The Palace Beast
Chapter 4 - Heading Back

Prince Oswald gestured toward his men, "Ready your horse, we are leaving."

Before he could let out another word, he heard the princess calling him from behind. He didn't have the guts to ignore her. He quickly turned off his raging glowing eyes and slowly turned. "You are leaving?" She stared with a confused look on her face. "Not even a goodbye kiss?"

"Why seek my lips when you had your lips locked on Eliot's lips last night?" he blurted out. "I saw you two kissing and caressing each other, so why seek my lips now?"

He's not just angry with what he saw last night, but the king has added to his rage by denying him the one person he has ever lived to love.

The princess' eyes widened. "You sound harsh to me my dear," she said in a tiny little voice, knowing she was guilty of what the prince had said.

"I am not just harsh but angry at you!" he lashed out. "Up to now, you have not made up your mind about whom you want to be with."

"I understand how you feel," she said, drawing closer. "I just don't know what to say, but to be on the truth side, I love you."

She tried to hold the prince's hand but he pulled away. His face looked mean and furious. "And you also love my brothers," he said. "Tell me, how many times you have told them you love them just like you did say to me."

He understands the princess is just trying to calm him down. He was unsure whether she meant what she said when she professed love to him. Trying his own way to get King Gilbert to hand his daughter to him in marriage failed. The only option left is to confront the princess and get her to make a pick.

"Please, don't push me away," she said, avoiding giving him the answer he sought.

"No, my dear. You are the one pushing me away." The prince turned and climbed his horse. He narrowed his gaze on her. "Tell me plainly, do you want me as your husband or not?"

Princess Bonnie took a deep breath and then breathed with a sigh. "Tomorrow is my 23rd birthday, stay and celebrate it with me." Just like before, she avoided giving her the answer he sought.

Since her plans didn't work to celebrate her birthday with Prince Damon in the Saxon village, she still had one option left.

"You keep dodging my questions and you always kept me in the dark."

Prince Oswald turned his horse, facing the direction of the palace gate. He's done talking and tired of being in the dark. He kicked against his horse with might as his horse started charging toward the gate like a horse charging into battle. The rest of his men followed him with haste.

The princess's eyebrows lowered and pulled closer together. She watches in total sadness as Prince Oswald turns down her request.

"Princess Bonnie," Commander Gil called out to her to get her attention. He was sent to know if the prince was leaving like he said. Seeing the princess stand alone and staring toward the gate left him with no choice but to get her attention. She swirled and lashed out at him, "What?!" Glaring at him with hostility, she fired out, "Can't you just leave me be?"

"I am sorry," he said, bowing slightly in reverence. "I didn't mean to trouble you, my princess. Forgive me."

*** KINGDOM OF WEX ***

"Your majesty," said Commander Leo as he bowed before the king.

"Any news?" he inquired with haste. He looked desperate about the return of his sons to Wex.

"Yes, Lord King," he said. "Our scouts bring word that they saw Prince Damon riding toward Weslex with his men."

"And you let him?" the king's eyes lit with angry fire. "Did he not get the message or what?"

"I am unsure, Your Majesty, but we have sent our fastest riders to fetch him."

"Good, I want all my sons here by noon, tomorrow," the king gnawed. "They need to be put in place or we will have wars brought to our doorsteps."

"I understand, Your Majesty," said the commander as he bowed slightly. "I must take my leave now."

"Fetch me my mistress on your way. I must cool off."

"As it pleases, my Lord the King."

Commander Leo quickly went on his way to do the king's bidding. But first, he needed to fetch King Charles' young mistress.

*** THE ROAD TO WESLEX ***

The wind whistled through the trees but never stopped Prince Damon's suspicion of the forest. The smell of the damp wood after rainfall pierced deep into his nostrils and settled in his soul.

"Hold!" Prince Damon said, tightening his fist in the air. He glanced around, paying close attention and listening to every sound the forests made. He could hear some horses approaching from a distance. "We have company," he said. Without waiting for the prince to give them further instructions, his men unsheathed their swords all at once. They readied their swords and held them in a fighting position, ready to slay whatever that might come after them.

Prince Damon unsheathed his sword too and held it in a fighting position. With the other hand, he held the rein of his horse as he continued to turn around in his horse still observing their surroundings.

"Men of Wex, stand your ground and get ready to defend yourself in honor of thy king!"

His words stirred them up and their spirits high. Every fight they fight is for the honor of their king as they will live to keep serving the king.

The horses they heard approaching is closer than they thought. The crunch of leaves as the horses drew nearer is clear that they are more than half a dozen riders approaching.