�There you are,� Daphne sighs as she sees Justin on the ledge. �Better get down from there before your father catches up there.� She shakes her head. �Sometimes I think you do things just to piss him off .�
Justin smiles back Daphne.
�Well, you better get yourself down stairs your father is waiting.�
�Daph, I�m so fucking bored with all the shit.� He climbs down. �Why did King Kinney have to leave my father in charge?
He acts as though he is king. I can�t wait until the King returns everything can go back the way it was.�
�Well, you are starting to be a royal pain," she admits. �But things will every be the same, Justin, or things would just stand still. Maybe, the feast tonight will be fun for you.�
�Oh, yes, sitting around watching people of court talk about nothing while stuffing their faces, it a boy's dream come true," he says sarcastlly. "The only good thing about the whole event is that there will be music and dancing."
�Hey, you might meet lady who will sweep you off your feet.�
Justin looks striaght at her making eye contact. �Trust me, Daphne, that will never happen.�
She smiles.
***
�Where have you been?� Jennifer cries as her son enters his room .
�I went out for some fresh air.�
�You were on the ledge again, weren�t you? I told you not to go up there. One of these days you fall off, and..and... oh I don�t to think that." She tries to calm herslf. "You are scaring me, Justin. Just promise me, that was the last time.�
�Fine, it was my time.�
�Promise?�
�Promise.�
�Justin!� yells Craig as he enters the room. �These childish games need to end. You are almost a man. You need to act like it.� Craig looks over at his wife. �And you are not helping him. This is all your fault. You treat like a baby. Leave us.� With Jennifer leaving the room, Craig continues, �You need to think of your future. Why weren�t at class today? Bruckner tells me he hasn�t see you all day.� Justin stares at the floor. �What in the hell is more than your studies?�
�I was painting and lost track of the time.�
�Painting? Justin, I don�t ever want to hear that you have been wasting your time on another painting, or drawing again.�
�But, Father...�
�Do I make myself clear?�
Justin nods.
�Good, now get ready for tonight festivities, and, Justin, don�t be late.�
***
Justin groans with disgust as he enters the dinning room. The room is filled with people of the wealthy and powerful. Greeting people, Justin slowly makes his way to his seat joining his mother and sister. He takes his cup and fills it with red wine. Sipping his drink, he tries to pretend to be listen in conversions at the table.
At the opposite end of the table too far down for Taylor�s to hear them, a group of men talk among themselves. �It�s true. I have heard it too. The Prince is making his way back to the city,� Blake adds.
�He is still a prince, isn�t he?� Andre questions as he scatches his chin.
Christian explains, �Yes, but a prince with no power.�
�Do think he has come back to reclaim the throne?� asks Andre.
�Maybe,� answers Christian.
�But the King is still alive,� complains Peter as he sits down to join them.
�But he is not here,� Matthew replies.
�His father has been gone for seven months, why come back now?�
�It's probably only a rumor," Chistian sighs. "When the Prince left, I got the feeling that he wasn�t planning on ever returning.� �Quite frankly, I would like it if the Kinney�s never return,� Matthew says pouring himself a drink. The other men grasp at bold comment.
�How could you say such a thing?� Peter says in shock and looks around to see if any one heard him.
�I agree. King Kinney has been running this kingdom into the ground from the day he was crowned. The best decision he ever made was leaving Taylor in charge. We are living better now in the last few month than we ever had.�
�True, but still you shouldn�t say such things out loud. The Kinney�s are still...� Andre begins to say before Matthew cut him off.
�For now, but, if Sir Taylor was to over throw the King, I wouldn�t stop him. Shit! I'd probably be support him.�
�What about the Prince?�
� I don�t think he would shade a tear if something was happen to his old man, nor do I think he cares to rule.�
�What about the people who are loyal to the crown and birth right?� Blake blurts out.
�I�m afraid that there isn�t many especially in this room,� explains Christian. �Besides, I would rather see young Justin as the future king than Brian.�
The group glance over at Justin.
Justin felt their eyes a upon him. Looking over at them, Justin raises his cup towards them.
The men repeat the motion.
�Justin does have some promise to make a great leader,� Matthew agrees.
�Yes, and unlike his father he can be control,� Christian says with a grin.
�To Justin,� the men say crashing their cups together.
�This is a wonderful feast that your father has pulled together, Justin,� says a young lady who sits across from him.
�Yeah, it is almost as good as the one last month,� Justin remarks as downs another cup of wine. To Justin�s relief, chatter decease as his father enters taking his place at the table. Justin could finally heard the music playing in the background as everyone begins to eat.
After few songs, a musician moves to the middle of the room. The fiddler bows and begins to play. His song seep out from him with emotion as though they were one.
Justin turns his attention to a young attractive fiddler player. The boy seem to be memorize by him.
When the fiddler finish his song, he takes another bow.
Jumping up, Justin begins to applaud.
The fiddler smiles slightly making eye contract with Justin as he rejoins the other musicians.
