Through the Archway

Chapter Twenty-One -- Part Two

"David, I know you are the prince and you are royalty. I know that you could kill me without blinking," Mark began, "But you endangered the life of a stranger, took off to who–knows–where in the middle of the night, doing who–knows–what and didn't tell me where you were doing!"

Rebekah thought of telling him that they were successful in traveling, and that they had met two people who knew about them as well, but looking from Mark, fuming silently, to David hanging his head in shame, she thought better.

Rebekah noticed for the first time that Taylor was standing behind Mark and realized

she must have put out the fire. When did she get here? Rebekah wondered.

"Calm down Mark," Taylor whispered, one hand clamped over her mouth, the other placed gently on his shoulder.

"I don't think you understand the danger you put yourself in! Did you even stop to think about me and Taylor? I could lose my job over something like this!" Mark roared, "You are going to be king someday! Grow up and act your age!"

"I know that! David shouted, "I live with that weight on my shoulders everyday!" Mark didn't seem to hear him, which only made David more furious. "You don't understand what I have to live with! You're not my father or my brother, Mark! You don't have any right!"

"First the yacht party... now this," Mark muttered. David looked like he had been struck across the face. "Do you have a death wish David?" David opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out.

"Mark, it isn't as dangerous as everyone thinks," Rebekah argued in a calming voice, "We just... something just went wrong."

"You stay out of this, princess," Mark warned, pointing his sword at her.

"We're sorry," Rebekah said. Mark swallowed and took a breath.

"I could — I may actually lose my job over this," Mark said.

"It will be fine Mark. They aren't going to notice we were gone. And if they did, we can make something up. We can say David wanted to talk to me about Thomas to help me get to know him."

"Yeah," David agreed, "But honestly Becca, there is no 'getting to know' Thomas," David laughed grimly and then looked at Mark.

"They don't even have to know we were here," Taylor said, an idea suddenly glowing on her face. She walked over to Rebekah and placed a hand on her leg. Within moments the burning sensation in the leg ceased, and the skirt that was burnt away magically reappeared.

"Come on, help me, Becca," Taylor said giggling a little. Taylor and Rebekah fixed the damage to the archway in just a few minutes.

"See, all better," Taylor said, "Now come on, let's return to the castle before they notice your absence," Taylor said.

"Fine. Tomorrow I'm coming back here," David said. Rebekah nodded in agreement.

Mark sighed. "We can talk about this later. Let's go back. I'll escort you." He walked past them, muttering angrily under his breath.

"Idiots. Shouldn't have left them alone... my fault."

David snickered, then immediately looked guilty. He ran ahead to talk to Mark.

From this distance, he looked like a child following his older brother. Rebekah trailed behind with Taylor who was desperately trying to fix her hair. Rebekah wondered what the two had been through, why Mark was so protective of David. She guessed that Mark was the older brother David never had. But there was something more. What did he mean by the yacht party? Death wish?