Chapter Two Twists of Fate

CHAPTER TWO
NEW BEGINNING

When I turned fourteen things took a turn. I enjoyed living in the stable; the hay was always warm in the winter and cool in the summer. I did not use any of my powers, I was too scared to. The other stable hands in the stable were nice to me, but I never really allowed myself to be friends with them. I was afraid that they would find out I was a girl.

My whole life changed again one winter’s morning. It was getting close to midday and I was behind a wall getting some of the stored water to give to the horses. I was the only one in the stable; it was a slow day. The boy I had met a year ago came storming into the stable. Of course the boy was not just any boy like Rubius. He was prince Lupus the heir to the throne and the son of a Mage. He had grown; now, he was only a few inches shorter than I was. His hair lay loosely; it was ear length like mine. On his hand, he wore a gold diamond ring, and his clothes were clean this time. He seemed angry to say the least.

Rubius chased in after him panting. He was again immaculately dressed. He carried his staff and he didn’t seem upset; he was upset. Rubius yelled, “Why did you do that?” I hid behind some bales of hay. I avoided Rubius like a guilty child avoids their mother.

Lupus gathered his hands and a ball of what seemed like ice formed in his palm and he threw it over the wall I was behind. Lupus said as if his whole world was collapsing, “Those other nobles practically threw themselves off the road so they could make way for me!”

Rubius sighed as if he understood, “It’s okay…”

Lupus sat down on a haystack, his hands covering his eyes. “Rubius, it’s not okay. I have no friends. Well…except for you.”

Rubius sat next to him and put an arm around him. “I’m not that bad.”

“No you’re not, but you are also my teacher. That’s not what I call the perfect friendship.”

“Well, I guess you’re right,” Rubius said, I caught a distinct note of sarcasm. “Why don’t you just do what your father does and hire them,” he said mockingly.

Lupus looked at him and smiled. “Yeah, but once you can’t pay, they all just disappear.” Rubius coughed, rather insulted it seemed. Lupus quickly replied, “Well all my fathers “friends” except you of course.”

Rubius laughed, “Of course.”

“Sometimes when people stare, point or move out of my way, I have to make sure I am not growing horns and a tail,” he moaned. I felt sorry for him. I knew how it felt to be treated like that.

Rubius closed his eyes. “Why is having friends so important to you? These are just people you randomly allow to get close to you and you just sit there to wait when they will hurt you, because hurt you they will.” I had to admit he had a point.

“Rubius, friends are supposed to be the essence of who you are. They should reflect who you are, what you believe, what you aspire to be, or they should be your exact opposite. Do you plan to hurt my father Rubius?”

“No!”

“Aren’t you his friend?”

Rubius looked at the boy straight in the eyes. “Your father and I are friends to a certain extent, and the rest is taken care of by a bond greater than magic.”

“Well, I want a friend like that.”

I couldn’t help wishing for the same kind of friend. My leg cramped and I lost my balance, dropping the bucket of water. It rang like a bell throughout the lonesome stable. Rubius and the boy quickly stood up. Rubius demanded, “Who’s there?”

I slowly walked towards them, trying to shake off the cramp. Rubius grinned, recognizing me. “Jude, if I remember correctly?”

Lupus was hiding behind Rubius like a scared puppy, probably because he was embarrassed. I said bowing, “Yes sire.”

“I have heard good things about you, that you are a good worker. How is life treating you?” he asked looking back behind him at the boy. He smiled back at me amused.

“Good. Slow, but good.”

Lupus stepped from behind Rubius finally remembering his status. He stood there staring as if I were supposed to start dancing. Rubius gave both of us a blank stare. Lupus asked, “What were you doing?”

I explained and exaggerated a little, “I was getting water for the horses when I heard some voices, the next minute a ball of ice hit my head.”

Lupus’s cheeks turned red. “I am so sorry, I didn’t know you were back there.”

Rubius said in hysterics, “No wonder you can’t make friends, you kill them!”

Lupus rolled his eyes. “Forget him, he’s just upset because he has no sense of humor.”

I eyed them. I remembered I had spilled water. Rubius was watching me intently. “Why are you not at school? Isn’t it the hour of the day for school?

I was mopping up the water when he asked me. I looked at him. Could he not answer his own question as he watched me work? “My mother taught me how to read, write, and basic mathematics when I was younger. Now, I have to work.” I motioned to what I was doing.

Rubius’s face lost all humor and instead it had an odd look of concern. “You are fourteen and you don’t go to school?” he asked shocked. “I thought there was a rule that all servants under the age of 18 had to take part in studies?”
Lupus grunted, “You’re lucky. You have freedom.”
“Freedom, yes sire. But this is where I stay forever, while you can go and explore. You are blessed with magic, which opens so many doors. I, on the other hand, I have closed, locked, and bolted my own door. All the other servants do go to lessons, however since I was hired for an adult position I do not have that privilege.” I stayed quiet, thinking. “I really don’t mind, though. I like my life right now,” I laughed.
Lupus was silent and he stared at his ring. Rubius closed his eyes and asked, “How long do you work?”

“I work from sunrise to midday, then from sunset to midnight,” I answered.

“So you have midday to sunset free, right?” he asked.

I put the mop away and sat on some bags of grain. “Yes.”

“How would you like me to teach you?”
I quickly responded, “But I don’t have magic!”

He laughed, “I would teach you things like reading, writing, math, and science.”

“You and I can learn together!” Lupus smiled. It hit me like a ton of bricks. I couldn’t have lessons with the prince. My facial expression must have let on to my feelings. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Uh, thank you for the offer sires but I can’t.”
Lupus crossed his arms over his chest. “Why?” he asked.

“I have other obligations,” I said not looking into his eyes.

“It’s because I’m a prince isn’t it?” Lupus said shaking his head.

I looked at Rubius who was staring at Lupus with concern. “No, it’s not because you’re a prince,”

I said. Lupus eyed me. “It is because I am a stable hand.”

Rubius chuckled and Lupus offered me his hand. “Jude, I know you heard all that I said about friendship. Let us pretend that I am not a prince and you are not a stable hand but that we are equal.” I looked at his outstretched hand and I examined the dirt beneath my fingernails. “I will never treat you like anything that is not equal to me…I promise.”

The tone of his voice rang with truth through me. I shook his hand.

Rubius twirled his staff thinking. “Tomorrow we will begin. I will send Lupus for you.”

Lupus was smiling from ear to ear and he had a little laughter in his voice. He said, “I will bring lunch.”