The Prince's Trust

Wheeling and Dealing

Another chapter for you all, sorry it took so long 🥺❤️

"To be completely honest with you my lord, never in my years of medicine have I ever come across wound patterns quite like it. The skin has been burned, but also struck- hence the obvious signs of blunt force trauma. Imagine taking a hot poker to the skin in one quick force across the chest. This is what these marks are from. His Majesty has been not burned by the flames, but struck by them. I believe if the impact had been focused around his lungs it could have killed him."

"But I saw the magic powder go off. There was no physical object to be hit by. It was just a flash of fire and smoke."

"You're correct Master Robbie. But I'm afraid my knowledge of this weapon is too limited to elaborated. It appears that this is the lighting of a flame on a much large scale. Just imagine that it created a force great enough to knock a grown man off his horse. Or a building off its foundations."

"So when his majesty wakes up I have nothing to report to him? I simply tell him it's magic. That's not good enough Bob we need answers if we're going to fight this."

"I will sample a barrel of the powder we've procured from Prince Declan's recent victory however I'm not promising anything. I'm a man of medicine, not sorcery."

"Very well. Thankyou for patching him up. Prince Declan will be pleased."

"If you need me I'll be treating the Captain."

The door clicked shut and I slowly opened my eyes to settle on Robbie, who was sat staring at me from across the room.

"How long have you been awake?" He sighed, moving to my side whilst I pushed up into a sitting position, holding my head which was spinning.

"Not very Long... how long was I asleep?"

"Two days. You needed the rest. It gave Bob a chance to fix you up too."

My hands went to the clean bandages, experimentally giving them a tug and sighing, I still felt rested but somehow still heavy with the need to sleep.

"He drugged me didn't he."

"You were having a night terror."

I rolled my eyes, "Next time just let it pass."

"You were going to hurt yourself."

"Drug me again and you'll both be in the stocks for a week." I snapped, glaring at the black haired soldier with fire in my eyes. I was fed up with being tempered and controlled.

Robbie stood up straight and glared off at the wall behind me.

"Where's Declan?" I grumbled, pulling on a clean black shirt and my sword belt before fixing my hair. "He seemed upset before."

"Overseeing the interrogations."

I stilled, my hands midway through my dark tresses, "Who?"

"The Outlaws and their leader. If they can't get anymore information he's going to have them executed In the morning."

"Shit shit shit." I didn't have time to grab a jacket or tie the top strings of my shirt up, I had to get to the castle.

"Where's Artus?"

"Recovering in the stables. He got hjt pretty bad when you went down."

"Your majesty? Shall I get you a horse." My eyes shifted to Stephen who ran towards me, I was thrown off a little. It had been so long since I'd had a manservant.

"Quickly. Don't saddle up." I ordered in reply before turning to Robbie who already had his horse and was mounting him gracefully.

Waiting put me on edge but to be fair to Stephen he was quick and Tekka was more than eager to stretch her legs so I jumped on her bare back before galloping from the northern camp ahead of Robbie who followed dutifully behind.