Chapter 20 - The Challenged

Eileen was restless in her bed. It has been 2 days since Riou stormed out of the castle, and she found herself thinking about him once again, not in a romantic way mind you, it was just her curiosity sparking her thoughts towards an enigmatic boy that despite his age was able to win against 2 powerful mages in what was considered, sheer strike of luck. But Eileen could not get the thought of her mind, that luck had absolutely nothing to do with it.

She constantly tried to recreate the events of that day in her mind in an attempt to unravel some of the things that bothered her, "Why the magic didn't reach us? How was he able to approach the mage?" Each time she remembered, Eileen couldn't help but wonder, "He was too calm… as if that situation was common for him" That was as the conclusion she reached every time, but how could that be? He was just a boy in his 15, it still made no sense for her.

During the day the princess Eileen walked through the castle followed by a guard escort, because of the recent attack, the castle defenses were raised and every knight was called back to confer about the next set of actions against the enemy. The castle was busy once more.

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In another part of the castle a servant approached one of the knights in his quarters… he was sat down in his official outfit, with a yellow cape in his back.

- "Lord Rodrick, the guild of assassins reported back…" Spoke the servant bowing down.

A vile smile of satisfaction appeared in the knight's face. – "Was the boy dealt with?"

- "No… my lord… they reported that the boy had help, he was escorted by a mercenary group and they lost the boy's track by the Dracar River."

Hearing those words the face of the knight turned into anger… - "I hope they intend to remediate this situation…" Said the knight, slowly, trying to calm himself down.

- "Yes my lord, they will resume the contract as soon as they find the boy…" Spoke the servant reassuring the lord.

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It was past noon of the following day, and the Drinking Bear tavern was still full of customers. Syldis was busy in the ground floor serving and cooking. Riou had already eaten and was on the second floor, inside a room with Maximilian who was watching over Eleanor recovery. The boy was standing by the window, leaned with his back on the wall, looking outside with arms crossed. The day was beautiful as the sun was shining through the remaining few clouds, the blue sky could be seen, it was a pleasant day.

Maximilian was sat down in a chair near the bed where Eleanor was sleeping. He was clearly worried as she had not yet recovered from the events of the last couple days.

Riou turned his head from the window facing Max, the boy had a serious expression on his face – "Are you sure about this old man?" Said Riou.

Max without turning his eyes from Eleanor answered quickly – "Yes. Syldis already talked to the mercenaries they won't talk about what happened, for everyone's concern we both are still missing"

Riou uncrossed his arms and with an uncertain expression continued – "I will trust your judgement on this one."

Maximilian turned towards Riou – "Knowing the Twilight Council, they will not back down just yet… I don't think they will be bold enough to attack the castle once again now they are on alert, but trust me… they will be lurking around and will strike at the first sign of weakness."

The boy nodded noting the mage words – "That's more of a reason for you to stay, the king here seems to trust you, and he can definitely use your help…"

Maximilian smiled to the boy – "That's why I will leave them in good hands…" His expression turned apprehensive as he continued – "I can't show up on the castle or my cover will be exposed, you said it yourself, there is a traitor amongst them… No, we should use this to our advantage, we can use this situation to our favor because if they are acting in Allard, they are sure to be acting in Thanes as well. We need to get the North aware of their plans."

Riou puffing air through his nostrils showed a not so convinced smirk… - "You play a dangerous game Max, and I didn't agree to anything… I don't really want to get involved in a war, I just want to get back home…"

Maximilian bowed down his head before looking up again with a sad and preoccupied expression… - "If the council succeed in their endeavors it will greatly aid Argos in the war… If they rise to power…" Maximilian stopped fearing his own thoughts. – "You must understand that I can't focus on getting you back when there is a crisis in front of me… So I hoped you would help us."

Riou sighed in defeat… Max was his best hope to get back home and just by looking at his face Riou could tell that he truly feared for the people if Argos were to win…

- "You truly are a good man… Let's do this then" Said the boy putting a smile in his face once again before continuing – "You go and deal with them there, once you are done continue to look for a way to get me back on your books. I will take care of things here and meet you there once I'm finished."

Max nodded, a smile appeared in the mage's face. – "That is all I hoped for my friend"

Maximilian was truly grateful to the boy, he now was able to travel without worrying what would be happening here. He knew the boy alone could take care of the enemies, and he would have the castle support as well.

