4

A Starved Boy

Two Miles Away

The boy was desperate for food. Hunger made his stomach clench violently. His reaction to the pain was rage. He’d do whatever it took to find food. So frail his ribs protruded, he looked through the furtive eyes of an animal, scanning shadows for movement. He’d already crept past most of the guards.

Too lazy to notice a shadow as skinny as mine. He thought.

Busy talking, they’d failed to notice the thin shadow slithering beneath their chairs. Quick as a rodent, he’d leapt to his feet and fled to the darkest parts of the rooms in the NetherHall Castle.

Moving sideways along the cold stone wall, he avoided the light emanating from the fireplace. When close enough to see the food still on the table, his stomach betrayed him. Emitting a drawn-out gurgle. He drew a quick breath, putting his hand to it, as he willed it into silence. A quick glance back at the set of guards near the door, as well as those next to the fire, revealed only he had heard it.

What’d seemed like thunder to him was barely a crackle of the fireplace to their ears.

They don’t see me. Their used to seeing peasants as invisible creatures.

I’m used to being invisible…

Another fierce cramp clenched his insides. Refusing to make a sound or fall to his knees, he leaned against the wall until it passed. Crawling on hands and feet as he rushed to the table, reaching up to the table before scrambling back to the wall with his prize. A thick chunk of bread gripped carefully in shaking hands. Breathing raggedly, he stared at it in wide-eyed wonder. Huddling in the nearest corner, he eyed the guards while he bit huge mouthfuls and barely chewed before swallowing.

A hand on his shoulder very near his cheek, earned the response of a quick bite to the knuckles.

It’s mine! Like a starved animal, he was ready to fight off other scavengers for his reward.

He’d not anticipated the gasp of the smaller boy. The other boy’s mouth trembled and his eyes watered.

“I only came to bring you this.” He held a lush red apple in his tiny hand. So full and fat it gleamed in the dancing glow of the flames. Protruding his lower lip, he plopped his bottom to the floor. Letting the apple bounce across the rushes.

Starved Boy grabbed it greedily and held it close to his chest eying the other boy warily.

The smaller one on the floor sniffled and blinked a few times. “What’s your name?”

“Zierno.” Starved Boy murmured, his nose wrinkling at the other child’s nearness.

He may want to steal back the apple.

This may be a joke of the wealthy… He knew how cruel they could be.

“I’m Prince Eben.” He declared proudly, lifting his chin.

“What do you want?”

“I wanted someone to play with.”

Zierno stared at the prince. About four or five, the boy was far shorter than Zierno at eleven, but probably weighing close to the same. Zierno glanced down at where his torn shirt revealed jutting bones and a sunken stomach.

“I can’t.” Zierno hissed looking from the table back to the guards. Centered on the table where numerous flies had congregated over a thick pork leg. Regardless, it made Zierno’s mouth water.

What I wouldn’t give for a few bites of that meat...

The chubby little Prince’s eyes lit with intelligence. Pointing at Zierno he declared. “Play with me awhile and I will get you those scraps.”

“How?” The older boy’s eyes lit with interest.

The little prince stood. “I will take it. I am Prince of the Neth-eth-Nether.”

“The Netherlands.” Zierno filled in.

“Yes. Who will stop me?” He demanded, chin jutting.

Zierno gave a grudging nod. “Show me then. I’ll meet you out there.” He pointed to the curtain leading to the huge receiving room.

The impudent prince deflated a little when challenged. Then his shoulders set and Zierno wondered if he might really do it. Turning, the prince stomped meaningfully towards the table. He was tugging the huge platter off, sweeping the bones onto the table as Zierno crept through the curtains into the less guarded room.

Zierno moved to the darkest corner to watch. Vaguely impressed when the smaller boy pushed through the curtains. Triumphantly he lifted the platter for Zierno’s inspection.

---

As a prince, no one had ever dared deceive or disappoint clever little Eben. So, he was completely taken off guard when the other boy grabbed the thick chunks of meat and bolted. Eben stared slack jawed a moment before following.

Zierno fled past the guards barefoot.

He was fast. Too fast for Eben to keep up. Running between the guards in the doorway had caused them to leap to their feet after Zierno, but Eben was there before they moved.

“You!” He pointed at them. “Sit.” He pointed to the chairs, eyes narrowing. “Or I’ll tell my daddy! He,” he pointed to where the boy was disappearing around a corner. “Is my friend.” He announced.

Friend? Zierno glanced back. Startled that the spoiled boy would call him such. He merely caught me stealing…

The guards sat dutifully but watched the child running out of the castle in horror.

He got them to stop. Zierno thought in wonder.

“What do we do?” One cried.

“I don’t know.” The other shouted back as the boy rounded the corner.

Barely keeping Zierno in sight, Eben followed as fast as his little legs could carry him around the next two corners. Finally, breathing heavily, he saw Zierno crouching next to an abandoned booth in the market square.

Eben had never been this far from the castle without guards, and it was very dark. Hesitating he stepped slowly to see what Zierno was doing.