The Enchanter of Rangel: Child of War Book 1 (17 page)

             
“Xander you are expected at dinner tonight. The clothes you have on are unacceptable for dining with the Queen and I” said Aubrey as she dropped the clothes on one of the chairs.

             
“I do not wish to dine with the Queen my lady, I am happy eating here” Xander replied trying to make his voice sound flat.

             
One of the palace guards with Princess Aubrey stepped forward and backhanded Xander across the face, knocking him down. “You will not speak to her Royal Highness in that tone dog. The Queen wants you at dinner and you will be there, the shape you will arrive in is up to you” said the guard.

             
“What Max is trying to say Xander is that it is not a request. You might learn to like it here if you will just give it a chance. I will see you at dinner, please don’t make me leave Max and Liano here to ensure you are properly attired. You’ll be a good boy now won’t you?” The princess said while looking at Xander.

             
Xander nodded as Max offered his hand to lift Xander up which he refused.

             
“Don’t get all snotty boy, it’s just business, I have nothing personal against you” Max said as he and Liano left the room.

             
Xander felt totally hopeless as he bathed and changed. He needed a friend at this moment and figured he would talk to his father later, maybe figure a way out of this mess. Xander found a comb and briefly considered combing his hair, but decided against it, the snobby Princess or the Queen didn't need to see him at his best, no matter how fine the clothes he wore was. Xander stared at himself in the mirror, other than the welt that was forming by his lip from the blow he received from Max, Xander thought he looked damn good considering the circumstances. Xander headed back to his sitting room and waited to be summoned.

Celeste

             
“I should not have lost my temper with the boy” she told her daughter as she walked into the room. “Thank you for letting me save face Aubrey. I need him willingly on my side but I am not above threats. I know you are enamored with that damn Brightly boy, and I’ll admit he is not unpleasant to look at. But I have my spies and I know they are up to no good. I want you to convince the boy he belongs here with us. You don’t have to be with him, but even the affections of a Princess would likely sway his opinion of our hospitality. After all, what boy doesn’t dream of being swept off his feet by a Princess and living happily ever after?”

             
“Well mother it may be harder than that. I doubt he finds me attractive and he refused dinner with us tonight until Max backhanded him across the room” Aubrey said remembering her last exchange with Xander.

             
“Sometimes using a little force is necessary; just remember to stay pleasant, no matter what you are saying. We shall try and treat him like one born of nobility, make sure he wants for nothing. Soon he will see this is not a bad place. I am going to keep the label of slave upon him just in case. He can leave the tower, but only if he is accompanied by you. I know a child of war certainly would not have been your first choice, but I doubt you wish to constantly be looking over your shoulder the way I have to.”

             
“Mother I am partial to Patrick, he is big and strong and he even killed Brutus, a feat I thought was impossible. I think my joining with Patrick would be a good match, perhaps sooth the rift that had developed between our house and theirs.”

             
“That is foolish thinking child. You open us up to scorn from the non-magical nobles who have plenty of power. They would see such a union as a slap in the face to tradition as well as us siding with the witches, whom they have never trusted, just tolerated. You would lose whatever sway you might have gained with them. My mother matched me with your father to appease the nobles. He was a sickly man who I know didn’t have much time left in this world. I married him on that basis and was soon pregnant with you when he passed away. My mother knew what was best for me and I’m telling you I would never approve of a match with you and the Brightly boy. The Franks have been petitioning me for you to marry their son, offering a sizable sum to the treasury to give you his hand. Your friend Emma Dollar’s mother has also been trying to match you up with her brother Jacob.”

             
“But mother he is only 10 summers old! What type of match would that be?” said Aubrey not believing her ears.

             
“Aubrey I am just telling you some of the letters I have received. Tonight the witches are having some type of ball where I am convinced you will be brought up more than once. Many witches wish to marry off their sons to you, but all of them have been silent no doubt the work of Elizabeth Brightly. During your birthday ball, no doubt you will be bombarded by plenty of mothers trying to match you up. Pretend to be enamored with this Xander and bring him up during conversation. This will by you some time. Go make yourself even prettier and escort him to the dining table. I need to handle something personal.

Chapter

Princess Aubrey entered his room surrounded by her guards and looked Xander over. “I see you are ready Xander, the Queen will be pleased. You are looking very fetching in that clothing, won’t you walk with me to dinner?” Aubrey said as she extended her arm. Xander was going to refuse until he saw the glare
Liano was giving him, which basically said refuse and die.

             
Xander took her arm as she led him down the hallway. Up close he could see Aubrey was slightly taller than he was but much thinner in the frame. They walked in silence until reaching a room which Xander figured was for dining.

             
A huge square table was set in the room and at the very end was a place for two. Xander had no idea how many people would be joining them, but could see seats for at least 30. Xander figured the Princess sat next to the Queen so at least he would not have to sit next to any of them. To Xander’s horror, the Princess held out a chair for him to sit and took a seat next to him.

             
“So Xander, is there a special girl that has her eye on you?” Aubrey asked.

             
Xander thought back to Mesha and quickly dismissed the thought of her, he would only complicate her life. “There is no one your Highness” Xander said trying to remove all emotion from his voice.

             
“No one at all? That is a travesty for a boy as pretty as yourself not to have at least one girl trying for your hand. The girls in your hometown must not exist or are blind” Aubrey said trying to give Xander a compliment before remembering his mother was banished to the furthest outpost facing Thorn.

