“What in the bloody hell are you boys doing?” a deep voice boomed from the chamber’s entrance.
Instantly, the carts hovering in the air dropped to the stone floor with a loud, thunderous crash. Xavier winced.
“Ah…we…we were…”
“Destroying property is what it looks like to me. All right, all of you come with me! The guardian can deal with you. Who’s on duty tonight?” the man growled.
The boys looked at one another, filled with uncertainty. The shift always changed after breakfast each morning and before lights out each evening, so none of the boys knew for sure who was on duty. But, the moment they stepped onto the children’s level, they saw their answer.
Michael Spencer sat in the commons area reading a newspaper. The boys groaned.
“Why couldn’t it have been Loren?” Court whined softly to the others.
“Because we have rotten luck,” Beck muttered. As former headmaster of Wells Academy, Spencer was a no-nonsense kind of man and could usually stop trouble and mischief before it ever got started; most likely due to his telepathy ability. Although Spencer could be stern and harsh at times, Xavier had grown close to his uncle in the past couple of months. Plus, he had saved his uncle’s life.
When Warwood had been taken over by William LeMasters and the Dark Army, Spencer had been caught up in the thick of the battle. In order to provide families living in his area more time to flee, he had taken up arms and fought against two dozen Dark soldiers. He had managed to keep them at bay, but he paid a steep price for his valor. The wounds he had sustained in battle had been so severe that he nearly lost his life. If it hadn’t been for Xavier, he most certainly would have died. Xavier had used his rejuvenation ability on his uncle, and Spencer had survived with two vicious scars and a limp. But, still, saving his life had to account for something! Right?
“Hey, Mike! Are you on kid watch tonight?” the man beside Xavier asked.
Spencer’s gaze flickered from the man to the boys and back again. “Yes, Richard, I am,” he answered slowly.
“You might want to involve the king with this since the prince here was involved, but I found these boys in a restricted chamber. They’ve smashed four mining carts beyond repair, and badly damaged several others.”
“Okay, Rich. I’ll take it from here,” Spencer announced, glaring down at the boys. “All of you, in the dormitory, now!”
The boys brushed silently past the other children moving about in the corridor. They entered the boys’ dormitory, shuffled down the rows of bunks, and dropped onto their beds, waiting for the verdict to be handed down. When Spencer entered the room, Xavier was amazed by how quickly his uncle could move with a bum leg.
“All right, boys!” he spat angrily. “Let me see if I understand this correctly. First, you disobeyed your king and endangered your lives by venturing into restricted areas of the mountain. And, as if that weren’t enough, you vandalized and destroyed much-needed mining equipment, making it difficult if not impossible for the miners to do their jobs properly. Is that it? Did I miss anything?”
Solemnly, the boys shook their heads. A burst of barely contained laughter sputtered from behind Spencer, and he turned on Drew and Jonas.
“Andrew, Jonas, unless you want to find yourselves caught in my crosshairs, I highly suggest you keep your comments to yourselves and leave us,” Spencer growled.
The smiles dropped from the older boys’ faces, and they muttered, “Yes, sir.”
Spencer waited for the older boys to exit the room before continuing. “So? Who’s responsible for the damaged carts?”
Xavier and Garrett eyed one another before whispering together, “We are, sir.”
“All right, the two of you have a seat out in the commons area. I’ll be there shortly,” Spencer ordered.
Xavier and Garrett left the dormitory and fell into the couch closest to the fire. There were a few children still milling about, but for the most part, the hall was empty.
“Xavier, Garrett, come on! Dinner will be served in five minutes,” Erica called.
“Can’t. Thanks.” Xavier exhaled shakily.
“Miss Jefferson? Please, leave us,” Spencer called sharply, approaching Xavier and Garrett. The other boys scurried out of the dorm and down the hall, throwing fretful glances their way.
However, Erica didn’t budge and stared down at them questioningly.
“Now, Miss Jefferson. I need to speak to the boys privately,” he insisted.
Finally she nodded and followed the other boys up to the Grand Hall for dinner.
