THE PAST 8

"I don't need a valet. Let him go," Ian said curtly, making Robin chuckle.

"I guess you don't understand how war works since you spend more time traveling than learning about war. I can't let him go; else he is going to kill us all," Robin said harshly.

"Then let him! At least that will be fair since you waged a war that wasn't called for," Ian yelled at him in an equally harsh manner.

"If you don't want him, then I will have no other choice but to kill him," King Robin threatened and pushed open the door.

"Prepare the lad for execution!" He announced, making Becca raise her head to look at Ian. Their voices had been loud, and everyone in the hall who had bothered to listen to them had heard everything they had said since the music had stopped playing a while ago.

Ian's gaze met with Becca's, and he suddenly felt sorry for the lad. His mother would never forgive him if he allowed his brother to murder the young Prince.

Maybe he was about to make a mistake, and perhaps he would live to regret it, but that didn't stop him. "Wait!" He called as the guard dragged Becca away.

"I knew you were a softie!" Robin called with a sneer making the other men hoot with laughter.

Ian ignored them as he stepped out of the hall and moved closer to the place where the guard was standing with the young lad.

He stopped in front of Becca, "I need a moment alone with the lad. Unchain him!" He ordered the guard who looked at Robin to receive permission.

"He is very violent. I'm afraid he might do something.."

"Do you and your men only know how to attack defenseless kingdoms? Why are you scared of the little lad in a room full of warriors?" Ian asked in a taunting manner making Robin narrow his eyes.

"Unchain the lad!" King Robin instructed, making Ian smirk. His brother had an oversized ego, and he had never failed to use it to his own advantage when the situation called for it.

"I'm Prince Ian, and I'm sorry for your loss. Please come with me," He told Becca after the chain had been taken off her.

Becca looked at him with so much animosity, knowing she could easily snatch his sword from the sheath which was hanging by his waist and use it against them all.

Ian followed Becca's gaze and shook his head. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. Don't try anything silly," He warned her under his breath.

Of course, her father hadn't birthed a foolish daughter. Hence she wasn't stupid enough to snatch his sword when she could see that she was so greatly outnumbered by the barbarians. If she did that, then everything would be lost, and then her father would have died for nothing.

All she had to do was stay alive and play her cards right until she was certain that her brother was fine, and then she could look for a way to save her people and bury a dagger in the heart of this bastard king.

"I'm Prince Beckham, and I will be honored to be your valet if you will have me," Becca said with a slight bow which amused Ian.

He could tell the lad had no intention of serving him merely by looking into his eyes.

"Smart decision. I'll take the lad," Ian told his brother before leading Becca out of the hall to his chambers.