Heart Of Darkness

Chapter 63

"William! Where have you been?" Angelica asked when her brother entered the room.

He closed the door behind him and began to remove his jacket. "I went to meet His Majesty." He said.

His Majesty?

"Why?" She asked him, sitting at the corner of the bed and watching him.

"I wanted to talk to him about my future in court."

"In court? William..."

"I know." He cut her off. "But you are marrying a Lord who is close to the King. If he stays in court despite his marriage to you, I don't think my entering court will be a problem."

Angelica sighed. She knew this marriage would bring many good things for her, but she was glad it also got at least one good thing for her brother.

"What did His Majesty say?"

"He has nothing against it if I go through all the trials to get into court."

"You have to be thirteen to start the trials, and I believe it takes many years," Angelica said.

"It usually takes three years. That is the youngest age at which someone has entered the court in Kraghorn. I plan to enter when I am fourteen." Her brother said with determination evident in his tone.

Fourteen in court? That must not be very comforting amongst all those powerful men, but her brother didn't seem fazed. She was worried about him even if he was much more intelligent than all those men.

"Do you have to rush it?" she asked.

He looked at her and smiled. "There is no rush. It is fun to challenge myself."

Angelica knew her brother too well to see that he was trying to lighten things to make her worry less. But she wasn't worried about his capability. She was concerned about all the people who would envy him and try to bring him down.

"I thought you wanted to be a knight. Now you seem very determined to enter the court." She said.

"There is no way to become a knight sooner, but becoming a courtier can happen much faster. There aren't many laws around it since the trials are tough, so normally people become courtiers when they are truly ready."

Angelica nodded. That still didn't explain the sudden change; her brother could see it in her gaze.

"In court, I can have more influence." He said at last.

"Come." She told him and then hugged him. She knew why he wanted to have influence. Things have been challenging, unfair, and frustrating. "I am sure you will have a good influence on many people one day. I can see the future, too.".

He chuckled and pulled back to look at her. "You are still worried." He told her.

"Well, I don't want His Majesty to get the wrong idea since you are eager to enter the court."

"Don't worry. He is not the enemy." Her brother assured her.

The enemy? She didn't expect that word. It was like her brother was saying there was an enemy somewhere.

"I am hungry." William hurried to say when he saw the questioning look in her eyes.

There was something he wasn't telling her.

They went to the dining hall, where Sarah had served lunch. When seated, William looked around and probably remembered what she had told him. Lord Rayven preferred to be alone. Since her brother came back, she could see a look of dissatisfaction on his face.