1 A Dream and a Letter (2/2)

”You can sleep for as long as you like when you're dead. Let's go.” Timothy stood up. It was a little dark but he knew his way around his room. He went out and headed to the castle grounds. The coldness of the morning greeted him.

”So how many rounds of marching are we doing this time?” Erik asked as he followed Tim.

”Depends on the weather” He lied. Smirking, he turned his head towards Erik. Sunrise was still about half an hour away so most of the soldiers were asleep. But with General Marvin's call, it shouldn't take them long to wake up.

”Ha! Who are you kidding? It depends on your mood. You had that dream today. I can only feel pity for them.”

”Oh so the demon squire still feels pity?” Timothy playfully asked. He was well aware of Erik's reputation among the soldiers. They nicknamed him the 'demon squire' because of his strict attitude.

”Who are you calling demon squire, rooster prince?” replied Erik. And yes, the garrison also gave him a nickname- rooster prince for his habit of waking up so early. It was actually a good nickname, he thought, queer but good.

But before they could reach the castle grounds, a soldier went to him and saluted. The soldier balled his hand and put it in his chest. This was a common salutation to a person with a higher authority.

”Report!” Timothy's voice was crisp ”What's so damn important for you to interrupt me from giving my men their daily gift?” he said mischievously.

The so-called gift he was talking about was the daily march he and the garrison do. They would march every morning from the castle to the nearby village in full armor. Marching in full armor was not difficult at first, but it drains the stamina. How many rounds of marching? Just like what Erik said, it depends on his mood.

”A letter sir!” The soldier answered

Timothy doesn't care about letters. Being the third prince, he receives a few of them every day.

”If it's from one of the nobles, give it to me later. If it's from the other castles give it to Squire Erik. If it's from Baron Randy from the nearby village throw it.” He shrugged and explained to Erik ”He always invites me to dinner trying to secure some royal favors. He sent me dozens of letters already it's getting annoying.”

Erik gave him a weak smile as if indicating that he would do the same.

”But the seal is golden sir! I thought you might want to read it as soon as possible” the soldier insisted.

Timothy was shocked. ”The seal is golden?” he repeated as if confirming he didn't misheard the soldier ”give it to me” he grabbed the letter.

Letters with a golden seal meant one thing- the sender was a royal. Timothy looked at the letter and saw the seal. His eyes went wide. It was a letter from the King! His father, the King, never wrote him a letter before. In fact, his father rarely talked to him. The old man treated him like he doesn't exist and even exiled him to this castle near the border. In the past, whenever the King had orders for the castle, he would write to General Marvin. But now the King actually wrote him a letter! A hand-written letter that took effort to make. Timothy was overjoyed.

With a smile, he broke the seal and opened the letter. But after reading of the contents, his face contorted.

”Erik” he called

”Yeah?”

”Father…um..ordered me to come home…” said Timothy

”Well you will be recalled sooner or later. You should have known that already. Why are you so surprised?” Erik questioned.

”And I'm getting married”