Chapter Nine: Pain Right On The Shoulder

The kingdom of Aragon glittered with the autumn sunlight. Golden fields stretched beyond the palace roads while banners bearing noble crests fluttered proudly in the wind.

The royal procession wound through the countryside in dazzling splendour – mounted knights, noble families, decorated carriages, and royal guards moving together towards the highlands where the annual Crown Hunt would take place.

To the people lining the roads, it looked magnificent. To Kelvin, it felt exhausting. Another public appearance. Another day spent around watchful eyes. Another performance.

The prince sat tall upon his black stallion as nobles rode beside him exchanging political conversation disguised as courtesy.

King Alistair's illness had changed everything. Now every smile carried calculation. Every alliance mattered more. Every noble house watched the throne carefully. Kelvin had begun noticing it everywhere. Especially among House Ravaryn.

Lord Cedric Ravaryn rode several paces ahead, speaking politely with members of the royal council. He was handsome in a sharp, dangerous sort of way, with silver-threaded riding clothes and eyes that never seemed to stop observing.

Something about him unsettled Kelvin. Not enough to accuse. Just enough to remember. Beside him, Elaine guided her white mare gracefully along the forest road.

"You look miserable."

Kelvin glanced towards her. "I'm on horseback surrounded by politics."

"A terrible tragedy."

"The greatest of them all."

Elaine laughed softly. The sound briefly eased some tension from his shoulders. Then she leaned slightly closer. "You've been staring at Lord Ravaryn for the last ten minutes."

Kelvin lowered his voice. "Tell me honestly. Does he make you uncomfortable?"

Elaine analysed the question carefully. "To be perfectly honest, yes."

He considered her honesty, which surprised him and comforted him at the same time. Before he could respond, the procession slowed ahead.

The hunting grounds had come into view. Dozens of attendants hurried through the sprawling clearing preparing equipment, tents, refreshments, and horses. Among them moved Jeremy. The sight caught Kelvin off guard more than it should have. The young servant stood near the supply carts helping unload provisions while Oliver argued loudly with another stable boy nearby.

Even from a distance, Kelvin felt some invisible part of himself settle. And that terrified him. Because lately, Jeremy's presence affected him far too easily. As though his mind sought him instinctively. As though calm itself had begun wearing Jeremy Mercer's face.

*

The Crown Hunt unfolded under brilliant skies. Nobles gathered in polished riding attire while servants moved carefully between tents and horses. Falconers prepared hunting birds nearby while musicians played softly beneath embroidered banners.

Everything appeared elegant. Civilized.

Yet, within the beauty lingered tension sharp enough to taste. Jeremy noticed it too. Servants always noticed more than nobles realized. Whispers travelled quickly through kitchens and supply tents.

House Ravaryn had increased military activity along their northern territory. Several council members quietly disagreed about succession preparations. And the queen herself reportedly trusted fewer nobles each passing week.

The kingdom was becoming unstable and Jeremy hated the feeling of it. Especially because Kelvin stood directly at the centre.

As if summoned by thought alone, the prince appeared nearby moments later.

Jeremy looked up from adjusting riding straps.

Kelvin had changed into dark hunting attire embroidered subtly with silver thread. Sunlight caught against the polished leather at his wrists while the breeze stirred strands of dark hair across his forehead. He looked every bit the future king, and somehow still looked tired.

"Your Highness."

Kelvin glanced towards the saddle Jeremy was securing. "I've been informed this horse dislikes half the nobility present."

Jeremy smiled faintly. "Animals often possess excellent judgment."

A laugh escaped Kelvin before he could stop it. The sound warmed Jeremy's heart.

Gods, this was becoming treacherous.

Nearby, Elaine approached while adjusting her gloves. "What exactly am I interrupting this time?"

Jeremy nearly groaned.

Kelvin looked deeply betrayed. "Why do you keep speaking to us like this?"

Elaine's smile widened slightly. "No reason."

There was absolutely a reason. Jeremy could feel it now. Tiny shifts in attention. Stretched glances. Subtle observations. Nothing obvious. Not yet. Still, unease curled quietly inside him.

