A Ward's Tale

Chapter 12

"What did you do to her? Where is Clarissa?" Reynold yells at Peter who is chained to a chair. Peter's left eye is swelling and bruises cover his face, arms and chest. Peter is calm as Reynold huffs and puffs. Peter's calamity angers Reynold even more. He goes to strike Peter when a hand stops him. Reynold spins around angrily coming face to face with Arthur.

"Prince Arthur!" Reynold gasps. He is on his knee in an instant.

"Forgive me for not kneeling myself, Prince. But as you can see, I'm a little tied up at the moment." Peter says calmly as he bows his head.

"Reynold, explain yourself." Prince Arthur demands. He is horrified at the condition Peter is in. This was the man his adopted sister was to marry? This man who would beat a person in anger. What will happen to his sister if she upsets him? Arthur understood being passionate about finding Clarissa but this was going too far.

"I...uh...I have reason to believe this man has something to do with Clarissa's kidnapping." Reynold stutters. It has been four days since the ball and the attack. Peter was under lock and key in the dungeon until Reynold was able to pull some strings and have Peter released to him. In the hours that pursued, Reynold had been trying to get information out of Peter any way he could.

Peter, on the other hand, has been trying to stay calm to control his magic as the anger and annoyance grew from not being able to go after Clarissa himself. This has been a wasted four days. If he was released he could track her down and prevent a huge disaster but these elites are too stubborn to listen to him. They are all too stuck in their non-magical, one-sided ways that they don't see him as an ally but as an enemy. Ridiculous. Why would he come here if he was the enemy? Why would he have stuck around after they took Clarissa? He could have easily escaped and found her by now had he not thought he could get help from Clarissa's family.

Stupid him.

Peter looks at the door. He should have gone after her when he had the chance. Why had he thought these people would be open to him helping find her. He would have been better off alone.

"Peter, would you care to give your side?" Prince Arthur asks.

Peter turns his attention back to the prince. "Yes, thank you, Prince Arthur." Peter nods. "I was at the physician Gayle's house when the attack happened. When I heard the alarms I started running towards the castle. Upon entering I heard some servants talking about magic users attacking the King's ward. I instantly used a tracking spell to search for her. I quickly located her direction and started running towards her. I ran into Lola on my way and she grabbed at me crying. I tried calming her down and getting her to tell me what had happened when my tracking spell was interrupted. I could no longer feel where Clarissa was. I knew they had gotten her at the moment but Lola was in no shape to be left alone. I knew Clarissa would kill me if she knew I found her sister but did not help her. So I brought her back to the castle and was imprisoned for my help."

Arthur moves closer to Peter. He gets a whiff of him and keeps his distance. "I am sorry for your imprisonment, but you have to understand the situation that we were in." Prince Arthur says. "I would like your help in finding Clarissa. I would have come sooner but it took me a while to find you." He glares at Reynold for a moment before returning his attention to Peter. Reynold shrinks back nervously.

"Why trust me now?" Peter asks skeptically. Arthur has been nothing but skeptical and untrusting of him since they met. Peter still feels the sting of Arthurs slap. That brotherly protection is no joke.

"Clarissa has trusted you and I trust Clarissa. Also you may be the only one able to find her quickly."

"I told you my spell was interrupted and I haven't been able to get it back."

"That is why you will not be going alone. Reynold and I will be going with you. I have excellent tracking skills and Reynold is a good swordsman. With your magic I am positive we will find Rissa and punish those who took her." Prince Arthur says. He slams his fist into his hand. The compassion and determination in his eyes tells Peter that he means every word. Too bad that isn't enough.

Peter looks at him and shakes his head. "You have no idea who you are up against do you." Peter says, "These are not just some peasants who are revolting or even average people, these are mages who have strong magic that can kill a man in one blow. You are powerless against them with just a sword."

"That is why we will have you." Prince Arthur replied calmly.

"You are putting a lot of faith into me. You don't even know if I am that powerful." Peter says. Peter watches the prince as he thinks about how he doesn't have the power he used to have. How in one moment his life changed. One terrible choice that will haunt him for his life. If he still had that power he would not be in this situation.

Arthur looks at Peter then shakes his head. "Well let's hope you've got enough to get us through. You are Clarissa's only hope." Prince Arthur says, "Now stop wasting our time and get yourself out of those chains."

Peter stares at the prince a moment then stands, letting the chains that were binding him clatter to the ground. Reynold gasps dumbfounded. Peter could have escaped at any moment, but had chosen not to. He had let Reynold beat him.

"Come Reynold, we have work to do." Prince Arthur says turning and walking out. Reynold scrambles after him. Peter sighs. Calling upon his magic, he opens his palm and looks at the hair clip that had belonged to Clarissa. It had fallen out at the last practice and is what he was using to find her. The simple clip was bronze and shaped like a flower. He had seen her wear it a few times and had a feeling it was special to her in some way.

Peter closes his hand and follows the prince and the rat. He had wanted to tear that man apart, show him what real power was. Even in his weakened state he could have destroyed that man. But he was Clarissa's betrothed, much to Peter's disliking, so he had chosen to reframe. Her trust was more important and if he had hurt her betrothed that could ruin that trust.