“Okay, boys,” Spencer began, settling himself into an armchair beside them. “Your friends will be too busy for the next week to rally up to your idiotic ideas. They have all received extra chores, as will the two of you. But in addition to this, for the next two weeks, both of you will serve as assistants to the miners on the construction levels. You will help clear out and construct new passages and chambers. You will be given the dirtiest grunt work they can find so that you can learn to appreciate the extremely difficult job the miners have.”
“But you said it’s too dangerous to be down there…” Xavier complained.
“It is,” Spencer told him. “You will be working in secure sections of the mines. Your fathers have already agreed to this punishment.”
“How does my…” Garrett began, but Spencer cut him off with an impatient wave of his hand.
“Mr. Bracus! Use your head!”
“Oh…yeah. I forgot,” Garrett muttered.
“Is Dad coming down to see me?” Xavier whispered.
Spencer looked at him, bemused. “No, he’s left me to handle this situation.”
He should have been relieved that his father wasn’t coming to punish him, but he wasn’t. He was angry and hurt.
“Now,” Spencer continued, “you will report to the entrance of level seven as mining helpers immediately after classes at three thirty. After dinner, you will do your assigned chores, and then, at seven o’clock you will complete your extra chore. The pair of you will clean and mop the main level lavatories until they shine!”
“What if I say no?” Xavier asked.
Garrett’s mouth gaped open, and his uncle looked at him in surprise.
“Excuse me?” he challenged.
“What if I said no, I’m not doing any of it?” he asked again, his voice quivering.
Spencer’s eyes narrowed. “You’re not challenging my authority are you, boy?” he asked, standing.
“Maybe,” he mumbled.
His uncle’s eyes flashed thunderously down at him before darting towards the other boy. “Garrett, do you understand your punishment?” he snapped.
“Yes, sir,” he squeaked uneasily.
“Good. Then go to dinner.”
“Yes, sir.” Garrett nearly ran into Mrs. Minnows as he raced to the steps.
Spencer turned to Mrs. Minnows. “Tamarah, will you make sure that the rest of the children have gone to the Grand Hall? Xavier and I will follow when we’re through here.”
“Sure, Michael,” Tamarah answered, turning to gather the few remaining children.
“On your feet, boy!” Spencer hissed.
When he didn’t act immediately, Michael pulled him to his feet and hauled him down the corridor toward the boys’ dormitory. Three older boys had lingered and were huddled around a bunk, snickering.
“Gentlemen, give me that magazine and get to dinner,” Spencer ordered.
The boys jumped into action, handing Spencer the naughty magazine and exiting the room. Spencer plopped the magazine and his coat onto a bunk and propped his cane against its frame before advancing on Xavier.
“U…Uncle Mike…” he stammered, backing away. “Wh…What are you doing?”
But Spencer didn’t answer as he continued toward him and grabbed his arm. With a firm tug, he had Xavier pinned against his left hip.
Heat burned over his cheeks as he realized his uncle’s intentions. “Uncle Mike, please don’
t! I’m sorry. I’m sorry! Please, don’t spank me!”
Suddenly, he pulled him upright and glared down at him. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t, Xavier. You crossed the line and you know it. If your father had heard you speak that way to an adult, he would do the same,” he growled, his voice oozing with fury.
“I…I know, sir. You’re right. I crossed the line, but it will never happen again. I promise! Just…please…don’t whip me…I saved your life, Uncle!” he pleaded.
Spencer froze and if anything, it appeared Xavier’s words only enraged him more, but after a moment, he faltered.
“Sit,” Spencer commanded, pointing to the nearest bunk, and the boy immediately complied with the order. Spencer studied him a moment before he whispered, “Xavier, I am very grateful to you for what you did…but you can only use this card, this guilt-trip on me once. After tonight, if you so much as give me a cross-eyed look, I’ll leave welts on your backside. Got it?”
“Yes, sir. I’m sorry, Uncle Mike. I’ll never do it again,” he muttered, relief pouring through him.
His uncle gave him a curt nod. “All right then. Let’s get ourselves up to the Grand Hall for dinner.”
Chapter 7
Jealousy
As Xavier entered the Grand Hall, everyone in King’s Mountain was already present, seated, and eating. He felt the crowd’s eyes following him as he trudged to the head table, and judging by the whispers, the news of his involvement in damaging the mining equipment was now widely known.
