Henry. Just. Henry.

Chapter 14|The Rion

Henry felt like a criminal about to be executed as the two guards escorted him, Ezra, and Ingrid through the open halls.

His head turned every which way in awe at the cream marble pillars, the beige tiled floors and even the broad arching windows around him. Small, radiant lights attached to the walls brightened the room, warding off the shadows of the night. He’d seen impressive architecture before, but he gaped speechless each time he spotted something new in the palace, like a game of ‘Spot the Difference’.

Ezra dropped back, leaving his sister and the guards up front and striding beside him.

“First time in a castle or…”

Henry looked at him, the awe-stuck gape still there. “Well, yea. It’s not like school gave us field trips.”

“Wait, you went to school?” This time, it was Ezra’s mouth agape.

“Yea, royals don’t go to school?”

Ezra looked up. “Not the typical high school, more of a school for training on how to be a prince, princess, king or queen. Swordsmanship, gunman-ship, political classes and whatnot.”

“Waw, sounds boring.”

“My sister would always catch me snoring with snot bubbles forming out my nose.”

Henry chuckled.

“We’re almost there, your highnesses.” The Hispanic guard, Alvaro, said.

“Where are we going?” Henry asked.

“To a safe room far from the commotion. Queen Anapex, King Xander and Regents Zaire and Favian are already there.”

Henry hummed in thought. They turned a corner and up ahead, a staircase led up to a lit empty room. He peeled his eyes off the scintillating light and caught Ezra looking at him, his smirk intent with mischief.

Ezra jerked his head to the back of the hall where they just walked, gesturing to running away.

As impulsive as a child, Henry looked ahead, the guards and Ingrid distracted. Ezra held up three fingers, counting down until one and they stopped walking, leaving the rest to trail further down the hall. They backed up, stepping carefully, then turned the corner they’d passed.

“Why did we do that?” Henry asked while they sped walked down the hall, back to where they came.

“Don’t you wanna see what’s going on underground?”

Ezra’s question curled Henry’s lips, and he jogged to catch up.

✧✧✧

“Hey Ezra,” Ingrid said, head forward as they climbed the steps. “I saw you and dad talking earlier. I didn’t want to interrupt, but I couldn’t help but eavesdrop and-“

She turned around.

“Ezra? Prince Henry?”

When she stopped climbing, the guards turned to see the ghost of Henry and Ezra’s presence.

“Wha-… Where did they go?” Alvaro asked.

“This is not good.” The black guard, Desman, frowned. “We have to find them and bring them back here. Princess Ingrid, if you’d please excuse us…”

“Of course, thank you for escorting me.”

✧✧✧

Henry and Ezra ran down the winding concreted stairs holding hands to not slip again from the moss. Henry’s ears perked up at the muffled sounds of swords and guns banging and clashing, the screams of men ceasing and the quiet an anxious truth.