The Sapphire Pendant

Chapter 7

Chapter 7:

Joshua

I walked to the small training grounds of Air Kingdom adjusting my armor.  I saw that the royal guard and hunters already started their training sessions.  The ten hunters had broken off from the guard to practice their shooting with straw targets.

The royal guard had paired off with another to fight one on one.  I walked over with the other knights.  Only one of the knights didn’t have a partner.  He was testing the weight of two swords.  I walked over to him and said, “Partner up?”

“Yes Your Highness,” he said bowing.

“I’m Prince Joshua,” I said.

“Sir Stephen,” he said, sticking out his gloved hands.

I gave him a warrior’s handshake and we paired up.  After a while everyone stopped and I looked around.  I saw King Thomas and Addy.  I smiled faintly that I was on a first name bases with the princess.

Everyone got on their knees and bowed and I followed.

“At ease,” he said and everyone got up.

“Proceed with you training,” he said waving his hand and sat down on a bench at the edge of the ground.

I looked at Addy as she sat down next to her father.  I saw her roll her eyes while watching the boys train.  I knew she wanted to train with us.  The princess raked her fingers through her curls.  She caught me staring at her, she wiggled her fingers at me.  She raised my gloved hand at me too.

I went back to training with Sir Stephen.  “Why are the king and princess here?”

“The princess is the best healer in the kingdom and King Thomas likes to watch the training so he knows which of his guards and hunters are working the best.”

“Ah,” I said while jabbing him with my sword.

“The princess is great,” Stephen sighed but he wasn’t looking at Addy.  On the contraire, if I’d known him any better I would have said that he was thinking of Princess Penny he was talking so intently to at the Royal Ball.  I took this opportunity to knock the sword out of his hands.

“Really?” I asked.

“Of course, I sprained my foot once and it healed in a week thanks to her,” as he looked at her in admiration.

“Wow, you really like her don’t you,” I said with a twinge of jealousy.

“No,” he said, “I’m courting her sister Penny.”

I laughed.

“Yes, I am,” he insisted, “thanks for not picking her.”

“Really?” I said intrigued.

“Yes,” he said, “it’s better that you marry Princess Adeline.”

“Why should I marry anyone from Air Kingdom?” I asked staring at his fallen sword not wanting to meet his eye.  Some people would get offended this comment but he didn’t seem to mind.

“Well,” he said picking up his sword, “I overheard King Thomas and King Felix talking about the Rebel Realm announcing battle.”

“What?” I exclaimed.

“Yeah,” he said cleaning his sword of any grass stains or dirt, “they wanted to create unity after the feud between them so they could focus their efforts on the upcoming war.”

“So that’s why,” I said staring at Princess Adeline talking to two of the hunters.  She had an expression on her face that I noticed.  It was the same expression she flashed me when I told her girls don’t train.