- "What are you going to do about her?" Asked the boy referring to Eleanor who was still unconscious

- "I'm afraid she will take a couple more days to recover… I know I can't wait too much or our enemies may discover us… but I can't leave without talking to her" Said the mage with a sad tone in his voice.

Riou understood the mage's concern, he knew he cared for her and decided to leave them to their privacy – "I will head back to the castle, if I don't hear from you, I will assume you went on your journey to Thanes… remember to wait for me there. I will go as soon as I resolve things here"

The boy began to walk towards the door, but paused when beside Max, he rest his hand on the mage's shoulder – "If I don't see you before you leave, take care my friend, you are my best bet to get back home, don't die on me old man… and let's meet again in Thanes…" Said Riou tapping the mage's shoulder, Maximilian smiled back to the boy

- "Very well my friend, I will do my best to wait for you there, alive… and remember to look for the Flying Dragon Inn, ask for me there and they will guide you to my house." Riou nodded – "Good luck my friend."

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Riou was entering the castle once again, it was just 2 days since he left, but so much happened that it felt like he hadn't come back in a long time. And now he had an enemy to worry about.

Riou stopped by his room to change into his noble's clothes, Syldis took the trouble to wash it for him, and it felt right to change into a set of clean clothes. Better dressed he was looking for Bhalrom, he wanted to know if they discovered anything about the attackers location while he was gone.

Walking through the castle he noticed movement on the throne hall, guards were guarding the entrance but all the side doors were opened, Riou approached the one in the far corner as it was closer to the throne to see what was going on inside without disturbing them.

Inside was an enormous hall, high and wide columns supported the ceiling, forming a line from the entrance until the center of the hall, parallel to each other with a wide red carpet between the two groups, the carpet went from the entrance to the very throne. The whole view resembled a cathedral where the throne was the most high and important place a few steps above the normal ground level. Many decorations and weapons could be seen, banners in the colors used by the knights and Mages, fixed one by each column in a neat disposition, same order used by the knights and mages feast, and the same order they were now on the hall. The ceiling and the pillars had a blueish tone and golden details symbolizing the wealth of the castle, it was truly beautiful and passed a magnanimous and solemn atmosphere.

Not too far from the throne were all the knights and mages, divided into two groups, parallel to each other, the knights at the right side of the king and the mages to the left, very similar form used by them on the feast. Bhalrom was standing a few steps from the king to his right. The prince was standing in the first position beside the knights in the lower ground.

The king was sat on his throne, carved with extreme detail the throne arms and legs resembled a lion's claw in size and shape. To his immediate left the queen and the princess were also present, each sat in a throne like chair, much smaller and less detailed.

Riou didn't understand how the power balance worked in this world, the king clearly was in charge but the queen seemed to have power as well on the decisions, perhaps even the princess as both of them were present. The only one he could know for sure was the prince, it was easy to notice that he was preparing to assume the throne by taking a position similar of a knight, he commanded an army of his own, and probably would be learning about leadership, warfare and politics.

Bhalrom was the first to notice the boy on the corner entrance of the hall and quickly approached the king to whisper something to his ear.

The king quickly looked towards the boy direction and with a hand gesture ordered him to approach.

Everyone followed the king's hand and looked the boy approaching. Riou noticed as soon as he stepped inside that he was the center of attention, he saw a strangely surprised face in the yellow caped knight, but soon his attention was taken by the strong contempt emanating from the prince. Dismissing the prince he also noticed Lilly's discomfort while he approached but didn't care too much about it.

The princess just kept sat elegantly watching the boy walking without any change in her posture. The queen noticing the boy quickly turned towards her, despite her daughter outside appearance the queen was the only one to notice the restlessness that the boy's entrance caused in her daughter, she couldn't deceive her mother. The queen smiled mischievously towards her, but the princess, unaware to why her mother was smiling just kept watching Riou entering the hall.

Riou took position in front of the king, between the two groups. The king was the first to speak as soon as he was positioned

- "It has been 2 days since you left, have you found Maximilian? What have you discovered?" Asked the King eager to any new information, by his attitude Riou determined that their investigations had no results yet.

