The Sorcerer's Sword

Darius the expert swordsman

Kayden stood in the corner with Phil and watched as Aidan and Darius dueled. Phil had been practicing with them but he had decided to back out of duel.

"I have never met anyone as obsessed with fighting like Aidan is" Phil said to Kayden.

"It's important for him as a prince to be able to defend himself and the kingdom" Kayden replied.

"But I am not a prince or a future king, why does he have to force me to practice." Phil complained.

Kayden laughed a little at Phil's sad face.

Aidan looked over and saw Kayden laughing.

"Do you care to share the joke Kayden?" he asked.

Kayden looked up to see Aidan staring at him and his laugh ceased immediately.

"My lord?"

"What's so funny that you are laughing?" Aidan asked again.

"I was telling him a joke about how you used to run around the palace naked." Phil spoke up.

Aidan glared at Phil. "Since you can make jokes, I am sure you can duel another round before we go inside."

Phil groaned and picked up his sword. He whispered to Kayden. "if I die, make sure everyone wears pink to my funeral."

"I will be sure to do that, my lord." Kayden whispered back.

The boys dueled for one more round before entering the house for lunch. 

They were all seated at the dining table to eat lunch. The king and Reginald continued to converse while The queen and lady Martha continued to talk to each other. Kayden stood in the corner with the other servants.

"So what have you boys been up to?" the king asked.

"just some sword practice." Aidan said.

"and I trust it went well?" the king asked.

"it did. Darius is an expert, he has greatly improved from when he was a young boy." Aidan replied.

The king looked at Darius. "Aidan doesn't dish out praises easily, you must be very skilled to have earned his admiration."

"I am not that good. The prince flatters me." Darius said looking modest.

"Don't be modest Darius. You are one skilled swordsman." Aidan said. 

The king noticed sir Reginald looking at his son with a confused look.

"What is the problem Reginald?" he asked.

"I am just wondering when Darius became good with swords. I stopped urging him to practice two years ago when I noticed that he was a complete disappointment in combat." the king said.

"Darius? A disappointment? You must be mistaken Sire." Aidan protested.

"I am not." Sir Reginald insisted.

Martha held her husband's hand. "After you told him to stop practicing. He was really upset that he had disappointed you so he started practicing in secret every day so he could get better and make you proud." she told him.

Sir Reginald looked at Darius. "is what your mother says true?"

"yes Father. I have been training secretly. I have gotten much better." Darius replied.

"That's good to hear, when we get back home, let's practice together, okay?"

"Yes father." Darius said with a smile.

"See Phil, with constant practice, you will get better. You should take example from Darius." Aidan told Phil.

"I will be sure to do that. Might I be excused from practice so I can practice secretly too?" Phil asked, looking at Aidan hopefully.

"You wish." Aidan replied.

The whole table laughed at Phil's sad face.

After lunch, Sir Reginald and his family retired to their chambers to rest. Phil went to his room while Aidan and his father went to the study to work. The queen also retired to her chambers.

Kayden was excused as well and he happily followed Samuel to the kitchen where he was supervising the preparation of dinner.

"You look very happy" Samuel observed.

"That's because I am happy, Aidan didn't bombard me with chores today." Kayden replied.

"That's because he is been distracted by the guests. You should rest and conserve your energy for later." Samuel told him.

Kayden groaned at Samuel's statement.

"Kayden, where you at the practicing ground when the prince and Darius were practicing?" Samuel asked. 

"yes I was." Kayden replied.

"How was Darius skills? Was it as good as the prince said?"

"it was. He was so amazing, I wish I could fight like that. Every move he made was graceful and precise." Kayden gushed.

"I see." Samuel replied looking troubled.

"Is everything okay? Why do you look troubled?" Kayden asked.

"its just that a long time ago, Darius visited the palace with his parents. He was just a young boy then, he was so frail and weak. He couldn't even swing the sword without falling down. His improvement is really startling." Samuel said.

"You heard his mother back there, he practiced a lot." Kayden said.

"It's more than that Kayden. Not many people know this and I would like you to keep this a secret. Before joining the palace, I was a physician. Lady Martha is one of the few people aware of this. Back then, she brought him to me so I could examine him. When I examined him, he had a bone defect. His bones are hollow and weak, there is no known cure for it. He shouldn't even be able to walk now much less be an expert swordsman."

"Did sir Reginald know this?" Kayden asked.

"No, she implored me never to let him know and I promised her that I would never tell him."

"Maybe he got cured."

"There is no known cure Kayden." Samuel said.

"See you said 'known cure' maybe someone discovered a cure and he was healed." Kayden pointed out.

"Let's say that you are right and he got cured, what about Lady Martha's change then?" Samuel asked.

"was she sick too?" Kayden asked.

"No. But back then, she was very shy and timid. She always kept to herself. The lady Martha who came today is confident and talkative, she is nothing like her past self."

"Uncle, people change. She is a lady, it was only a matter of time until she changed. She can't be the lady of her household and be shy and timid." Kayden said.

Samuel sighed. "you know what? You are right, I am just been paranoid that's all. Come on let's go select the wine for this evening."

"okay uncle."

Kayden and Samuel left the kitchen and went to the wine cellar to pick out the wine.