Aedan sighed with resignation. He would have to make a point of staying close by Corwin’s side so he could interpose himself if things got out of hand. As the Black Prince, it would be logical for him to challenge Haelyn, and he could thereby step in to take the brunt of the assault.
It would mean more bruises, because Michael never held back on his blows, and though he was only twelve, a wooden sword could still raise a nasty welt, especially since Aedan wore no armor save for a light skullcap. Being older and much bigger, he had to take care to control his blows, which was more difficult while wearing armor.
Meanwhile, his armored young opponents would flail away at him for all that they were worth, and he would once more wind up black and blue.
However, better that than risk the chance of Corwin ringing Michael like a gong. Aedan didn’t want to think about the problems that could cause. By all the gods, he thought, I hate this game.
Once the cast had been agreed upon and sides were chosen, the two
-armies’ retired to draw up their battle lines. The opposing generals formed up their troops and proceeded to inspect them. When they were satisfied, they stood before their warriors and addressed them, exhorting them to bravery in dying for a noble cause. Michael stood before his soldiers and his earnest, high-pitched tones rang out across the field. Aedan, as Raesene, was obliged to do the same, feeling like an utter fool.
When he was sixteen, Aedan had tried appealing to his father, pointing out how ludicrous it was for him to play with children half his age.
However, it had been to no avail.
“Son, you must learn to do your duty by your liege,” his father, Lord Tieran, had said.
“But, Father, he is not the emperor yet,” Aedan had protested. ‘He is a mere child, and a spoiled one at that!”
“Watch your tongue, boy! It is not your place to speak so of the prince.”
“Forgive me, Father,” Aedan had said, sighing with frustration, “I meant no offense, but must I continually suffer the laughter and the taunts of all my friends? Why must I be his nursemaid? It simply isn’t fair!”
“Who told you life was fair, boy?” his father had replied sternly.
“When it comes to duty, fairness does not enter into it. One of these days, you shall take my place as lord high chamberlain, and when that time comes, you will have need of all the skills that you are only now starting to learn. A few years from now, you will understand and thank me.
Prince Michael does not need for you to be his playmate or his nursemaid, but you need Prince Michael … for your training.”
Now, two years later, Aedan understood just what his father had meant, but understanding did not make his task any easier to bear. His friends no longer taunted him, except to chide him gently on occasion in good humor, for by now they too understood more about duty … and about how difficult the prince could be. The emperor was old and ailing and could not take a hand in Michael’s rearing, even if he had the inclination, and the empress was overly indulgent of her only son.
Even Michael’s older sisters gave him a wide berth, a luxury Aedan was denied.
He surveyed his “troops,” standing all abreast in their little metal helms and suits of armor, looking like toy soldiers as they fidgeted in place, anxiously awaiting the attack. Their eyes followed him as he strolled up and down the line of his army, almost a dozen strong, improvising his speech as Prince Raesene.
“All right now, men. . . ” he said, barely able to suppress a chuckle.
“The time has come for us to seize the day and destroy the enemy once and for all!”
His young knights cheered the words of their commander, banging their little wooden shields with their blunt wooden swords. The “goblins”
snarled, the “gnolls” howled like wolves, the elves” responded in an ululating chorus, and the “Vos” growled and looked appropriately menacing.
“There he stands!” said Aedan, pointing with his a4 wooden sword. “My brother, Haelyn!” He spat out the word “brother” as if it were a curse.
“The favored of the gods! The champion! What monumental arrogance!”
His words were laced with heavy sarcasm, and he was surprised to discover how much he enjoyed saying them. He had never been Raesene before, and it suddenly occurred to him that in this role, he could say things about Prince Haelyn that he would never dare say about Michael.
“Look at him out there, parading before his troops and strutting like a silly peacock! The great and noble Haelyn! all my life I have had to suffer his sanctimonious self-righteousness, his smug superiority, his annoying, squeaky little voice-” He caught himself, realizing that he was getting a bit carried away.
“Well, the time for reckoning has come! You gnolls and goblins, today you shall strike a blow for the glory of your people!”
The “humanoids” responded with a chorus of snarls and howls.
“You elves, today you shall savor the sweet taste of revenge!”
The “elves” raised the swords and gave their war cry.
“You Vos, today you prove once and for all which tribe deserves to rule!”
The “Vos” struck their shields with their swords and stamped their feet.
“Today we shall soak the field with the blood of our enemies!” Aedan glanced over his shoulder and saw that Michael was still gesturing expansively
