Blood Oath

CHAPTER 4

HENRI'S P.O.V

Last night, I still cannot understand. Seeing Her Majesty with Darius made me uncomfortable for several reasons. Forgetting that Prince Darius is Emilia's brother-in-law, I do not like him at all. But to think he had her majesty on her fullest smile last night; what luck. Now, where exactly is Her Majesty going to? She looks like she's daydreaming.

"Your majesty."

"Henri!" She jumped. I may have startled her. "You gave me quite a scare."

"My apologies, your majesty."

"Where were you?" She asked. Did she not know I was behind her?

"I have been following behind you all this while."

"Oh. I see." She resumed her walk around the courtyard. I'm sure she was thinking of last night.

"Where's Prince Darius?" She questioned. I am not his keeper.

"I saw him with Prince Theophilus at the gardens. Shall I send for him?"

"No. Let's go to the gardens."

Why are we going to him? What do we have to do with him? Why?

We make our way to the gardens and there he was erratically giggling with Prince Theophilus. Their noise ended as we approached.

"Your Majesty." Prince Darius showed his respect. He had a particular tone in his voice whenever he speaks with the Queen.

"Darius, I observed you dancing with my sister last night. I completely appreciated what I saw." Theophilus was unusually delighted. I could not tell why he was but it best not be what I am believing.

"Yes. Her Majesty is an exquisite dancer." I have heard those words from the mouth of every man that has had the honor of dancing with Her Majesty.

"How long do you plan on staying in Argo?" Her Majesty asked the question I have longed to know the answer to.

"I will return after the Princess has delivered the child. I am here on behalf of my brother, Prince Victor."

Till Emilia gives birth?! That is a long while. I can not share the same house with him. I don't trust him.

"Henri, please do well to give Prince Darius a tour around. If he is going to stay for long, he should know his environment. He should know the corners of the Kingdom"

He does not have to know. "It'll be my pleasure to show His Royal Highness around Argo, your majesty." I said as I looked Darius dead in the eye. He recoiled. Perhaps he must've scared himself.

"Prince Darius, I am sure you and Henri will fare nicely. He is my aide but if you need anything feel unrestrained to ask him. He may be silent on his feet but he is never out of view."

"Without any further ado, I'll prepare a carriage." I said before leaving but Darius followed.

"Henri?" He called my name.

"Your Highness?"

"We could just walk." He suggested.

"Her Majesty will not be pleased should she find out that Prince Darius, brother-in-law of Princess Emilia and nephew of the King of Titan, walked on my watch. I can not allow it." It's embarrassing enough for me to share the same carriage as he and now he chooses to walk.

"I'm sure she wouldn't mind. As the nephew of the King of Titan, I order you to let me walk."

What a fool.

"I only receive orders from the Queen and by chance, her siblings. But as you wish, your highness."

We begin our walk from the palace to the town. Darius has one too many questions; insufferable. He made a stop at the baker's shop to buy bread. Quite a lot of bread. Did he plan on eating bread on a walk? I could not understand. It was not my business. We continued our walk. He made another stop at the church. "Why are we here?"

"Follow me." He said to me as he walked in. I reluctantly obeyed. I have never set foot in a church.

The church was large and filled with benches and the smell of incense. The only light source was candles all at the altar. There were silent murmurs and cries. I could hear them all. Most of the prayers were about the prosperity of Argo. Others were personal, I had no business listening to them. A particular prayer caught my attention 'protect us from the demons of the night.' The demons of the night? I wonder. Darius made his way to the altar, meeting who I presume to be the priest. They shared warm greetings and Darius gave the bread to the priest who seemed overjoyed by it.

"Your grace." I said to the priest who kept glancing at me.

"Bless you, my child." The priest gestured the symbol of a cross at me.

"Come, Henri, join me in prayers." Darius said. I could not refuse. The priest watched us both.

Darius knelt at the altar and closed his eyes, I mimicked his movements. We remained there for what felt like an hour. I felt Darius rising to his feet. I did the same.

The priest came to us with a tray "Eat; it is His body." The priest presented two small pieces of bread and a chalice. A silver chalice that had wine in it. In my entire timeline of existence, I have never encountered this until this day. Human food and silver presented before me. I am expected to partake in what I reckon to be a communion.

Prince Darius ate a piece of bread and drank wine from the chalice. Afterward, water was sprinkled over him. Without a doubt that was holy water.

The priest faced me. "Eat; it is His body"

I felt my heart in a rush. "My apologies but I do not do well with bread."

"Nonsense, my child. Eat."

My hand quivered as it reached the bread. I grabbed the bread and slowly put it in my mouth. I never thought chewing and swallowing would be an impossible task.

"Drink; it is His blood."

The silver chalice was lifted to my lips. It felt like needles pricking my lips. As painful as it was, I quickly take a sip of the wine and swallowed it. The holy water was sprinkled on me. I felt my skin tearing apart from the inside. The burning sensation is one that I can never forget. I felt tears rolling down my cheek. It was truly an unforgettable moment.