THE DATE

ANDREW

The idea of a Lost Prince dominates my thinking, this is the perfect opportunity to free myself from the obligation of being King. I'm tired of living my life for something that doesn't belong to me, my father would never accept my uncle's heir in power, so I need to do something, since I never agreed with his attitudes, and I couldn't do anything against his. violent way of ruling. Therefore, meeting my cousin, before my father, is perhaps the great chance to show me that I am capable of doing something for the kingdom of Ascabaltt .

I was so lost in thought, lying in my bed, that I didn't notice the time passing. I look out the window, and notice that the sun is setting. I'm snapped out of my trance when I hear someone knocking on my door. I get up, walk slowly, lost in a strange sensation. I open the door and a servant tells me something.

— Your Highness, I come in the King's name to bring you a message...

— Say!

— King Alexander, your father, has asked Your Highness to come down to the ball in honor of Miss Artanis!

— Thank you very much for the message. Tell my father I'll be down soon.

As soon as the boy is gone, I lock the door, and the ideas return to my mind. The story of the Lost Prince consumes me, and this may be the right moment to change the course of my destiny, and especially of the kingdom.

[...]

The streets of Epassi are empty. Walking after a poorly planned escape feels risky, but options are lacking, and the fear of being recognized keeps me on constant alert. I walk among some people on the street , I pull the hood of my tunic even tighter. There are few people in the place, little movement because of the dance my father is promoting, I see some soldiers heading for the access bridge to Venas , and I am forced to retreat, hide behind some barrels. I'm out of options, but avoiding the bridge and going the other way is necessary.

Darkness takes over the streets, few torches light the place. I walk hurriedly along the parallel streets to which I am, and I see many torches, and houses spread out ahead, it looks like a village. It's not possible to see much from afar, but I notice the huge wooden windows, and I realize that I'm in the village of Bartari . I look from one side to the other, the closed houses, and an absolute silence, I continue my walk until I arrive in front of some houses, I sit on the threshold of one of them to rest, but I notice that the soldiers approach, I get up and hasten my steps without they sense my presence.

I've been walking for hours, exhausted, but I can't stop. I make my way to a small plantation that gives access to the woods. I continue walking until I see with difficulty a village, due to the organization of the streets and the majesty of the stone houses, I believe I have arrived in Balak , this is where the access bridge to Volcann is located , territory where the wizard Killian may be supposed to be , but a noise catches my attention, horses are approaching, I have no choice, going over the bridge seems risky at this point, and I quickly head towards the opposite side, a path through the woods, something I don't know. The day begins to dawn, and I keep walking, in a direction I don't know. I'm lost. Trees, and more trees... I walk a little further, until I see a large set of mountains, which look like a great stone fortress, which makes me think I'm in the Petrified Forest. A very mysterious place, which has small caves, I approach the large rocks, and find one of them to rest.

The sunlight hits my face, due to the intensity of the rays, it's already past noon. I open my eyes slowly, I sit, I observe the small cave, I'm still very tired, but I need to continue my mission. I quickly eat some apples, and as I satisfy my hunger I remember my father's words, they echo through my mind, and it makes me think that he always knew of the lost prince's existence, and never bothered to look for me for his nephew, and for those who killed my uncle.

I make my way to Volcann. During my walk I come across the highest part of the mountains, which has a gigantic extension all around it, resembling a huge stone wall, small vegetation such as grasses cover a part of this area. This place is of unparalleled beauty, it impresses, and behind all that great mountain, they say there is a long pine forest, but this is an area that few people have managed to venture into.

The great green wall is admirable, I look around me and I come across a river, I run towards it, take off my clothes and dive. The water touches my skin, and a feeling of coolness washes over me, I run my hand through my long hair to get the excess water out. As I shower, I hear a noise that makes me alert, I get out of the water and look from side to side, but I don't see anyone, even so I think I'd better put on my clothes to leave, and before I can do anything, I feel a sharp pain in my head, and everything darkening around me.

