The Prince of Warwood and The War of Kings

by Clinton, J. Noel

  Xavier snickered. “Mate, you looked close to wetting your pants just then.”

  “Shut it, Xavier. He scares me when he looks at me like that, and he looks at me like that almost all the time now… now that Erica and I are dating officially.”

  Ephraim’s hand clamped down on his son’s shoulder, and Court jerked with a start.

  “Holy hell, Dad! You scared the life out of me,” Court gasped.

  Ephraim chuckled. “What’s the matter, son? Did you think Loren was having a go at you?”

  “Well, yeah. He looks at me like I’m a roach—a roach he’d like to squash!”

  “Then I suggest that you behave like a gentleman and mind your manners with his daughter. Come on. Let’s get home and help your mother pack up some food for the picnic,” his father responded, patting Courtney’s shoulder before bowing slightly toward Xavier. “Sire.”

  “General Hardcastle,” Xavier returned with a nod.

  That afternoon, Xavier, his father, and Lana exited the palace with the Jeffersons and the Hardcastles. As they walked down the drive toward the palace gates, Xavier watched with fascination and delight as his father took the picnic basket from Lana and kissed her briefly before taking her hand in his.

  “They look really good together,” Erica remarked. “Are you sure you want them to go through with it? You’ll have two parents, and that only means double the punishments when you get caught.”

  Xavier frowned at Erica. “Of course I want Dad and Lana to marry. I’ll take my chances on the punishment thing.”

  Erica shook her head melodramatically. “All right, but it’s your funeral.”

  Mrs. Minnows, Robbie, and Brittany were waiting for the group next to the gates, and as they approached, Mrs. Hardcastle draped an arm around her sister. Brittany stayed close to the women while Robbie drifted next to Xavier.

  “Hi,” she whispered, taking his hand.

  “Hi. Glad your mom is letting you come.”

  “Well, she said if it weren’t a celebration for the king’s engagement, I’d be sitting in my room instead of coming. Remind me to thank your dad for getting engaged,” she joked.

  When they arrived at the coliseum, the rest of Xavier’s friends were already there messing about on the field.

  “Oi, Wilson!” Courtney called out as the group entered the rugby pitch.

  The group of boys froze at the sight of the group approaching and stared reverently at the king. Then to Xavier’s dismay, they sank to a knee.

  “King Wells,” Beck whispered. “Thank you for inviting us to join your picnic and celebration.”

  “You’re very welcome, Beckley. Please, stand, all of you,” Jeremiah responded.

  The boys stood and shuffled uneasily before the king.

  Xavier rolled his eyes. “Geesh, guys,” he blurted, snatching the rugby ball out of Garrett’s hands. “Come on. Let’s have a game before we eat.” He turned to his father. “Are you going to play, Dad?”

  The king grinned broadly. “Of course.”

  “Count me in,” Loren announced, draping an arm over the king’s shoulders.

  Moments later, the men and children had divided themselves into equal teams as those not playing set up for the picnic and drank iced lemonade as they talked, laughed, and watched the game in progress.

  “Son, pass it here!” Jeremiah shouted as he swung out wide behind Xavier, who had three opposing players closing in on him.

  Xavier turned and tossed the ball to his father and looped around behind him. The king lunged forward about ten feet before Loren charged at him and forced him to the ground. Xavier was ready and snatched up the ball as his father released it and ran across the goal line, scoring a try.

  “Well done,” Jeremiah commented, grinning and clapping his son on the back.

  “You fouled me!” Beck blared loudly, shoving Mac.

  “I did not! You ran into the back of me! I didn’t do anything illegal!”

  “Bloody hell if you didn’t!” Beck spat, shoving Mac.

  “You shove me again, Beckley, your hands will come back as bloody stumps,” Mac threatened, bumping his chest into the other boy.

  Beck shoved Mac and a fight broke out.

  “Hey! Boys! Enough!” Jeremiah shouted, racing to the scuffling boys and pulling each to his feet by their collars. As the boys struggled to get at each other, the king shook them. “I said that’s enough, boys! It’s only a game.”