“Hello, son,” Jeremiah whispered as he sank into the seat next to him. “Do we need to discuss the mining incident further, or did Mike cover it thoroughly enough with you?”
“No, sir. Uncle Mike covered it all,” he grumbled and reached for his plate of hot food.
After dinner, a handful of telekinetic citizens removed several tables to create a dance area. A man Xavier recognized as a Royal Guard member set up a stereo and sound system. Soon, the lights dimmed and music filled the hall. Jeremiah was the first on the floor with a pretty petite blond.
“Excuse me? Prince Wells? Would you dance with me?” asked a red-headed girl Xavier recognized on sight but not by name.
“Ah…sure,” he responded.
As he took the girl’s hand and led her to the dance floor, his friends shouted out taunts and hoots from behind him. He grinned haughtily at the other boys before pulling the girl close and swaying to the slow rhythm.
Several dances later, Xavier finally got a break and made his way back to where his friends sat, drinking sodas.
“Hey, where did you get the soda?” he asked, plopping down next to Court.
“By the kitchen. Here, we got you one,” Court told him, shoving an orange soda toward him.
“Thanks,” he blurted and gulped down half the cold drink in a matter of seconds before belching loudly. The boys around him snickered, and a belching contest ensued until Rebecca Hardcastle walked past.
“Oh for heaven’s sake, boys! Where are your manners? This is a dance, not the boys’ dormitory! Keep the crude noises to yourselves!” she chastised before continuing toward the dance floor.
The boys stifled snickers but stopped belching.
Then, pointing, Frankie piped up, “Hey, guys! Check out King Wells!”
Jeremiah was still on the dance floor, but now he had a slender brunette in his arms. Lana? His father was dancing with Lana Applegate. Xavier’s stomach somersaulted with renewed interest as he watched his father and Lana dance. The tune was sultry and lively, and the pair moved well together. The king’s body swayed silkily with the beat of the music, and Lana responded gracefully to every step in perfect rhythm. The couple seemed to float across the floor, their bodies in complete harmony. His father’s eyes held fast to the woman in his arms as he dipped her, swept her upright, and glided her across the floor again. Heat rushed up Xavier’s neck and over his head and face as every person in the Hall stopped to watch the mesmerizing dance. He didn’t know why his father’s dance embarrassed him, but it did. Maybe it was the way the crowd stared at him and Lana. Or, maybe it was the memory of his father dancing with that evil witch, Catherine Stokes. But, as uncomfortable as it was seeing his father dance so…close with Lana, he found, like the rest of the crowd, he couldn’t look away. Finally the song ended and the room burst into applause and a few catcalls. Jeremiah grinned at his audience, and he and Lana curtsied to the cheering crowd.
“Man! If I could move like that, girls would be lining up to date me,” Beck groaned, closing his eyes to daydream.
“Well, you can’t, and they’re most definitely not…” Court teased.
“Beckley?” Robbie’s voice came from behind Xavier, and every boy whipped around to look at her. “Will you dance with me now?”
Beck’s eyes were still a bit glassy from daydreaming, and he blinked heavily as if trying to determine whether or not he was still dreaming. Finally, he grinned and looked smugly at Court before answering, “Sure, Robbie. I’d love to dance with you.”
Xavier watched, overwhelmed with jealousy as Beck took Robbie’s hand, walked her to the dance floor, and pulled her into his arms.
Trying to distract Xavier from Beck and Robbie, Court nudged him and said, “Hey, your dad’s still dancing with Lana Applegate. Do you reckon he’s sweet on her or something?”
It worked. He looked to the other end of the dance floor and studied his father and Lana. They didn’t seem to be talking much. They were simply looking at one another and dancing. But, he was confident in his answer. His father had promised to tell him if he ever got serious about anyone again.
“Naw, if he was sweet on anyone, he’d tell me,” he responded with certainty. He turned back to where Beck and Robbie were dancing and his breath caught painfully in his chest. Beck was holding her so tightly that a piece of paper couldn’t have fit between them. Then, she whispered something in his ear, and he kissed her.
