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I walked towards where I heard voices. I moved in a haze; my life having been stripped from me. I used to be a Prince and hold more power in Cornua than the lowest citizen could ever comprehend. Now, I was even below a plebeian and nothing more than an in-person servant. It was the way our civilization worked, I suppose but the fact that my own father was the one who made the call to send me as tribute to the bulls and not my brother was...

My right hand clenched, the keratin of my nails digging into the flesh of my palm and I felt a sense of nauseousness. The insult at dinner from Fros was still fresh in my mind.

"... bitch of the bulls."

It flashed across my thoughts and grew like roots in soil, digging into my subconscious. After my father had reacted so violently to Fros, I figured he would save his ire for me next but instead he had the audacity to suggest that I spy for him. I grimaced at the thought. Should I really split from the Kingdom that raised me since birth and go off on my own? What allies could I possibly find amongst the bulls?

Shaking me out of my spiral of questions, a young bull servant came right up to me as if I was a familiar of his. He raised his hand politely and I frowned. It was only moments ago that servants would bow to me and ask me for what I wanted and now there was no pomp and circumstance. He seemed nervous when he noticed my expression and his ears flicked anxiously.

He wore a tasteful looking tunic. The material hung a bit too low on his body and some of the more extravagant parts of it dragged on the floor. It was as if the bull was given a position of royal servitude immediately when he became an adult. A small, gold necklace was round his neck. Attached to the end was a small, golden ornament in the shape of a bull horn which signified him as one of the High Servants of the Emperor; a group of bulls that were at Sandor's beck and call.

"Arietes, Emperor Sandor requests your presence at his chambers. Caspius is there with him."

Ahh yes, I almost forgot that the two gave me time with my father and stepped out. It should have been obvious that they would go to their own private chambers. I nodded silently and my thoughts began to shift towards what Caspius and Sandor were planning. I had only been assigned to Caspius a mere hour ago as his personal servant. If he had something for me, it was most likely to give me some form of duties to follow.

Grabbing something from a pocket in his tunic, the servant in front of me pulled out what appeared to be a small satchel. "Your brother requested that I give this to you."

"Which one?" I asked with an air of caution in my voice.

The servant smiled. He must have been on the balcony earlier. His posture relaxed.

"Not Flos."

I nodded and a little part of me inside of my soul was thankful it was Kade instead of the hotheaded Flos. I took the small, brown satchel in my hands and felt its weight. It was not very heavy but it appeared important enough. When I started to open up the satchel to see what was inside, the young servant reminded me of a crucial detail that I probably would have ignored if I was still a Prince.

"It would be wise not to keep Sandor and Caspius waiting," the servant reminded me politely. I found myself bristling but then immediately remembered my place. I no longer had the luxury of making others wait for me and instead worked on their time. My posture deflated and I sighed. It all still felt like a dream and that maybe I would just blink at one moment and immediately wake up.

"Lead the way," I mumbled softly. I clenched the satchel and held it close to my body. It was about as big as the books that I read back in this very palace so I held it like one; close to my side as if it would suddenly jump up and run away. After all, it was one of my dwindling connections to this place. The thought was a somber one and I felt a bit of emotion that this could be the very last day that I walk through the palace with some of my dignity intact. Perhaps the satchel could be my shield against the fates. I gripped the canvas harder.

We made our way to through the walls that I used to at least have some form of power over. As we got closer to Emperor Sander's room, the pictures that flanked the walls were beautiful painted murals. Each one was made of acrylic oil and the colors almost gave whoever was on them a luminous glow.

It was of my legacy; particularly the Kings and Princes. The Queens would be on the other side. Eventually, we had reached my brothers. It was a strange position that I was facing myself in. When I was a Prince, I would have never given these pictures a second thought and walked right past them but now....

I was among them and I knew that the mural would most likely be burned. I glanced at the servant to see him not paying too much attention to me and part of me contemplated snatching it. After all, how little my name had now I might as well be a thief, too.

