“So how did you get out of the palace? I sort of expected the guards to stop you.”

     “I just kept moving.” Jayden could hear the grin in his voice. “They seemed to think better of saying anything.”

     Jayden snorted again, the picture of the giant of a man barreling down on those poor guards flashing through his mind. “I hope my father doesn’t hear about it. If the King of Sera finds out that his guards let a prisoner out of the palace because they were intimidated by him, he will have a fit.”

     Jayden felt Kiyto’s rumbling laugh through the boards below him and grinned. The Tamrin leaned forward, staring across the strait.  Without having to sit up, Jayden knew what Kiyto would be seeing. The strait looked like liquid leather at night, the water dark and almost alive in its movements and the sharp edges of the distant mainland a deeper shadow cutting into the horizon, except the tiny flashes of light from the port. It was beautiful. The wind kicked up suddenly, brushing across Jayden and drying the sweat along his brow. This was why he liked coming out here. Nothing lifted his ill moods quicker than the peace of the harbor. Of course that reminded him of why his mood had been so sour to begin with. 

     “What am I going to do?” The question escaped him like a sigh, and he felt the Tamrin’s attention focus back on him. He clenched his jaw, but it was too late. “Why the hells is old man Connell pushing his insults now? I haven’t done anything to offend him.”

     “You’re an easy target, little prince, and your brother’s display on his way out of court made it very clear that you don’t have his protection.”

     Jayden flinched. He didn’t know why he expected Kiyto to have missed the politics behind Harrold’s behavior. “But all the more reason to leave me be. I’m hardly a threat to anyone.”

     “Really? Five days ago, you were beaten so badly that you shouldn’t even be out of bed yet, but you show up in court looking little worse for wear.”

     Jayden shook his head. “Harrold probably wouldn’t have missed one hour of court. I may be a bit of a joke, but I am still a Sera Prince.”

     “Exactly.” Kiyto let the word land, but when Jayden just shook his head, saying nothing, the Tamrin continued. “Even as the least liked of the royal family, you are royal. You are either strong enough hold the throne or weak enough to be a target.”

     “I don’t want the damn throne,” Jayden growled, sudden anger searing through him. His brother was heir, and he was more than happy about that. 

     The Tamrin looked down at him, for just a moment a look of surprise flashing across his face, before it settled to his usual calm curiosity. “Alright. Then you are either strong enough to demand respect or weak enough to be a target. It doesn’t change anything.”

     “So, what would you have me do?” Jayden pushed himself roughly up to sitting, ignoring the sharp stab of pain in his side. “I don’t demand respect.”

     “Maybe you should.”

     “So you want me to run back to court and beat up an old man? I’m sure that will make all the noble warriors admire me ever so much.”

     The Tamrin did not rise to Jayden’s sarcasm. He shrugged. “Of course not. When one of the other warriors insults you, challenge them. It would only take one to show the entire court that you are not a complete milksop, and you get plenty of chances.”

     Jayden just shook his head, turning away. The sightlines inland were nothing as clear as out across the strait, but past the harbor, past the shops, houses, and villas, Jayden could see the palace rising above the rest of the island. There were lights in the very highest tower – his father’s royal apartments. 

     Behind him, he heard the Tamrin snort. “I really don’t understand. You are not a coward. In fact, you seem stupidly willing to walk into pain more often than not. Why do you balk at challenging an insult?”

     Jayden bit his lip, memories washing over him. The young William standing over him with a sword for the first time, disgust radiating off him like a wave. That challenge had lasted all of a minute and a half before Jayden was down, two ribs and his collarbone shattered and a lump on his head that left him nauseous for days. Pure anger had driven Jayden to challenge William, but it hadn’t been anywhere near enough to win him the fight. He wasn’t good enough to answer an insult. 

     Jayden turned a half-hearted glare on the Tamrin. “So is that how you deal with all your problems in Tamrin lands? Just beat people until everyone’s too scared to fight you?”