Don't Be Curious- A criminal who did the impossible

Chapter Ten

Jaksa ran through the streets, an angry drunk man tailing him. The man tripped and fell over flat on his face, beer still in hand. Jaksa laughed. "Why so down old man?!" he called behind him. The man shook his fist angrily, but made no effort to get back up. Jaksa jogged up the castle walls and began climbing the veins to Zanders balcony. "Princess! I have returned!" He jumped onto the balcony floor and through the door. Zander sat, cross legged on the bed, an angry look across his face.

"Why the long face?"

"Jaks, where were you?"

"Uhh for a walk?"

"Hm, well a little birdy told me that you were gambling at the tavern, using my coins." Zander squinted his eyes accusingly.

"Uhh, why was the bird talking?..." Jaksa jokes, trying to break the tension.

"Why are YOU avoiding my question?"

"Ok ok, i was bored! Just having some fun, ya know?" Jaksa responded carelessly.

"Well, in case that bird didn't tell you, we are at risk of war!" Zander growled.

"What!? I didn't know!''

"Shut up, I can't hear myself losing the will to live." Zander grumbled, putting his head in his hands.

"I feel like I should have known!" Jaksa snapped back. Zander did not respond, only groaned and rubbed his face in frustration. "Today has been awful..."

Jaksa shifted uncomfortably, feeling guilty. He didn't mean to upset the prince, in his mind he was only having fun, now he realised how foolish he had been.

"So.... who declared war...?" he asks quietly, sitting next to Zander, slightly closer than he realised. Zander huffed. "The shadow kingdom, Sadiok, has challenged my father. They have called him weak once they found out he let you and Kasumi live." Zanders voice was strained. He was stressed. Jaksa rolled his eyes.

"How kind."

"Anyway. My father, being himself, got mad and sent a letter out claiming that his army was twice as strong and whatever, and apparently that is enough to start a war these days!" his voice got louder and his words were exaggerated. He fell face first onto his bed, groaning in frustration. "It's so stupid....he's making people risk their lives to prove a point. I couldn't talk him out of it..." he mumbles into the sheets. Jaksa frowned, then huffed a laugh.

"A war over me."he snickered, attempting to make Zander laugh.

"Oh, don't make your ego any bigger than it is."

"Too late!" Zander chuckled slightly, and Jaksa was satisfied he managed to make him laugh slightly.

It was still early in the morning, and the sun was coming over the hills. Jaksa waited on the balcony as Zander got dressed.

Jaksa stared over the mountains. They surrounded the scenery and looked green and lush, with snow just dusting the tops, like icing. He often thought about going but knew he wasn't allowed to leave the kingdom area. But also, he was afraid.

Zander came onto the balcony next to him. "Haven't left yet I see? Thought you'd run off again." he laughed, seeming in a much better mood. Jaksa didn't seem to hear him. "Jaks? What's wrong?" he asked, his voice full of concern.

"Have you ever been to the mountains?" he asked suddenly, not taking his gaze away from the mountains. Zanders eyebrows raised in surprise.

"The kingdom Endol? I haven't, but my father has." Zander stares at Jaksas face, a look in his eye that almost twinkled. "I would love to, I've heard so many things about it."