"What is your name?" I asked which brought the servant out of his stupor. He looked over his shoulder, his ears flicking in curiosity.

"I do not have one, sir. However, the name I was given by Sandor was Waden."

The title of "sir" I overlooked. Although I was stripped of my power, I still had my words and stature. I would bet on the fact that most of the servants around the palace were Sandors. I clicked my tongue and Waden pursed his lips.

"Is something wrong?" Waden asked as he continued to walk forward. For someone whose robes were practically dragging on the floor, he walked with such grace and elegance that he could have easily been mistaken as royalty.

"No," I lied. Of course, there was something wrong. I should have been shoulder deep in one of the largest tubs in the palace and then getting into my studies but here I was being paraded down to most likely get my first lesson in servitude.

Waden could sense my resolve but his gaze lingered. This servant I would have to watch. Although he was a bull, I recognized that look. It was the same ones that spies would use when attending to my father when he said something that revealed a scheme. It was a look that would be peeking around a corner with an ear extended outward and although I had no reason not to trust Waden, he had a direct connection to Sandor.

"Very well," he replied simply, and we continued on our way.

We were silent for most of the rest of the way to the room besides small talk. I did not get too much more out of him other than what he stated before; that I was on my way to Caspius and Sandor. The two probably had been scheming. With Caspius leaping in during dinner when I called him the customary title of "Master", I knew that his father would have some choice words. The only thing the dressers told me about Caspius was that he was set in his ways and liked to buck the system. Perhaps I could use that to my advantage.

And then there was Sandra. She seemed to be enjoying her life on royalty and was certainly her Dad's favorite. At least I did not get her ire and it was mostly saved for Caspius when he gave his little quips.

Chatting filled the hall of the private rooms of various nobles. Some were of great influence on my father while others had private companies. They walked by me, not even paying attention to me in my silks. If they did recognize me, the onlookers quickly looked away with a blush on their face. It seemed word had spread fast among nobility.

It was as if even the very palace rejected me; the tall ceilings and marble archways that led through the magnificent area now felt imposing and unwelcoming. Was this what it was like for a foreigner to travel in our halls? When I usurp my father, I shall make sure to change the architecture to something more fitting.

When we did make it to the room, the door was closed shut and I could hear muffled voices inside. The walls were thick along with the large double doors that led inside. If we could hear voices, they were shouting.

"Allow me," Waden stated and stepped up to the door. He gave it a couple of raps and one of the voices stood out as the door was opened. Caspius stood in the room, pointing a vindictive finger at his father and I could see him boiling.

"You talk as if they are OBJECTS, father! How can you simply think of them like...like meat..."

Uh oh. Seemed we picked a very bad time to walk in. I looked over at Waden to see him looking calm and controlled. His hands were clasped together, and he looked as reserved as the monks back home.

"You are ungrateful, son. I give you a perfectly good servant..."

"Slave, father...I cannot believe th-"

Caspius immediately stopped when he saw us in the corner of his eye and he blushed. He shifted his posture and gripped at the sword at his waist. I noticed he was fiddling with the steel heirloom at the base.

Sandor was practically beaming, and I stood awkwardly silent. The Emperor had been looking for a social out this entire time and I had walked in at just the right time. Caspius must have been standing there for some time if Sandor had not dismissed him before I arrived. He must have been providing quite the stubborn rebuttals to the Emperor.

"Waden, welcome back. Glad you could find Arieties. I need to speak to him privately," Emperor Sandor said and looked over at Caspius. His eyes immediately turned into a glare.

"And that means that you must leave as well. Why don't you go back to your room? I can send Arietes there to tend to you before bed," Emperor Sandor continued.

Caspius looked so defeated at that moment. His shoulders hunched down, and he avoided looking at his father. He gave me a tentative glance and he stopped for a moment. I could see he wished to say something to me. He shuffled and I could see his mouth attempting to form words before he walked past Waden and I and out the door.