NOAH

I am tired. An exhausting training session, but I feel so proud of my advances, and of my new sword, something about it brings me a vague sense of comfort, of belonging, in fact the feeling towards it was the same as we felt when we came back home after a long period away. Training is interrupted by one of the soldiers who always accompany Duric , the man has a serious expression on his face, it doesn't seem to bring good news. He approaches, and utters aloud. 

— They've arrested a man at the entrance to our territory, Duric will need your input!

I shake my head in the affirmative, and walk towards the cabin we used as a prison. I pass through a large expanse of grass, until I reach the woods, the village was next to it. Upon arriving in front of the hut, I enter together with some training companions, I come across some soldiers and Duric , they analyze a boy who is unconscious. I look at Duric , then at the prisoner, while my leader and the others debate what becomes of the prisoner, I turn my attention to the boy. He has long blond hair, a beard, his face is delicate, a fine featured nose, a full mouth, a bare torso, his pants are the same as the peasants wear, very tight to the body.

He doesn't seem to be someone from this region, his features are different from the men who inhabit our territory, or the neighboring towns and villages. Something catches my eye. He wears a ring. It resembles the jewel worn by the nobles of Ascabaltt, which bears a symbol of each family that rules a City—State. duric I owned one. I approach and crouch in front of him, I touch the ring, it appears to be of gold, it has a round and reddish stone on top and two crossed swords, I get up , turn abruptly towards Duric and the soldiers who had already decided the fate of the boy.

— If he wakes up , make him talk about what he was doing around here! 

— Duric says authoritatively.

— Yes Sir, but how long are we going to keep him prisoner? — Asks one of the soldiers.

— Whether he says anything or not, execute him tomorrow! 

— But Lord, how can you execute it? My heart races when I hear such an order, and I'm seized by a strange sensation.

— He's probably a spy in the King's employ, someone might come after him, and if Alexander's mage detects his presence...

— But Direl 's magic is no match for the magic Killian has unleashed on our territory! 

— Noah , this man must be executed. We cannot take risks!

— But he must be one of the nobility. Look at his ring! — Duric approached the boy and looked at the ring that the boy carried with him. 

— Yes, it seems to be of the nobility...

— Then if he's a noble, we can use him as a pledge of allegiance to the City-State he represents! — I say hopefully.

— I don't know Noah , that sounds too risky!

— Sir, if he is noble, it will be a great opportunity that we will miss... Think about it, don't do anything yet, interrogate him, and then decide what to do with him! I say in an attempt to persuade him.

Duric stares at me with his large eyes the color of darkness, his gaze looking inquisitive. I believe that, like me, he also wonders why he insists on protecting the life of someone from the nobility. It was seconds that felt like an eternity before he uttered something.

— On second thought, you may be right Noah ! We can use it as bait, or a bargaining chip, but for that we need to find out where exactly it is from. I want two soldiers watching this man, and I want you to interrogate him, Noah !

— I? There are so many people better than me for this, Lord!

— I want you to do this. It will be a great learning experience for you, and if you need help, you can call on me, or any of the boys... — As soon as he says that, Duric and most of the soldiers have retreated, leaving just me and two other men in the cabin. would be in charge of site security.

The prisoner is wounded, he has a head wound, I asked one of the soldiers to look for Melli , the Territory's healer , to bring some cloths and ointments to treat the prisoner's wound, as well as water and food. The man withdrew and I was left alone with the unconscious boy, I approach, crouch and touch his head, but exactly on the back of his neck, I feel that he is wet, it's blood.

I wipe my hand, and take in every detail of his face, and I feel an unbridled need to touch him. It's stronger than me... My fingers caress his beard and continue to roam his mouth. I feel something strange, I'm uncomfortable, my hand slides through her hair that is tangled, I lightly stroke her hair, some strands intertwine between my fingers.

