Cinderfella - 5. Chapter 5 The Hunt Begins

I got dressed and took the ring off as instructed to do, putting it in my pocket in case I needed to be Prince Erik again. Then made my way through the castle's interior to the kitchens. Entering there I spotted a woman giving instructions to others that reminded me of our own Ida back in A’Dore. Heavy set in her early forties. I made my way to her.

“Excuse me,” I said to her. “I was sent by His Majesty King Christian to help. I’m from A’Dore.”

She looked at me a little critically, then nodded. “King Alexander told me to expect you.” She sighed as she turned to a young man coming over with a wooden crate in his hands. “No, Tristin, those crates need to be taken to the wagons. You know they can’t do a thing without their wine, even this early in the morning.” Then she shook her head. “Your help is appreciated. I assume you can at least pour wine and water; that will be the biggest help. The way some of these people act, you’d think most were kings and queens already.” Then she pointed to an older man in his late thirties. “That’s Carl, he’s the one coordinating things at the hunt. See him to see what you can do now.” Then she stopped. “What’s your name?”

I hadn’t thought of one, all the planning had been done, but I never thought of an alias. “David.” I said the first name I could think of.

She nodded. “Welcome to Blethos, David. Just don’t spill anything on any of the guests and you’ll be fine.”

Spill? I hadn’t thought of that either. “I’ll try not to.” I nodded and headed toward Carl.

Carl had lived a pretty hard life, while he wasn’t ugly, did no one ever tell him how important oral hygiene was? Crooked teeth were common, but missing teeth? There were gaps in his mouth. But I didn’t judge him, he might be a nice guy.

“Carl?” I asked as he was counting some crates that held bread and cheeses.

“Yeah?” He asked absently as he counted without looking.

“My name’s David. I was sent by King Christian. I’m from A’Dore.”

He looked at me, then nodded. “You look strong enough. Help me get this stuff to the wagon.” And that was it! I was in.

Loading the wagons and making sure we were supplied was more than I was used to doing, but I could do it. Soon we were on our way to the hunting grounds.

“So, you know this Prince Erik,” Carl asked as he drove the wagon.

I nodded grinning to myself. “Sure, I know him well, why?”

He shrugged. “Curious is all. What’s he like?”

I grinned. “He’s a nice guy. Fair.” At least I hoped people thought that about me.

He grunted with a nod. “I saw him briefly from the kitchen. He’s a good looking boy enough, never spoke with him. Is he spoiled?”

I frowned but remembered not to be offended. “Not at all.”

He nodded again. “Well, be prepared, you’ll see a lot of those are here today.” He groused.

More to strike from the list, I thought. But really, I was already marking the women off the list. But Carl was right, I did see a lot of spoiled rich children. There weren’t that many with overflowing wealth, but the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the late kings or queens were used to getting what they wanted. They want it now and the way they wanted it. The wine’s too cold, the water too warm, the bread wasn’t fresh. But I got to see and hear a lot from the male members as well as the female. Most of the women were concerned about what they were wearing to the ball.

I was pouring wine for a couple of them.

“Where is this Prince Erik?” One asked the other. “Has anyone seen him?”

“Who cares?” The other said fanning herself with a folding cloth fan as she stared at the hunters as they gathered. “If he’s half the man his brother is…hell, I’d love to have an affair with him! Forget Prince Erik.”

The first laughed. “Come on, he’s married to Ella, remember? You know the story about Cinderella and Prince Charming we’ve all heard, her beauty is legendary. You wouldn’t stand a chance.”

“Well, at least I’m a virgin.”

“Please, that’s easily disguised. A little blood on the sheets the next morning, who will know the truth?” The first one said with a laugh but looked at another woman nearby. “I can’t believe she’s here. How is she going to explain she has a daughter and be a virgin? And that one….she’s what…thirty-two now? She could only pretend to be in her twenties so long.”

The second one looked a little dreamy. “Imagine, queen of Blethos. The clothes alone would be worth it.”

And a few of the men were almost as bad. In fact, many were worse! There were two I was sure were homosexuals, but if I wanted either of them, I might as well marry a woman! They were more lady-like than some of the women! There was nothing about those two that was masculine at all! There were a few very, very handsome men, but Demetrius’ warning to me about not looking with my eyes kept going around in my mind. I heard how if they gained the position how many women they would get when I chose when I chose and made them Queen were to me ! I had to literally bite my tongue.

Others were using logic.

“He’ll never choose one of us. He’s just about to turn eighteen and still young!” One man said to a friend. “I’ve considered dropping my application. We can never divorce to marry someone else, not and keep the throne if he chose one of us. He’d never have an heir to the throne then. It would be a marriage in name only. Even if he didn’t mind or preferred to have a relationship with a man, how would that work?”