Xavier’s entire body flushed with anger, and he jumped to his feet, sending his chair to the floor with a bang.
“Xavier! Xavier, don’t,” Court warned, trying to grab his arm, but he was too late. Xavier, consumed with jealousy, barreled onto the dance floor, shoved Beck, and knocked him to the floor.
“What the…Xavier? What’cha’ do that for?” he questioned angrily, getting to his feet.
“Of all the girls here, why do you have to go after Robbie?” Xavier growled.
“I didn’t go after her, mate, she came after me!” he spat.
“I don’t care, Beck! Keep your hands and lips off of her or else!” he yelled.
“Boys!” Loren called, fighting his way through the dancing crowd.
“Or else what, sire? You know what? That “I’m your future king” bit may work on Frankie, but it doesn’t on me!” Beck bellowed, bumping aggressively into Xavier. “And I’ll touch, kiss, and dance with anyone I want!”
“Oh, yeah?” he challenged.
“Xavier! Beck! Stop, now!” Loren shouted, drawing the king’s attention to the confrontation.
“Xavier?” his father barked, shuffling towards the boys as well.
“Yeah! So, if you don’t like it, you can just kiss my…” Beck never finished his sentence.
Xavier swung his fist as hard as he could, punching the other boy in the mouth. Beck’s head snapped back, and he staggered backwards, but it didn’t take long for him to recover and lunge at Xavier, tackling him to the floor. In the next moment, Loren and Jeremiah had reached them, and each grabbed a boy by the scruff of the neck and hauled him to his feet.
“That’s enough, boys!” the king’s voice boomed and vibrated throughout the hall. The music screeched to a stop, and the lights flickered on to full power. Every person in the hall stared disapprovingly at them, and Xavier felt like he was two inches tall. Once he was sure the boys had calmed and weren’t after each other’s blood any longer, Jeremiah turned to the crowd. “Sorry, folks. Please excuse us and resume the dance.”
The men dragged the boys from the hall and into the nearest classroom.
“Okay, boys. Who wants to tell me what that was all about?” Jeremiah growled, trying to keep his voice even.
Both boys stared at their feet, shifting uneasily, but neither answered.
“I asked you a question! I expect an answer!” Jeremiah demanded, his voice no longer calm.
Beck jumped and quietly answered, “I was dancing with Robbie… and …Xavier came out of nowhere and plowed into me.”
Jeremiah turned to his son. “Is this true? Did you start this fight, Xavier?”
“Yeah! So?” he blared, angrily.
The smack came so quickly that its sting didn’t immediately register on his butt until after his father had released him and stood glaring down at him.
“You’d better watch that attitude, son,” Jeremiah spat. Then, after a few deep breaths, he continued, “Why? Why did you attack Beck? I thought he was your friend.”
“He is. He…he just…he made me mad,” Xavier muttered.
“That’s it? That’s your reason?” Jeremiah asked, dumbfounded.
He shrugged, not daring to meet his father’s furious glare.
“Fine. If that’s your reasoning, I think you should spend the rest of the celebration in the dormitory,” he told him.
“What? Why? Why do I have to leave the party? Why doesn’t Beck have to leave too?” he spat.
Jeremiah pinned him with a heated glare until the boy’s eyes dropped and he squirmed uncomfortably in front of him. Finally, he looked at Loren. “Who’s on duty tonight?”
“I am,” he responded. “I’ll take him down. Tell Lucy, will you?”
Jeremiah nodded before looking back at Xavier again. “Goodnight, son.”
“Yeah, right,” he mumbled angrily, stomping out of the room.
Xavier lay in his bunk pouting for nearly thirty minutes before Beck and Court entered. He rolled over, turning his back to them.
“Ah, come on Xavier! Don’t be like that! I don’t want some girl to come between our friendship,” Beck pleaded.
“Robbie isn’t just some girl,” he mumbled, sitting up and looking at the boys standing at the foot of his bunk. “She…she was always there for me, and now she’s treating me like I’m a disease.”
The Prince of Warwood and The Sword of the Chosen (Book 3) Page 5