  Instantly the boys stilled and looked up at Jeremiah with a mingling of shame and respect.

  “Sorry, sire,” they muttered in near unison.

  “I think we should take a break and have a bite to eat. Maybe we can continue the game with cooler heads afterwards,” Jeremiah announced, releasing the two boys.

  The group sat together on the lawn of the rugby pitch eating sandwiches, chips, pasta salad, and pies of every imaginable flavor.

  “Xavier Wells!” Lana gasped as she watched the prince cut the apple pie in half and scoop half onto his plate.

  “What?” Xavier questioned innocently.

  “Don’t you think you should start with a smaller piece?”

  “But I love apple pie. It’s my favorite.”

  “I can see that,” Lana commented dryly. “But there are other people who might want some of that pie.”

  Xavier looked at her slightly bewildered. “There’s still half of the pie left.”

  Jeremiah snickered and shook his head, amused.

  Lana gave him a quick glare that had the king struggling not to laugh harder.

  As Xavier settled in next to Robbie, she snickered and said, “I’d have to agree with Lana, Xavier. That’s an awfully big piece of pie.”

  “I can’t help it. I’m starving!” he commented past a large bite he had just shoveled into his mouth.

  Still laughing, she kissed his cheek. “I’m going after more lemonade. You want some?”

  “Sure,” he answered, giving her his charming grin that had the butterflies in her stomach doing somersaults.

  As Robbie meandered toward the drinks, she wondered if Xavier knew he had that effect over her. He probably did since he had telepathy and could read her thoughts. Then she smiled to herself. Xavier Wells might know how easily he could make her knees go weak, but he glowed around her! That had to mean something! After all, if the rumor about the king glowing when he was in the company of a woman he loved was true, it would have to mean that Xavier was in love with her. Right? Besides, hadn’t the king complained that Xavier’s thoughts were so strong around her that he was unwittingly broadcasting them? Boy, what she wouldn’t give to know what those thoughts were. She would have to corner him sometime and ask.

  Robbie poured two large cups of lemonade. Irritation and jealousy crawled up her neck when she turned and found Sara Jefferson sitting in her place next to Xavier with her hand on his arm. Xavier was blushing and smiling at something she was saying to him. Trying not to crush the paper cups in her grip, Robbie briskly walked over to the couple.

  “…and I told Jonas that I’d never go out with him because he was a complete jackass, and that it was a shame your transfiguration wasn’t permanent because he made a much better jackass than a boy.”

  Xavier erupted with laughter. “That’s great! I bet he was pissed.”

  Sara nodded melodramatically. “Oh, he was! His face went red, and he stomped away like a little boy.” She rolled her eyes, and the hand on Xavier’s arm slid up to rub his bicep. “He’s such a man-child! You’d think at eighteen, he’d be more mature!”

  Robbie cleared her throat loudly. “Excuse me, but you’re in my seat!”

  Sara blinked up at Robbie. “There aren’t any assigned seats, Roberta. We are not in school.”

  “Here, Robbie. Sit here,” Xavier suggested, patting the ground on the other side of him.

  Robbie’s temper flared, and she glared at Xavier. Sara batted her eyes at Robbie and smiled. Robbie then mirrored Sara’s phony smile and dumped lemonade ove
r both their heads. Sara squealed indignantly and ran to her parents as Robbie smiled smugly.

  “Ah! Why did you do that?” Xavier blared, jumping to his feet as the cold liquid ran down his back and shoulders.

  She looked at her boyfriend triumphantly. “You looked as if you needed to cool off.” And, with that, Robbie stomped away, leaving Xavier to stare after her dumbfounded. He looked down at Court and Erica, both unsuccessfully stifling snickers.

  “What in the heck was that about? What did I do?”

  Erica rolled her eyes. “Boys! You really are clueless, aren’t you?”

  Chapter 9

  The next morning, Xavier woke to his father drawing back the drapes in his bedroom and sending sunlight blasting into his room and across his bed. He stretched noisily.

  “Morning, Dad,” he muttered.

