The War of Ares (manxman) (boxyboy)

Chapter Four - My body wasn't in control, the sword was

Aristides.

  They searched for hours for the bastard who had attacked me. I sat and waited in the throne room, a room I personally despised, for them to return and tell me what they had found. At the very least I expected to have a name or maybe a description. What I really wanted, though, was the man to be brought to me, shackles around his ankles as he waited for me to kill him. That was what I wanted, but it was the farthest thing from what I got.

  “What do you mean you found nothing?” I bit out, annoyed.

  Brogan, one of my men, and I guess you could say a friend, looked at Noel and sighed. “There was no sign of anyone there. We couldn’t find any trace or a person or beast. Whoever hit you was either very fast or he had help.”

  I stared down at the two of them. Noel was watching me while Brogan didn’t seem to be looking at anyone anymore. He was different from all the people I knew. Not once in all the years I knew him did he ever seem happy with the war or bloodshed. He never spoke out about it either. But I always sensed a growing unease in him. Maybe a small part of me understood it, but for the most part I didn’t care. Just because I - sort of - considered him a friend didn’t mean anything. I was a selfish, self-centered bastard after all.

“How is that even possible?” I asked.

“Well, your highness,” Noel muttered, “Maybe they are bringing the war to us? Maybe we shouldn’t wait?”

  Just then, the door to the throne room opened and Andres strolled in as if he owned the palace. He had his dark hair slicked back, looking suave for a slave if I do say so myself. I wanted to beat the smile off his ugly face.

  He spoke very slowly, a smirk curling the side of his mouth. “That is not something I would encourage, your highness. Your grandfather would not be happy.”

  “And what do you think we should do?” Noel sneered.

  I growled, effectively shutting them up. I was tired of the games. I wanted to fight and I wanted to win. Most of all, I wanted to be the best. That was something I had strived for since I was a child. And now I actually had a chance at becoming the best. The prince was dead and I was still alive. I needed to practice.

  “Noel, you are to fetch some swords. I want to practice.” He didn’t move. “Now,” I shouted, my voice echoing off the walls.

  He scurried out of the room and I turned to glare at Andres. He just stood there and looked at me. Anyone would think he wasn’t afraid. I wasn’t just anyone, though. I could see the fear in his eyes, smell it too. He was petrified but he knew better than to leave before he was permitted to.

  “You can go now,” I snapped and turned away from him.

  Brogan stepped in front of me, his mouth pressed into a hard line, he said, “What are you going to do now? Do you really think you can make the warriors the best?”

  I shrugged. “I will or I’ll die trying.”

  He said nothing else, but I could see the anger in his eyes. I guess I really didn’t know him as well as I had originally believed. Maybe that’s why I liked him. He was hard to read most of the time. Nobody really knew him. Even Noel. And those two had known each other just as long as we had. I never pushed the issue, but I did bring it up once or twice. He never told me and he told me he wouldn’t. I smiled, remembering the conversation.

  I waited until I heard the door open again and I turned. Nobody spoke as I prepared myself. With a sword in hand, I took the first hit. It knocked Noel back and he didn’t even try to defend himself, so Brogan stood forward and struck me. He was better than Noel when it came to me. Noel never tried to fight when we were practicing. But Brogan never held back. He was quicker, more graceful, and he actually tried.