Emperor Sandor opened his arms to us and beckoned us in as if we were both longtime friends of his.

"Come closer and have a seat, Arietes. Waden, if you would shut the door behind us as you leave, please."

Waden obediently did as he was told and I was left alone with Sandor. I could see the bull was studying me even though his relaxed posture and glimmering eyes told me a different story. He had taken off his more formal attire and sat in simple garments. A flattering robe along with light moccasins.

When Waden left, I gave my polite bow to Sandor and the Emperor responded with a subtle nod in turn.

"I expected more arrogance from a Prince stripped of his name so suddenly."

He could tell by my expression that he had struck a nerve. His expression was calm and controlled and I knew he did not mean an offense by it. However, that did not mean my own emotions were completely in check.

I took my seat, suddenly feeling very exposed since I was still in the silks from before. I felt no shame in my nudity but instead felt like prey in a predator's grasp. I watched Sandor's expression close and stayed silent.

He leaned back in his chair and put his right cheek on his hand in a more relaxed posture. He had a grin on his face. Seems that the predator wished to play. If I could get more information out of my new ruler, then perhaps this meeting could work out in my favor.

"Perhaps I was mistaken about the arrogance bit. Arietes..."

Sandor leaned forward, coming close to me as he poured me a glass of wine. I recognized the vintage based on the scent alone; it was from Cornua and I had a pang of nostalgia. Not even a day into servitude and just the smell of wine alone was making me homesick. Sandor continued to pour the wine, watching my expression closely as he finished. It would be naive of me to assume that the wine was a coincidence.

"You know, I have nothing personally against you," Sandor mentioned when he topped my glass before leaning back.

The comment surprised me and I clicked my tongue. I did not take the glass of wine that was offered to me. I needed more information about my new place. Perhaps, some crassness would be tactical.

"Sir, with all due respect, why did you call me here?"

Sandor's lips pursed. The pause that he gave was longer than I expected.

"You and Caspius share many similar traits it seems."

The regal that was before quickly disappeared like sugar melting into water. He took a sip of his wine and cleared his throat and that glare he gave Caspius earlier was now being shared with me.

"Perhaps."

He gave a sigh and his voice raised.

"Need I remind you that your father was all too pleased to send you into my care," Sandor mentioned. "And perhaps that he was all too correct in casting you out like a dog who overstepped a boundary."

This time, I was the one who went silent and he leaned forward once again to grab the stem of the wine glass and nudged it into my general direction. I took the glass that was offered and turned away from his gaze. The sting of the conversation of my father was still very much present and his thumb was right on the wound. He noticed the grimace in my expression and his stature relaxed like a father who knew he had said his peace.

"If you wish to play this game, then I will be more than happy to show you your place. Just because you were once a Prince does not mean we are equal," Sandor stated plainly, a frown on his face.

He glanced at my attire, his eyes scanning over my naked form. "Besides, the royal chambers have not received a deer servant in centuries. I would hate for our first introductions to be...unpleasant."

He gave his speech and I realized I would not get anywhere trying to twist Sandor's arm. I bowed.

"I'm sorry, sir. I apologize."

His expression immediately lightened up and he chuckled. It was as if a coin was turned over. I was slightly taken aback at the sudden change.

"It is of little concern, Arietes. I was as hot headed as you in my youth."

Ahh, he wanted to patronize me. I kept myself expressionless, but he still had on that unwavering smile. I had always heard the Emperor was charismatic and the way he holds himself was much like a soldier who is well-trained in the art of sword fighting. Even though I was still tense, I hated the fact that I was beginning to relax a bit.

"Anyway, I simply wanted to let you know how your new standing will work. We are still in Cornua, after all and by tomorrow you will be among a completely foreign area. I find that your father told you this during your private conversation, yes?"

