Friendly Rivalry

Our hero smiled bravely at his companions, then made his way for the door. He flagged down a guardsman passing nearby and ordered a messenger sent to fetch one of the artisans his father had assigned to him for his upcoming mission.

Well... Sure, it wasn't a real mission. Maybe it was just an excuse to get the youngest son out of the Marisian capital for a while. Or maybe it was just his father, giving his spoiled youngest son the chance to prove himself.

More likely, he was being sent away so that father and mother could have more time together, though that would end up waiting til daddy got home from Deimos Hold. For a moment, the boy entertained the idea of asking his mother to follow him.

After a bit of time, the boy tossed of his head (which did lovely things to his hair) and had Michi lead the way to the archery range. "I do wonder," Ian said aloud, "Whether or not we're going to actually see her Highness before noon. I seriously doubt it, you know?"

"It's possible," Ellea replied with a shy smile, "Never underestimate the pettiness of royalty."

"Ah... should I have sent Michi knocking on her door come dawn? I dunno, it feels like she'd hold a grudge if I interrupted her beauty sleep."

"Well, you did specify after breakfast. She'll need time to make herself up, too."

"Ah yes," Ian's voice had a bit of venom in it, "A girl's got to look good for her, ah... No, call them what they are, her sycophants."

"Now, now... There's no need to be petty about it. You almost sound jealous."

"What could I possibly have to be jealous about? I've already formed a blood union with the most beautiful woman in this world with the possible exception of my dear mother in her prime."

Blushing, the blonde-haired elf shyly responded, "Flatterer."

"It's not 'flattery' if it's the truth, right?"

"It's still flattery," Michi pointed out, "Even if it's true."

Even as the elf opened her mouth to reply, Ian was waving at the guardsmen just ahead. It wasn't a long trek from his room to the gate, though long awkward pauses at the start made it feel like an eternity for at least one of the companions.

"Good morning," he called, even as Ellea's mouth audibly shut. "Would you mind summoning an escort for us? These two will be joining me at the archery range for a bit of... practice, let's call it."

"Right... Your guard is on standby as we speak, they'll join you presently."

"My guard? She's here already..." he trailed off, tilting his head to the side. "Wait, did the Lieutenant send them already? Couple of Sergeants, right?"

"Ah... not exactly, my lord," the grizzled looking guardsman glanced about, then leaned in a little closer. "I'm certain you'll be pleased with your escort," he added with a smile. There was something downright nasty about that smile, hidden behind the veneer of joviality, or at least a seeming of good will.

How many veiled looks had the original Ian Maris had to endure? Was he aware of them? Did he intentionally play the role of a fool, or had he been the idiot they assumed him to be? The young man smiled in turn, eyes merry as he quickly thought things through.

"So mote it be," he replied cheerfully, "I did request the absolute worst squad in the guard. It's unfortunate, but Father assured me that our worst would be guarding the castle this morning, second worst are also preparing for the march on Deimos Hold. Third worst isn't bad, though."

Without missing a beat, Ian spoke up just a bit, "I do say, is that you, Sarge? Lieutenant Markus did promise to send you to guide a poor, innocent child such as myself in learning the ways of war, but I'd thought you'd be taller."

"Eh?" a young man spoke up, looking alarmed. Green eyes stared at Our Hero, framed by red hair, the beginnings of a beard on his young face. The aura of fear around this poor youth was nearly palpable, his face completely pale as all of the color drained from his face.

"Wh-what did I just walk into?"

"Nothing important, Sarge, just waiting on you. I take it you and your squad will be my escort this morning?"

"More or less accurate," the youth replied easily, "The Lieutenant would like to talk about that with you tonight. In the meantime, we're heading for the archery range?"

"Yeah, that's the plan," Ian said cheerfully, falling in with the squad as they started heading off. "I'm thinking we'll need some kind of a wooden target as well, not just hay bales, in order to show off for the Princess."

