Chapter 1: Lance.

“Ouch! Will you be careful?! That Hurts!”

The doctor is working on removing the arrow from my arm, but he is being especially rough about it.

“Hold still, please your Highness. It is embedded quite deeply into your muscle. If you wish to retain the full use of your arm, I suggest you stop complaining and sit still.”

“Argh!”

He pulls on it again, the pain is excruciating, this is the second time she has put an arrow in me, and it was just as unpleasant the first time.

“Just hurry up and take it out already! Are you a sadist?”

The doctor frowns at my last comment but remains silent then gives the arrow one last yank, finally pulling it free.

“Argh! Damnit!”

I cradle my right arm in my left hand and put pressure on the wound to try and stop the pain. My anger hasn’t lessened any, but when I think about what happened I also feel a paralyzing fear take over me.

A Dragon! She was really a Dragon, and she was going to seriously harm me! But he...

My anger flares again as I think over those events and remember that I now owe my life to that damned bodyguard!

Ugh, how humiliating!

“Argh!”

I cry out as I am pulled from my thoughts by a searing pain in my arm. The Doctor is applying disinfectant to my wound and its burning.

“Get off of me!”

“Hold still! I must clean it, or you will risk infection and possibly lose your arm. Your Highness.”

I bristle at his tone, he deliberately paused before using my title. His lack of respect is astounding and makes me angry again.

“Watch your tone doc’ I am still Royalty, and you will remember that.”

“My apologies, but everyone reacts to pain the same way and therefore I see everyone as equal. Now hold your arm still so I can bandage it.”

I grit my teeth and bite back a retort, then I hold my arm out to him and allow him to finish his work. Just as he finishes, the door to the room opens and the King enters.

“Sire?!”

I face him and stand, as he walks closer, I begin to wonder what he is going to say to me. He already announced that I’m no longer going to marry Lilliana.

But what does that mean for me now?

“Lance. How is your arm?”

“I…It’s doing fine sir.”

“Good. Thank you for patching him up doctor. Could you please leave us?”

I watch as the doctor packs his bag and leaves as the King requested, then return my gaze to him as he walks to the window.

“Lance, while I am grateful to you for the work you have done in my stead, it is time for you to step down and return home to Equivale.”

I stare at him stunned and angry.

“But how can you say that?! You still have an agreement with my father to honour.”

He frowns, and I recoil from the look in his eyes.

Now what?!

“I no longer need to go ahead with that contract. Now that there is another way for my people to prosper in peace and safety. So, I will be writing to your father today to explain the situation and while I will allow you to stay for tonight, I expect you to leave tomorrow at first light.”

“And if I refuse?”

I speak through gritted teeth because I am fighting to control myself. Ever since I lost the ability to control my temper it has been a constant struggle for me not to succumb completely to it. I try every time to regain my composure, but I still fail, especially at times when I feel betrayed.

I can feel the rage building as the King speaks and it’s only my ingrained respect for those of higher rank, that holds me back now.

All my body wants to do is smash everything I can reach; however, I don’t just feel rage there is something more behind it buried deep in my soul.

I feel pain, the pain of betrayal and abandonment. However, I hide it behind my pride, I refuse to show weakness to anyone.

“Then you will be removed from this country by force and returned to your family in complete disgrace, accompanied by a legion of my most loyal men.”

He is completely serious, and he knows that it would be the most damaging for me, to be sent home in that manner.

I give in and bow my head to him.

“Yes Sire, I will leave in the morning. Thank you for your hospitality and for allowing me to stay for the night.”

“Very good. I will have all the arrangements finalized. For now, I suggest you remain here in your room, I will have dinner brought to you later. I think it best if you were not to have any contact with my daughter and the others.”

Ugh confined to my room how humiliating.

I remain silent, stood with my head bowed as he takes his leave and once the door is closed, I am left alone, and the more time passes the darker my thoughts become.

I hate this, why has this happened to me?

I succumb to my rage and pain, destroying the tables, chairs, ornaments, everything I can touch or lift to throw becomes a target for me to vent my frustrations.

Finally, I run out of energy and slump down on the ground amongst the destruction and debris, out of breath and panting.

All I wanted was for Lilliana to honour our arrangement and be loyal to me, was that too much to ask? Yet at every turn, she chose to embarrass me and flaunt her relationship with that brute, in my face.

Eventually, I drag myself up and move to look out of the window, I don’t know how long I stand there dwelling on these thoughts. A servant brings food, but I barely notice and continue to stare outside.

A knock at my door brings me out of my daze and I suddenly realize that it has gotten dark.

What time is it?

*Knock! Knock! *

Another knock sounds out in the darkness making me jump and turn to the door.

“Come in.”

The door opens and light spills in from the hallway, but it eclipses whoever has entered and casts them in shadow.

“What are you doing standing here in the dark?”

I freeze at the sound of her voice and a ripple of fear crawls up my spine unbidden.

What is she doing here in my room?