It took me a millisecond to think about the spat between my father and I. He had told me nothing; perhaps because I was too stubborn to listen. Then I remembered the fact that my father wanted to keep a close eye on the comings and goings in the palace. A sickening feeling started to build up in my stomach.

"Yes," I lied.

Sandor smiled triumphantly. "Very good. You will be pleased to know that you will be with Caspius. In the morning, you will have your own carriage with him and my other son Teepen. Sandra will sit with me."

Did he really just want to give me a rundown of our travel plans? Of course, I concluded that I was not going to just stay in Cornua. That was obvious. Sandor could sense that I was studying him closely and his grin got wider.

"Ahh, you have some questions? So intuitive..."

More patronizing. I could feel my blood start to boil.

"How many beds are set up in Caspius's chamber?"

Sandor blinked, his smirk wiped clean for a moment and then he had a boisterous laugh.

"One, Arietes. Simply one. It is fit for a bull and a servant, however. I understand that by tradition the conquest is taken that night, but..."

Sandor's eyes glimmered and then he gave a shrug. "We have moved past such barbaric practices of the past and so have your people as your father had explained to me."

"And yet here I am, a slave," I replied out loud.

Sandor chuckled and leaned back against his chair to take another generous sip of his wine. "And here you are. It seemed some practices just simply stuck around."

He seemed rather comfortable with me and I could not shake the fact there was something he wasn't divulging. I drank from my own glass noting that this would probably be the last taste of wine from my own home. Exports were never the same.

"Oh come now," Sandor cooed when he noticed my somber expression. "You will have excess to my own palace. You will have time to study medicine until your heart's content and I have already taken the liberty of having you set up with some of the best natural philosophers. You are practically royalty still without all the needless bureaucracy."

I was stunned, my mouth agape.

"How do you know that I..."

"I wish for you to continue to learn...." he interrupted.

I was rendered silent once again. What use would Sandor have knowing about my own personal life? And then it clicked...

"You must have ears everywhere, sir," I said with a hushed tone. He was showing his power so casually. He read me like an open book. The words that he was saying were wrapped in poison. He was forcing me into the place he thought I belonged, and that place was out of his way.

"Yes. Ears and eyes. Strange that Flos would be out fighting in the field and Kade would be scheming and navigating soldiers but you had always been digging your hands through your soldiers. Removing arrows, performing surgery. Oh, and with women no doubt."

My hands started to shake. I was supposed to be fighting in the field with Flos during the campaigns but for three days I had been in the medical tents tending to soldiers. When I returned with armor splattered in blood, no one accused me of it. It was not until Flos found it suspicious I was never in the front line and always in the back that my secret was sniffed out. The scandal among royalty had brought shame to my family and the tongue lashing I had received from my father was anything but brief. He had to cover it up as best he could and had a campaign to label the women I had worked with as sufferers of the plague of tongues.

"You could spill your glass," Sandor off-handedly mentioned with that smirk still across his face as he brought his right hand forward and wrapped it around mine. Together, we slowly moved the wine glass back to the table and he regarded me carefully.

"You must know that you saved several of my soldiers under your alias. You sowed them up as if their flesh was cloth. It was incredible to hear of such stories," Sandor said.

Although the words came from a bull who talked as sweet as honey, I knew his ploy. When I stayed quiet, he leaned back again and smiled.

"So, the Prince who cannot fight...or chooses not to. What to do with you..."

He clasped his hands together. It was so very strange to be ensnared in a trap. My father would use the same techniques and I felt hopelessly outclassed. I held the satchel close to my body now and Sandor's eyes flicked to it before looking back up at me again.

"What was given to you, Arietes?" he asked with raised curiosity in his voice. "May I see?"

He phrased it like a request, but I knew it was a command. I held it close to my body like a child who was caught with something that they should not have. I did not know what was in the satchel but Kade would not send me something haphazardly. Especially if it was Sandor's own slave that gave it to me.

I shook my head and Sandor glared.

"I do not play games, Arietes. You will give me the satchel, or I will have you hung for being a spy."