“All to have an alliance with A’Dore.” His friend balked drinking his wine. “Why? What good will that do? Even with the increase in soldiers if needed, we don’t need more soldiers. Their crop imports are important, yes, but do we have a throne with no heir again so we have to do this again!?”

This was the whole point of me doing this, I reminded myself. It was approaching noon when I spotted them. A well-dressed man, handsome in a rugged sort of way, about thirty. Sandy colored hair. He was muscular and about six feet tall. His looks did make me tingle. He was with a woman I guessed was about twenty-five with deep red hair. She was very, very pretty and one of the few women that participated in the hunt. She flopped her kills down with a sigh.

“Seth!” She cried out, not looking if anyone reacted, assuming it was going to be obeyed. “Take these.” That’s when I spotted an odd sort of fellow. He was a big man in his mid-twenties, came up. He was over six feet tall, an inch or two taller than the man with the woman. Only, the right side of his face and part of the right side of his black haired head was covered by a leather mask and his right arm was covered with a leather glove and he wore long sleeves. He didn’t say a word, but picked up the rabbits and to carry them off. “What did you get Darius?” She asked the handsome man.

“A few rabbits, a fox, and a pheasant.” The man grinned back as he removed his bow and quill of arrows as he boasted. “And this…” Then grinned and pointed at some other servants carried over a large buck with antlers jutting from his head. The buck’s legs tied and I realized to my horror, the buck was not dead! He was still struggling against the restraints in an effort to get away.

“He still lives, Darius.” The man that was called Seth said quietly, his head down slightly submissive as he came for the woman’s catch. His voice had a hint of the horror I felt.

Darius shrugged. “So? He’ll be dead soon enough. Not that I would keep anything but the antlers.”

The woman laughed. “You are heartless, sometimes, Darius.”

Darius’ face took on a hard look, casting his face in a cruel hue. “It’s just an animal, Seth. Don’t worry about it. It’s natural.”

Seth bowed further slightly but frowned. “It’s cruel.”

“Then you do something about it, brother.” The man growled.

He was the man’s brother!? Seth was acting like a servant. Was Seth an applicant, too? I moved closer to listen as Seth walked toward the beast that snorted angrily, but was clearly in pain. The arrow in his side had not quite pierced the strong heart. Seth knelt down and stroked the neck speaking softly.

“Easy….easy.” He said softly. “I know it hurts.” And I swear a tear came from the big man’s eye. “I’m sorry. I’ll make it stop. I’ll make it quick.” He stroked until the buck stopped struggling and seemed to relax. “I am so sorry,” Seth said again softer, took hold of the arrow and quickly moved it to finish the job. I watched as the buck’s sides quit moving. Mercy. Seth rose and faced his brother. “To waste what God has given, not at least to feed your family, is cruel and wrong.”

The woman shook her head. “Seth, your regard for lesser creatures is admirable.” She laughed. “And pointless, brother.”

Seth motioned to have the servants that had brought the buck over to help him take the buck away. I instantly put my wine carafe down to help. We carried the buck away to be….skinned or whatever. I looked at Seth. From his left side, he was a very handsome man, but what had happened to him? A deformity? But he wore long sleeves even in the increasing heat of the day. He was in an accident in the past was my guess.

“That was truly noble of you, Seth,” I said softly to the large man.

He shrugged. “My brother doesn’t see others’ suffering.”

“Mercy is a good quality.” I grinned. Then stuck my hand out. “I’m David. I came with King Christian. I’m from A’Dore.”

Whatever had happened to Seth, he really didn’t meet my eyes, but nodded. “I am Seth, from the House of Thorne.” He took my hand and shook it quickly. “Forgive me, but I have work to do.” He said and walked away.

Then I felt it. Was that what Christian called a tingle? Sure, I was attracted to his compassion and mercy, he was kind, but was he an applicant? He claimed to be of the same House as Darius and his sister. Would he appreciate loving a man? I had to find out. I hurried to follow Seth. But Seth did not go far, he began cutting and skinning some of the rabbits his sister had caught.

“I can help you,” I said to Seth.

Seth looked surprised. “Don’t you have other tasks to do?”

“I was sent by King Christian to help. So, that’s what I’m offering.” I took one of the rabbits and began cutting with a knife. “I have no set tasks. Do you mind?”

Not too sure about the idea, but Seth nodded, but continued silently.

“So, you are from the House of Thorne. Any other siblings?”

“Another younger brother, but he’s married and moved to another town.” Then he glanced at me. “Why?”

I shrugged. “Isn’t that what people do? Get to know each other?”

“You don’t want to know me,” Seth growled. “No one does.”

I frowned at his opinion of himself. “Why? You’re more interesting than anyone I’ve met so far from Blethos.”

