"I know this one"
Asher said.
"Really ? Even though only the royal family is supposed to know about those hidden paths"
Louis replied.
"King Albert showed them to me and asked me to keep it a secret long ago"
The red haired knight replied.
Seems like they were discussing something about the second prince's plan and Asher was trying to help.
Aylin was sitting in the corner not paying attention to those two.
"Aylin ! I told you to come as well because you might need to know about this !"
Louis complained.
"But I do not need to hide"
Aylin replied.
"No more books for..."
Before he got to finish his sentence she was already next to them watching the map he drew as she said,
"Where were we ?"
Asher was surprised that the same stubborn girl who he needed months and months to gain her trust was acting like that because of the second prince.
"As I was saying every single room in the palace has a secret door , usually it is a painting , a bookshelf or a mirror , the hidden paths are not random, each of them can lead to outside of the palace in many ways"
He explained.
"But we are already in the palace why would we need to know such a thing ?"
She asked and right before the prince replied she got her answer.
"Anything that leads out can lead right in"
Asher said.
"Exactly !"
Louis replied.
After a few minutes they all turned to face the balcony after they sensed someone's presence.
The window was open as the hunter jumped in.
"I did not expect you to come back"
The second prince said.
"I met prince Elmer"
Venator's words caught their attention easily and they could not wait to hear what he had to say.
"He said 'I will be alright' just that"
Those words were not near enough but what did they actually expect from him ? Elmer will no longer be the caged scared prince now that he has a purpose in life he will for sure be alright.
"How did he look ?"
Aylin asked.
"He looked fine , he saved the village's girls and now is a hero"
Venator replied.
"I want to fight too !"
She said.
"No !"
Asher replied hitting her forehead lightly.
"Thank you for letting us know"
Louis replied.
"Ida ? I have never heard of her"
Ezra said.
"I do not know who she is as well but she was a king's property who ran away few days before prince Elmer was chased out of the palace"
Ivor replied.
"Do you think she has anything to do with Elmer ?"
Ezra asked.
"I do not know"
Was his reply.
"Thank you for telling me this , you better get some rest because you look awful"
The dark haired knight said as he got up and walked towards the door then left the room.
'I should tell him the truth soon' Ivor thought.
Hawk's dagger was pointed on Elmer's neck who stood in shock unable to react since it happened so fast.
"That would have been a kill"
Hawk said as he stepped back.
"You caught me off guard"
The prince replied.
He then took his cape off and held Hiram's sword tightly between his hands as he stood in position.
Their eyes were pointed on each other , trying to figure out when the other person will move , how and where will they be aiming to attack.
Hawk moved all of a sudden running as fast as he could towards the prince , even though he was fast Elmer dealt with Aylin before and so he was able to dodge it by stepping back.
'He is so serious now' The prince thought.
Hawk's attack did not end there since he kept swinging his daggers while all the prince could do was stepping back and trying to dodge as many as he could because he did not have time to fight back.
He then remembered Aylin's words 'Find their weakness'.
Elmer tried to focus more on the way Hawk was moving while still defending himself.
He noticed that Hawk mostly used his right arm because his left arm's movements were not as fast.
That was the gap.
When he swung his dagger using his right arm Elmer found his chance to try and hit the other one.
It was a success but he did not expect to see blood...
"Hawk !"
The prince shouted and ran towards the man who was seriously hurt ever though Elmer only used his sword's grip.
''Are you alright ? since when have you been injured ?''
Elmer asked while checking on Hawk after he noticed the bandages on his hand.
He had no idea that the man standing in front of him almost dies in a mission right before destiny brought them back together.
''I am alright, I'm more surprised that you found out about it''
Hawk smiled as he said.
''I really am sorry''
Elmer felt really bad about what he did but Hawk only saw the same old child sulking about the same old little things and so he could not stop himself from laughing.
''Why are you laughing ?''
But Elmer was never able to know.
The prince immediately ripped one of his shirts and used it to stop the bleeding, Hawk did not move or say anything as if he was unable of feeling the pain, he was just glad that Elmer was there.
The child of the first family he ever had, the man who saved him and gave him a name and a life, he could not be more thankful to see that.
''Does it still hurt?''
Elmer wondered.
''I have been through the worse so stop treating me like a weak old man''
Hawk complained.
''Well I did win''
The first prince mumbled.
Hawk heard that but he was still smiling, he did not expect Elmer to analyze his moves in a very short time.
''I will take you once I am healed prince charming''
Hawk said and started laughing.
Elmer as well joined in as he could not wait for their next battle.