A shiver shot down my spine. There was no longer any playfulness in his voice again and he looked at me expectedly. I handed over the satchel and Sandor took it gently from my hands. He looked over the canvas for a brief moment before smiling at me. It was as if he did not just threaten my life and I watched him closely with wide eyes.

"Wonderful fabric. The weavers here have done wonders with cloth."

He reached into the satchel and Sandor's eyes widened and a broad smile crossed his face.

"Oh, what is this? Wow..."

He pulled out a knife. The metal itself was in an intricate pattern, the blade coming to a sharp point. It was made of ancient steel and even I nor my father knew the recipe. Only the smelters of the ritual weapons knew of it. The handle itself was made of antler; the velvet crafted into a smooth pattern that curved perfectly for my fingers. Sandor held it up in the light, the blade glimmering spectacularly, and he reached into the bag once again to pull out the sheath. It was a matte black, the jewelry of it my birthstone, a light blue opal.

"Incredible craftsmanship," Sandor said as he examined it further. He turned it in his hands. It was the only thing I had that was physical from my birthright. My sacred blade which was crafted to me when my first antlers were shed. It was as part of me as I was of it and it was being toyed with as if it was a mere toy. Kade sent me a part of myself.

He sent me a reminder of who I was and now it was stripped from me so quickly.

"You...I...you shouldn't..." I stuttered as I reached forward as Sandor sheathed the blade.

"You must understand, I have to oversee what you are sent," Sandor replied as he put the blade back in the satchel and handed it back over to me.

I was seething, my body visibly shaking as I looked up at him. My patience was dwindling and the old Prince inside of me stirred. I got up off the chair and Sandor's eyes went wide for a moment as I gave a snarl.

"Give me my damn blade or I will run it through your throat. And if I don't get to you, my ancestors will!" I yelled in a rage. Sandor was shocked, sitting in his seat and watching me closely before he placed the blade in the satchel and started to laugh openly. It was boisterous, enough that it made me pause for a moment.

He slowly rose up off the chair, his figure dwarfing me and he walked forward. I edged back.

"You wish to threaten your Emperor? You know that such an offense is punishable by death. A foolish curse from dead deer would not save you from my wrath."

My face paled and my hands clenched. He walked forward again and I continued to back up. His voice was still even as he watched me closely. He had a sneer on his face.

He watched me closely and took note of my posture. He relaxed his sneer turning into more of a frown.

"You know how many soldiers I have killed while you were inside of the tents? Most likely you tended to their wounds..."

I bit my tongue and he moved closer. My back was right up against the wall now, my heart pounding as he moved faster until he was right up against me.

"You know how many bucks I have sent to meet their Gods?"

He looked me up and down and I stared at him. I started to shake again and he circled around to my left side like a predator about to strike.

He held the satchel in his left hand, clenching it hard.

"An uncountable amount. Each one had a blade made of their antlers. Each one clutching it when they died and each of the blades worn. Caked with blood and dirt," Sandor said quietly but not without barely restrained ferocity.

"And here I stand with a Prince whose blade is clean, well-maintained, and even sheathed."

He reached down to my hand and opened it..I did not even see him reach back into the satchel to take out my dagger. He placed it into my hand and forced me to clutch it. My palm faced upward, and I felt the polished velvet on my hand as he closed it around the handle. He slowly pulled the sheath off the blade, the dagger glistening in the light of the room. I had a blank look on my face, my mind trying to catch up as I tried to process what he was doing. The blade faced his stomach, the tip of it right up against the robes that Sandor wore.

"Do it. Bloody your blade. Slay the Emperor. Plunge us back into war."

If I stabbed him, it would be easy to track. Everyone would know it was the new slave. The blade was of deer origin; the motive so simple to recognize even for a junior philosopher. The crazy, mad slave in a savage rage stabs the Emperor like a coward before fleeing off. There would be no way I could get far before the royal guard was alerted. I would be struck down before leaving my own palace and my own blood splattered across the very marble I walked on as a child.