Riou respectfully began – "Unfortunately, I was not able to find the Magus…" – Said the boy in a serious tone, the king was taken aback by the grave news as the boy continued – "I had searched the house of Lady Eleanor as suggested, more enemies were waiting for me there and I believe they were from the same group that attacked the castle. Unfortunately there was no sign of her or the Magus in the house. Later I went to the Landgrave's house. It was completely empty and the land near it had collapsed, nothing could be seen in the debris, no sign of anyone."

The king pondered for a moment – "That are grave news… what do you think happened to the Magus?"

Riou continued – "I fear he may have been taken prisoner by the group that assaulted the castle. That's why I'd like to remain in the castle until we find him and help with the investigations"

Before the king could answer the boy, the prince stepped forward with a loud voice interrupting the conversation – "Preposterous!" he turned to the king – "My king, I can't take this nonsense any longer. This boy is a charlatan, spouting lies trying to get a free meal and a roof above his head, I bet you he stayed in the city plotting this marvelous story of his to get into your good graces…" The Prince turned towards the boy, and pointed to him – "Look at him, how could he have fought enemies in his so called, "investigation", and be here, alive, to tell the tale? If this enemies he said he faced were really from the same group that were able to penetrate the great castle defenses, this boy would be certainly dead! You can't be considering his story my king."

The king sighed, he knew very well that the boy had potential, and the trust Maximilian put in him was extremely unusual, the Mage was known to not trust anyone easily, and that made the boy even more reliable in the King's eyes. But he was in the throne hall, all his knights and mages were present, this was a solemn meeting and there was a protocol to be followed, any question or demand should be allowed and answer… with a sense of unwillingness the King signaled with his hand giving the word to the boy, he was to answer the question.

Riou looked to the prince with a serious expression, he was getting fed up by his attitude…

- "A group of mercenaries were hired by the Drinking Bear Owner to help me find the Magus, as he was her friend as well."

It made sense now, with a good mercenary group help the boy would be able to go by the Dracar and even face some enemies… but the Prince had other agenda in mind, and put it to work as he continued in his speech

- "Enough with this! My king I have heard enough since I got back to the castle… tales that his boy won against a high tiered mage, facing lightning magic unscathed, that he sneak killed another one with a kitchen knife… now I hear he was able to conduct an investigation with mercenaries help, winning against all odds… I ask all the court here present, if he is that good, how could he have been completely massacred by the princess on their duel?" Interjected the Prince with elaborated movements and a captivating voice, he truly knew how to conduct a crowd.

But the king was not swayed in the least, he was there and saw firsthand the boy's capabilities. Suddenly a spark in his mind, fear erupted from within him "This foolish son of mine, he have no idea what he is doing… by the elements, he will challenge the boy inside the throne hall…", but before he could intervene the prince continued.

- "You are all being deceived by this boy, he couldn't possibly be able to do half of what he claims. He is a charlatan, a liar, a deceiver… And I, Prince Kasius Strongheart will show you all, by calling upon the rites of Allard, I hereby challenge the word of this boy, having the king and the elements as witnesses!"

The princess Eyes widened in the instant she heard her brother's words, everyone were taken by surprise and looked to the King for guidance. The queen got up instantly from her seat, a fearful expression could be clearly seen in her face, the prince was still her son and she feared for his safety, she knew he was way over his head. She intended to rush towards him to put some sense into his thick skull, but the king promptly hold her back, putting his arm in front of her impeding her movement.

The king was seriously preoccupied "This fool of a son…" was all he could think, but his position demanded and before all he was the king and needed to abide by the rules.

- "A challenge was uttered"- Spoke the king with a heavy weight in his hear – "They both shall fight until one of them unable to continue… or dead" The king paused – "If the challenger is victorious his claims will be considered the truth, if the challenged is victorious and the challenger still lives, he will have the right to request anything from the challenger, if he is unable to provide it, the challenger will be executed. May the elements watch you both".

The king was not looking towards his son anymore, his eyes were set on a boy in his late 15, still growing, with a messy hair and dark blue eyes… the king shivered by looking the expression the boy was showing after hearing his words. The boy was unwavering, and a death sentence could be seen in his eyes that were looking directly into the king's, as if saying to him that if he allowed this to proceed… the prince would die.

