DILEmma

Gerald walked through the imperial courtyard on his way to the royal armoury room with his spirit guard flying behind him.

The royal knights would be choosing weapons for the hunt today so he felt the need to be early else he would get the left overs.

He had his sword but he didn't know why he felt he needed an extra.

It was about the fifth hour of the day yet the darkness hadn't given room for the light and Gerald held a flame in his hand to guard him.

He would probably meet no one at the armoury by this time,the would all the fast asleep so he felt no need to teleport.

The blond haired Knight wore a black shirt over loose fitting pants,enjoying the early morning breeze beat against his soft skin and hair.

That was one of the reasons he frequently be spotted around the imperial palace at late and early hours of the day.

He had always loved the early morning air of the early hours and cold of the night.

The cold around the imperial palace didn't make him freeze but rather it brought him some measure of warmth that even he couldn't explain,never giving him the need to warm himself up, infact he loved it.

Gerald's short blonde hair tossed carelessly in the wind as he tried to steady the flame to keep the wind from quenching it.

He walked past a pavement and down a flight of stairs as he listened to the sound of his footsteps against the hard concrete, engulfed in his own thoughts and unknown to him his spirit guard watched him.

"My lord does something bother you?"ju questioned via telepathy.

"No ju_"

"Yes my lord.I can't read your mind but am your spirit guard,I can tell when something is bothering you and am thinking its about the lady witch".

Gerald chuckled and raised a brow.

"The lady witch?"

"Uhh huuh"Ju nodded as he flapped faster to appear in front of Gerald's face,now flapping backwards as Gerald walked on while peering into the Knight's eyes.

"Well that's not exactly it...I_miss someone,haven't seen her in a while".

Ju eyed him quizzidly.

He had never heard his master say he missed someone,let alone a woman,it only aroused in it a measure of curiosity.

"Is there something going on that I don't know about master? you've fallen for some girl?"

Gerald smiled again.

"Not fallen...I just...I think I like her"He shrugged.

"May I know who she is?"it pleaded.

Gerald immediately gave it a disapproving stare any pulled it out of his way,flinging it beside him.

"You don't have to know everything...it's my private life"

"I don't have to master but I want.... I know it's your private life but am your spirit guard,a life time companion of yours... little wonder you always send me away from you on errands...you don't want me to know anything about you...am not sure you love me anymore"

Gerald peered at it from below his eye lids and watched it's ears fall while observing the sad expression on its face.

Why on earth would ju think that of cos he loved ju the same but he was certain ju would disapprove of his new found feelings, same as every one else as well as the emperor.

"My lord...tell me,I won't tell on you...are you into some secret romance?"Ju said as those sad eyes looked into his.

Gerald didn't know why he laughed out loud ,so loud that his voice reverbated in the hallway.

"Relax ju why would I be into a secret romance?...besides it's not a romance yet I don't just get how I feel around her and having not seen her for a while I...I long for her...I think I might have developed feelings for this woman"

"Hmmm....who is the lady in question master?"

"It's Carolene"

"Ca_hhheeeeeehhhhhh!...my lord of all the women in Delvin?a servant?"

"Only she caught my eye and I don't know why...what...got a problem with that?"Gerald asked with a small frown on his face."No my lord_i mean yes!yes!why not some nobleman's daughter or one of the lord's but a servant_"

"That shouldn't matter ju...am not of royal blood, being with her should be easy"Gerald said doubtfully,doubting even himself he knew Tyran would never approve of it even the ladies in Urah might think she used a spell on him but none of these mattered he would give up everything to be with the one he loved,even his job but he knew Tyran would never give him up so he would have no choice but to consent.

Gerald smiled at the thought.

"She...she be the one making you smile like this?....my lord something must be wrong somewhere...it would matter...it would matter a lot my lord Master,you are one of the most influential and the most handsome young man in Delvin"

"Tssskkkk!..."Gerald winced"that is too much of a compliment Ju...I am not the most handsome and why are you getting so worked up about this all of a sudden".