*

The hunt began shortly afterward.

Riders moved through the sprawling woodland paths underneath towering trees painted gold and crimson by autumn. Hooves thundered softly across narrow trails while hunting horns echoed through distant hills.

Jeremy remained among the attendants traveling the lower routes with reserve supplies. From there, he occasionally caught glimpses of the royal riders farther uphill. Kelvin among them. Always easy to find. Perhaps because Jeremy looked for him instinctively now.

The consciousness unsettled him and distracted him enough to notice something strange. One of the stable servants moved nervously beside the reserve horses. Too nervously. The man avoided eye contact entirely while adjusting straps along one of the royal saddles. Then quickly disappeared into the trees.

A terrible feeling settled in Jeremy's stomach.

He stepped closer. Examined the saddle. And his blood ran cold. The leather strap had been partially cut through. Not enough to notice immediately, but enough to fail under pressure.

Jeremy's head snapped upward towards the upper trail. Towards the riders. Towards Kelvin. Panic surged through him instantly. And without thinking, Jeremy grabbed the nearest horse and mounted it awkwardly.

Someone shouted behind him. He barely heard them.

The horse bolted forward. Branches whipped past violently as Jeremy raced uphill through the woods. Hooves pounded against uneven terrain while fear thundered louder than reason inside his chest. Ahead, hunting horns echoed. Voices carried through the trees.

Then…

A horse screamed.

Jeremy burst through the treeline just as chaos erupted.

Kelvin's stallion reared violently near the edge of a steep rocky incline. All around, nobles shouted in alarm while guards struggled to control panicked horses nearby. And then the saddle strap snapped.

Everything happened at once. Kelvin lost balance. The horse lurched sideways. The cliff edge waited below.

"Kelvin!"

Jeremy didn't think. Didn't hesitate. He launched himself from his horse just as the prince began falling. The impact knocked the air from both of them.

Suddenly, the earth vanished below them just before Jeremy shoved Kelvin sideways onto safer ground, but momentum carried Jeremy towards the incline instead.

Pain exploded through his right shoulder as he crashed against jagged rock. Voices shouted somewhere above while loose stones scattered violently down the slope. After one terrible moment, Jeremy slipped further downward.

Then a hand caught his wrist. Hard. Strong.

Jeremy looked up.

Kelvin.

The prince lay dangerously close to the edge himself, gripping Jeremy with desperate force. Fear blazed openly across his face. Not princely concern. Not royal composure. Pure panic.

"Jeremy!" The name tore from him. Raw. Uncontrolled.

Around them, nobles stared in stunned silence.

Kelvin ignored every one of them. "Hold on."

Jeremy tried to steady himself despite the pain tearing through his shoulder.

Above them, guards rushed forward. But Kelvin reached him first. The prince dragged Jeremy upward with reckless determination until both collapsed onto solid ground.

For several seconds, neither moved.

Jeremy could barely breathe.

Kelvin still gripped his arm tightly. As though terrified he might disappear.

"Your Highness—"

"Are you hurt?" The question came immediately. Sharp with fear.

Jeremy blinked.

But the prince searched his body for the answer.

Around them, the entire hunting party had fallen silent. Elaine dropped beside them moments later. Her face had gone pale.

"Gods… Jeremy—"

"I'm alright," he managed weakly.

That was clearly a lie. Blood stained one sleeve while pain radiated viciously through his shoulder and ribs. Kelvin looked furious. Not at Jeremy. At the world.

"Get the physicians." The command cracked through the clearing instantly.

Guards moved at once.

Nearby, nobles exchanged uneasy glances. Because everyone had seen it. The prince's panic. The desperation in his voice. The way he'd thrown himself towards a servant without hesitation. Elaine noticed too. And the comprehension in her eyes hurt more than Jeremy expected. Not anger. Something sadder. Something quieter.

Lord Cedric Ravaryn watched the scene carefully from horseback. Expression unreadable. Jeremy saw him and couldn't understand why that left him feeling disturbed.