Edge

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Edge stormed into his castle. "Welcome home, your highness!" greeted one of Eblan's sentries. Edge ignored him and continued his flight through the castle and up into his private room in the tower. All he wanted was some peace. He just wanted to be left alone.

"How could I be so stupid?" he asked himself. "Edge, you behaved like a child. What is wrong with you? She is just a woman, a woman like any other. You have had your pick of the ladies your entire life. This one is no different!"

He sighed and said aloud, "But she is different!"

More quietly he whispered, "She's wonderful."

He stared at himself in the mirror. He looked terrible, and felt just as bad to match. His hair stood on end, sweat drenched the collar of his suit, and his coat was wrinkled. He caught a terrible stench and realized it was his breath. The moment he could politely leave the wedding reception he bolted. He barely bid the newlywed couple good-bye before he was out the door. There was too much happiness…too much beauty…too damn much love! He had to get out of there before he went crazy. He needed a drink, hence the bad breath and the miserable headache.

A knock on the door brought him back to the present. "You really don't want to come in here," he shouted to be heard through the heavy wooden door.

"I'm sorry my lord, but the chamberlain thought you could use some strong coffee," replied a servant.

"All right, enter."

The young woman entered. She was short and rather petite with long blond hair and innocent, puppy dog, brown eyes. On any other day Edge might have made a pass at her. She was kind of cute. But today he could only watch the tray she carried. She walked carefully, and Edge noticed that she did not spill a single drop of coffee. He did not, however, notice her attractive smile or her perfect figure. He didn't even notice the cleavage she revealed when she bent over in front of him to pour his drink. He really must have been upset!

"Can I get you anything else?" she asked sweetly.

Edge stood at the window. Below him a group of ninjas were in training. Servants hustled this way and that. And in the midst of this, a young couple sneaked a private moment in the courtyard. He turned back to the young lady. "Not unless you have the answer to mankind's greatest mystery," he replied dreamily.

Very confused and somewhat scared the young woman responded, "I am not sure which mystery you are referring to. I, uh," she took several steps backwards toward the door, "I think you need a nice hot shower and a couple pots of coffee. Excuse my forward behavior sir, but you are not making any sense. I will go draw your bath, and then I am leaving." She quickly went into the bathroom leaving Edge to himself.

Ten minutes later the bathtub was overflowing and the chamberlain walked into the room. Edge did not seem to notice his entry, nor did he notice when the chamberlain shut off the water. He stood in his same spot by the window. The pair sneaking kisses in the courtyard had just been caught by the girl's mother. It was quite a sight to see! The angry mom chased her daughter's lover through the park attempting to beat him with a spatula.

"A-hem." There was no response. A little louder, "A-hem, your highness, are you with me?"

Edge turned away from the window to greet the chamberlain, if you could actually call Edge's blank stare a greeting. "Welcome home sir. Since your departure, nothing particularly interesting has occurred in the castle. You did however receive this letter from Damcyan." He handed the envelope to Edge. "Sir, I do recommend a bath and bed to cure that dreadful hangover." With that he left the room.

Outside the chamberlain could only shake his head. Something happened at the wedding he could tell, but there was no way Edge would talk to him about it, especially in his drunken stupor. Perhaps in the morning he could address this unkingly conduct. In the meantime he knew he must check for correspondence from Queen Asura. Surely she must have responded to his letter by now.