Having seen their growth and improvement over the past several months, Prince Jack had felt that the Spectrum Knights were ready to confront the Luna Witch. The kingdom still needed to be protected, so he had instructed all but one of the knights to remain at the castle and defend the kingdom. Now ready for the day, the Prince looked over to his loyal knight and nodded. "Lady Marjorie, tell the rest of the Spectrum Knights to remain here and defend the kingdom", he told her. "Today, we confront the Luna Witch."
The knight girl bowed and placed her hand over her chest. "Understood, your highness." Marjorie quickly walked away and informed the other knights. The Prince began to pack and make sure they were well-supplied with food and mana potions for their journey. It wasn't that long a trip to the cave where she supposedly resided, but he didn't want to take any chances. Once he had everything prepared, the Prince carried the pack over to the castle gate, where Marjorie was waiting with her horse, Sweetroll. The Prince gulped at the sight of Marjorie's mount. She was normally a gentle and loyal creature, but on a few occasions, she had taken a bite out of him and licked him whenever she was nearby. He feared that if he was left alone, he would end up in the horse's belly. Of course, Marjorie insisted that her pet was harmless and the Prince's naturally sweet scent made her hungry, and he always managed to regain the bodymass that he had lost after a good meal. "I've informed the other Spectrum Knights, your highness", Marjorie stated as Prince Jack arrived. "Come now, the sooner we depart, the more quickly we can-"
Marjorie was interrupted by the sudden heavy stomping of hooves on the cobblestone below. Both the Prince and Marjorie turned their attention to the sound and found Lady Clarabella, riding her own pitch black horse, Stormcloud, over to the pair. As she approached, she had a look of disgust on her face. "Lady Clarabella?", the Prince asked. "What troubles you?"
The more dignified of the Spectrum Knights cleared her throat and turned to the Prince (but not before sneering at Marjorie). "Although my loyalties lie with you, my Prince, I cannot help but question your decision to take... her... with you to confront the Witch", Clarabella said with scorn in her voice. "As the superior combatant, and having come from a long line of royal knights, I am clearly more qualified for such an important assignment."
"N-now see here!", Marjorie exclaimed, her cheeks red as she grew annoyed with her fellow knight, admittedly looking quite adorable. "I have already been assigned to protect the Prince by his mother, Queen Patricia, who clearly trusts me for this mission!"
"That's probably because she had forgotten how you arrived in the kingdom in the first place... you filthy bandit!" Clarabella made sure to put emphasis on the last word, causing Marjorie to gasp, her anger turning to shock. Prior to joining the Spectrum Knights, Marjorie was part of a clan of bandits led by her mother. It was actually on her first mission that she had found herself in the kingdom. She and her brother, Gareth, were meant to kidnap the Prince. It wasn't long after she had made her way into the castle that she heard the enchanted sword, Crystalheart, calling out to her. Gareth had attempted to capture Prince Jack on his own, but Marjorie claimed the sword as her own and was compelled by it to defend the Prince, fighting off her brother and giving him the scars he bears to this day and pledging her loyalty to the throne, proving herself to be one of the more trusted knights in the Kingdom.
"I... you know I'm-"
"Not even willing to defend yourself, I see", Clarabella chuckled smugly. "You may have everyone else fooled, bandit. Perhaps even yourself. But a true knight can see through your deception. You simply wish to lead our Prince into further torment."
"I-I am a loyal knight of the Kingdom of Iridian!", Marjorie insisted.
Prince Jack felt he had a bond with all of the Spectrum Knights, so it was difficult for him to watch them fight amongst each other. Marjorie was clearly his favorite among them, but perhaps that's why Clarabella had begun acting as she did. Jealousy for someone she perceived to be inferior to herself and her family getting what she felt was preferential treatment. Lady Marjorie was his first choice for this mission, and sticking by her would likely make her feel better about Clarabella's verbal barbs.
But perhaps choosing to travel with Clarabella would give the Prince the opportunity to talk to her and convince her to be kinder toward the other knights.
Then again, he could decide to bring the both of them along. The other Spectrum Knights were strong enough to defend the Kingdom without the two of them there. Maybe this could give them the opportunity to learn how to better work together and form a stronger bond.
What will the Prince decide?
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