'What the hell? How is this possible?'
Jacob racked his brain while pacing around the woman.
'It just can't be fair. It can't be. I refuse to accept it. A measly peasant receiving a power before I do.'
Looking back down at the woman he scoffed.
"How long?"
Maria looked up at the prince, slowly lifting herself off the ground.
"What?"
"How long have you had this power? Were you hiding it from me this whole time? From the king? You know what will happen if my father hears of this."
Maria shook her head.
"I don't know how long I've had it. It feels like I only got it recently. It wasn't even noticeable until we had our conversation in the dining hall."
Jacob's anger was seething. He was struggling to think straight.
"How did you get it? Is there something you're hiding from me?"
"No! I promise on the king it just randomly appeared within me."
Jacob heaved a heavy sigh and paced a little more. Maria was still sitting on the ground, afraid to meet his gaze. She seemed more depressed than she was scared now. The young prince took out his blade and walked towards the woman.
Using the tip of the sword, he moved her chin up so she could see him looking down on her. He moved the sword closer to her neck before he spoke.
"We continue on for now. But if you try anything funny again, I will not hesitate to stop my blade like I have before."
Maria nodded in agreement.
"Anything for you, my prince."
Jacob watched her as she stood up and wiped the tears from her face.
"I'm sorry, but I can't promise you your safety when we return. You will be at the mercy of the king."
Maria returned to her usual emotionless expression before answering.
"I do not fear the king."
"Maybe you should."
"Why should I? It is the princes will that I follow. His will outlives the king. His will is refined wisely beyond what the king is capable of. A strong king will always create a stronger prince."
Jacob was a bit taken aback by these words.
"Well, for holding me in such a high regard, that little stunt you pulled sure doesn't make it seem that way."
He rubbed his forehead before continuing.
"Let's go to the next one. We still have a long day ahead of us."
"Yes, my lord."
Following Maria's words, they both walked to hunt down the remaining people on the list. The next few people were not troublesome, but a few questioned the summons of the king. One man was a merchant who ran a shoe shop.
"The king looked into your background and was deeply disappointed. He is summoning you to his palace for manual labor."
The merchant looked at Jacob appalled.
"What? That was years ago for petty theft. Why is he summoning me now?"
"Do you dare question the king?"
The merchant shied away a bit at this response.
"No, I-... It's just that... Why me specifically?"
The prince pulled out the list he had stashed in his back pocket.
"It was a random selection to make it as fair as possible. Besides, from what I hear the project is almost done. You won't be gone long."
The man looked at the list and nodded.
"Understood. I'll prepare my things and be on my way."
Jacob looked at his list as he left the man's store.
"Only two more to go. Let's hurry up and finish this."
As Jacob and Maria walked into a bar, they called out for a man named Veal. Upon hearing his name, a mountain of a man turned his head and stared the prince down.
"Who called me?"
The prince fearlessly walked up to him and slammed the paper on the table in front of his face.
"The king orders you to his palace at once."
The grizzly man let out an obnoxious cackle that rang through the bar.
"You mean the same king who locked me up behind bars? Not a chance. Not everyone wants to follow your stupid father's tyranny."
This remark angered Jacob. His blood boiled with rage; his face was turning hot and his muscles tensed.
"Then if you don't follow my father, you will follow me."
Everyone in the bar stopped their activities and silently watched the altercation unfold.
"And if I don't?"
Jacob slowly unsheathed his sword from his waist.
"Ah. I see."
Right as the man turned towards the table, he swiftly grabbed his empty pint of ale and threw it at the prince. He just narrowly dodged the cup, but the beast of a man was already in front of him. He tackled the young prince right into the wall of the bar, splintering shards of wood all around the floor. Jacob recovered quickly and threw an elbow at the back of his head which collided with resounding force.
The man staggered backwards from the hit. By the time he regained himself, the prince was already upon him. A barrage of punches found their marks on his body. His bones groaned against the force; his big body was being pushed back further by the second. Jacob felt adrenaline pumping through his being. His blows felt more powerful than ever, his speed was immaculate, but his ego was taking control of his mind.
As Jacob reeled back to throw a heavy punch, Veal managed to block it with his massive forearm and send a devastating uppercut to his diaphragm. The clap of the punch made the spectators gasp. However, to everyone's surprise, the prince shrugged it off like it was nothing. After spitting some blood on the ground, the prince moved his hair out of his disheveled face.
'Compared to the king, these punches are nothing.'
Jacob backed himself toward the splintered wall, taunting the man to come forward. Accepting his invitation, Veal dashed toward him like a bull. Using his momentum against him, Jacob threw the man into the same wall.
Only this time, Jacob managed to scrape up his sword that laid close to where he was tackled. Steel hissed through the air and bit right into Veal's right arm, severing it completely. A howl escaped from the man's mouth. Jacob grabbed him by the nape of his neck and dragged him to the kitchen in the back. There was a fire currently roasting a large rack of meat above it.
Jacob threw the rack away, grabbed the mans severed arm, and shoved it into the fire to cauterize the wound. Veal squealed and flailed around before suddenly going still, passing out from the pain. Silence plagued the bar for a few moments more. Then, whispers and mumbles were being exchanged by the witnesses of the fight.
"What the hell just happened?"
"Did you see how big that guy was? How did such a small man take him down?"
"How ruthless...he severed his arm clean off and burned it."
"He's not a prince, he's a monster...Only a monster is capable of something like that."
Jacob waved over to Maria, still panting from his altercation.
"Carry this man out. We can hand him off to one of the guards to take to the castle."
Maria grabbed the man by the collar and started to drag him toward the exit.
"As you wish my lord." As they walk away together, Jacob looks at Maria's emotionless face.
"Some meat shield you are... I've been the only one getting hurt all day."