The Prince and the pirate (Now puplished on dreame in extended version)

Choosing a bride

*Zac*
"And I win again". I grin at Joel as I adroitly jump from my large black stallion, landing on the cobbled stone of the huge courtyard.
I hand the reins to one of the stable boys and clap the horse on the flank. "Make sure to cool him down properly before watering him".

My friend and squirm Joel stops his own horse, a bay mare and get of it. "As always my prince. But to my defense I was holding two rabbits and a pleasant in my hand during the race".

"Yeah excuses, excuses.. you always have one". I say laughing, running a hand through my windswept hair to gain a bit control of it, and stop the curls from falling down on my forehead.

"Get these to the kitchen". Joel hands over the animals to a Young boy, who instantly run off.

There is a bustle of people around us and quite a lot of noise, to call it a castle doesn't really describe my home, it is more a small village on its own.

As we are walking up the stairs to the grand parken door, one of my fathers truster men comes hurrying out. He gives me a light bow as he spots me. "Your highness, the King requested your presence in the throne room right away".

I give him a nod to let him know the message is received an he scurry of, looking happy that finding me turned out to be an easy task for once.

"Well, then I better go see what dear old dad wants to pester me about this time.. see you later". I give Joel a tired smile, before pushing open the heavy door.

I make my way to the throne room at a leisureable pace as I am kind of expecting trouble. Mostly because I always seem to get in trouble lately, even if I mostly don't feel that I did anything wrong.

As I enter the grand room my father looks up and I am granted a short smile, before his booming voice echoes of the walls. "There you are my only son, my pride and joy. I see you have been out hunting again".

"You wanted to see me father.. it sounded important". I say, looking at the stood looking grey haired man sitting on the throne. There is no doubt he is trying to butter me up and that scare me a lot more than anger.

I glance around the room, it always makes me feel so small and well a bit uncomfortable. The walls are decorated with elaborate gobelins and the huge gilded throne sets on an ornate dais, making my father look down on whoever he is talking to.

He nod and I notice that the castle priest and healer, my old teacher Hendry is standing in the shadows beside the throne. "It is time for you to choose a bride my son. You turned 27 last month and I am not getting younger. You can't keep procrastinating, then it will be to late. Hendry has put together a list of appropriate choices".

"Like in now.. ? Here ..? Right this instance ?" I feel the panic sneak in on me. Honestly I don't feel ready and I definitely don't feel like marrying some stranger. "You want me to choose a woman to marry from of a list ?"

My father nods, this is of course not the first time the subject is brought up, but so far I have managed to avoid it getting farther than the talks. It seems time is up and the trap is about to close.

My father sigh. "You keep sliding of on the matter my son. But you need to choose a bride, get married and sire an heir, if not the kingdom will be lost. My brother is just biding his time, hoping for me to die while you are still undecided.. then by law the throne will fall to him".

For some stupid reason the laws of our kingdom state that a prince need to be married and have proved his capability to sire an heir to claim the throne. I find it to be a very old fashioned way of thinking.

"You are the King, remember ? You are the one making laws, so just change this one and the problem is solved". I suggest.

"Zac you are a smart man, you know I can't just change an ancient law like that. The noble men would start a mutiny and the people would riot if I changed things like this, it has always been like that and people trust in that system". He stands up and come to place his hand on my shoulder. "They are already whispering and gossiping about what might be the reason for the crown prince refusing to marry".