Prince of Lies

Chapter 1

"I have a gift for you, Haruto." His father said, sweeping Haruto up into his arms and walking towards the stables.

"Gift?" Haruto tilted his head in the adorable way Jerym would never grow tired of.

"Just in case you ever start feeling jealous of your new sisters, I want you to remember that I love you, too. So much."

Haruto began to recognize their surroundings. "Horse?" He said, pointing to Sergeant. "Horse!"

"Yeah." His father stopped in front of Sergeant so Haruto could touch his nose, and then carried him to another stall.

"Lieutenant had her baby this morning. I don't know if you know what that means, but-"

"Baby!" Haruto exclaimed. "Loo-tent baby!"

"We're gonna call him Admiral." His father said, leaning down so Haruto could stand. "Because his sire's name is Sergeant and his dam's name is Lieutenant."

"Sarge! Baby Sarge!"

A very tired Lieutenant opened her eyes a bit when she saw Haruto start walking towards her. But she knew the tiny human wouldn't hurt her new colt.

Speaking of the new colt, Haruto had been right about calling him a "baby Sergeant." Like his sire, the baby was all midnight black, except he had his mother's white socks and a tiny star on his head.

Haruto stopped to watch the foal attempt to stand on his new legs. Admiral did so, successfully, and whinnied his accomplishment for all the stable to hear. The high pitched, shrill noise startled Haruto and he fell back onto his behind.

His father almost scooped him back up, but Haruto didn't cry. He just watched Admiral.

A few stalls down, Sergeant responded to his son's cry. If he was acknowledging Admiral, that was a good sign that the colt would be safe under his watch, since there was no doubting his parentage.

"My baby horse." Haruto announced, right as Admiral's knees folded and he crashed to the ground. Lieutenant nuzzled him encouragingly, and then also nuzzled Haruto.

"My horse." Haruto repeated, and walked closer to Admiral until he touched him, and hugged his neck.

Admiral froze, but not in an alarmed way. It was like he knew. Haruto and he had a bond, now, just like his father and Sergeant.

"Admiral." Haruto murmured. "My Admiral."

Haruto closed his eyes as he felt the cold, evening air against his face, Admiral galloping beneath him.

A half Thoroughbred masterpiece, Admiral was faster than most horses, but unlike pure thoroughbreds like his dam, he also had wicked stamina. That came from his sire, Sergeant, who was also Haruto 's father's steed.

The king's steed.

Haruto was a prince, but most of the time he didn't want to be.

"Haruto! Wait up!"

Two sets of galloping footprints joined Haruto at the top of the hill.

"It's cold." Said his cousin Chaol, shivering.

"I told you to bring a jacket." Scolded Jace, Haruto's Second, or second-in-command. Man-in-waiting. Whatever you preferred.

"What are we running from today, Princey?" Jace wondered.

"My sixteenth birthday." Haruto answered, numbly.

"What's so bad about sixteen?" Chaol wondered. At only fourteen, he was younger and less knowledgeable of true adulthood. Additionally, he didn't even know the stresses of being a prince.