  “Morning, son. Are you ready to start back to school?”

  “Yes, sir. It’ll be nice to do something somewhat normal!”

  Jeremiah smiled. “Well, remember, you are in classes at the Academy until after lunch. Once you’ve eaten and had your break, you’re to report to my office in the Governing Hall. We’ll work on telepathy and begin your apprenticeship. For the first week or two, you will shadow me and watch, but I will be asking you questions about what you learn and see during each day. So pay attention.”

  “Yes, sir,” Xavier responded.

  “Then, at three, we’ll go to the coliseum for combat training. I can arrange to have royal guards with specific abilities. So if there’s anything in particular you’d like to work on, you better let me know now,” his father told him.

  “Ah, no. I’ll let you choose,” he answered. “Dad? Why haven’t I sparred with you since the first few weeks at the mountain?”

  The king sighed, crossed the room, and sat on the edge of the bed. “Well, Ephraim believed with the stress you were under that you needed someone you could trust, someone who hadn’t hurt you during training, someone you’d know wouldn’t hurt you. It just made sense it would be me. If a boy can’t depend on and trust his father, then what good is the father?”

  Xavier nodded. “Would you train me if I asked?”

  The king regarded him for a moment before answering, “Yes. I would. If you wished to work on telepathy during combat, then I’d be the only viable option. Mike’s leg would prevent him from being a good sparring partner. Why are you asking me this, son? Do you wish to spar with me?”

  “Yeah, I do, but not yet. I want to work my way up to you.”

  The king smiled. “All right. You better get a move on, boy. You don’t want to be late your first day back,” he announced, patting the boy’s leg and standing.

  An hour later, Xavier maneuvered through the secret passage with Court, Court’s brothers, Erica and Sara. Robbie wasn’t speaking to him and refused to come to the phone when he had tried calling her that morning. What in the world was her problem? He hadn’t done anything wrong! She was the one who had dumped lemonade on his head and embarrassed him in front of everybody. If anyone should be mad, it was him!

  “You’re awfully quiet, your highness,” Sara remarked, snapping him out of the internal pity party he was holding for himself.

  Xavier looked at the girl next to him. She looked remarkably like her mother. She was breathtaking. “I was lost in thought, I guess.”

  Sara nodded. “Thinking about Robbie?”

  “Is it that obvious?”

  Sara shrugged. “I don’t understand why she behaved like she did at the picnic. You didn’t deserve to be embarrassed like that. It’s not right. You deserve better treatment. You’re our prince after all.”

  Yeah! Xavier thought indignantly. He hadn’t deserved any of it! What in the world had gotten into her? Well, one thing was for sure, he wasn’t going to be the one to apologize! She was the one who acted like a jerk, not him. Feeling smug with himself, Xavier smiled down at Sara.

  “Thanks, Sara. I needed to hear that,” he told her.

  Sara gave him her most devastating smile and batted her eyes. “I’m only speaking the truth, sire.”

  “Please, just call me ‘Xavier.’ I’m not my dad,” he told her as they approached the entrance to the academy.

  Sara giggled. “Yeah, but you’re looking more and more like him though.”

  Xavier made a face and laughed. “Please tell me you’re trying to pay me a compliment.”

  “Oh, yes, I am! Most of the girls in my year think the king is hot. One of my friends is depressed that he and Lana are engaged. But if you ask me, she’s delusional. She doesn’t stand a chance with King Wells. Do you know who Marilynn Murray is?”

  Still trying to get past the fact that some of the girls in his school thought of his father in that way, he stammered, “Ah… ah, yeah. She’s in Drew’s year. Right?”

  “Yep, that’s the one,” she continued, lowering her voice as they entered the academy and made their way down the hall. “She snuck into the castle once. Her cousin was a servant for the king at the time. She says she helped her cousin change the king’s sheets and stole a pair of his boxer shorts.”

  Xavier choked out, “What? That’s disgusting! Why would she do that?”

  Sara shrugged. “She had a major crush on him.”

  “Did my dad ever find out?”

