Chapter 2: The Aftermath

  Julius

  When Julius finally came to he found he was in a completely different location. The room was sterile and white. Marble walls and the many rows of beds reminding Julius he’d been here before, several times in fact. He slowly moved his head looking around the room it was empty except for a few other students laying in their beds no nurses or doctors though.

  No longer wondering where he was he tried to piece together why he was there. He remembered going into the city for a training. He had been excited because he had only been allowed into the city a handful of times before. Then he remembered the Elves. They had been a surprise, some kind of last minute envoy. But then it all. Some back rushing at him and slamming into his mind with clarity. He immediately knew what had happened. He wasn’t sure how but he did.

  “That cur hit me with magic didn’t he?” Julien swore explosively more so than he probably had his whole life. He didn’t think he was being loud but the door opened and Petra entered. She was the dark haired, but kind Royal Physician. She was also the only person in their whole kingdom who had been taught in the ancient ways. She was young only a few years older than him and if you ignored the freckles and red glasses she was quite pretty. She wore her usual plain white coat over a black blouse and blue skirt that went down to her ankles.

  She looked him over critically like she was examining a melon at market instead of a patient. He raised his eye brows willing her to answer his silent question. She ignored him coming to stand in front of him before leaning over and placing the back of her hand against his forehead. She kept her hand there for a few seconds before nodding to herself as she removed it.

  “ No sign of a fever,” she muttered to herself aloud. Julien let her work keeping quiet as she measured his heart beat and carefully checked his extremities she seemed satisfied that he was in good health. When she was done she returned to standing above him a disapproving stare making it clear she was aware of what had happened.

  “What happened?” Julien croaked his voice sounding far more cracked than he was expecting. Petra raised an eyebrow at him.

  “You mean besides our prince causing an international crisis and nearly getting himself killed?” She asked coolly. Julien scratched the back of his head sheepishly. The problem was he didn’t know what he had done wrong. He had always been taught that it was a leaders job to protect all of those under him from the lowest worker to the highest noble.

  He went over what had happened in his mind once again. In his studies growing up his tutors had told him that the Elves were great allies of the Kingdom and had been since its inception. His teachers had explained that they were great beings who wielded powers he couldn’t imagine. So why then did someone with such great power feel the need to attack a child a being so weak it requires protection simply to exist.

  “What happened to the boy?” He asked Petra looking up at her. Her eyes softened at the mention of the kid.

  “His parents apparently hurried him out of the area though they were later called to the palace by your father. After being questioned about what happened they were let go.” She paused studying him.

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  “They were quite distraught that their son had caused such injury to the prince. However the King relieved them of all fault and let them go. Something that made the Elves very aggravated.” She said the last part in a murmur almost too quiet for him to hear.

  “Petra why did they act that way?” He asked genuinely confused. “I have always been taught that they were good and powerful benefactors. That they had always helped humans.” Petra shifted uncomfortably staring down at the floor as she shook her head.

  “Perhaps it would be better for the Chief Commander to explain that to you. You have been summoned to meet with him. You and your entire squad as soon as you are able. Hey! What do you think you are doing?” Julien had started to get up pulling the sheets back to realize he was in an oversized robe of white. And besides that he was only in a pair of white underwear. He looked up at her confused.

  “You can go to the commander after you eat some food and I examine you for another hour or two to make sure you have no other side effects. Then and only then can you go see the commander,” she stated firmly. Julien wanted to argue but the look in her eyes stopped him short of uttering anything. So he sighed and sat back leaning his back up against the cool marble wall.

  He kept running his thoughts over the events preceding this. He knew he had acted rashly even stupidly but what was he supposed to do? Let the child die? His father had always warned him that he would have to get used to making difficult often impossible choices. Was this what he had meant? Did his father have to make choices like that on a daily basis for the betterment of the Kingdom. Suddenly his father’s exhaustion the late nights and how he always seemed to never get enough sleep made even more sense to him.

  Petra seemingly happy that he wouldn’t be trying to get up and rush to the Commander’s office walked over to the door opened it slightly and said something to someone outside. Julien caught sight of a full plated knight in the white and gold of the Royal guards move off to do whatever Petra had told him to. When she came back after closing the door she pulled a wooden chair from a nearby desk and sat down in it facing him.

  “How bad is it?” He asked after a moment. She grimaced looking at him thoughtfully probably gauging how much to tell him before sighing. “It’s bad Julien,” she said truthfully.

  “His Majesty has been in negotiations with them for most of the day. They wanted the boy, the boys family and your squad to be executed,” she said matter of factly. The flat way she delivered the news shocked Julien making jerk back.

  “What!? Just for stopping their childish rampage.”

  “Several of the Nobles including Counts Albus, and Rekon from house Bulmbas and Barons Jaklon from house Kalr and Wallinger from house Costner pushed for you to be censured and removed from the line of succession citing this incident as proof you don’t have what it takes to lead the kingdom.

  “Because I wouldn’t let a child die?” He asked. Petra scoffed sitting forward in her chair to stair him in his eyes.

  “Welcome to Kingdom politics young prince. Your father has shielded you from far too much it seems. And while I think he made a good decision in that regard it’s going to leave you behind the others.” Petra stood suddenly mumbling something about it being a long time since she’d seen someone not as jaded as the rest of the kingdom and stalked to the door.

  Apparently her talk with him was over. That’s what he liked about Petra she was always decisive in her words. She had come to talk, she said what she wanted to and now was leaving. She reached the door and opened it and then jumped back in surprise. A heavy sigh escaped her.

  “He can have visitors for only a few minutes but I’ve already ordered his food so you need to let him eat. There came a chorus of agreements from outside and Julien found himself grinning. He could hear their voices from here. With a grunt of acceptance Petra stepped through the door then to the side as Julien’s squad mates poured into the room.