4 Princes

XXXVIII

Jack
I watched from my position across the opening to Hans's tent as they dragged Rook's screaming self from the tent. He wasn't dead. I sighed in relief. I didn't want to lose a brother tonight.

Behind them, more Princes carried a screaming Elaina. They were fighting so hard to get back to each other, but it wasn't enough. I watched until they were both gone, gone out of the scene. They couldn't see this.

I took my bow off of my back and knocked an arrow in, but I didn't draw it back.

I moved from out of the tent I was hiding in, and made my way towards Hans. "Hans! I yelled.

Hans turned to me and held up his sword. It would have been no use against my bow.

I wasn't here to kill him.

Another Prince was by his side, his jaw looked broken, and he was covered in bruises, but I didn't recognize him regardless.

"I'm not here to kill you," I said.

Hans smirked at me and dug the tip of his sword into the dirt under him. God, that's so bad for your blade. How dumb and untrained was this boy?

Hans rested against it, looking me up and down. "Here to join my ranks?" Hans laughed.

I shrugged. "You could say that. I want to make you a deal," I said.

Rook trusted me.

Could I trust him to complete his part of this? To kill Hans? This all relied on Rook. I hated it. I hated relying on others. But, if I had to put my bets on anyone, if I had to trust someone, it would be Rook. I wouldn't want to be relying on anyone else. We were brothers, through thick and thin, and I loved him. This needed to happen.

Hans tilted his head and then spread his arms open. "What do you have to say, brother?"

I glared at him. "Don't call me that," I snarled.

Hans widened his eyes. "Okay then, Prince Jack. What do you want?"

"In all honesty, your position," I laughed. "It's crazy, I know."

He was cocky. The way he opened his arms. The way his guard was constantly down. He didn't think he could lose. I needed to work with that.

"You can't kill me to get that," Hans said.

"I understand." I stalked around the tent, looking at all the maps and shields. I grabbed a candle that was burning on top of a table and dropped it on the ground.

I stepped on it, turning it under my boot. "But if you die, who takes over your position?" I asked.

Hans tilted his head. "Prince Phillip here," he said.

I rose my bow up and before either of them could move, I released one into his head. "Who now?"

Hans laughed maniacally. "I suppose you want it to be you?"

I nodded my head. "I'll join your ranks. But I want to be your second. If Rook doesn't kill you that is. I assume you plan to make his death a show, yes?" I asked. "You were raised a Prince, you'll let him fight."