Dan's POV
Donavin took the long way, for once avoiding the servant's passages he usually took, to give himself time to steal his emotions. When he got there, no guards were posted at the doors, which was odd. At the very least, his uncle and father should be up by now; they were always up early.
"You recognize him?" He heard Mark ask loudly from the Dining hall. He sounded angry, but Mark rarely got angry. He was coarse and rude, but always with an 'I don't care much about anything sort of attitude. Dan stepped into the dining hall to see several people standing at the table rather than sitting, more than half of whom were guards.
And they were all facing Mark and… the Dead body. He held the corps out by the back of the neck so everyone could get a good look at his face. His great-uncle had a hand on his sword searching the area for signs of danger and was the first to spot him, but he ignored his presence. His father had backed up a few steps in shock and horror, his brother however seemed completely nonplussed over there being a fresh human corps in the dining room as if that wasn't out of place at all. It was.
"I do not. And I hope you have a good reason for coming here with that." his brother sneered more insulted than worried.
"This man just stabbed your brother in his sleep, and when asked who sent him, he said the prince. And I doubt it would be Evin." Mark boldly accused the crown prince of treason.
His father paled and looked at his eldest son in questioning horror. His great-uncle just looked back to where Donavin stood, assessing him. Suddenly self-conscious he looked at himself too and noticed he was holding his chest where he'd been stabbed. He worked to compose himself again as his brother stole back the attention yelling fiercely, "How dare you accuse me of such a thing. It was far more likely to be our new uncivilized guests! Donavin was both late and rather rude, maybe they took offense." he suggested.
"They would never do such a thing. They are an honorable people, who came looking for an alliance, and your brother may be one of the few people here they would respect." Mark spat.
His brother's face grew dark and angry, "You expect us to believe that? When you share their blood and have no honor? How do we know you didn't kill my brother at their request and kill an innocent servant to cover it up?" his brother accused.
Mark looked ready to leap at him and kill his brother with his bare hands. He needed to stop this now before it got more out of hand.
"Guards!" his brother yelled before he could say anything "Arrest this Man for the murder of the second prince." they shifted uncomfortably, some were friends with Mark, and most had already spotted him. Two, however, did not hesitate and were marching towards his friend and protector.
"Halt!" Dan shouted finally gaining his voice. All eyes swung to him. "He saved me. He deserves a raise, not imprisonment. He said trying to sound casual… as if this whole thing didn't bother him either… "You may take the... body... from Mark and give him a proper burial, if anyone knows his family please have them notified. Mark, go wash up and get something to eat, we have work to do after breakfast." Mark gave his would-be arrestors a challenging stare as he placed the corps in their hands then turned and gave a respectful bow before walking out. He was beginning to think Mark's bows were bad luck.
His brother stood staring at him, shocked. Shocked he was alive? Mark hadn't exactly said he was dead. He began to grow uncomfortable with all the eyes on him so he walked over to the other side of the table turning his back on them to talk to a shaking serving girl instead. "What's your name?" he asked quietly.
"Sarah" she breathed out shakily.
"Sarah, could you please go to the kitchens and tell Helena I'd like her to make one of her famous omelets?"
She nodded and ran off.
Facing the server next to her he said, "Send someone to clean the floors here before my mother and sister arrive and have someone sent to clean my room as well, then check on Sarah."
He nodded then bowed and walked off at a brisk pace. That taken care of he sat down to his father's left and grabbed some toast. He didn't think he could eat much, he was pretty sure Helena would realize the omelet was for the girl rather than himself. She would know just what to do and say to calm her down.
"I'm glad you are alright. Mark said that you got stabbed?" his father asked breaking the tense silence and looking worried. "Is that true?"
"I'm fine, that man was no assassin, he seemed terrified… he barely scratched me." he finished trying not to think of the man's face. "Will you be riding with me this morning?" he asked to change the subject. "I know you would have to move things around, but it might help the negotiations."
"After what just happened? Shouldn't you go to a healer? And what if they try to kill you again?" his father asked with actual worry in his voice. But had he already forgotten or discounted the possibility that it was his brother's doing?
"I don't believe they had anything to do with it," he said, glancing at his brother superstitiously, who was glowering at his food as he ate not even trying to hide that he was more upset seeing his brother alive than he had been about hearing of his potential death. How did his father not see him as the most likely suspect?
His uncle was talking to some of the guards who then walked out before he sat back down beside his brother. "What was that about?" he asked casually, there was a complicated tension between them at the best of times. He technically outranked his great-uncle in order of succession at birth. However, his uncle was older and to be respected. On top of that, he was the commander of the whole army and earned that respect in war, whereas he was just a new knight, who had achieved knighthood more from connections of birth than anything else.
"I just suggested they investigate the would-be assassin, to ensure he's identified and see if any family or friends can guess as to why he would do such a stupid thing." He said. "After all, we'll need to know what to inscribe on his tombstone," he said shaking his head in disbelief. "You better hope these peace talks all go well because I'm too old to fight another war and you are far too soft for war." he shook his head again, but there was less bite in his tone today. Either he was impressed he'd survived or actually getting too old and tired to care about his great nephew's shortcomings.
"But that doesn't mean we should just accept whatever terms they offer because he's too afraid of confrontation" his brother butt in accusingly.
"You're right, I guess it's a good thing our father will be the one accepting or denying any offers." Donavin snapped, not in the mood to deal with the person, most likely responsible for his assassination attempt. The knife Had been a foreign blade but the young man who'd died had been Centriszian.
What bothered him most was that, if the boy had been successful at killing him in his sleep and had escaped leaving the blade behind, the foreign warlords would be the first suspects, and that kind of allegation would ruin any chance of negotiations working out well and could end in an all-out war. A war that would cause suffering amongst their people. How could his brother who was in line to be king not think about the consequences his actions would have on his people?