HONOR BOUND (The Spare Heir) by Michael G. Southwick Read Free Book Online Page B

mother’s consternation, Jorem began telling the four children about Zensa.  As Zensa was one of his favorite things to talk about, he found himself quite enjoying the conversation.  He told them a few of the stories Zensa had shared with him of strange places and stranger creatures.  Every time he tried to stop, they begged for more.
    At the end of one of the tales, the younger boy, Teri asked him “Are you really a prince?”
    The way he asked the question was so serious that Jorem felt the need to answer him as well as Zensa had answered his own questions.
    “They tell me that I am and as the King is my father, I suppose that it’s true.”
    “You don’t look like a prince,” Pell stated curiously.
    Jorem looked down at himself and laughed.  “No, I don’t suppose I do.  I’ve just come from a lesson with Pentrothe and it appears that I spent a bit of time tumbling about the floor.”
    “What’s it like, being a prince, I mean?” asked Shanell, the older daughter.
    “I’m the King’s fifth son so I won’t be the next King.  For that matter I won’t be a duke or even a count.  All it really means is that people call me prince this and prince that and never really listen to a thing I say.  Most of the time I feel about as needed as…” Jorem paused to think of something they would understand, “about as useful as a fishermen with two broken arms.”
    “Uncle Fren broke both of his arms once,” Teri piped up.  “He spent the whole summer teaching us kids about knots and currents and winds and things.”
    “There, you see.”  Jorem said with a chuckle. “I’m not even that useful.”
    “So what do you do?” asked Pell.
    “Mostly I try to stay out of trouble.  That and lessons on history, protocol and sword work.”
    “You mean a prince has to take lessons too?  I hate lessons, especially letters and figuring.”  The sour look on Pell’s face communicated his sentiments even more than his words.
    Jorem smiled at the boy’s response and noted the exasperated look on his mother’s face.  Reaching over, he tousled Pell’s hair.  In a blink he could see himself having a very similar talk with Pentrothe a few years ago.
    “A friend of mine once told me that if you try to learn how to fight in the field of battle it would likely be a very short fight.”  Jorem paused as he looked at the younger boy.  “I suppose that’s true with most things.  If someone is willing to teach you, you should learn all you can.  Would you want to figure out how to tie a good knot on a boat during a storm, or in a warm room with your uncles help?”
    “Hey, Jorem, are you coming?” asked a voice at his shoulder.
    Looking up, Jorem saw Jeseph with his hands on his hips and an expectant look on his face.
    “Shards!  I completely forgot!” Jorem exclaimed as he got to his feet.  Looking down at Pell he added, “Speaking of lessons, I have to go teach my two left feet to not trip over each other.  It’s been a pleasure to meet you,” he said, nodding to Jafrey and his wife.
     

Chapter VI
     
    Walking down the corridor with Jeseph, Jorem realized he was actually quite nervous about learning to dance.  Pentrothe had told him about the great balls that had been held years ago and his brothers had spoken of parties at the homes of some of the Lords and the girls they had danced with.  There hadn’t been a ball at the castle since, well, before he had been born.
    “Are you sure your sister won’t mind teaching me how to dance?” Jorem asked.  “You’ve seen how graceful I am.  The last time someone tried to teach me to dance, it didn’t work out very well.”
    “Who was it?” Jeseph asked.
    “Lady Bethesda.”
    “No surprise there.  With Lady Bethesda you’d better already know how to dance or be exceptionally gifted.  She has the patience of a fire ant. Breathe wrong and she’ll take a bite out of you.”
    “Yeah, well, after a quarter of a mark, she told me to leave.