Dawn of Arcane Destiny

Chapter Eight

Off to dinner. Lillia made her way to the dining hall. She would gladly skip on dining with the King and Queen but that was not acceptable. Drayce usually skipped out on dining with them, without any notice either. However, he was, well, Drayce. Lillia would be surprised if he actually showed up.

Speak of the devil. Lillia almost ran right into him. He grinned at her. She did enjoy seeing his smile. It was mischievous, like he was thinking of something to tease you about. At your expense, or to make you laugh, was yet to be determined.

“Is this a habit of yours?” Drayce asked.

“Running into things? Typically, no. Just you. You’re so insignificant it’s easy to forget you’re there.” Lillia replied.

“I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that on account of us managing to have a pleasant conversation last night.” Drayce responded chuckling.

“Yes, well, that was obviously a trick.” Lillia said.

“A trick?” Drayce said sounding amused.

“You tricked me into having a pleasant conversation with you.” Lillia said.

“I did no such trick. If I remember right, you were the one who decided to have a nice conversation, even if it was incredibly boring.” Drayce said pretending to snore.

Lillia huffed. He really needed to get a filter. “I actually thought it was fascinating and I appreciate you sharing your knowledge on the subject.” She turned and started hurrying away. She was done with Drayce and his inflated opinion of himself. He thought he could say and do whatever he wanted and get away with it!

“Wait!” He caught up to her. “Where are you going?”

“To dinner. You do eat right?” Lillia said without looking at him.

“No, no. Who needs to eat? Certainly not me.” Drayce said waving his hand dismissively.

Lillia rolled her eyes. “I assume you aren’t eating with us. Where are you off to?”

“Well actually I was off to eat with you, surprise!” Drayce said enthusiastically.

“No, you weren’t.” Lillia said scowling.

“How do you know? That’s right you didn’t, because you just asked me.” Drayce said as they reached the dining hall’s doors. “Shall we?” He said offering his arm.

Lillia didn’t say anything but took his arm. He was probably doing this to do the unexpected and annoy the King right? Or did he want to spend time with her?

A servant opened the doors and revealed the King and Queen waiting for them.

Lillia curtsied and took her seat. As was customary in Kamasia, The women sat on one side of the table, and the men at on the other side.

Drayce stood there for a moment, purposely not bowing, then grinned evilly. He then went and sat next to Lillia.

The Queen let out a small gasp of outrage. The King glowered. Lillia pursed her lips. This man was going to do what he wanted unless someone actually did something about it. Lillia stood. She looked down at Drayce.

“Drayce Shalddwell, I know you find pleasure in making your Aunt and Uncle angry, but you must stop. You disregard for propriety is upsetting and not the least bit funny. Sit on your side, Crown Prince.” Lillia said sternly. “If you don’t, I will leave, and I know I’m the only reason you are here tonight.”

He looked surprised. He probably had never been told off so thoroughly by a woman. She resisted the urge to smile as he rose with a slight look of contempt towards her and sat next to his uncle. Lillia took her seat once again and they ate their meal in silence.

***

After the meal Drayce left without excusing himself. That was the last time he ate with the King and Queen voluntarily. Then there was Lillia. That infuriating lady had lashed him in place with her tongue faster than his childhood governess could. And that was saying something. Then the woman had the audacity to smile when he did as she said!

Despite this, he smiled to himself. That was probably the most forward she had been since, well he didn’t know, but she seemed so shy and complacent, but if you opened her up she was passionate about certain things. He found her intriguing. But something told him that getting to know her was going to be hard.

Then there was this king business. Part of himself wanted to stop and scream till his throat was raw and face blue. His Uncle Reginald had him start to look at ledgers and all that boring stuff. He had fallen asleep several times. This was not going to be easy. Nothing had ever come easy to him. Ever. Even combat, which came easily now, was not easy for years. While his fellows were already expert with swords, he was still awkward. Looking back Drayce was surprised they hadn’t kicked him out of the army right away. Luckily Caelum had helped him train. When he was a kid his adopted parents had tried to get him to try everything they could think of to help get his mind off his recently deceased parents, but that had failed. Nothing had come naturally. His family, his talents, the only thing that did, he had to keep buried deep inside. No one could know or he'd almost assuredly be killed. Just like his parents had.

His parent’s death was one of those scandals that was only mentioned in hushed tones if Drayce passed by. No one blamed him, but they did pity him. Drayce hated it. He half wanted to deck anyone who felt the need to mention it whenever he was in the vicinity. He couldn’t blame them though. People naturally talked about what they didn’t understand. No one knew, not truly, except Drayce. He had been there after all.

Drayce started. He wouldn’t let his mind go down that thought path. That always left him brooding for the rest of the day, and who needed to brood on a sunny day like today?

He continued out of the castle. The sun was still shining but was making its way to the horizon. He suddenly felt the urge to start running. He hadn’t had a good amount of exercise for ages.

He broke into a run and started down the street. His stuffy suit restricted him. It felt tight across his shoulders.

Drayce slowed and twisted harshly ripping the coat. He moved his arms and torso. That was better. He dashed forward towards the army barracks. He passed merchants cleaning up their stands for the day. Dilapidated tenements made way for lavish mansions.
His lungs pumped for air, his heart pumping hard. He felt the burning in his legs. He grinned. This felt way better than sitting inside that Non forsaken castle. Maybe that was why Lillia was so depressing. She sat up in her quarters or the library all day. That was enough to leave anyone crazy.

He arrived at the barracks sweaty and red-faced. He found Caelum on the training field dismembering some straw dummies with his training sword.

“Wow.” Drayce said. “What did those dummies ever do to you?”

Caelum stopped and looked back. He laughed and shook his head. “Drayce is that your new coat?”

“What this old thing?” Drayce said turning his nose up. “I have a billion of these at the castle. So many I could cloth every homeless in the country, but who cares about that?”

Caelum chuckled. “Don’t you have something to do at the castle?” He leaned on his blunt sword.

“You mean, practicing manners I already know, and looking at ledgers that make my eyes go blind with fatigue?” Drayce suggested. “Yes, but if I have stay in that opulent cave they call a castle, then I will go completely insane!”

Caelum nodded in understanding. “Well take that coat off and grab a sword.”