Justin who realize that he is the only one clapping stops. He looks over at everyone in the room and quickly asks the young lady is she would like to join him for a dance. They head out to the dance floor, and the musicians start to play again. Justin smiles as he moves across the floor through the crowd of dancers who had join him. His eyes never leaving the young musician.
After the end of several songs later, Justin sees Daphne. Justin grabs Daphne pulling her onto the dance floor. �Justin, I am suppose to be clearing the plates.�
�They aren�t going anywhere, Daph.�
�What will your father...�
�Fuck my father. Just one dance,� he pleas. Daphne gives in, and they start to dance.
�Okay, who is she?�
�She?�
�The lady who has stolen your heart, knuckle head. Your practicality beaming.�
�Am I?� Justin grins. �Sorry, Daph,but there is no lady.�
�Really?� She studies his face. �Then what has you in such a good mood,� she questions.
�Did you hear him? I never heard music played like that. It was like he was the music, and the music was him.�
�Who are you talking about?�
�The fiddler player.� He points him out to her.
�Who Ethan? Ethan Gold?�
�Is that his name? Do you know him?�
She nods.
�Would you introduce him to me?�
�I guess, but then I must get back to work. If Helen...�
�Thanks, Daph,� Justin says as music ends, and they head over to Ethan.
�Hi, Ethan.�
�Hello, Daphne.�
�Ethan this Justin, Justin Taylor. Justin this is Ethan Gold.� The two young men shook hands.
�Your are Craig�s boy then.�
�Yes. You are incredible.�
�Yes, I am," Ethan smiles smugly. " It is always nice to know that I fan in the audience.�
�Shit! There is Helen.� Daphne cries out. �Excuse me.� Daphne quickly leaves the two.
Justin realizes that the musicians had began to play the next song without Ethan. �I�m sorry. I didn�t mean to keep you from...�
�It�s all right. I think they could live if I sat out a song or two.�
***
�So, you painted these,� Ethan inquires to paintings in Justin�s room.
�Yes.�
�These are quite good. Your father must be proud of your talent.�
�My father doesn�t approve it. He thinks it�s a waste of time,� Justin says coldly. �In fact, he forbids me to continue it.�
�That�s too bad. Talent like yours shouldn�t be wasted.� He examines the paintings. �How much?�
�What?�
Ethan picks up a painting. �How much do you want for this one?�
�You can have it. I�m suppose to get rid of all of them anyway.�
�Your kidding me, right?�
He shakes his head.
�Well, then I will take them all and show them to the world. I will make you famous.�
Justin blushes. �You don�t mean that.�
�Oh, I mean every word.� Ethan steps closer to Justin. �Every word.�
�You would really show my work to world? Are they that good?�
Ethan nods.
�I never been outside the city�s walls,� Justin admits.
�Now, that is a shame.� Ethan takes his hand and gently brushes his hand down Justin�s cheek. �We are going to have to change that.�
Justin closes his eyes for a second taking in the moment.
Ethan grabs his fiddle. �How about I play for you exchange for these master pieces.�
�I would like that,� he replies with smile and takes a sit on his bed.
�Is there any requests from my audience?�
�Play something romantic.�
�How about...� Ethan is cut off as Craig burst into the room.
Craig stares at them. �Justin, what do you think you are doing?�
Standing up, Justin replies, �I was just showing Ethan Gold my paintings?�
�I thought we talk about this?�
�Yes, Sir.�
�Why don�t you go join your mother with our guests.�
�Yes, Sir.� Justin looks at Ethan one more time and leaves the room.
�Now, what the hell is this?�
�What the hell is what?�
�Don�t you take me for a fool. I know who you are. Coming here to spy on me is one thing, but you can tell the Queen to leave my son out of it. It is between her and me. You got that.�
�The Queen would like to know why Jack Kinney is still alive. She thought you would have taking care of him by now.� Ethan says with a smirk, �She is very disappointed in you.�
�You can tell her Highness not to worry. It will be taken care of shortly.�
�I hope so far your sake.�
�Is that all?�
�More or less.�
�Good. You can pick up your things and head back to York. You are no longer welcome here.�
***
Knocking on the door, Daphne walks into Justin�s room with fire wood. She notices that his paintings are missing.
�Can�t believe him!� Justin cries at the verge of tears.
�Calm down, Justin.� Daphne places the fire wood down. �It�s not the end of the world.� She sits down next to him on his bed.
�No, but it might as well be,� Justins says shoving his face into his pillow.
�Did your father take all your art work?�
�No, Ethan took them.�
�Ethan?�
�Ethan didn�t do any, so why did my father banish him?�
�What is with you and this Ethan today? Your acting like you are...but you can�t be. You�re not...I mean it�s a sin punishable by death.�
�I know.�
�And Ethan too?� she says in shock.
�You are not going to tell any one are you?�
�No, I�m not," she says softly holding back her tears.
�Oh, Daphne, you must help me.�
She looks away. �I don�t know.�
�Please, Daphne, I need your help,� Justin begs.