“No big deal?” Reece echoed. “I couldn’t have done it. None of us could have.”
They turned the corner, and Thor saw before them the king’s castle, sprawled out, reaching high into the sky. It looked monumental. The King’s army stood at attention, lining the cobblestone road leading over the drawbridge, keeping the masses at bay. They stepped aside to allowed Reece and Thor past.
The two of them walked along the road, soldiers on either side, right to the huge arched doors, covered in iron bolts. Four soldiers pulled it open and stepped aside, at attention. Thor could not believe the treatment he was receiving: he felt as if he were a member of the royal family.
They entered the castle, the doors closing behind them, and Thor was amazed at the sight before him: the inside was immense, with soaring stone walls a foot thick and vast, open rooms. Before him milled hundreds of members of the royal court, rambling about in an excited stir. He could sense the buzz and excitement in the air, and all eyes turned and looked at him as he entered. He felt overwhelmed by the attention.
They all huddled close, seemed to gawk as he went with Reece down the castle corridors. He had never seen so many people dressed in such fineries. He saw dozens of girls, of all ages, dressed in elaborate outfits, locking arms and whispering in each other’s ears and giggling at him as he went. He felt self-conscious. He couldn’t tell if they liked him, or if they were making fun of him. He was not used to being the center of attention-much less in a royal court-and hardly knew how to handle himself.
“Why are they laughing at me?” he asked Reece.
Reece turned and chuckled. “They’re not laughing at you,” he said. “They have taken a liking to you. You’re famous.”
“Famous?” he asked, stunned. “What do you mean? I just got here.”
Reece laughed and clasped a hand on his shoulder. He was clearly amused by Thor.
“Word spreads faster in the royal court than you might imagine. And a newcomer like yourself-well, this does not happen every day.”
“Where are we going?” he asked, realizing he was being led somewhere.
“My father wants to meet you,” he said, as they turned down a new corridor.
Thor swallowed.
“Your father? You mean…the King?” Suddenly, he was nervous. “Why would he want to meet me? Are you sure?”
Reece laughed.
“I am quite sure. Stop being so nervous. It’s just my dad.”
“Just your dad?” Thor said, unbelieving. “He’s the King!”
“He’s not that bad. I have a feeling it will be a happy audience. You saved Erec’s life, after all.”
Thor swallowed hard, his palms sweaty, as another large door opened, and they entered a vast hall. He looked up in awe at the ceiling, arched, covered in an elaborate design and soaring high. The walls were lined with arched, stained glass windows, and if possible, even more people were crammed into this room. There must have been a thousand of them, and the room positively swarmed. Banquet tables stretched across the room, as far as the eye could see, people sitting on endlessly long benches, dining. Between these was a narrow aisle with a long, red carpet, leading to a platform on which sat the royal throne. The crowd parted ways as Reece and Thor walked down the carpet, towards the King.
“And where do you think you’re taking him?” came a hostile, nasally voice.
Thor looked up to see a man standing over him, not much older than he was, dressed in a royal garb, clearly a prince, blocking their way and scowling down.
“It’s father’s orders,” Reece snapped back. “Better get out of our way, unless you want to defy them.”
The prince stood his ground, frowning, looking as if he’d bit into something rotten as he examined Thor. Thor did not like him at all: there was something he did not trust about him, with his lean, unkind features and eyes which never stopped darting.
“This is not a hall for commoners,” the prince replied. “You should leave the riffraff outside, where it came from.”
Thor felt his chest tighten. Clearly this man hated him, and he had no idea why.
“Shall I tell father you said that?” Reece defended, standing his ground.
Grudgingly, the prince turned and stormed away.
“Who was that?” Thor asked Reece, as they continued walking.
“Never mind him,” Reece replied. “He’s just my older brother-or one of them. Gareth. The oldest. Well, not really the oldest-he’s just the oldest legitimate one. Kendrick, who you met on the battleground-he is really the oldest.”
“Why does Gareth hate me? I don’t even know him.”
“Don’t worry-he doesn’t only reserve his hate for you. He hates everybody. And anyone who gets close to the family, he sees as a threat. Never mind him. He is but one of many.”
As they continued walking, Thor felt increasingly grateful to Reece, who, he was realizing, was becoming a true friend.
“Why did you stand up for me?” Thor asked, curious.
Reece shrugged.
“I was ordered to bring you to father. Besides, you’re my sparring partner. And it’s been a long time since someone came through my age here who I thought could be worthy.”
“But what makes me worthy?” Thor asked.
“It’s the fighter’s spirit. It cannot be faked.”
As they continued to walk down the aisle, towards the king, Thor felt as if he’d always known him-it was strange, but in some ways he felt as if he were his own brother. He had never had a brother-not a real brother, and it felt good.
“My other brothers are not like him, don’t worry,” Reece said as people flocked around them, trying to catch a glimpse of Thor. “My brother Kendrick, the one you met-he’s the best of all. He’s my half-brother, but I consider him a true brother-even more than Gareth. Kendrick is like a second father to me. He will be to you, too, I am sure of it. There is nothing he would not do for me-or for anyone. He is the most loved of our royal family among the people. It is a great loss that he is not allowed to become king.”
“You said ‘brothers.’ You have another brother, too?” Thor asked.
Reece took a deep breath.
“I have one other, yes. We are not that close. Godfrey. Unfortunately, he wastes his days in the alehouse, with the commoners. He’s not a fighter, like us. He’s not interested in it-he’s not interested in anything, really. Except ale-and the ladies.”
Suddenly, they stopped short, as a girl blocked their way. Thor stood there, transfixed. Perhaps a couple of years older than him, she stared back with blue, almond eyes, perfect skin, and long, strawberry hair. She was dressed in a white satin dress, bordered by lace, and her eyes positively glowed, dancing with joy and mischief. She locked her eyes on his, and it held him completely captivated. He couldn’t move if he wanted to. She was the most beautiful person he had ever seen.
She smiled, displaying perfect white teeth-and as if he weren’t transfixed already, her smile held him there, lit up his heart in a single gesture. He never felt so alive.
Thor stood there, speechless, unable to speak. Unable to breathe. It was the first time in his life that he’d ever felt this way.
“And aren’t you going to introduce me?” she asked Reece. Her voice went right into him-it was even more sweet than her appearance.
Reece sighed.
“And then there’s my sister,” he said with a smile. “Gwen, this is Thor. Thor, Gwen.”
Gwen curtsied.
“How do you do?” she asked with a smile.
Thor stood there, frozen. Finally, Gwen giggled.
“Not so many words at once, please,” she said with a laugh.
Thor felt himself redden; he cleared his throat.
“I am…I… am…sorry,” he said. “I’m Thor.”
Gwen giggled.
