Escape
"A child, younger than you, less experienced than you and you couldn't fight him off? What must I do Tate, have my guards protect you at all times. And how could you be stupid enough to let him corner you away from everyone else? You know how their people are; you know how little they think of us. By the god's boy, the state you were found in was humiliating! And worst of all is that everyone knows. Your reputation is in tatters and you've disgraced this household. You had better hope I don't let your brothers near you my boy else you might not live to regret your idiocy."
Tate hadn't said a word when he was dragged out of bed by his father's right hand servant and councillor, he'd offered no complaint as he was marched discreetly to his father's private chamber and was shouted at for what seemed like hours. He hadn't so much as grunted as insult after insult was piled on top of him. He stood quietly and stoically as he was blamed for the prince's actions.
Finally the old man stopped shouting, his eyes softened and he slumped dejectedly into his chair. Tate rather envied him. He was swaying on his feet and felt like he was going to collapse. Of course his fate really would have been sealed if he fainted like a delicate little woman.
"What am I to do with you Tate?" the old man said, his tone pained. "You're so clearly not one of us that it's impossible to hide you away." He put his face in his heads and groaned softly. "Perhaps I'm to blame, I never should have lain with your mother, but she was so beautiful, so exotic." His eyes rested on his son's and he heaved a quiet sigh. "Of course there in lies the problem. You look so much like her. You have her people's features, not mine. You're too slight, too quiet and your eyes are so accusing, just like hers. Before now I thought to marry you off to one of the more influential ladies, you might not have been happy with the match but it would have given you a decent life, but now who will take you other than the lowliest of families, who would try to weasel their way into our covenant. I cannot allow that, your brother's would not permit it."
Tate swallowed the painful lump in his throat as he tried to fight back the tears threatening to overpower his will to appear strong. "I'm sorry father." He said finally, quietly.
The older man flicked his hand, a dismissal to leave. Tate did as he was bid and when he finally reached the safety of his chambers he punched his door with his injured hand, relieved by the agony that shot up his arm. He had never in his entire life felt so ashamed. He couldn't bare it. He realized the only honourable thing left for him to do was take his own life and rid his family of the burden he had placed on them but to his own loathing he realized he couldn't do it.
Gods help me! He thought despairingly, I really am a coward.
*************
The feast that night was tense. Not wanting to offend their guests the high baron and his household offered the same food, wine and entertainment as the previous evenings but the merriment and goodwill was quite obviously lacking.
Hasan couldn't help but stare at the princeling that ruined his son's life. He was a young lad of no more than twenty years but he was of an impressive height and build. He wore a short sword on his right hip and a long knife on his left. Light and handsome, he had an easy smiled and a pleasant manner. He was the sort of son every man wished for. He was everything that Tate was not.
It was well known that he was a favoured son of the king and as such was basically untouchable. A pity as the baron had spent much of the night contemplating his assassination. Time wasted it appeared.
When the feast was over and people began to break apart into couples to dance or wonder in groups and talk the baron was approached by the visiting duke him self, second hand man to the king. He was uncharacteristically alone.
"My lord," The baron said, bowing his head slightly. "I hope the night's festivities have pleased you?"
"As always you're the embodiment of hospitality baron Hasan. I wonder though if you and I might talk privately for a moment?"
"Of course my lord. How can I help you."
"Ah well, it is delicate, for you see it's recently come to my attention that Christian may have beheld him self to something that was not entirely freely given. I've come to understand that his actions may have much more dire consequences than he first imagined, especially for the young man involved."
"My lord," Hasan said, barely resisting the urge to strike down the man who spoke so casually of his sons disgrace. "It is better to not talk of such things."
"On the contrary my good man I think it quite necessary, in fact I think it might be the answer to your problems, for you see Christian has taken an unusually strong liking to your son and asked that you bequeath him to us so that he might serve in the king's house hold. I think you'll agree that it is a fair offer, considering the alternatives."
The baron began to sputter, unable to form words through his fury. "You want me to give my son to the prince as a servant?"
Smiling the duke slipped his arm through Hassan's. "Let me be blunt my good man. Your son was never going to earn his sword, he's what, twenty-four now and he's never been tried in battle. You could give him to the temple I suppose but the rumour is that he worships his mother's god and not ours. You know no respectable family will take him now. What's left but to kill him and forget he ever existed, and that's what you'll have to do eventually, unless you allow one of his brothers near him? Why not give him over to me. I'll take him to court, where the goings on here won't so much as cause a stir among the many intrigues and rumours that thrive in that place. He'll be well looked after and when the prince tires of him, which he no doubt will, I'll pass him onto my wife's services where he'll be sent to serve in her country manner until the day he retires. What say you?"
Head swimming the baron pulled his arm free and retreated a few steps. "You need to give me time my lord, I have much to consider."
The duke's face finally darkened. "I'll have your answer now or not at all my lord. I do this to humour the prince but I am not about to beg for your bastard."
"My lord, please-"
"we leave first thing on the morrow, if he's to accompany us certain factors must be taken in to account. I need your answer now."
"But-"
"Very well then," the duke said resignedly. "I gave you a choice, remember that,"
"Wait!" Hasan gasped at the dukes retreating back.
