Royal Quarry Read Free

understand how he’d gotten away with taking Albert so far from home. They had agreed at the beginning of their journey to stay in the southwest corner of the forest surrounding the castle, but they were now at least twelve miles from anything the young man would be familiar with. Manning didn’t know what he would do if Albert began to suspect something was wrong. It would be best to get it all over with as soon as possible. They could make it today if they kept up the pace.
    There was another reason for Manning’s urgency, one he couldn’t quite explain. Was he afraid he would be unable to betray Albert? The longer he spent in his company, the more he felt responsible for him. He had best keep himself distant. Manning would only regret it later if he let Albert’s clear gray eyes win too much of his affection.
    Luckily, Albert woke before Manning decided he would have to rouse him. The young man also seemed to want to keep to himself as he moved stiffly to fold up his blanket and gather his things. He must be very sore from yesterday , Manning thought, impressed by how Albert neither complained nor showed any signs of giving up.
    What does he think he’s doing? wondered Manning as they set off again to the east. He seems almost eager to be led. He’s hardly tried to hunt at all . He decided not to curse his good luck and to make use of the prince’s willingness while it lasted.
    It was at noon, when they stopped for a short rest and some food, that Albert broke the silence between them.
    “How long have you worked for my father?”
    The question took Manning by surprise. Royalty didn’t usually ask personal questions of their servants. “Fifteen years, Your Highness.”
    “You must have been young!” Albert’s surprise broke through his thus far serious demeanor, widening his eyes and bringing warm tones to his voice. Manning could see that the prince would have a very charming smile, if he ever showed it.
    “I was your age, Your Highness, when I joined the castle guard.”
    “Oh,” said Albert. He pensively picked at his cold leg of rabbit. “How does one come to such service? Was your father also a bodyguard?”
    Manning almost laughed aloud at the idea. He couldn’t imagine his rotund, opinionated father ever following orders or standing at attention.
    “My father was a blacksmith,” he said. “I didn’t want to be a blacksmith, so I ran away from home and joined the army. It was from the army, when the war ended, that I came to the castle guard.”
    “Is that where you learned how to shoot so well?”
    “Yes,” said Manning, strangely pleased at the compliment. He’d only shot the rabbit, and not even in Albert’s company. His charge was clearly very observant of some things, if not, it seemed, of direction. He’d have to be careful.
    “What was it like?” Albert asked.
    “The army?”
    “Yes, when you first joined. How old were you?”
    “I was seventeen. It was… exhausting, for a while, and exciting. Then it became frightening, and then it became routine.”
    “What did you do?”
    “We walked a lot. I’ve crossed from one side of this country to the other on foot. We carried all our equipment, much like we’re doing now. We kept watch. We practiced fighting. And then we did fight.”
    “When you were fighting, did you see the enemy up close?”
    The question surprised Manning. It brought images to his mind he usually tried not to think of: faces twisted in rage or fear; lifeless bodies he’d stepped on; worse, the dying, beyond hope, suffering on the ground. It felt like an intrusion, this question.
    “Sometimes,” he said.
    “Did you… kill anyone?”
    “Yes.” Manning heard his voice sharpen at his answer. He felt resentful of this young man with his regally ornamental hunting attire: velvet with pearls sewn in, sturdy enough, but not meant to withstand any real weathering. How dare he ask such things about this war fought for him when he was a baby? It was done and