“The answer is no Joshua,” replied the king harshly. “I am the king and you will obey my commands.”
“I am heir, how can I rule the land if I don’t know what the people are thinking?” shot back Joshua knowing he was crossing his father’s line of tolerance.
“When you are king you may do as you wish,” hissed King Chasez, his eyes cold. “But until then, you follow my orders or you won’t last long enough to be king. Is that clear?”
“Very clear Father,” grumbled Joshua before storming out of the room. It hadn’t always been like this. Joshua and his father use to have been close, but five years ago, Joshua’s older sister Taylor disappeared. Since that time, King Chasez became over protected of his two remaining children and Joshua was forced to live a sheltered life in the castle. For five yeas Joshua obeyed his father, figuring his father knew what was best for him. However Joshua finally had enough. His father may be king, but at twenty-five Joshua was in charge of his own destiny.
Entering his room quickly, Joshua began pulling out the old, ragged clothing that he had been collecting for the past six months. He was determined to spend at least the day out in the village.
“Father will be mad,” spoke a soft voice and Joshua spun around to find his fifteen year old brother Edgar.
“Knock next time Ed,” growled Joshua, glaring at his younger brother. “You almost gave me a heart attack.”
“Worst things then that will happen to you when Father finds out you’re sneaking out of the castle,” shot back Edgar both angry and worried. If anything happened to Joshua, he would be left all alone. And he didn’t know what would happen then. “Give it up Josh! Please!”
“I’m not going to get caught,” reassured Joshua discarding his current clothing and dressing quickly in the rags. “I’ll only be gone a few hours and during that time Father is busy in a meeting. He won’t notice or care what I was up to.”
“Who’s he meeting with?” asked Edgar feeling dread fill in his stomach. For some reason he knew he was not going to like his brother’s reply.
“Lou,” sneered Joshua not even trying to hide the distaste in his voice. Lou was Lou Pearlman, right hand man to the king. Joshua had hated the man immediately when he had started working for the king, almost six years ago. But the king had always ignored his son’s fears, that Lou was only out for his goal, and that goal was control of the kingdom.
“Lou isn’t that bad Josh,” replied Edgar quietly. Unlike his brother, Edgar thought there was nothing wrong with Lou and that he only wanted what was best for the kingdom. “He’s really nice once you get to know him.”
“Yeah once he has you under his spell and will do anything he wants,” grumbled Joshua, pulling a cloak over his shoulder and drawing the hood high up over his head so that his face was invisible.
“That’s not true,” protested Edgar
“Look Eddie, I’ve made up my mind,” Joshua sharply replied. “I’ll be back in a few hours. If I get caught, you didn’t see me, okay.”
“Fine,” grumbled Edgar. “Just hurry up and leave so you can get back here quickly.”
“I going,” replied Joshua slipping out the door of his room. Edgar waited five minutes after Joshua had left, then left the room as well, heading down the long corridor to his own room. He however didn’t make it unseen.
“Eddie, where are you running off to so quickly?” called a voice and Edgar looked up to find Lou Pearlman walking towards him followed by his assistants Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson.
“Hey Uncle Lou,” replied Edgar, his face breaking out into a huge grin. “I should ask you that. Josh told me you were in a meeting with our father.”
“I’m on my way there right now,” smiled Lou. “Where is your brother anyways? He’s usually hanging around interfering in my work.”
“I don’t know,” lied Edgar however the older, fatter man saw through the lie.
“Tell me the truth, Eddie,” replied Lou gently. “I though we were friends and I can tell something is bothering you. Friends tell friends their problems so they can help.”
“Josh snuck out of the castle,” blurted out Edgar. “He’s only suppose to be gone a few hours but I’m worried something will happen to him.”
“Good boy,” reassured Lou patting Edgar on the shoulder. “Now run along and Uncle Lou will take care of everything.”
“Thanks Lou,” sighed Edgar as he continued on the way. It felt good telling someone he could trust his problems.
“Nick, Kevin!” commanded Lou as soon as Edgar disappeared, his voice losing all niceness.
“Sir?” they asked snapping to attention.
“Inform the guards that Prince Joshua has been labeled a traitor and is to be arrested on site. I will deal with the king.”
“Yes sir!” they saluted.
“And notify your fellow BackAlly Boys. If they are to spot the prince in the village, they are to kill him.”
“Yes sir!” they repeated before running off to fulfill their orders.