The Prince's Trust

Special Skills

Don't really like how this is written and it's definitely not as good as the first chapter but it's necessary to get the story moving :)

From the little I can remember of that night, I woke up twice. The first time I was in pain, so much pain. All I could register in my hazy mind was that I was lying on my front on what felt like a cloud and the feeling of something wet dabbing my sore back.

I whimpered as the skin stung but the hands on my back continued their work while another deep baritone voice with a thick North-eastern accent came through as a large hand stroked through my hair, "Shush now, go to sleep it'll feel better when you wake I promise."

I didn't know who it was but their voice was calm and confident, I trusted them instantly and let the comforting hand that petted my hair, send me drifting back into dreamland.

Just as the voice had promised, when I woke there was no pain. My body felt tired, dehydrated and a little sticky as if Id just fought a fever but other then that I was completely content.

I scrunched up my nose as streams of light assaulted my closed eyes and then snuggled back into the fluffy heaven that surrounded my body with a small sleepy smile on my lips. This couldn't have been my bed, my bed was hard and stuffed with straw, master only got me a blanket in winter so I didn't freeze to death but I never complained as it was better then what most of his servants got.

I was lying there for what felt like hours, just wriggling occasionally and sinking deeper into the crispy sheets. As my senses began to properly reappear I dipped my hand out of the safety of the cover to pull them closer. I felt a layer of fur above me and dragged it closer to rub the softness against my cheek. It was so soft!!

I let out a satisfied hum at the sensation and absently my ears pick up a chuckle from somewhere in the room but my brain paid it no mind- not quite ready to think that soon.

I must have continued drifting in and out of sleep because I've no idea the time that passed before I finally registered my surroundings. I looked up in sleepy confusion, the roof wasn't stone or thatched. It was cloth. I was in a tent.

That was weird....

The last thing I remembered was being punished. I shivered, my back tingling at the thought. I lifted my hand to rub my temples, trying to work out where I was and how I got there.

"Ah, you're awake." I jumped up at the unfamiliar voice and was quickly pressed against the head board, eyes wide and guilty as if I'd been caught doing something I shouldn't have. The layers of blankets pooled in my lap leaving my bandaged torso completely exposed,  I quickly dragged them back up to keep my modesty as my eyes settled on an older, balding, white haired gentleman who had a cross printed on his right sleeve.

"Don't be frightened young man I've not come to hurt you." He chuckled as if the thought was amusing to him. "I've been sent to check on your progress."

I frowned in confusion and tilted my head at the man as he placed down a bag with the same big white cross on it and looked at me with a comforting smile.

"My names Bob." He smiled and I found myself trusting that smile instantly, it was just so honest and warm. It made me feel safe. He held out his hand once he was stood right by the bed and I took it nervously.

"D-Declan sir." Instead of shaking my hand he caught my arm and pressed two fingers against my wrist, his trusting smile ever present on his kind features.

"Bob's just fine son, I'm no Sir nor will I ever be." He grinned and I nodded, keeping my head down as he poked and pressed against different parts of my body. The strange man even tilted up my head at one point and pushed aside my lips to take a look at my teeth for a moment. I wasn't going to fight against it, he wasn't hurting me and I didn't want to get in trouble when I didn't even know where I was.