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Chapter 13

"Your armour is ready to be suited, your Highness." Mr Kurr said to Alex as he made his way to the jousting lane.

"And what of this new trainer my father has ordered for me?" Alex asked as they entered the armour room, speaking as they went.

"He is waiting for you by the horses your Highness." Mr Kurr replied, placing his body armour over his head, and tightening the straps.

The Prince grimaced at the intense weight of the iron on his shoulders.

"Hmm, and his family?" The Prince pondered.

"He has respected family in the courts of Kingdom Klary, Kingdom Hairmen and Kingdom Larenta." Kurr then headed over for the helmet, which he took off the shelf and handed to Alex.

Alex looked in the mirror and nodded at his armour. "Very nice, thank you, Kurr."

Mr Kurr only bowed and waited like that until Alex had left the room, before picking up his young majesties day clothes and walking out after him.

Alex breathed in the fresh morning air as it hit him upon entering the jousting arena. He looked at the empty stands which in a few days would soon be full of his future people.

My future people... He thought with dread. But then his eyes landed on the royal section, in particular, the second throne.

A place for Jane... He let his mind wander for a second.

It wandered back to this morning when the sun had streamed in the window, waking him up from his restful sleep. He had awoken without the slightest sadness in his body. His eyes opened automatically and pulled themselves over to the woman lying next to him. The sun had crept up onto her cheeks, making them appear to glow. Her eyelids were heavy, yet alive with dreams. He had allowed himself the pleasure of watching her for a moment. Watching how peaceful she was, how utterly beautiful she was.

His heart jumped at the very thought of him being able to touch her. To feel her smooth tanned skin beneath his rough one. The electricity which her body created when they touched was something beyond imagining. And now he only wanted to hold her, caress her skin, protect her from everything that would ever make her sad.

He didn't know what was happening to him. Why now? After all these years, why was it especially difficult to be around her, but almost impossible to be without her? To touch her without his vision going blurry in delight, it amazed him, excited him, but leaving her there this morning was like leaving a puppy alone on its first night at a home. He was drawn to her in more ways than someone could imagine. Yet, he had to train this morning. So, he left her a note on the bedside table explaining how he couldn't bear to wake her up nor to leave her, but he had promised his father a training session.

The sun was shining down upon the bright dust of the ground. Alex's hair, having not been washed the night before, lay floppy on his forehead in a mass of browns and blondes.

"Your Majesty, introducing Mr Peta Redire." The young man approached Alex, and genuflected onto the dusty ground in front of the king, flourishing his tanned hand out in an obsequious manner.

"Your Majesty, it is an honour." The young teachers' eyes, however, were more curious than honourable.

The prince raised his eyebrow as Peta Redire straightened up. "Mr Redire, was it not you who I met last night when asked to dance with young Lady Harlen?"

Peta replied with a nod of his head. His dark hair cast slightly over his emerald eyes. Alex nodded in return and walked over one of the horses being held close to him.

"And, uh, how do you know Lady Harlen?" At this Peta's shoulders tensed slightly, and Alex, embarrassed at his frankness, added, "If I may be so inquiring."

"Of course, your majesty." Peta followed Alex towards the horses and stroked the black mares nose softly, before explaining. "We met in town a week ago, when she, her majesty and Lady Charlotte were shopping. Whereupon I introduced myself to Lady Harlen, but was called off too abruptly to be able to introduce myself to her Majesty, and that is why I had to apologise at the dance last night."

Alex sneaked a glance at his trainer for a second. He wasn't like any trainer he had had before. This one seemed more opinionated, the others always seemed to sneak around on tiptoes around him.

"And what of your family?" Alex questioned, continuously stroking the white fur of his horse.

Peta walked around his chosen horse, tightening the saddles different straps on his way.

"My family originated from the islands." Peta began.

"Venetian?"

"Yes, your majesty. We migrated here in the mid-15th century. My family began with a lot of power, yet it was lost during a great war."

Alex nodded in understanding, wrongly thinking Peta was talking about the war with the Scandinavians.

Peta continued, "My family, came from the bottom again, and worked hard to where we are now. I now have family in high power in three kingdoms, your majesty."

"Kingdom Klary, Kingdom Hairmen and Kingdom Larenta if I am not mistaken?" Alex recited.

"That is correct."

Alex couldn't get past something which was running around in his head, but couldn't cross the finish line.

Peta turned to the Prince and smiled. "Well, I am being paid by the hour, yet I want you to get your money worth, which I am thinking is to beat your father at this tournament, am I right?" He took one of the horse's reins in his hand and twirled the rough leather band around his large hands.

Alex held the young man's gaze for a moment. That was it! Alex thought. There is something familiar about this man. The way he acts around me, the boldness in his speech, and the familiarity of his eyes.

These thoughts rung bells everywhere in his brain, but nothing seemed to ring loud enough. Peta reminded Alex of someone, but no matter how hard he tried he couldn't place it for the life of him. It was if a blockade had been built around his brain, blocking every wonder or thought about this man.

Alex's frown of concentration rolled away, and instead, a smile grew on his face. He laughed and slapped Peta on the back heartily. "Time does not wait, even for the wicked! Now let's beat my father!"

Peta only smiled in reply, nodding his head in agreement as they mounted their horses.

"Let's begin."

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REEEALLLLYYY sorry about how long I took to update!! I've just started 11th grade, and its already pretty stressful, #fucktheIB!!! Anyways, I hope this little manly testosterone show off is a good intro into these boys relationship, it's about to get even more intense! I've got plans :)) (woohoo) I'm also gonna try update muchhh more often (sorry about that) but I think for the moment I've got my work under control (lel). Anyways enjoyyyy xxx