"The Princess, you say... Ah, I take it you already know she's headed the same place we are, then?"

The surprise on Our Hero's face was rather telling. "Well now... I wonder what mischief her Highness is about this early in the day."

"There is no doubt in my mind that this is because of you, Ian," the elf said cheerfully. "Ah, that crack about royals being unable to even leave their beds before noon must have slightly annoyed her. Say, is this what those 'just desserts' you were going on about are?"

"I'm morally certain you are wrong," the now grumpy looking boy said, glancing up at her, "I think she's just in a hurry to show off her skill with a bow. Well, fortunately for me, I've got a wildcard in hand."

"Oh, really now? Whom are you calling wild and what kind of card is that?"

"Hmm... cultural differences, maybe... Uhm, that is to say, me! I'm the ultimate card to play, don't you know. The fact remains that the weapon I'll be using has never been seen in this world before."

"Uh huh... really... You act like you're planning to show off, but your track record doesn't give me much hope for you."

"Aren't we bonded? Did we not form a mystical, even magical, union in the forest that day? You told me I was your first and only, right? So shouldn't you support me more?"

"H-hey what are you saying! Context is important."

"Oh, would you like me to go a bit further? Just imagine the servants gossip if I were to talk about you pushing me down and that promise to take responsibility."

"Would the two of you stop flirting for just a little bit," Michi cut in mercilessly, "You'll make your guard uncomfortable, you know?"

"Oh, don't worry about us," a tenor voice spoke up from amidst the guard, "We are just happy to serve."

Ian stared at the red headed youth a moment, then turned triumphantly to his personal retainer and her guard. "You hear that? That's the way you talk to your benefactor, you know? I think the pair of you should take lessons!"

"Is that right?" the blonde half-elf asked in a dangerous tone, "You think we should take lessons on serving you?"

"N-no, sorry," Our Hero replied quickly, shaking his head. "I misspoke! Please forgive me! Hmm... I'll make it up to you."

"Eh? And how do you plan to do that?"

"I'll wash your back first tonight," the youth said cheerfully, "It's better this way anyway. The last time you washed my back for me felt dangerous, we can't have that happen again."

"Oh? What's this?" Michelle asked curiously, "This temptress has really been seducing you, hasn't she? Don't you worry, young lord, give me a day with her and I'll see to it that everything is straightened out."

"Wait a minute," the 'temptress' cut in forcefully, "I've never once bathed with you! And you, what's this straightening me out business?"

"You heard me," she said, even as Ian replied, "Don't you worry, then, this will be our first time. Another first for us, hmm?"

"You... do you want to die?"

"Not particularly, why do you ask?"

"D-did you just threaten your lord? What kind of retainer are you?"

"Because that's how you get yourself killed," the elf said, cutting into the confusion, then added, "I wouldn't ever threaten my lord. I make promises and plan to keep them is all."

"Now, now, children," the red headed sergeant spoke up again, "Play nice."

"Right... Which one were you again?"

"Ah.. I'd be honored if you chose to call me 'Zeke', milord. At any rate, you wouldn't want to run into her Highness while you were, ah, making promises. Right?"

"I kind of do," Ian said, despite the girls accompanying him immediately looking chastened and denying any such interests. "Her Highness is a dangerous person with too good of an opinion of me. It's my own fault for being so interesting, alas. I need to do something to, ah, force her to look elsewhere a bit."

"Hmm? And why do you say that?" a rich, throaty voice asked from behind the group.

"It's just that her Highness doesn't seem like the sort of person who likes to share her toys. Besides, I don't play well with others, so having to fight off a legion of boy toys to get a word in edgewise has a nega-" he trailed off, coming to a stop after a moment.

"Please," her royal highness, Princess LaLuna of Lunaria spoke, the woman at her side looking decidedly amused. There was a small crowd of hangers on trailing the beautiful girl, looking far from pleased to see the youngest son of James and Megan Maris. "Continue that sentence. I'd really like to hear the rest of it."