"I bet on it you are...."

"Look most times we don't tell our hearts whom and whom not to love,turns out my heart picked this one on its own accord.

Ju only nodded giving up on the argument.Gerald was the most difficult person he knew was convincible.

"I wish to see her"Gerald said before swinging the door of the armoury wide open

The candles were lit and his eyes caught sight of a masculine frame standing before a as set of long spears and carefully studying them one after the other.

Gerald stared for a while before stepping in.

Only when he drew closer did he recognize who it was, Prince Marcus.

He bowed and wordlessly walked past him.

"If it isn't the Emperor's knight... you're early"Marcus said.

"As are you your highness".

Prince Marcus chuckled as he replaced a spear.

"I had to wake early before this place gets crowded, tomorrow would be one hell of a hunt...the better the weapon the better the kill".

"I had no idea princes were invited"Gerald said as he pulled out a dagger from where it hung on the wall.

"Unfortunately we are... do you know how much I detest battles"

Marcus shook his head.

Gerald fought back a chuckle from escaping his lips as he thought it disrespectful if he laughed at what the prince had just said.

The second son of Zemah was a skilled swordsman,rummored to be a lazy royal who always ran away from his royal duties.

Luckily for King Zemah,he wasnt the throne's heir otherwise Polymus people say would suffer.

Prince Marcus was only famous for his good looks,his love for women and his swordsmanship.

"My Father didn't buy the idea of raiding the savages den but the Emperor's word is final".

"It is"Gerald said almost In a whisper, wishing the conversation would end,he wasn't the least close to this prince but the way he spoke freely to him made him somewhat uncomfortable.

Of cos he was at the meeting and had watched king Zemah blantly disagree but this prince's whinnings was the least thing on his mind right now,he didn't want to hear of it.

Prince Marcus had always been this way,too open sometimes that it made Gerald wonder if he had any secrets.

But looking at him Gerald could tell this subtle prince had more than one face.

Prince Marcus pulled out a spear with a silver spearhead and held it vertically.

"What do you think?this one suits me?"

"Your highness I know you as a swordsman,why a spear?"

Prince Marcus rubbed the metal end with his hands and smiled.

"No reason,just wanted to try out something new,of cos I'll always have my sword by my side"

"It looks good your highness"

"If it's coming from the emperor's knight then I take it I picked the best weapon in this place".

Prince Marcus approached him,pated his shoulder and gave him a half smile which Gerald found rather irritable.

"Good luck with the hunt knight,and be sure to attend the briefing...of which you know...you are one of the important figures of that gathering".

"Will do your majesty!"came Gerald's response.

Marcus left without another word,the awkward smile never leaving his face.

"Do you trust him?"ju asked.

"No...you know too well am not in the position to trust anyone,I think there is something eerie about him"

"Master...about the Lady witch, I suggest you tell the emperor about it we don't know how many are involved in this plot aside Dark and the lady witch,your life could be in danger and if this discovery dies with you_"

Ju paused and immediately covered his mouth with his hands having said the last words as if knowing it had annoyed his master.

Gerald shot him an angry glance.

"Are you wishing I'd die"

"No no master I didn't mean it that way we both know your death means mine as well"

Gerald exhaled forcefully and took out another dagger from the wall.

He took off it's sheath before his eyes scanned the metal.

No doubt Ju was right,this secret could cost his life,there were others involved in Fiona's death and now probably after the imperial prince,as Luamisa's final message had said "THEM".

Besides Tyran's busy schedule preparing for the hunt tomorrow he would tell the emperor about it.

He had just started feeling it was the right thing to do.They would make Athena confess with a confession spell and get the information they needed.

If only he could use that magic he would have done so a long time ago but only the Sorcerors had that kind of ability.

"Thanks Ju"

A puzzed pet looked at him

"For what my lord..."

"For everything"Gerald said he turned, approaching the exit with the dagger.