Broken, but Not Defeated

Chapter 70 (Wesley)

  I storm out of the throne room, tension radiating off me. Guards snap to attention when I pass; lords and ladies scramble to the side, whispering the minute I pass them. I storm through hallways not caring where I go. I don't think I've ever been this angry. My mother's sword—I have yet to name it—bangs against my leg.

I stop in front of a guard and snap, "Where is the training arena?" The only way I will truly find a way to release this anger is if I'm swinging a sword. I would have loved the person in the arena to be Caldina, and we could fight to the death, but a simple guard or two will have to do.

"Tttthhhaaattt way," the guard sputters, pointing down a hallway across from us.

"Good, and if a certain witch with long black hair and blue eyes comes, tell her where to find me. Other than that, no one gets to know my location. Understood?"

"Understood, sir," he says, quivering in his boots.

No wonder the witches thought the capital would be easy pickings. A band of thieves could easily bring down the city if the army was made of idiots like these. I turn away from him, storm down the empty hallway, and a door opens up.

The captain steps out. "Can I help you sir?" he asks, he must be new if he doesn't know who I am.

"Training arena?" I ask.

"I'm afraid the training arena is reserved for soldiers and guards only, and don't believe you to be a..." Before he can finish I push him up against the wall, my arm against his neck choking him.

"Where is the training arena?" I growl.

"I can't tell you," He gasps, his face beginning to turn blue. I shove off him and storm down the hall until I find a door. I can hear him following me.

"Not going to stop me?" I snarl, steam practically shooting out of my ears.

"I would, but I have a feeling that would release a monster, and I would rather not endanger the king's life."

"You're a bodyguard?"

"No, but the king is my king, and ever since Captain Cole went missing, I have been put in charge of guarding Lord Drustan's life."

"Name?"

"Only if you tell me yours."

"You first," I say, stopping in front of a door as I hear the sound of clashing swords. I push the door open.

"Cameron," he says, sticking his hand out. I just stare at it. "Yours?"

"Last time I checked I didn't make a pinky promise stating I would tell you my name."

"But I told you mine and the courtly thing to do would be to tell me yours back."

"I'm not from the court, and the names..."

"Wesley!"

I freeze in the doorway, he is supposed to be faraway in Breckan.

Cameron stares at me. "You are Wesley, the Wesley! As in Lord Wesley of Breckan, son of Drustan?"

"The one and only, Captain," Dorian says, smacking my shoulder. "Cameron, may I introduce you to my once believed-to-be-dead cousin who is alive, Wesley."

I glare at the wall, ignoring them both.

"Wesley, walk with me."

It is a command and one I am not going to obey. "No."

"No?" Dorian repeats in astonishment.

"No, Dorian." He stares at me. "What, never heard that word before?" I taunt, shoving past him.

"No, I don't think you understand, Wesley. I'm not just the heir to your father's land, I'm also the Crown Prince," he declares, smirking, "And you, Wesley, are no one. You are heirless, homeless, nameless, and a traitor to this land. Not to mention I hear you like a witch, a certain black haired witch."

I turn back to him. "Well then in that case, I challenge Prince Dorian to a match in the arena. His choice of weapon," I announce to anyone in hearing range. Dorian's face pales. "Surely you're not afraid to face a no-name, two-faced traitor, your highness." I mock, bowing.

Dorain's face goes red. He storms over to the weapon rack and picks out two throwing knives. Throwing them on the floor at my feet, he grabs two hatchets for himself. That should make things interesting. I pull out my sword and hand it to Cameron. "Don't let anyone else touch this sword, it was my late mother's."

"Are you sure you want to do this? The odds aren't in your favor." He looks at the knives on the floor.

"Do you forget where I've been for the past few months? What did you think I was doing, sitting there getting fat? Look at the witches, maybe think about what exactly they can teach someone." I bend down and pick up one of the knives.

"Last chance to back out, Wesley."

"Same to you, Dorian," I respond in the same tone, "Though then again your pride wouldn't let you." With those words he attacks. I jump out of the way of the swinging blades, specifically remembering an aggravating Sienna doing the same thing to me.

I can almost hear each one of my trainers' voices in my head. Watch your footing. Look for outside attacks. Let him tire himself out.

Dorain forgoes any training and just swings the blades at me. I avoid them. I will say he's not making it easy, but then again it isn't really hard either because I've fought off witch attacks in the training arena. Growing up I used to think training was hard, but men's training is nothing compared to witches training. It doesn't help that they practically train since the day they can walk and talk. Dorain pauses in his attacks and looks at me.

"Who are you?" he asks.

I just give him a smile Caldina would be pleased with. "Next time, maybe don't insult my sister." The last thing I remember is Dorian's face paling again, before I see red.