Five years later, Solitude tower.
The bright light from the sun shone perpetually through the window on the elegant young man sitted immobile in his private parlour with a book in his grasp. A cup of tea layed on the table next to a whistling kettle on a mini-heater, the man stretched his hands and lifted the cup to his lips still fully concentrated on the book. A grimace of disgust spread on his face as he realized that the tea was cold, he took another cup from a little tray of cup and poured himself another tea.
Crown Prince Sessa Tressor IV was a reserved man and liked to stick to his books whenever he had no official duty to do. He liked his space and didn't mind serving himself hence no maid was found in the room.
A knock sounded at the door and Sessa dropped the book on the table and held the cup of tea with both hands.
"Come in." His mellow voice called.
A tough looking man in a military attire and a sword slung at the side of his waist looking about the same age as Sessa came in.
"Your highness." Franagan Nonwil aka the bull saluted. Franagan was known as the bull because of his might and his muscled arms were an evidence of this. He was Sessa's friend and right hand man, they had grown up together.
"Franagan." Sessa had told Franagan times without number that there shouldn't be any formalities between them yet the bull never failed to call him your highness. Whether he always forgot or he does it on purpose, Sessa had no idea.
"His Majesty summons you." Franagan informed going straight to the point.
Sessa nodded. "I heard Toban is coming back."
"Yes. His Majesty granted him an early return."
He knew then why his father summoned him to the palace.
"Get me my cloak please."
After donning on his cloak he walked out of the room with Franagan behind him with his hand firmly placed on his sword. Sessa got into his usual carriage prepared for him while Franagan took the driver's seat. As they made their way to the palace, suddenly the horses leading the carriage gave a loud snort. It swayed from side to side in fright jolting the carriage roughly.
Sessa soon began to feel giddy from the excessive movement of the carriage, the horses raced away knocking down people's stalls and ruining their goods. Franagan reacted quickly holding firmly the reins he yanked them forcefully, the horses neighed in indecision as to whether to keep racing or to stop. Franagan's will power soon won and the horses came to a restless halt.
The bull jumped down and rushed to the door of the carriage opening it.
"Your highness are you okay?"
Sessa shook his head. "I'm alright." But he looked pale, Sessa had always been frail since childhood. The royal doctor diagnosed that he spent energy faster than an average person, as long as he took medications from time to time and had a lot of rest he would be okay.
"What is wrong with the horses?" He asked troubled for he had always used this carriage wherever he went and the horses had never behaved this way.
"They seem to be startled but I have no idea what could have startled them." Franagan replied.
Sessa sighed, he had a gut feeling that this was not as simple as it seemed.
•°•
On their arrival at Craynon Palace the abode of King Sessa Tressor III, the current king of Panirut, the king's eunuch announced their arrival. At the king's consent, Sessa was ushered into the king's drawing room.
"Father."
Sessa Tressor III turned, he was a slightly aged man with a yet handsome face. He smiled like he always did whenever he was with his favourite son, the king liked Sessa best out of all his sons and he made no attempt to hid it. Sessa had no idea if it was a blessing or a curse.
"Son, you look pale." His Majesty commented.
"I'm fine." Sessa contemplated whether he should tell his father about the accident or not. He made his decision.
"I just had a little accident."
"Mm."
"You know about that already?"
"I know about everything in Panirut."
"Do you think it was an accident?" Sessa asked peering at his father's face.
"I bet you know the answer to that already." It wasn't an accident.
"You know why I called you today."
"Do I?" Sessa replied back. King Sessa III smiled in amusement and gestured for his son to sit. His son might have a weak body but he knew his mind was as tough as a rock.
"Your brother, Toban is coming back." King Sessa poured himself and his son tea, he watched as his son hid his eyes with his eyelid sipping his tea quietly.
"I heard." Sessa replied.
"I know I sent him to serve at the war front for seven years as a punishment for what he did to you, he has spent just five years yet his mother has been wanting him to come back and besides he is still my son."
Flash~back
Five years ago
Seventeen year old Sessa had just finished the official assignment given to him and he was quiet pleased with himself.
He looked forward to reading while taking tea in the cool evening to relax himself.
After getting to Solitude tower, he took a long bath and went to his private parlour. Unknown to him that the incense on the table had been poisoned, due to his weak health the poison caught up with him quickly and he fell to the ground with a trod.
If Franagan hadn't walked in to see him at that moment he would have long been dead.
After much investigation the maid who arranged the room was caught and she said the second prince Toban Tressor was the mastermind.
At that point he knew that the phrase 'blood is thicker than water' wasn't always valid.
Sessa shook his head to clear off bad memories.
"As long as he doesn't come in my way I can forgive." Tressor III patted him on his shoulder.
"I think you should get a bodyguard." His Majesty said.
Sessa chuckled but when he saw his father's face he stopped.
"Are you serious?"
"Of course. Especially after what happened this morning."
"But I have Franagan."
"He has been by your side for so long, I wanted to give him a promotion but since you want him to be a mere bodyguard I can change--"
"Father!"
Tressor III laughed at his son's expression.
"I'm just kidding. I will assign a bodyguard to you."
"Well then I'll be on my way."
"Take your medications when you get home."
They both rose up and Sessa saw himself out.
As Sessa returned back to Solitude tower he kept replaying the incident that happened on his way to Craynon Palace. He wondered who was responsible for it.