“I’m cursed!” Seth shouted. He quickly pulled the mask off, showing on the right side of his face healed scars from burns that had long healed, but were still there, misshaping his face. He pulled his right sleeve off, revealing more scars down his arm and hand. “See!?”

It was only with great control, did I not let my face show any reaction. “Cursed? By who? What I see is a man that survived a fire. That’s not a curse.”

Seth wasn’t ready for that. He looked astounded at my reaction. “Everyone says I am. My father…those two.” His emotional pain was coming from his voice. “People scream when they see this. Mothers take children from the streets if they see me passing. I’m hideous!”

I reached up and stopped. “Does it hurt if I touch it?”

Now he was even more surprised. “You want to touch it? Why? No one ever wants to touch it!”

I smiled patiently. “I’m not most people,” I said honestly. “I assure you, if anything, you are blessed.”

“Blessed!? How?”

“An accident that could have taken your life, you were allowed to live. That is a blessing.” I said logically, I reached a little closer. “Can I touch you?”

It took a moment of thought for Seth to extend any trust but nodded. I touched the scarred portion of his face, the skin there was a little tougher than human skin usually was, but was warm. His one eye on the right side was a little clouded in white over his brown eyes, but a tear came to his left eye. His face turned into the touch of my hand. Apparently, no one ever touched him before, not without him being punished or poked. Kindness seemed like a touch he wanted so much but no one had ever given him.

I felt the pull to him from my heart. “You are not hideous, or cursed, Seth. You’re a good, good man.”

“Oh!” We heard a woman groan, and we both turned to see his sister. “Cover your curse, Seth.”

Seth quickly put the mask back on.

“No, Seth!” I said angrily. Then turned to the woman. “Your brother is not cursed! How dare you say that to him!!”

“How dare you speak to me like that!” The woman cried. “You’re but a servant! Who are you?”

“I go by David. I’m from A’Dore.” Then I turned to Seth. “Are you an applicant?”

“Of course, he isn’t.” The woman said angrily. “Who would want that!?” She motioned to Seth.

“Prince Erik might!” I said. “I will tell King Christian to consider Seth an applicant. He’s more worthy an applicant than any I have seen.”

Darius came up behind his sister. “If you live to tell him.” He growled, pulling a sword out of a sheath.

“David,” Seth said softly. “Don’t. Darius is deadly with the sword.”

I looked at Seth. “Who’s to say I’m not equally as deadly or better? Only, I have no sword.”

Seth looked around and saw another sheathed nearby. “In fairness, Darius.” He said to his brother. “You have to agree that it would be murder not to allow him to defend himself.”

Darius frowned. “He’s nothing but a peasant!”

“He’s a man!” Seth argued and handed me the sword. “Please be telling the truth.” He begged me.

Years of training, especially with the sword, I immediately got into a stance. “I always tell the truth.”

“Fine.” Darius spat and charged, sword raised. His first downward thrust was easy to counter and fend off. His face told me he wasn’t expecting the skill I showed. Then he tried a few more moves, all of which I was taught to deal with. The sound of metal striking metal attracted others to look and come over to watch. There was a huge difference in the way we both fought, he was trying to kill me! I wasn’t trying to kill him. The battle was pretty intense, but only for a few minutes. Then I easily sent his sword flying out of his hand, my blade at his throat.

“Yield!” I commanded Darius.

“I yield! I yield!” Darius raised his hands in surrender and terror.

“You will never call your brother or tell anyone else that Seth is cursed! Understand?” I pointed toward the crowd that gathered. “Say it so they can hear and be a witness!”

“I will never again say Seth is cursed! I swear!” Darius shouted.

I raised my sword to their surprised sister. “Now you swear it!”

She shook her head, equally terrified. “I swear it!”

I gave the sword back to Seth. “I promise you all this, Blethos has a lot of beauty, but ignorance runs rampant! Being from A’Dore, I was raised that every man has worth. Regardless of the station of birth. Every noble and so-called peasant has the right to their own self-worth! When Prince Erik chooses and someone ascends the throne of Blethos, that lesson will be taught, and learned!” I turned to Seth. “Come on. You and I need to clean up. There was a lot of blood with those…trophies.” I took his arm and led him toward where I knew was a river and lake.

Seth was staring back at his brother as he rose, dusting himself off from the dirt and attempting to rid himself of the humiliation. “That was…incredible!” He said it awe to me as we walked off. “How’d you learn to defend yourself like that!?”

I chuckled with a smile as we went. “My brother…..was trained by our kingdom’s military to fight, and I just followed his footsteps. I began training at about twelve or thirteen. As soon as I could hold a sword.”

He nodded. “You must have been a good student.”

I shrugged. “I tried to be.”