His eyes move quickly, I remove my hand and I move away a little, he moves, opens his eyes slowly, and on his face I see the expression of pain, he tries to take his hand on the back of his head, but something prevents him from getting up, he looks in the direction of his arm, and realizes he is chained, and his expression changes even more, looks scared, tries to get up, but his feet are tied. He turns his head toward me, and our eyes meet.

— Where am I? Why am I stuck? he asks scared.

— Calm down, you know very well where you are, and you're under arrest because we know you're a spy for King Alexander! — I say vehemently.

— Which? I'm not a spy for the King, and I definitely don't know where I am or why I've been chained up!

— If you're not a spy for the King, what are you doing here? — Who are you? I saw you have a ring of nobility, where do you come from?

— That's none of your business!

— I think you better answer my question politely!

— Because? Will kill me? I don't think so, after all you want to know about the ring, don't you? he asks in a mocking tone, I pull out the sword that was beside me, and points it at his neck. — What is it? Let's take it easy!

— Answer my question politely!

— I am a noble, yes! I got this ring from my father when I turned 20... I come from Spaldi , my name is Paolo and I'm the son of Guillermo , governor of the City-State of Spaldi ! Did I answer your questions? His last line is extremely ironic.

— You are William 's son River ? Ah, are you that irresponsible one who is causing trouble in the streets of Epassi along with the Prince? — I ask in the same tone that he doesn't answer, and looks at me very angry.

— Who are you?

— It doesn't matter!

— It does matter, I've never been interrogated before, let alone by someone so interesting... At the very least you must be Alpha, because no one would put an Omega or Beta to interrogate...

'What nonsense are you saying! I'm not Omega, Alpha or Beta, and if I were any of the three, that's not what can define anyone's ability!

— I...

— I'm not here to talk to you, I want you to answer me what you did in the Petrified Forest?

— I don't have to answer you...

— I will clarify something for you, my dear noble! I run the interrogations, and... 

— Where is your superior? I only talk if I go with him! — is expressed in a mocking manner.

— I won't call my superior, I can solve your problem myself! — I say, I look at him, and I point the sword at him once more, contouring his beard, the guy looks at me in a different way, his eyes seem to change their hue, from green to yellow, and somehow that leaves me in awe. ecstasy, and a different smell emanates from the space.

— Who are you? – he asks and his gaze continues to be more intense, and the smell even stronger. He looks hypnotized. — It's all right! I was looking for a place to hide as the King's soldiers were chasing me.

— Because?

— I helped the Prince to escape, we were discovered and each one went to a different side of the forest, I was looking for the Prince...

— And why were you running away?

— Why do you want to know? That's none of your business! — he answers and looks to the side.

— Can you answer me for good? — I ask, I bring the sword to his face, and contour all of his beard, our eyes meet, and the strange sensation takes over me once again.

— Who are you? he asks without taking his eyes off me.

— I told you it doesn't matter, tell me why you and the prince were running away!

He looks at me in a strange way, and I feel the smell that seems to emanate from him getting stronger, this is something that has never happened in my life, I've never smelled anyone, not even my brother. A different feeling seems to invade me, my heart beats so hard, and for the first time I don't know what to do, and my brother's words come to my mind...

— I'm sure the day you meet him you'll come into heat and act like a passionate fool! 

— Tell me who you are, I need to know! — His voice is different, his eyes have a blue tint, and I don't like the way he talks to me.

I pull away from him abruptly, stand up and walk towards the door, and before I touch the handle, he manifests himself.

— I helped Andrew escape because he didn't want to be forced to commit to a girl! He says, I turn around, and I watch him carefully.

His gaze is intense as he speaks. I feel like I'm being analyzed, and honestly I don't like it, I feel deeply uncomfortable, I look at him seriously, and when I'm ready to ask him about his attitude, I'm interrupted by the soldier who brings with him what I've asked for.