defiantly walked toward the King and Queen.
Peter bowed on his knees before them.
“Your Highness, your Highness’, he nodded to them both.
“I beseech your pardon for my sudden visit. Yet we need your help. The village is under attack from bandits, and if they are not stopped the crops will be burnt and the villagers will starve. I beg of you your Majesty, please help us.”
There was a long pause. Silence filled the room.
Finally, the King spoke.
“Yes, yes, this does indeed seem a distressing situation.” He turned to the Queen.
“Would you not agree my darling?”
“Indeed. We cannot leave the villagers to starve.”
“No no, absolutely not.”
The King turned to Peter.
“We will help. I will leave this in the hands of the capable Prince Ines. You can expect an army of men by sundown. Be sure to meet them by the bridge. That is all. You may go.”
“Thank you your Majesty. I leave you with my heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the villagers.”
Peter turned to leave. Just as he was exiting the hall doorways he heard the King’s voice.
“Your name please.”
Peter turned.
“Peter.”
“Very well. That is all.”
Peter returned to his horsemen, now waiting in the palace courtyard.
He could not keep the smile from his face.
“Quick, we must return to the village immediately. The King has agreed to help. He is sending an army of men before sundown.”
“Yes Peter! Well done!” His horsemen slapped him on the back, and together they rode back to the village.
Chapter II
“Well, what a play of events. I wonder who these bandits are and why they are attacking the village.” Queen Elisabeth turned to her two sons and husband.
“Well, whatever their intention they must be stopped.”
“Ines, do you feel you can handle this?”
“Of course father, I will not let you or the villagers down.”
“ That is my boy.” The King smiled.
Prince Marco seethed with fury, looking jealously at his younger brother.
“Marco, I presume as usual, you have no interest?”
Marco responded quickly.
“If that is your opinion of me father, there is little I can do.”
“Right, there it is then. The matter is settled. Ines, I leave it in your hands.”
Ines bowed before his mother and father, and quickly left to the drawing room, to gather the troops and prepare for the oncoming battle.
A little while later, as Ines was drawing out the battle plans, Marco entered the room.
“I won’t let you down father. Not you or the troops.” Marco mimicked Ines in a high-pitched voice.
Ines did his best to ignore him. Marco made a sucking sound.
“That is what you sound like, sucking Mummy and Daddy’s bottom all the time.”
“Listen Marco, if you have no interest in helping to solve these genuine concerns and issues facing the country that is not my problem. Now please leave me, I do not have time for this now. There is a battle about to commence. I would gladly appreciate your support, but if all you are going to do is be mean to me then please leave.”
“I’m gone brother. I’ll be having a great time having a party while you engage in your battle with a bunch of losers. If ever you feel like having a bit of fun instead of being so serious all the time, do let me know.” Marco stormed out of the room as Ines shook his head.
Ines tried not to let his
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