Chapter 6 A new kind of man?!

It has been a few weeks since the jousting competition. This prince has been true to his word. He did not buy me one dress. He had fifty specialized hand crafted and sewn dresses, tailored just for me. They were all made from scratch. He had a pair of shoes made to match each dress.

He went hunting each day and always brought back a large carcass of something. The cooks would make a delicious meal for us, and set the table. We would eat together, then all the left overs would be handed out to all the castle staff, then to the less fortunate in the streets. Each day the cooks made sure that we had three meals a day.

From the day I said the prince could court me, I have had my own room in this huge castle. I have a large four poster bed with the softest everything I have ever felt. The prince has never once came to my room. I also have the run of the castle and the castle town. When I go into town Dylan tries to go with me. He buys me anything and everything I could possibly want. Even some I do not want. He has asked for no kind of payment.

He opens doors, pulls out chairs, helps dish my food, and walks me to my hallway every day. He has not even tried to kiss me yet. It feels weird! But it also feels so welcome. He has given me the option each and every day of joining him in court as well. However, court life has never interested me.

Today on the other hand, I have decided that I need to get to know him better. There is one sure way of that that I know of. I need to see how he handles himself in court. I worry I will fall asleep during the proceedings. Who knows though, he might surprise me.

I had every intention of standing in back of the court. But when the guards saw me they brought me straight to the king. He was so happy to see me, he jumped up and gave me a hug while he blushed. He directed me as to where I could observe from. It was a set off in the corner, out of every ones sight, except his. After everyone was in their positions, they began letting people into the thrown room.

The first contender was a very young little boy. He was maybe eight years old. He was wearing handcuffs! His wrists were bleeding! But the little boy stood strong. He had streaks from where he had been crying on his face. However, right now he looked ten feet tall.

The Vogt read the charges as follows:

Triston, age eight, son of Merl Nesta Franklin and Hank Dwayne Franklin. Is here by charged with theft of a meal at the Tavern ManJelus. He attempted to eat and run. This was seen by over twenty witnesses. The boy attempted to run and stabbed the lieutenant in the knee in the process nearly getting away. After being restrained, he tried to use fecal matter to lubricate the cuffs. This caused the overnight guards to have to bathe him, removing the cuffs and reapplying them after he was clean. During the bath he bloodied the officers nose.

The young man looked Dylan straight in the eye and grinned. "I guess you can truly say you have a real poo slinger on your hands now." The boy laughed at his own joke. No one was laughing with this trouble kid. Triston tried to keep looking strong and stood up straighter, but the tears began to flow.

Dylan: Son! Why did you try to eat and run?

Triston: I was hungry! I have never learned how to cook. I catch small rodents, and mice for the cook. But he refused to pay me. Even a rat catcher has got to eat.

Dylan shook his head rubbing his chin: How many more boys like you are there in the city. Boys that are hungry, and willing to work for their meals.

Triston thought for a moment: Too many to count.

Dylan leaned forward: Really! Well lets fix that right now! Take those iron bracelets off of the poor lad. Son, I want you to go gather all the boys in the same situation as you, and be back here at first light. I will be your new employer.

Triston lowered his head: I do not think anyone will come. I did get caught.

Dylan laughed: If they come I will give you all a job for life. You all will now be the lowest rang on our chain of command. A nation can not thrive without military. You lot will train. As you get older you will be given the option of joining the military or going your separate ways. Until then, you will be given three square meals a day plus five gold coins a week. You may spend your coins how ever you wish. You do all of this and I will pay for your meal you tried to run away from. What say you son.

Triston was rubbing his wrists: I will be here in the morning with all my friends that will come sire.

A man in the back yelled next, just as Dylan nodded his head and smiled. I have to say that was a unique solution. Maybe it will work out. The next contender to enter was an elderly woman and a young woman. A soldier came in behind them. He was carrying a new born baby, with his sword drawn and warding off the two women.

The Vogt read the charges as follows:

Madame June and misses Shannan are fighting over this baby. Both women claim to have been baren, but are now claiming to be blessed with this baby. Shannan claims that June is not the mother because she is to old to care for the baby. Her body would not be sound enough to carry the baby to birth. June claims that, God blessed her and her husband with a baby later in their lives. After being barren for nearly twenty five years, this child is her first and her only baby. She just wants to raise it to the best of her ability.