We stripped off our shirts and got in the cool water, washing away the blood, and for me, the sweat from the fight. Faced with Seth, I was liking what I saw. Sure, there was the scarring up his arm and covered his shoulder, but hard work had shaped his body into a form that was very pleasing to me. The light coating of black hair on muscles on his chest was intoxicating. The muscles of his arms… In fact, that tingle I said I was getting was making my manhood stiffen.

“You’re a very handsome man, Seth,” I said softly.

His head bowed slightly. “No, I’m not.” He said with resigned conviction. “Touching me was nice, but…”

I waded over and pulled his mask off. “Yes, you are. True beauty is not just physical. And you have scars, but you also have a beauty in your heart. It comes from your very soul.”

Seth was looking at me hesitantly. His left eye looking at me intently to see if I was sincere. Then without me moving, he leaned forward, touching his lips to mine gently. That was a torch thrown on a flammable liquid in my heart! I immediately kissed him back, with the force of desire and longing. I had never kissed anyone before, not like this. Never with such passion. Tingle? Hell, there were fire ants inside, not hurting, but sending sensations I didn’t understand and definitely didn’t want to stop! Then those muscular arms encircled me bringing me closer as if that were physically possible as we were pressed against each other already. My head began swimming! I was getting dizzy! Seth parted from me a second. “I wasn’t sure if you would want this. Your words told me you might, but I guess you do want this.” He chuckled.

“Seth, I have been looking for this since puberty hit!” I grinned making him laugh back.

“Well, it is sort of different.”

“No, it’s not.” I disagreed. “There have been men like us since man was created. History is full of them.” Then I held my hand up to stop his returning kiss. “But I want more, so much more.”

Seth frowned. “How much more can there be? It’s not like we could marry if we decided we wanted to.”

“Well, marriage is one thing.” I didn’t want to say much more than that. Not yet. “But I want more than just an afternoon.”

“We don’t even really know each other,” Seth said uncomfortably. “You’ve proven that my curse….” He grinned as he remembered what I told his brother and sister. “I mean, my scars don’t bother you. But you live in A’Dore! That’s clear on the other side of the continent!”

“I can’t move here?” I asked.

He looked surprised. “We just met! Are you telling me you would?”

“For the right person, sure.”

“And you think that’s me!?” Seth asked doubtfully.

I nodded. “You could be. In fact, I believe you are that person! The feelings you’ve inspired in me are too intense to say otherwise!”

Seth squinted his left eye in doubt. Then he turned around as he finished washing off what was still soiled and I saw his broad back. My eyes saw his back and saw two small birthmarks over his shoulder blade on the left side. My eyes widened as what I saw looked like a small sun or moon and what was an even smaller one, like something like a bird about to pass over it.

“Seth! You have a birthmark!”

He nodded knowing where it was and moved his shoulder, but he couldn’t see it. “I’ve had it all my life.”

“Who was your mother? Is she still alive?” My mind racing trying to remember all I had read before in the Blethos’ archives.

He shook his head. “She died when I was ten. I don’t understand.”

“But you have two brothers and a sister,” I argued trying to work it out with what I read.

He nodded again. “Well, yes. Mom was Dad’s second wife. Darius and Deena are children from father’s first wife.”

I threw my arms around him. “Don’t ever think your scars have scared me off. Never! But I have something I need to confirm. Right now! Are you coming to the ball?”

Seth nodded. “I will be escorting Darius and Deena.”

I kissed him deeply. “Be sure you are! I will explain everything. Be there!” I shouted as I hurriedly got out of the water.

“But I don’t understand!” Seth shouted back.

“You will!” I shouted. “Either way, you are the next king of Blethos!”

“I didn’t apply!”

“You have now!” And I raced back to where I knew my brother was finishing the afternoon. Pulling my shirt back on as I rushed, I hurried over to where Christian was sitting. “Christian!”

My brother looked up, then frowned as I rushed over. Two guards immediately stood in front of Christian to protect him. None of them knew who I was!

“What do you want?” Christian asked.

Then I remembered and pulled the ring out of my pocket. Putting it back on, he was totally unprepared, and I didn’t know what transformation occurred or what he and the others saw, but he suddenly stood up in shock.

“Erik!” My brother said almost breathlessly. The guards were equally shocked and stepped aside.

“I know I’m to do this at the ball,” I explained rapidly. “But I found my Cinderella! I know who I’m to marry, but I need to go back to the palace. Now!”

Christian was immediately in motion so I could do just that. “Okay. Do you want to explain a little more?”

“When I know one way or the other! I need proof!” I stressed running for the horses nearby who were saddled and ready. “There is a king for Blethos, but either I choose him….or….” I smiled at Christian. “…this ball is pointless.” I quickly mounted. “Guards! Down by the river, there is a man, he has a mask on. His name is Seth of the House of Thorne. Do not let anything happen to that man! Understood?”

The guards nodded and raced to do what I’d asked as I put my heels into the horse's side and took off!