I clenched the handle, unmoving. I was paralyzed. My mouth tried to form words. Why had he not called for the guard? Why wasn't I dead on the ground? I gripped the handle and did not move. Sandor grabbed my wrist, wrapping firmly around. The touch was soft and there was a glimmer.

Sandor silently sheathed my dagger and pushed it against me. My breath was pushed back into my lungs and I stared at him wordlessly.

"You are no assassin. And you are no Prince any longer, Arietes."

I sunk down against the wall, putting my head in my arms. It was all so fast, too fast to keep up, and it was as if the world was running below my feet. I felt a touch on my shoulder and I slapped it away.

I got up off the ground, hiding my face so Sandor would not see the tears streaming down it. The Emperor simply watched me with that unyielding gaze. I clenched the blade and held it close to my chest, knowing full well how easily it would be to get it taken away.

"If you threaten me like that in public, I cannot say that my grace would be as generous as it is now, Arietes."

Sandor sighed and stepped away and left me there in a heap against the wall. He looked as if he was a father that just got done scolding his child. He pinched his nose and shook his head. "I will have to think of a suitable punishment..."

I looked at him frightened but kept myself from begging. My pride had to stand strong. It and the blade were the only things I had left.

"You shall meet with me every morning. You will show me every package you receive. There will be no privacy between us. Whatever letters, materials, tools, or.."

He looked over the ceremonial knife.

"...heirlooms are sent to you then I want to be the first to receive them."

I blinked, my watery eyes looking him over. What kind of punishment was this? My mouth was agape, and I continued trying to speak. Was there a hint of...joy in his voice? What was the game that he was playing?

"I...I-"

"You have no choice, Arietes," Emperor Sandor said with all too much joy in his voice as a smile crossed his lips. "Keep the dagger, though. I have a feeling you will not be using it for killing."

I could not find my words.

"You will learn, Arietes. Which is why my grace is extended to you. For now, go to Caspius. You will be his attender. You will make sure that his body is in peak physical shape. You will make sure to give him herbs that will help keep his vitality..."

I gulped, still looking at him. This was not my father; I had no quip or witty remark. My mouth could only make small sounds of affirmation.

"It is time for you to go, however. It is getting late. We can talk more in the morning. Go to Caspius," Sandor said as he went back to his seat and grabbed his glass of wine. He took a long sip of it.

"I have a feeling you and I will get along well together. Especially since you remind me so much of your father."

His eyes glimmered and I huffed. He chuckled at the sound, his voice reverberating in the glass. He gulped down more than I expected before he placed it back down onto the table with a small clink.

"You are dismissed. Go and sleep. We have a long road ahead tomorrow."

I was so flabbergasted that I did not even give him a chance to change his mind. I was flustered, my cheeks red in a mixture of anger and embarrassment. Shame filled my very core. If I was a true warrior, I could have plunged the blade so far into his chest that his dead lineage would have felt the blow. Perhaps my father was right. Maybe, I was the perfect fit to be a slave. Perhaps I was a bitch of the bulls. Tears started to well up in my eyes once again, but I wiped them away.

I shuffled quickly out of the door. Waden was waiting outside and gave me a warm smile when I emerged but when he noticed how shaken I was, he quickly composed himself to a more neutral expression. The fact that his mouth turned into a frown faster than I expected was more disturbing than the action itself. Perhaps there was more that was fake than I anticipated.

Before he could ask me what was wrong, Sandor's voice perked up.

"Ahhh, almost forgot. Waden, we have something to discuss. Arietes and I just finished chatting..."

Waden composed himself and walked past me. He noted my expression and whispered, "You have more allies amongst you than you think..."

Before I could analyze what he said, he was already in the room with Sandor and closing the doors. I was left alone once again amongst voices that I did not recognize and in a palace that did not feel like my home any longer.