Blood King

Chapter Twenty Seven

Chapter Twenty Seven

            The day arrived for the Fall Hunt, but it did nothing to quell the news of Kayle’s wife’s death. No one knew where Cain had gone, that he had been missing for more than five days through, Xavier seemed worried about the young man, but at the time could do nothing for it. The Fall Hunt came first and foremost, a tradition within the royal house; Radu seemed uninterested in the affairs of the hunt. Saying that kill for sport had not true meaning.

            Celina had to agree with the young Prince with that, but his elder sister Eleanor scoffed at her younger brother’s remarks calling them foolish. Though Eleanor would then glare and turn to leave upon seeing Celina.

            “I do not think your sister is very fond of me.” she said when joining Radu’s side. “Have I done something to upset her? Each time I see her she quickly avoids me.”

            “Don’t let it bother you,” Radu said as they then began to walk together. “My sister has always been like that, when my mother was alive she always wondered what happened with Eleanor, that she was becoming far too much like father, too power hungry. It’s one of the reasons why my mother kept me so close, so as to not turn out like her.”

            “That’s rather harsh don’t you think?”

            He gave a modest tilt of his head. “I do not hate my sister, in fact I can see where she is coming from, however making enemies of everyone will do her no good, she may lose it all if it keeps going this way. I don’t want that to happen, even if there are some who will say that she more than deserves it for her acts of cruelty. Even my own father says there’s something wrong with me since I never want power.”

            “It must be hard.”

            He stopped to look out at the vast fields and trees with its colors of orange, yellow and red. “I won’t lie and say it’s easy, being a child in any royal house is always hard, but you cannot deny that with everything there will always be something that has a price.”

            “I know that as well,” she admitted. “If you became King would you try to change that?”

            “It’s much harder to change what has been for hundreds of years, besides I do not think I could become King, I am too weak in my father’s eyes.”

            “Your still only a boy, a year younger then I, you have time to become strong.”

            He shook his head. “It does not matter, my father is King his word is law. No matter what anyone else says, they do what he asks, including me.”

            Celina wanted to say something, but could not find the proper words. When she thought of something and opened her mouth to say it a knight called out to her.

            “Princess!” Samson came over to her in a brisk stride when he reached the two he bowed to Radu. “Young Lord,” then looked to Celina. “I beg your pardon my Lady, but your Brother the King is asking for you, since it is almost time to begin he has asked me to escort you, and his young Lordship to the horses.”

            “I am allowed to go as well?” Radu asked with slight surprise.

            Samson nodded. “Yes, His Majesty said it would not seem right if you were not allowed to join the Hunt with him and the other nobles of the court.”