Long live the king

Chapter 4

- I just needed some fresh air, Col whispered, his voice almost unhearable. As if he wasn't interesting anymore the king turned to the crowd.

- Shows over! Go back to what you were doing! immediately people started to move around like nothing had happened. Col slowly rose, not making a sound, a cold, strong hand grabbed his neck, he froze.

The king leaned in, lips touching the prince's ear, unwillingly Col held his breath.

- Never disobey my orders again, and don't expect me to take this lightly, the king growled in Col's ear and then dropped him.

He looked at the ground, shivering from the words. What did I do wrong? I didn't talk back, did I? No, I didn't. Then why, why did he become so angry? Like a zombie Col moved towards a group of heavily armed guards and horses. His own stood in the middle, she was a mare, white as snow and full of energy. Her beautiful brown eyes watched Col with more love than he ever had got in his life, tired he smiled at her. She neighed and swung her head up and down, forcing Col to laugh. Only she could do that, only she could make him feel good while his father was angry at him, only his Note.

In a couple of minutes, the king and prince rode towards the castle surrounded by guards. Col's father rode in the front as always and Col rode in the middle, most of the guards rode side by side with him. There as protection for him but also to stop him from running away. In silence the group kept going, it didn't take them long to reach the castle grounds. The thick iron gate closed behind them, it grated against the ground, creating a terrible sound and Col's heart sank with it. He was first of his horse and scratched her behind the ears. Footsteps were approaching him from behind, closer and closer. The guards watched in silence when the king grabbed the prince by his grey shirt and dragged him away from his horse.

- She's not yours anymore, you lost my trust by going to the market and therefore she will be given to your sister. You will also spend the following three days in your room, some of my best guards will be placed outside your door so don't think about doing anything stupid, the voice was colder than ice and sent chills down everyone's spine.

Col watched as Note, his very last friend, were taken from him. He didn't try to stop them nor did he try to go away, he just stood there with tears silently falling from his eyes as his sister took Note's reins, she smiled superior at him. Every second felt like an eternity, every heartbeat felt like the last, he remembered their time together, from the first moment till the last. He remembered how he had found her as a foal and then watched her grow up. He had told her everything and now he wouldn't be able to go near her. Defeated and broken Col headed towards the northern tower, towards his room. At least I can get some peace for three days.

The lonely prince's room was filled books, he loved them, he loved reading about adventures far away from where he was, he loved to escape into another world and be lost for hours, he loved how words could calm his mind, how powerful they were. In the spooky moonlight, he sat on his bed, deeply concentrated on the book in his hands. He had found it on the street some years ago, tossed away by someone who clearly didn't understand the magic in words. A knock on the oak door disturbed the silence, forcing Col to return to reality.

- It's open, he yelled.

Someone slipped in through the small opening, completely silent. The person was tall and had a black cloak wrapped around the shoulders. Col recognised him, but in the dim moonlight, it was hard to tell who it was.

- Get up, Col, the voice was low and a bit stressed.

Col slowly rose from his bed, discreet he reached for his new sword and kept an eye on the person in front of him. He was certain; it was not someone from his family.