The queen looked to her husband, hoping he would intercede for the prince, this was crazy. But the moment she looked into his eyes, she knew that he could not do that, it was an official duel proclaimed in the presence of a full court, the king could not disapprove it.

Sighing deeply and clearly disheartened, the king ordered – "Give a sword to the boy…" Riou understood the king's sentiment but his serious gaze did not leave the king for a second until the sword was delivered. Riou had had enough of the prince and was clearly considering killing him.

Riou analyzed the sword, it was common as the one's the guards used. As he noticed the prince taking position in front of him, his attention now rested in the prince for the first time. The boy was calm and his eyes were dead serious. Even the prince was able to felt the boy's animosity, it even worried him for a moment, but his perverted beliefs shielded him from thinking about it too much.

The prince took poise while the boy held his sword down. Riou understood the prince wanted to begin and complied, Riou didn't seem to be taking him seriously as he just brought the sword up to his front with one hand in a dismissive manner, his posture was relaxed and clearly not ready for battle, and many openings could be seen by the prince.

Riou was trying to calm himself down to think straight, but part of him didn't care anymore what others would think of him, right now all he wanted was to put the prince in his place, to teach him a lesson.

The prince advanced cautiously and began to strike in Riou's direction with many wide swings, Riou was able to deflect all of them very easily and allowed the prince to continue attacking…

Smiling to himself as his confidence rose up, to him the boy was unable to counter his flurry of attacks and could only be in the defensive. The prince decided to lunge at the boy, rushing forward with a diagonal slash, beginning from his upper right angle and moving to the left lower side, trying to hit the boy sword out of the way and towards the ground, leaving the boy opened for a frontal assault.

With a quick movement the boy stepped to the prince right side avoiding his sword completely bringing his own to the prince throat in a second. The prince froze in position when he felt the cold blade on his neck. Everyone in the hall tensioned up as they saw it.

Riou slowly removed the sword from the prince neck, quickly taking some distance from him and facing the prince once again, he showed his index finger to the prince, signaling the number 1 with his hand, proceeding then to call the prince for another try with his hand. This time Riou was keeping his sword down to his side, clearly not taking the prince seriously.

The prince anger began to grow, he couldn't accept that the boy almost killed him, how a mere boy could mock him in this manner. He once again rushed forward with a thrust, aiming his sword straight to the boy's chest. But the prince was sluggish, his technique was not refined… he was years behind his sister in swordsmanship, anyone with a bit of experience could dodge that attack.

Riou dodged the thrust stepping to the side and quickly turning in his axis, facing the prince direction while quickly moving behind him, bringing his sword to touch the prince exposed back with its point. Feeling the blade to his back about to rip his skin off the prince froze once again, it was the first time he had a blade so close and with so much pressure to his back, fear began to grow inside the prince.

Riou kicked his butt vigorously making him run forward without balance, he ended up tripping and falling on the ground, losing his sword that slid away from him. The prince quickly got up and tried to recover his royal composure. Weaponless he stared in fear towards the boy that maintained the same cold expression from the beginning of the fight. The prince didn't yield, at this moment he didn't even remembered that he could

Riou brought two fingers up, showing that this was the second time the prince had died if so he wished. The boy seeing the weaponless prince, threw his sword to his feet and with a gesture allowed him to take it. The prince without taking his eyes of Riou, took the sword slowly while Riou watched, the boy spoke – "I believe you are now able to understand… If lost to your sister and you are losing to me, it's just because she is that much better than you… you are slow, your attacks are dumb and have no technique whatsoever… All you have going for you is for being the first born…"

The princess felt her breath leave her lungs as she was taken by surprise, she was often praised by her swordsmanship, but never anyone dared to compare the prince with her, as the first born he was entitled to the throne and given all the opportunities to grow and develop into a king. For her, all that the future reserved was to marry into another country, to strengthen the diplomacy with them. Luckily her, heredity allowed her to use the rites of the north, allowing the royal woman power enough to choose her future husband at least, so she trained day and night since very young, sword and magic to be able to protect herself from that fate.

As the time passed by she became strong, she studied politics and the matters of the kingdom diligently with her mother guidance, while watching her brother slacking off and being praised for lesser accomplishments. She grew in this unfair environment, it was natural to grudges to form between the siblings, but she knew she was a power to be recognized inside the kingdom, but even sol, she couldn't leave the shadow of her brother, her efforts were never truly recognized by them.

