The Pirate Prince of the Ice Sea (Book 1 of The Legend Of Kaleania)

Chapter 2

I placed the dagger in my boot and went up the great staircase. I then went up the stairs on my left. When I reached the top, I tried to remember where Kan's room was located. I went by tons of rooms on either side of the hall. I remembered that it was on the right side with a sword hanging on the wooden door. It was five doors down and I paused before I knocked. I knew he would be angry at me for two reasons. 1) I was a slave who had no rights to enter his room and 2) I should be regretting myself and look like a wounded animal.

I knocked and took a deep breath. I heard footsteps coming from the other side of the door. It opened and showed Kan with a surprised look and then turned into anger. He was about to slam the door and it stopped with my foot in the doorway.

"What are you doing here?" he asked. I sighed.

"Why am I a slave, Kan?" I asked. He grabbed and pulled me into his room that nearly made me trip over my own feet but managed to stay up.

In his room, there was a window that was located on the opposite side of the door. Kan's bed was twice the size of mine and had velvet covers. His desk was full of books that I couldn't read probably.

"Why are you asking?" he asked. I knew this talk was going to end up bad.

"Because ever since I was a kid, you and the king have been treating me like dirt and I'm getting tired of it. I might have come from a poor family but it doesn't mean that you get to do whatever you want with me. I tried running away from here because of you!" I shouted. It felt good to do it but I knew that he would call the guards and have them drag me to the dungeons. But that didn't happen. He just had a sorry look on his face.

"It was Father's idea, alright. He made me agree to say and do those horrible things. What happened in the Great Hall was an act. I really didn't mean those things. Mother doesn't know so don't tell her." He placed his hands on my shoulders and grinned. I swore that it was strange having him smile at me. "You are my brother no matter what. It's his fault that you are like this. " There was a silence for a moment. So for fourteen long agonizingly painful years, Kan has been pretending to hate me? I was relieved that it was because if it wasn't, I'd be dead right now.

"Alright then," I said, stepping back towards the door. "I should probably get going," He nodded and I quickly opened the door and left his room. I closed the door and leaned against it. I closed my eyes, wanting to think.

"Arak Aiken, what are you doing near the prince's room?" cried a voice. I opened my eyes and saw Medina, standing there with her hands full of food on a tray.

"I was talking to him," I said, about to go down the stairs. Medina grabbed my arm and made me stand in front of her. She gave me a look that kind of made me uncomfortable. When she does that, you know she needs you to tell everything when she knows you're lying to her. Yet, she gave me it even though I wasn't lying.

I sighed and said, "I had a talk with the queen and I asked her a question on my being in slavery. She told me to go talk to the prince and I did. Happy?" I walked toward the stairs but she still dragged me to her.

"What happened to your eye?" she asked in a harsh tone.

"It was punishment, alright?" I was about to go when she stopped me.

"Let me bring Prince Kan's lunch and I have an errand for you when we get to the kitchen." I waited while she entered Kan's room.

It took about a few minutes and she left his room. She strutted past me and looked back. She motioned me to follow. I got up and followed her. While we climbed the stairs, I heard someone calling my name. I turned around and saw Kan outside his chamber.

"Arak," he said. "I want you to join us for dinner." I was shocked. I've never been invited to a royal dinner but I wasn't sure if it was a request or an order.

"Is that a request or an order?" I asked.

"Its an invite. I'll talk to Father and see if he accepts." he said.

I bowed with a grin and said, "I accept your invitation, my prince." I saw a smile creep across his face and probably found my bow funny. I raised my head as he went back into his room.

We entered the kitchen, where the servants were preparing dinner. I haven't noticed that the sun was setting from the window. Medina told me to go to the blade-smith in town to help him with Kan's sword for his birthday until a servant comes with a message either or not the king has accepted me coming to dinner.

I nodded as I grabbed a black cloak from a table and went into the courtyard through the servant doors. I put the hood over my head so no one will notice my eye covered up. I slipped through a crack in the brick wall where no one will notice me coming out. It was a tight fit but I managed. Once I got through, I ran into the village as fast as I could. The sun was very low in the sky and in the horizon it was only the rays showing. I soon arrived at the blade-smith's, which was located in the middle of the village.