Chapter 4: Damien Eddison
1274 Words
The guard, Christopher, still panting from his run, glanced nervously between me and my father.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty… It’s about your son. Damien…”
My father stepped forward, concern growing on his face. “What happened to Damien?”
The guard cleared his throat. “He's… uhm… riding one of the royal peacocks.”
There was a moment of stunned silence.
“He's doing what?” I asked, my voice cracking.
“Yes, Your Highness. The blue one. Sir Feathers. He insisted it was his ‘battle steed’ and charged through the garden yelling, ‘FOR VALTORIA!’”
My father closed his eyes like he was praying for strength—or maybe just pretending he no longer had children.
"That's not all, your Majesty" Christopher announced softly.
The king's eyes shot back open, “What did he do this time?”
"He rode the peacocks into the Arena for the festival..."
I instinctively gasped. “What in Valtoria is he doing up there?!”
The guard avoided eye contact. “Chasing a goat, sire.”
There was a long silence.
“A goat?” my father repeated slowly, as though trying to confirm that yes, he had indeed heard that right.
“Yes, Your Majesty. And he isn't alone..."
I braced myself for more hilarious news
"...he and two of his friends are on a peacock each, chasing the goat"
"Alright, that's enough" my father sighed, already striding towards the carriage.
I nearly tripped trying to keep up, giggling at the ridiculousness I’d just heard.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
We rode back to the open field, I couldn't believe what my eyes were witnessing. The scene was utter chaos. Decorations were toppled. Food trays overturned. And in the middle of it all—a black goat sprinting for its life.
Damien and his friends were hot on its tail, each riding a majestic peacock with surprising coordination, as if the birds had been trained for this very mission.
Some guards chased Damien and his friends while riding on horses.
"What is he holding?" I asked a guard who came to give us a report on the current situation. He looked equally horrified and amused.
"Oh, those are kitchen utensils, sire. He's with a spatula and a rope across his chest, while his friends wield... large spoons, pretending to be their sword"
I could see people running to take cover, most of them laughing at the silly thing Damien and his friends were doing, some chasing away the goat to another direction so it wouldn't destroy more of the preparations especially the foods and drinks.
Two guards flanked the peacocks ridden by Luis and Sophia—Damien’s loyal troublemakers—and they threw both of them to the ground.
Three guards caught the peacocks and calmed them down, while two continued to chase after Damien who pressed on.
"I won't be defeated" Damien shouted
"Go Damien"
"You've got this". Both of Damien's friends cheered him up from the sidelines.
The goat was clearly exhausted and it took the wrong turn to a dead end where Damien got it cornered
"Aha! I've got you now" Damien leapt off Sir Feathers, who immediately strutted away, fulfilling it's mission.
I glanced at my father, the king, I could swear I saw his lips curved up into a reluctant smile.
We watched carefully to see what was going to happen, was the goat going to escape or get caught by Damien
"Who sent you?" Damien bellowed, pointing his spatula towards the frightened goat.
"Speak up now or I smite thee", he threatened. It bleated
As the last guard approached him, Damien took off the rope which he hung across his chest and quickly looped it around the goat's neck.
When the goat resisted, he gave it a light bop on the head with his spatula. The goat, perhaps out of exhaustion, bleated as it surrendered.
"You're under arrest" Damien declared triumphantly.
He turned towards the people watching and raised up his hand to declare himself victorious as the crowd burst into applause and laughter.
Sophia and Luis rushed to hug him, proud of their ridiculous conquest. I still couldn't believe that Sophia joined him in this mischievous quest.
“Take the goat and lock him in the dungeon,” Damien commanded the guard—who had previously been chasing him but now seemed unwilling to ruin the young prince's moment.
Damien handed over the rope. “And if that goat escapes, you’ll be put in its place.” He warned and everyone laughed.
The guard nodded solemnly and dismounted to secure the prisoner.
"Bring him back to the palace and make sure his friends get home safely" My father ordered and we went back into the carriage.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
“A spy?” I muttered, holding back a laugh.
I looked at my father. His jaw twitched, fighting the war between parental frustration and disbelief.
“Of all the days…” he muttered under his breath.
“I've told you not to keep reading those fictional books from the royal library,” I added helpfully.
"They're not fiction, they are real. They happened in the past, why do you think it's still not happening till this day?" Damien said to justify himself after accusing the goat of being a spy.
He was right, I saw men disappeared using magic, so they could still be able to shapeshift into animals or other people to spy on other kingdoms.
The king turned to me slowly, raising an eyebrow. “You gave him The Book of Ancient Espionage and Strange Beasts, didn’t you?”
"It was supposed to be for fun" I defended
"Well, that fun has made him a menace in the entire kingdom"
“I have secured the suspect, he has confessed to nibbling the Queen’s prized roses and conspiring with the pigeons.” Damien said taking of his makeshift cloak he wore during his 'quest'
My mother, who had come down from her chambers after hearing the commotion, stared at her younger son.
“Damien Eddison,” she said in her firmest mother voice, hands on her hips, “what on earth have you done?”
“Royal duty, Mother,” he said with a bow. “One less floral terrorist in the kingdom.”
My father rubbed his temples. “Damien, you are ten.”
“And wise beyond my years,” he replied, dramatically, “One day history will remember me as Damien the Daring.”
“More like Damien the Deranged,” I muttered.
“You’re just jealous of my military genius.”
Queen Jacinta, my mother, turned to my father. “You still think he doesn’t need a chaperone?”
“I think we all need one,” the King muttered.
"To your chambers. Now!" The queen ordered and he grumbled but obeyed, heading up the stairs towards his room.
“I demand three chocolate éclairs, full command of the royal stables, and the return of Sir Feathers,” he declared over his shoulder. “He and I have unfinished business.” He disappeared into his room, away from everyone's sight
"Take the goat to the royal chef, let it be prepared for dinner" the King ordered a guard.
And that was my brother—Damien the Daring.
A menace, a legend, a walking headache... and one of the best entertainer Valtoria had ever known. This day will always be registered in my heart.
And as for the arena for the celebration, everyone in the kingdom, including the guards, worked tirelessly to restore it. Festival de Esperanza was tomorrow.
- Writer
