Duel

Devrim woke with a start as Cafer spoke loudly in the room outside the cramped wardrobe. "Time to get up, Your Highness," he boomed. "The king will be expecting to see you."

Alaron groaned as the fog of sleep had not yet left him. "He can wait. I am not ready to get up."

The prince rolled over and groaned again as the rocky bed was unforgiving. Cafer sighed. Humans needed far more sleep than most magical creatures, and the teenagers of the species seemed to need extra rest.

"Fine," the gnome conceded. "I will be back to get you in a little while. But you will not waste the whole day by sleeping."

Alaron waved his hand dismissively and completely ignored the slamming chamber door. He did not hear the subtle creak of the wardrobe hinge or the nearly silent footsteps across the floor to his bed. It was only when a hand came across the prince's mouth that he was alerted to another's presence.

"Sh," Devrim called as he restrained the boy. "I just want to talk."

Alaron relaxed, and the grey