Prince Simon was surprised when two sturdy hands lifted him effortlessly off his feet, and gently slung him across a broad shoulder. Will smelled strongly of spirits and a musky scent that meant he hasn't bathed in days.

”It won't do... this won't do...” Will muttered. ”If there were no survivors, then they could simply say that the twin armies died and took the behemoth with them. But then here you are...”

”B-but, you were the one who killed it, Master Will...”

”And I told you, I didn't!” he snapped. ”You should just tell everyone that you killed the monster yourself!”

”But that would be a lie!”

”Shut up kid!” Will slapped the prince's rump.

“Ow!”

”Have you any idea how long it took me to hide from the empire?! This unnecessary attention would...” he paused. “Just tell them that you did it!”

“But they would never believe something like that...” Prince Simon insisted. ”I-I mean... I am one of the youngest and weakest of all of my brothers, they would never believe that I would be able to do such a noble deed on my own! They would rather believe that I hid behind a boulder while I watched the twin armies die fighting the behemoth!”

”At least you're alive. You've got your wounds to show off, and surviving is a feat in itself. It can give you enough honor to rise in the hierarchy.”

”Well... if you put it that way...” Prince Simon said thoughtfully.

”Exactly. Actually going to the battle field is still far better than staying in a tent miles away.”

”And I guess that's something my brothers can never take away from me, right?” Simon said happily. He was actually starting to feel proud of his achievement when Will stopped in his tracks.

”Unless...” he mumbled. ”They actually take it from you...”

”Master Will, how could they possibly do such a thing unless they decide to take my life?” Simon said with a soft chuckle that made Will feel even more miserable.

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Go to Part 8

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