Dylan nodded: Call in the palace midwife, and bring four blankets.

Every eye was on Dylan at that moment. When the guard came back with the midwife and blankets, things got really different. Dylan had the soldiers to hold up the blankets around the two women like walls. Dylan had the midwife do a quick check of the two mothers. After she was through, he had the soldiers lower the blankets. Both women stood shyly in the court room. The midwife whispered in the kings ear, then Dylan sent her down to the crowd.

Dylan waved for the two mothers to step towards the throne. As they did, he quickly drew his sword and dagger. He threw the dagger, killing the midwife, and stabbed the young woman with his sword. Dylan walked over and gently took the baby, handing her back to her mother. As the younger woman lay dying she shrieked, "Why! How did you know!"

Dylan smiled: Well for your dying wish I will tell you. The midwife said the baby was yours. I was going to have the old woman dismissed and give you the baby. But then I heard the midwife jingle as she stepped down and away from my throne. Then when you stepped close to the throne, you left no blood trail from being examined. The older woman did. If you just had a baby, you would have blood still coming out. That baby is a new born. I do not fool so easily. I hope your next life is lived better than this one was. Take this woman out of here!

The guards carried the woman out of the court to die somewhere else. The rest of the day was filled with similar such cases. Dylan ruled with a fist of iron! But that iron fist knew how to not squish the egg it was holding. He had such a way with the people. He not only impressed me, but his entire court.

At the end of the day, he dismissed the entire court. He stayed on his throne rubbing his forehead. I stayed behind and he smiled. I stayed in my little seat in the corner until he looked up and smiled at me. Then I walked over quietly and put my hand on his shoulder. He quickly put his hand over my hand. He pulled it to his mouth and kissed the back.

Dylan: Thank you for coming here with me today my dear. You made today much much less tedious.

I smiled: I was impressed.

Dylan looked up at me with such hope in his eyes it almost frightened me. He said, "That was not my goal. My goal is to be a wise king. I fear I fall short of that goal. I wish to have a prosperous kingdom."

I smiled back: Common sense is its own kind of wisdom. Thinking before acting is another. Withholding judgement until you have as much knowledge as the person accused shows you are willing to earn it. I think that shows wisdom indeed.

He stood up slowly, putting his arm around my waist and pulled me into him gently. I had forgotten how tall he was. I had to look up to look at his face. But his chest at the moment was so much more appealing. With this particular view and with his arms around me, I could tell just how muscular he was too. I was very much in like of this situation.

He crooked a finger under my chin. He brought my gaze up to match his. He bent down slowly. He kissed my forehead, the tip of my nose (making me giggle), then we had just barely touched mouths when a soldier crashed through the door. He said, "my apologies my lord. A group of invaders is attacking our southern border." Dylan leaned back from me only slightly. He never once lost his focus on me. He did not allow me to lose my focus on him either.

Dylan: Get my armor! We will deal with this now. We will be back to complete our conversation Mis, Joy.

I was speechless! All I could do was nod. Dylan grinned and leaned in again planting a quick kiss back on my mouth. Then just as quickly he left me behind stunned and wanting more of his touch. It was like having a good dessert. One taste is never enough! I was tingling from head to toe.

I watched him leave the throne room and ran to the window. I watched out the window till he was gone in the distance. I could not explain what was happening to me. I was not sure I even cared at this point.

I went back to my room and began brushing out my frustrations on my hair. After a little while I knew I had brushed my hair to the max. All I wanted right now was a good nights sleep. I laid down on my bed and heard a loud noise from behind me. As I tried to turn my head to look, I heard the same noise again. Everything went pitch black. No dreams! But what has happened!

Dylan and his men made it to the southern border and found no attack. They road up and down multiple times. They road into the forest on both sides. After several hours of looking for a ghost attack, they finally turned round to head back home. As them did, a palace messenger came running up to the prince. The messenger handed Dylan a message just before passing out from exhaustion.

The message was no normal message. It was a ransom note. His enemy, a neighboring kingdom, demanded that he allow passage through the lands. His troops were to receive safe passage through the lands or the adopted princess would be murdered. If safe passage was not provided, not only would the princess die, but Dylan had better be ready for surrender. Because the next move would be invasion.