Now he was back in his rooms in the palace getting ready for his day. His servants came in with his breakfast and to see if he needed help dressing. He was already dressed so they left him alone after arranging his food. His main attendant gave him a curious look after Leal had wished him a pleasant day. Leal supposed he had been in a rather bad mood lately, but today he found he was having a hard time not smiling.

He had just finished breakfast when an attendant knocked on his door to summon him to his father’s study. Not really wanting to spoil his day by talking with his father, but knowing it could not be avoided, Leal walked to the king’s study. He entered the room to find his father, King Rommel, sitting at his large desk. He looked up as Leal entered and motioned for him to take a seat in front of him. His father asked all servants to leave and looked up at his son with a frown.

“I understand you were out of the palace grounds yesterday,” said his father as he folded his hands in front of him.

“I was,” said Leal. “It’s not unusual. I like to take a stroll through the wooded area or the hills when I can.”

“I understand you met someone on one of your strolls yesterday.”

“I saw many different people out and about, including my sister. I don’t see her in here for a conversation with you.”

“I will have a talk with her later,” said the king. “Do you want to tell me who you met with, or do you want me to say it for you.”

“I met with the High Captain. She had some questions about my interest in one of her upcoming novices. I answered her questions.”

“The forest is an interesting meeting place for Sentinel business. Why not do it here at the palace? You should have summoned her.”

“I did,” said Leal. “She was under the impression she would not be welcomed to meet with me. I’m not sure who gave her that impression. Perhaps you could solve the mystery.”

His father gave a short laugh. “I also understand you may not have spent the night in the palace last night.”

“Where did you get that information, father?” asked Leal looking non-bothered

“It doesn’t matter where I got it. I want to know if it is true,” said the king sounding irate.

“I’m sure you already have your opinion on what is true. I wonder at you even asking me.”

“You do not want to test me, boy. You may be my heir and the next king, but I am the king now and you will obey me,” said his father leaning forward with his face very red.

Leal gave his father an insolent smile and said, “Tell me what command you would have me obey.”

“You will have nothing to do with Dracia Yates from this point forward. If the High Captain has any business with the palace, she will contact me,” said the king leaning back.

“No,” said Leal.

“No, what do you mean by no?”

“No, I will not do it. I will see her when I chose and how I chose. You do not get to decide how I spend my time or who I spend it with.”

“I am your father and your king. You will do as I command,” said his father standing up.

“I am a grown man, and I know my own mind. I love her. I have not hidden this from you at any point. You told me to wait a few years to make sure I knew my own mind. I have waited, and I know for sure I will love no one but her. I will have no one but her,” said Leal standing up and putting his hand on the desk in front of him.

“Then perhaps I will have to find a way to get rid of the woman,” said the king loudly.

Leal heard himself make an angry noise. Before he knew it, he was around the desk with his hand out. His father was pinned against the back wall, with Leal leaning over him.

“What did you just say?” asked Leal dangerously quiet.

His father looked at him with bright green eyes and pushed Leal away. Leal stumbled backwards as his father adjusted his shirt.

“I said if you cannot keep away from the woman, there are ways to make sure she is not an option,” said the king as Leal gave him a deadly look.

He quickly held up his hand to his son and closed his eyes. When the king opened his eyes, they were back to their normal dull hazel color. “I do not wish any harm to come to the woman. I had hoped her new position would be the end of this ridiculous fascination you have with her, but if you cannot control yourself, I will have to do something more drastic.”

Leal felt himself breathing heavily. “If you do anything to hurt her, I don’t care if you are my father or the king, I will not hold back. You know what I can do, you have seen it,” said Leal walking closer to his father. His father’s eyes grew large. “I know you are scared of me in some way, father. I do not wish it to be so, but if you do anything to cause her harm, you will find your fear well founded.”

“You can keep her safe by leaving her alone. You will be married soon. I have some suitable brides coming to visit the palace this summer. Hopefully, we can find the right woman for you then, and you can be married by winter. That will end this whole business for good, or you can make her your mistress if she agrees. As long as your father a legitimate heir, I don’t care how you spend your free time.”

Leal looked at his father with something bordering on hatred. “I would never ask her to do that. It doesn’t matter, because Dracia is the right woman for me. I will have no other. Tell me why she isn’t suitable? She is the daughter of the highest lord of the land. Kings in our line have married lower.”

“Things were different then. There are things you do not know. Things your refuse to hear or understand. You will have to make the right alliance for the kingdom,” said King Rommel as he walked over and poured a small amount of dark colored liquor into a glass. He drank it quickly.

He turned to look at his son. “You think you have to have her now, but that is rubbish. She is just a woman like any other. You will marry soon, and move on. She will just be a nice memory of your youth, and nothing more.”

Leal shook his head. “You say I refuse to hear or understand things, but you refuse to hear or understand me. I know Dracia is the only woman I will ever love, and more importantly, she is the only woman I will have as my wife. If you want your line to go on. if you want our family to continue to rule, you will need to understand it.”

Leal turned to leave. He was done talking to his father, or whoever this man was. His father had no acted as himself in many years. Leal would need to find a way to be close to Dracia as much as he could. He would need to find a way to see she was protected at all times. He could go to Dracia’s father. He was sure Lord Arwel would be very interested to know the king had threatened his only daughter.

“Where are you going, Leal? We are not done.”

“I think we are, father,” said Leal turning before he walked out of the door. “You will not win this. I won’t let you. Also, if you get in your head to try and do something to Dracia, you will not just face me. You need to remember who she is. She is the daughter of the High Lord in the kingdom. You think you have all the power, but Lord Arwel has enough allies to make your life interesting if you threaten Dracia.

“She is also the High Captain of the Sentinel, a position you put her in. She has the loyalty of the best fighters in the kingdom. You might believe the Sentinel serves you, but you will find quickly that the Elites serve no one but their High Captain.”

“Wait, Leal,” said the king with some contrition in his voice. Leal turned and looked at his father. “I do not want to hurt Lord Arwel’s daughter. You are right about her being High Captain as well, but it would be foolish to do anything to hurt the loyalty we have from the High Lord of Winsdell.

“So, I will make this deal with you. I will bring a number of suitable brides in front of you this summer, and you will meet and spend time with them all. If I find one or two, I think are extremely suitable for you, you will seriously consider them.”

“What if I find I do not want someone you find suitable? What then? Will you consider supporting my marriage with Dracia?”

His father looked at him for a long moment. “If you do not find a suitable bride this summer, you and I will talk seriously about you taking Dracia Yates as your bride.”

“And you will do nothing to hurt her in the meanwhile?”

His father nodded. “She will be very safe from me.”

“You also will not stop me from spending time with her,” said Leal.

His father sighed. “If you are appropriate in you relations with her out in the open, I will not oppose it. It is normal you would meet with the High Captain in public often. Anything else you do must be discreet. Discreet enough that I don’t hear about it. Also, you will not neglect any potential bride to secretly meet with her.”

Leal took a deep breath. “Fine, I will meet with any woman you want to show me this summer, but I make you no promises. I know my mind and my heart, father. It is settled thing.”

“We will see, Leal, hearts and minds change every day.”