             
“Xander how does your enchanting work? I wish I could do something like that, I wouldn’t make weapons and the sort but I would try to make inventions to make life simpler” Aubrey said as she placed her hand on Xander’s knee.

             
No matter his feelings towards Aubrey, he was a teenage boy and she was a fairly attractive female. Xander’s temperature started to rise as he tried to think of something other than Aubrey’s hand. “Like what type of inventions?”

             
“Well, I am a bit clumsy and always bump my legs in the night. I wish I could make a lamp that would just stay bright, that way I could keep it on all night with worrying about it burning out.” Aubrey said as she brought her hand higher up his knee, getting the result she wanted judging by Xander’s face.

             
“Um if you bring me a lamp, I could try it but I don’t know if it is at all possible” Xander said hoping Aubrey would remove her hand giving him a moment to breathe. Before Aubrey could reply they were summoned to stand as the Queen entered the room, as she sat down they took their seats.

             
“Thank you for joining us for dinner Xander, we normally eat alone. I am sorry for getting cross with you earlier, have you thought about my offer to arm my guard?” The queen said as the palace slaves started bringing out their meal.

             
Xander was unsure of how to proceed; he certainly did not want to work for the Queen after declaring him slave after promising to free him. He also did not fancy being beaten by the palace guard until he yielded.

             
“My Queen I am nothing more than a slave, I have no wants or needs I will do whatever you command.” Xander said trying to voice his displeasure without being disrespectful.

             
“Well I would certainly think the job is something you could handle, there are many perks to working in the palace young man.” The queen said as she sipped her drink. “No one would dare and try to attack our Queendom with you on the job, even those damn Inglish whom I hear is trying to rally support for an excursion into our territory to see if we are vunerable. Right now they are trying to rally support in Thorn also, have a multifaceted attack. With your skill we could protect even the most remote outpost” the Queen said trying to get a feel of what Xander thought since she mentioned a possible attack on his mother.

             
Xander heard the comment about the Thornians and was taken aback. He knew from his mother that their procedures now was to execute any witch they find, no doubt his mother would be one of them. If his magic could protect his mother, shouldn’t he at least try? If he is wrong then the Queen pulled one over on him, if she isn’t lying he would never forgive himself if something happened to his mother.

             
Celeste could see Xander starting to look sick at her news, which is precisely what she wanted. She let her statement hang in the air, deciding not to speak anymore on it, he would drive himself crazy tonight with whatever decision he came up with. Switching topics, she wanted to know more about the boy, so she could find a way to manipulate him without his knowledge.

             
“So Xander, we normally have whatever I decide to eat for dinner, which gets very old very fast. What is your favorite food, perhaps we can get the cook to make it for you?” Queen Celeste asked.

             
“I am a slave Your Majesty, I have no favorite food. Whatever you decide to feed me I will eat.” Xander said refusing to engage the woman in conversation.

             
“Xander you are going to make yourself miserable if that’s your answer to everything” Aubrey spoke before continuing “Everyone has a favorite food, if you don’t want to share it with us then keep it to yourself. I bet if you ask Liano or Max, they would see that it is brought to you.”

             
Xander said nothing but ate his meal in silence. The steak they brought out was the most tender he had ever tasted, it took great control for him not to devour the whole thing. Instead of going at his meal the way he would have if he was amongst friends, Xander ate less than a quarter of all the dishes put in front of him.

             
The Queen and the Princess tried to engage him in small talk to no avail. Xander could see what ever façade the Queen had going was slipping, as she started to get a bit more angry as time went on. Xander figured she was used to everyone conversing to her about everything, and had never met someone who didn't think she walked on water. The Queen excused herself early and Aubrey walked Xander back to his room.

             
“You weren’t very talkative at dinner Xander, is everything okay?” asked Aubrey.

             
“I am a slave your Highness, I have no problems you do not wish for me to have” Xander said trying to get the familiarity they had earlier passed them. He knew he was a prisoner here and did not want them to think he liked it.

             
“Are we back here now Xander? You were very talkative before my mother came in. Why are you so silent now?”

             
“I am a slave Your Highness; I should be seen, not heard. I will talk about whatever you want and take whatever stance you wish me to take on any matter.”

             
“So that’s how it is Xander? You will find the palace a lonely place if you do not let someone in. In any case, did you give my mother’s proposal any thought about helping arm the palace guard and eventually the rest of our Army?”

             
“Your highness I am nothing but a slave, I will do whatever you ask of me” was Xander’s only reply.

             
“Have it your way then Xander, I will send someone to take you to the armory in the morning. I don’t know how long it will take you, but before the week is out it would be nice to see a demonstration. Good night Xander” Aubrey said as she turned and went back towards the dining hall.

             
“Kid, why are you making this so hard on yourself? Many men would give their right nut to get the attention you are getting from the princess. Why not do whatever they ask of you and enjoy the perks of working here? We get days off every week, no other folks on commitment gets that type of love, plus we actually get paid a salary! Why screw with that? Even if you were back in whatever hell hole you crawled out of, you wouldn’t make this money here. On top of all that women want to marry a palace guardsman. My mother has had so many request she doesn’t know what to do with them all.” Liano said as he opened the door for Max.