Prince of Time

Chapter Twenty - The Rose of the Court

“So where are we going?” Ane asked.

“A safe place,” Tobiah repeated, for the umpteenth time.

“Is there a reason you can’t tell us?” Ane wheedled. “Something wrong?”

“It’s a place I don’t like going,” Tobiah snapped. “Ok? I don’t like calling there for help.”

“Why not?” Pepper challenged. “What’s wrong with it?”

“It’s just a dangerous place to be. That’s all.”

“You called it a safe place not thirty seconds ago.”

“It’s both.”

This conversation, and variants of it, had been repeated over the last few days without any real conclusion. They were still no closer to knowing where Tobiah was headed, or to understanding how a place could be both safe and dangerous.

“How much further?” Zeno complained. “Not that I’m not enjoying this scenic tour of the Harian countryside, but I’m sick of hedgerows and even more so of trees.”

“You never shut up,” Tobiah muttered. “You are painful to my ears.”

“Halt!”

The voice rang out through the trees, a shout that made them all momentarily seize up with fright.

“Don’t draw weapons,” Tobiah raised a hand.

An armed patrol swarmed onto the road, surrounding them.

“Dismount,” the captain barked. “Throw down your weapons.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Tobiah reassured him.

The captain gave him a withering glance. “I disagree.”

“That’s a pity,” Tobiah leant forward. “I’m sure Duke Harrington will be delighted to learn that you attempted to arrest his royal highness, Tobiah of Merdia, who came seeking friendship and hospitality.”

The captain’s jaw dropped and he hastily closed his mouth again.

“Nice story,” he said, robotically. “But you can’t prove that kind of claim.”

“Do I have to?” Tobiah leaned forward and looked him in the eye. “Do you really want that?”

Maple saw nothing change but the captain stepped back suddenly, white as a sheet and shaking.

“I…forgive me!” he begged. “I did not know!”

“I am aware,” Tobiah said, loftily. “We can make our own way to the castle.”

“If it’s all the same,” the captain had recovered himself and gave Tobiah a nasty look, “I would rather we accompanied you.”

Maple thought Tobiah would argue but he only waved a regal hand.

“Lead on.”

As their party began to make its way down the road, Maple saw Pepper raise an eyebrow in her direction.

“I’m alarmed to think how Duke Harrington is both safe and dangerous,” she mumbled.

“Me too,” Maple agreed. “And I want to know why on earth he would welcome us when all of Harian loathes us.”

“Tobiah!” Duke Harrington embraced the prince, who withstood it admirably. “My son! How good to see you!”

“Your highness,” Tobiah reluctantly returned the hug. “Thank you for your welcome.”