  “No,” Sara told him and grabbed his arm. “You won’t tell him, will you? I mean this was at least three years ago. You weren’t even here when she did it. It’s like ancient history. Please, don’t tell the king. She’d be devastated if he knew.”

  “Heck, no! I’m not going to tell him that some girl stole his underwear three years ago. Even if I wanted to tell him, how in the heck would I start a conversation like that?” he blurted, revolted by the thought. He found this entire conversation disconcerting and longed to end it. “Well, I better get to the headmaster’s office and get a copy of my schedule. See you later, Sara.”

  Sara flashed him a grin, and before he knew it, she leaned against him and kissed him. His stomach fluttered madly. Then she pulled away, still smiling at him. “See you later, Xavier.” And, before he could untie his tongue and regain his wits, Sara turned and sauntered down the hall in such a way that had nearly every male student watching her walk.

  “Holy hell, X! What was that?” Drew hissed appreciatively, draping an arm over Xavier’s shoulders.

  “Beats me,” he answered, shrugging his shoulders.

  As the morning wore on, rumors began to spread around the school that Sara and Xavier were dating.

  “I’m not dating Sara! Robbie is my girlfriend!” Xavier insisted for the fifth time that morning.

  “Then why does Beth say she saw you kissing her in the middle of the hall next to the headmaster’s office?” asked Melissa Dorne.

  “I… I didn’t kiss her. She kissed me!”

  “I don’t think Robbie sees it like that, Xavier. You better talk to her. She’s really upset!” Rene Jones whispered.

  “I’ve tried!” he blared loudly. “She’s acting crazy! She dumped lemonade on me for no reason Sunday! Why is it my job to chase after her like a starved puppy? She’s the one who started it! She should be apologizing to me! Now, if you two don’t mind, I’ve got to get to History class!”

  Xavier hurried down the hall, away from the staring eyes and prying girls. He didn’t owe Robbie anything. If she wanted to believe the rumors and blow the situation between Sara and him out of proportion, then he would let her. With that thought, he moodily entered the classroom and slumped into an empty seat in the back next to the windows. Court came in a few seconds behind him with Erica and Robbie on his heels. Court strode directly to the seat next to Xavier whereas the girls, giving him a dark look, sat at the front of the room.

  “Mate,” Court began sympathetically after seeing Xavier’s expression to Robbie’s obvious rejection, “I don’t know how it happened, but you sure pissed that girl off.”

  “No! Really? How could you tell? Was it the lemonade she dum
ped on my head yesterday? Or maybe the fact she won’t answer my phone calls and seems hell-bent on ignoring me?” Xavier spat, taking out his frustrations on his best friend. Then, sighing deeply, he looked apologetically at Court. “Sorry. It’s just so frustrating! I don’t have the foggiest idea what I supposedly did to get her mad.”

  “I don’t know either. She won’t talk to me, and Erica has been sworn to secrecy. But I think they’re planning something, mate. Why don’t you use your telepathy and find out why she’s mad and what she and Erica are planning?”

  It was tempting, very tempting, but he had promised Robbie that he would never invade her thoughts in that way. “I… I can’t. I promised her,” he moaned dejectedly.

  Court shrugged. “Okay, but I’m telling you they’re plotting revenge. So if I were you, mate, I’d sleep with my eyes open tonight.”

  By lunchtime, the tension between Xavier and Robbie was so thick that most of the school knew the prince and Robbie were at odds with each other. The majority of female students eyed Xavier like he was something just scraped off the bottom of their shoes. Sighing heavily, Xavier sought refuge with his closest friends and sank onto the bench next to Garrett.

  “Hey, X! We were just talking about you,” Beck piped up gleefully.

  “You have to tell us everything. Don’t leave out a single detail,” Frankie said eagerly.

  “Tell you what?”

  “About kissing Sara,” Frankie prompted.

  “I didn’t kiss her. She kissed me,” Xavier mumbled.

  “What was it like?” Frankie all but begged.

  “Shut it, Frankie,” Court stated, settling onto the bench next to Xavier. “Everyone knows you’ve always had the hots for Sara.”