BRED FOR DUTY

*Dear world,My little brother Noel was born yesterday. His birth brings the tally to six boys and three girls. I think father is making certain that there is an heir and a spare (and a few spares for both the heir and the spare). I remember when I figured out my role in this world, as the future king of the Northern kingdom. My eyes took everything in and out of the white crystal palace. At first I only knew one color, white the royal color. Especially since everyone with royal blood is dressed in white plus, the palace decor was white.Anyway back to my growing family, my little sister and brother want to join me in my next battle or ambush against the rebels. I do admire their courage, but I feel that they will hasten my demise. The big brother in me will not allow my siblings to go out in the battle field unprotected. They will only serve as a distraction. But even if I die there are eight other royals eligible for the crown.Tomorrow we are meeting with the royal

Adalia dragged her dress along with her as they got off the carriage. She grunted and groaned, announcing how uncomfortable she was, with each step she took. The dress was tight around her. The corset was something her mother insisted on, no doubted because she didn’t want to risk her daughter’s wings piercing through the silk dress and her flying away back to the South. She stepped on the red carpet, and as she did her glass slipper peeked out from underneath her dress. She groaned wishing that she could have had boots on instead. She followed the long train of her mother’s dress as her brother stepped beside her.“How are you feeling?” There was a smile in his eyes but it was offset by the worried look looming behind it.“I’m fine,” she was to an extent. But she wasn’t going to show her brother how disturbed she was. Usually she looked up and straight ahead just like every warrior she knew. But now she was staring at

Adalia could feel his gaze on her and it made her itch all over. “I learned from the best,” she said as made her rounds around the wounded men. “They must have known we were coming here, why else would they attack.”“They wanted to get rid of all of us at the same time,” he never thought about that. Now the wheels in his mind were turning. They had been targeted and no doubt there was a leak within the palace, no one else knew of the visit but the royal family, the royal guards and the advisers.“The reinforcements are here,” Adalia heard Conan tell her father.“Who brought them?”“Xander.”“Xander,” Adalia’s tone rose when she said his name. Just then she saw, what she thought was, a hint of jealous in Archer eyes. Xander was Adalia’s childhood friend. They played together and trained together. He was the first warrior that she had ever beaten and the first

“What’s so funny?” Xander had been listening to the back and forth banter Archer and Adalia had been having. He especially like the part when Adalia was angry but when they started laughing he knew he had to do something.Xander’s father had once been the pride and glory of the South Kingdom. He had fought alongside Gabrielle’s father for many years. His father had a wife and a couple of mistresses and he was a product of the mistresses. He wasn’t acknowledged by his father’s family but his prowess and industrious nature had made him his father’s favorite. The first time he was brought to the palace was when Gabrielle’s father had fallen ill and was slowly dying. He met a little girl in the garden, dressed in amour with a sword that belonged to the king in her hand, she was crying. Xander picked up a stick and began a sword game with the little girl and ever since they were best of friends.When his father died Adalia w

Adalia crept out of the room assigned to her and her sisters. She was looking for Xander and had no doubt she would find him on one of the balconies. He loved to train in the cold night air. It kept him aware, he usually said. Just as she had expected the guards were roaming around the castle doing their rounds. They seemed to have doubled in number after the attack. She didn’t think that anyone of them would stop her, but in the event that they did, she needed a cover story.“It’s hot and I needed to cool down,” she mumbled to herself, holding her gown tight to her waist so that it wouldn’t make that annoying swishing sound. “I can’t sleep and it’s a beautiful night. It’s the perfect time to go star gazing?” She wasn’t too sure about her options but she decided that if she had to she would pull rank. With a condescending arrogant tone she said. “Because I said so,”***“What do you sa