And now the young boy she met recently was calling out her brother incapacities, not only in front of the king but the entire court, she couldn't help but to feel an immense relief and satisfaction by hearing those words that she longed for.

On the other hand the prince became enrage… again the boy dared to mock him. Riou looked once again to the king behind the prince. He knew that the prince had lost already, but still the foolish prince desired to continue.

The king understood what the boy was doing and the fear the king felt before the fight now began to transform into rage towards his son, the fool was incapable of understanding he was no match for the boy… and rather die than admit defeat…

At that moment, Riou thought the king to be a good king. His own son was facing an imminent death, and still he did not interfered for him, "truly a just king, how could an apple fall so far from the tree?" wondered Riou to why the prince was so different from the king.

Riou threw his sword to the prince to allow him to stop the duel, understanding his defeat and stopping that nonsense. But it backfired, the prince was filled with a renewed sense of justice as this was the will of the elements to allow him his victory. The prince blindly rushed with sword in hand towards the unarmed boy once again, bringing his sword up to try a quickly frontal slash aimed at the boy's head.

Before the sword began its descend trajectory Riou already began to dodge it by simply turning his body sideways, and before the prince could take any other action the boy grabbed his hand holding the sword and elbowing the prince face at the same time twisting his wrist, he forced the prince to lose grip and to take a few steps back with the hit, easily removing the weapon from the prince. Riou then showed 3 fingers up for the prince who was taking distance from the boy. – "You still are unable to understand don't you? You can't win… give up before you get hurt." – Said the boy in a condescending tone.

The prince got more distance while looking for his sword, to find it that it was now behind the boy and very far from his grasp. He even desperately looked towards the knight's, in a silent hope that one of them would provide another sword, but no one dared to help as no one was allowed to interfere in the challenge.

The prince with his back to the king clearly in despair by that moment, his pride wouldn't allow him to concede victory, as a last resort attempt he began to chant in elven language as he pointed his open palm towards the boy.

At that moment all knights and mages began to move restlessly and many glanced towards the king in disapproval, all except one yellow caped knight… It is not that it was forbidden, but for a noble to use magic against a commoner in a sacred duel, it was a known to be distasteful. In their eyes the prince should have acknowledged the boy's skill and gracefully withdrawn from the challenge on the first loss.

But instead he opted to continue and drag on his shame, even daring to use magic towards the boy. They all herd the stories about how the boy was capable, and they knew the boy could handle it as the prince was not a high tiered magician, but the principle behind it still bothered most of them, especially the king at this moment.

A feeble and small Fireball came flying slowly towards the boy who rushed forward to its encounter. It was the size of a fist, the prince clearly also slacked in his magical training. Riou could easily dodge it but it would mean that the fire would hit the carpet and began to spread, to avoid it the boy prepared the sword to his left side and fiercely slashed the fireball in a upward movement forcing a disturbance the fireball core to divide in two and eventually disappear without damage to anything in the surroundings as it was thrown upwards by the sword swing.

The boy didn't let the prince recover and continued his movement towards him, stopping with the sword pointing to his face, just a finger away from his eyes. The hall tensed up once again to the possible ending of the fight.

Riou spoke slowly as if talking to a child, his voice was as cold as his expression – "Do you understand now?"

The prince was turmoil of contempt, despair and rage, he was not able to think straight anymore. And clearly out of himself he answered – "You cannot kill me! That's all I can understand!"

Riou sighed losing his cold expression, he looked towards the king with a pity look

– "I cannot argue with an idiot…" Said the boy pointing to the prince

Riou had considered ending this fool suffering for good but it was not right to kill a son in front of his parents. Riou threw his sword to the side once again, noticing the Prince began to show a perverted smile, Riou felt he was about to begin his nonsense speech once again, and before he could utter a single word Riou prepared his right arm and punched him in an upward movement right in the prince's solar plexus.

The prince instantly fell down having difficulty to breathe and speak, pain like he never felt before took over his body and he thought he would die. Looking to the prince with a serious and cold tone Riou approached and whispered to him – "Take this as a lesson in humility, accept the loss with dignity. And be ever grateful to your parents, it was my respect for them that kept you in this world… don't test my patience again"

Riou stood up once again and looked towards the king – "Your son is a fool beyond redemption." Said him blatantly.

