The Dragon and His Prince{ManxMan}

*Chapter 4

Marius

"Nothing you do could ever offend me." I bit my lip, feeling the familiar flop of my heart vibrate through my body. "Nothing you do could ever offend me." I resisted the urge to smile as I walked down the hall, ignoring the bitter guards posted in every hall. They cast their looks but I could not care.

"Nothing you do...nothing you do could ever offend me." I rounded, going through doors showing the different wing of the palace. I knocked once and showed myself in.

"This morning is very good I take it." I felt my body warmer than usual.

"He said nothing could ever offend him." Zyandra rolled her eyes, buckling the rest of her buckles on her calf high boots. Her training gear was protective, like that of a warrior and an assassin combined. Made for stealth and flexibility but also protection.

"If you've decided to make me your personal journal, I wish to resign." Ignoring her I sat in one of her chairs and smiled at her handmaiden, Kathleen.

"I was merely stating... I am better than you."

"Holding my brothers affection does not make you better than me." I stuck my tongue out at her and she laughed sitting down to allow Kathleen to braid her hair. "So, what is on the agenda for today?"

I shrugged glancing at Kathleen, she had been Zyandra's maiden since the princess turned 8, however trusting her was never my job, so I made a point to make it known.

"This and that, really, and you?" Zyandra rolled her eyes knowing why I commented so halfheartedly.

She sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Besides getting my ass handed to me today, who knows." I clapped my hands then.

"Of course! The brilliant blunder of the century." I laughed recalling her drunken stupor from the night before. "I do say, princess, you are a sight to behold when intoxicated." She groaned. "You nearly killed a man too, I'm very excited."

"Shut it." She threw a pillow my way and I caught it. "If I never have to see him again I'll gladly attend prayer with mother for the next month."

"Month? You think too highly of yourself." She screamed at me then and I laughed.

We bantered on our way to the training station. I made a note to bring Zavian here, he's been dodging his own training which wasn't good.

"Sure you don't want to take a few hits from Lee? She's been itching for a real right once she realised I let her win." I chuckled looking towards her trainer who scowled. The woman was never much for conversation.

"I'll let her have her fun with you, considering the headache you're sporting, it'll be worth it." Zyandra punched my arm and I laughed feeling nothing more than a tap but flinching for her benefit anyway.

I waved heading for the cluster of trees just outside the premises of the palace. I hummed walking through nature, staring up at the brightening sky. For a moment I pondered my planned outing, leaving Zavian was the last thing I wanted to do, but it was for him that I was going out on my own today.

I shook my head thinking to the woman who spoke to Zavian the night before, she was anything but ordinary, Zavian had exposed to me, but rather than being as excited as he was, I couldn't help feel a little worried. I turned to look behind me, pausing to listen for anything out of the ordinary.