The tense atmosphere began to dissipate, and the realization of the boy's prowess began to sink into everyone's mind. His ability far surpassed the prince's, and the display today clearly shown he wasn't as good as his sister in more ways than just the sword. She was now seen with new eyes by the whole court.

The king knew the boy was good by watching his duel with Eileen, and the confidence Maximilian put in him also granted recognition. But seeing him demolish the prince swordsmanship without hurting him or getting hurt was on a complete new level for the king, as a fellow swordsman he knew very well what took to do what the boy just did.

The queen calmed down and sighed in relief that her son was not killed, the boy grew in her concept even more now after his display of skill and wit. The boy clearly outsmarted the clever prince, he did not only gain the utter victory as he did so without neither contender shedding a drop of blood. The warrior in her instantly recognized the boy's valor, courage and wisdom. It was not an easy feat to impress the queen this much either, the prospect of him becoming her daughter husband delighted the queen. On the other hand, Kasius, he would be hearing her thoughts regarding his actions and lack of sense, he clearly was slacking in his training and was not even able to notice the difference in skill between them, she noticed he was spoiled, and in her eyes he shamed the royal family with his display.

The Princess eyes still gleamed towards the boy, remembering his fight, as she looked at his quick and precise movements "Was he serious?" was all she could think off, deep down something was telling her that the boy was still holding back… and that possibility amazed her beyond imagination.

Bhalrom could only wonder how the First Army transformed the boy in a monster like this, a month of training should not give so much skill even for a talented boy.

For Lilly that display still didn't convince her, a swordsman could never beat a mage that have a distance advantage.

The king finally spoke back to the boy – "Riou was the winner of the challenge and his word is taken as truth by me and the elements." The king paused for a moment before continuing – "As the life of the accuser was spared, the wrong doings still need to be repaid. If the condition cannot be met, the challenger shall be executed. Is there anything that can be done for you?" Spoke the king in a solemn tone.

Riou pondered for a moment, his eyes ran the room while he was thinking and by chance ended up meeting with the princess' as she was gazing intently at him. Riou thought it was rather strange and maintained eye contact trying to understand what was going on with her "What is she looking? Is there something I missed? What is it?"

Noticing where the boy was aiming the king and queen looked towards their daughter to find her hypnotized looking at the boy with gleaming eyes… The queen quickly looked back ecstatic towards her husband showing a very surprised smile before returning her gaze back to the princess, the queen slightly touched her shoulder as to wake her to the present.

The princess feeling the touch quickly looked back to her mother… "Since when she is looking at me? Why everyone is looking at me?" Thought the princess noticing everyone gaze at her. Elegantly as always she tried to hide her embarrassment as she was unaware of what was going on, she was clearly flustered which helped to give the wrong impression to everyone else.

"He will ask to marry the princess!" Was what everyone was thinking at that moment.

The king froze as it crossed his mind to save his son his daughter would have to marry boy, while the queen smiled in joy looking towards her daughter, for her, Eileen had grown and for the first time appreciated the idea to be betrothed to someone. It was not the case but it was the impression the situation gave out.

Riou was not getting the looks he was receiving from the room, "Did I do something wrong just now? Why everyone is looking so gloomy towards me…" Suddenly he had an idea to what to answer the king.

- "Actually there is something I dearly wish…" Said the boy to the king, he almost had a heart attack in his throne as he heard those words.

- "I want a bathhouse to be constructed in the castle, designed by me" – Said the boy for the surprise of everyone. "This way I can keep an eye on the castle defenses and as well have a good relaxing bath once in a while"

The king sighed in relief while the queen turned to her daughter, whispering to her – "Don't worry my darling he was just shy to ask in front of everyone… he will come around it eventually, I will help, so don't worry." The princess looked confused to her mother, she clearly didn't understand what her mother meant by that… but since her mother seemed so eager and happy it felt wrong to say anything contrary, so she just nodded in agreement towards her mother who smiled back to her.

The king positioned himself on the throne to speak once more – "Very well, it shall be done as you requested."

The king called Bhalrom – "Please send the guards to take the prince to the infirmary, I wish him to be in full health for when I talk to him later…" Said him with a serious expression and anger aimed towards the prince.