Chapter 1

You, know, you always hear these stories of a poor princess who suddenly have to marry this unknown prince. Usually she gets out of the situation and lives happily ever after with some other dude. Well, why don't you ever hear about the poor prince that has to marry some unknown princess? I don't know. All I know is that I'm one of those poor princes. Well, actually the princess was known to me, which made it even worse.

Princess Anastasia was not the type of girl any guy would want to hang around him. I mean even her own father was creeped out by her. Sure she was pretty, and practically drop dead gorgeous with that long blonde hair and shining blue eyes. Actually the eyes were usually on fire with rage. She was very short tempered.

So why did I have to get stuck with her? Well reason number: I was a prince. Stupid reason number two: I was a wealthy handsome prince and she was a wealthy beautiful princess. And silly reason number three: Our stinkin' parents wanted us to. That was the biggest reason and the one I hated most. I was not a kid. I was twenty years old and if my dad had knighted me himself, I had beaten many of his choice knights, and was already helping in most of the affairs of the kingdom, why couldn't I find my own wife?

That is what I was telling myself in my room while staring glumly at the mirror. I had five hours to get ready to meet Princess Anastasia and I did not want to. Five hours! I looked at the door then back at the dressing room where my servant was expecting me to be dressing. I grinned and bolted for the door.

The hall was empty and I strolled down and even found myself whistling. I stopped quickly and somehow made it out of the castle without being caught by some turned up nosed butler, nobleman, or any of my siblings and parents. My destination, the stables.

No one suspected a tall young man stride idly into the royal stables, whistling to himself. After all, they came in multitudes. Even though this one was dressed in royal clothing and happened to have a royal ring on. (Actually I had stuck that hand in my pocket.)

The only one who noticed me was the person, the stableboy, who was about my age. He had I were great pals, yes the prince and the stable boys were friends, very good friends. He stuck his head out from one of the stalls and said, "Why it's the run away prince Cinderella! Has the princess gotten dull?"

I growled and chucked a piece of something from the floor at him.

"Shut up, will ya?"

He ducked and it hit the horse beside him instead. The horse was a new one so it freaked out and practically kicked Conrad, much to my delight. When he scrambled out of the stall, I looked at the horse more closely. It was a tall steed with large wild eyes and a sleek bay coat. A very fine looking animal. I touched his velvet nose gently and he jerked at my touch. He definitely had some spirit. I liked that very much. I turned quickly to Conrad.

"I want to ride this horse. Where did he come from?"

"Gaul. They are famed for their horses, remember? Your grandfather overpowered them and every year they give us a fine horse every year. He's the newest and has given me a lot of trouble. He's never been ridden."

I grinned. "All the better. Saddle him for me, will ya. While I get out of these sissy clothes."

Conrad gave me an exaggerated bow and said in a silly solemn voice, "To hear is to obey, Prince Lance."

I threw another glob at him and this time it hit him square in the head. I ducked into the peg house while he squawked. I doffed my silk and velvet and put on one of of Conrad's simple tunics and leggings. I knew mother and Elaine would freak out if they caught me in my normal clothes right after one of my rides. Elaine is my younger sister, though she wishes and thinks she is my older one.

I always enjoyed being in the stables when I had ditched my royal clothing. I felt free and independent around Conrad and the horses. It was when I put of my charade of being His Excellency Prince Lance to being just Lance.

Conrad was swearing and leaning against the wall when I returned. His hand was on his eye and he looked fit to kill.

"Has Ares given you some trouble, Conrad?" I asked with a laugh.

"Aye, and I'll laugh when he gives you some. Ares? Is that what you named him? If he's the god of war like I think he is then I think that is a very good name for that devil. Although I think Hades would suit him better."

"Ares god of war, also a major cry baby. But this Ares is not." I patted my new horse on the neck and he skittered away, rolling his eyes. I hopped slowly into the stall and continued to stroke him and to talk gently. He stopped shaking, but he continued to glare at me with wide eyes. The saddle had been put on hurriedly and was not tightened. I tightened it very slowly, Ares jumped and gave a little kick, but that was all.

"Working your magic, eh?" muttered Conrad. His hand had moved away, revealing a dark ring beginning to form around his eye.

I nodded and put a hand on Ares's back the other still on his neck. I murmured, "You got the bridle on, I'm impressed."

He grunted. "Aye, I did. That's when he hit his head against my eye and nearly kicked me out of the stall."

I smiled with pride and said, "All right, Con, I'm ready. Open the gate when I say."

He nodded and moved cautiously over to the stall. Ares lay his ears way back at Conrad. I was pleased. There was actually a horse that hate Conrad the might horse trainer.

"Now!"

Conrad yanked the gate open just as I swung into the saddle. Ares immediately bolted with a neigh and Conrad scrambled quickly away. I only clutched onto the that black mane as he swerved to the right and dashed out of the stall. Hesitating only to rear and kick furiously, trying desperately to get me off. But I held on.

The fields where I practiced my warfare rushed by and all the bystanders as Ares ran. I felt like I was on a live tornado, and considered changing his name. But Ares still stuck with him as he raced for the woods. My heart dropped like a rock when I realized what he was planning to do.

The dreaded branches drew closer and I immediately groped for the reins. When I found them, I pulled on them, not too hard, but hard enough to make Ares slow down. He reared and plunged, but I held firmly on. He bucked, reared, plunged, and did everything he could think of, even stopping a moment to get down onto his belly. I jumped off, but was immediately back on when he clamored back up. Then he reared so I high I was afraid he fall over backwards and I break my back. But he didn't. He just came down with a great thud and stood stock still.

I'd won.

Cheers rang through the air, and Ares gave a small jump. I turned to see a crowd of people waving their arms with huge smiles on their faces. Conrad was among whooping up a storm. I grinned and they cheered louder as if I had just proven I was still alive. There was sweat pouring down my face, my hands were white with the death grip I had had on the riens, and there was a slight tear in my leggings, but I was alive.

Ares was breathing hard and his neck was glossy with sweat. I patted him and he didn't even flinch. He was truly my horse. I turned him back towards the stables and he walked, with his head still high and his eyes still sparking with indignation and spirit at the people who gathered around me. I nudged him and he barred his teeth at one man. He fell back in amazement, and the crowd backed off, with oos and awes. I guess they didn't think that Prince Lance was the one they were muttering about being a wild and skilled horse tamer. I smirked and Ares gave a small kick before going into the stables.

I swung off reluctantly, wishing I could relive the fight I had had with him. But I led him into his stall where he took a very long drink while I wiped him down. His neck was still sleek and beautiful and I took extra time to brush out the tangles that were in his black mane and tail. He really was a beauty of a horse.

"Excuse me, sir."

I poked my head out of the stall while Ares flinched. A young girl about sixteen was standing in the walkway. Like most of the girls of my country she was veiled as was nervously fidgeting with her dress. I growled at myself and said, "What do you want?"

"I came to ask your name, sir." She blushed and added quickly, "And the horse's. He is a noble beast and..."

"Ares is not a beast," I said returning brushing his tail. She stepped forward and I searched for a name I could give her. My name is James. And if you're wondering about my skill with the horse, only know that I'm from Gaul. Now go, the royal stables is no place for a girl."

She nodded and skipped away. I grinned, glad that James was now beginning to have some fans.

"Where are you, Prince of Horses?" asked Conrad in his joking manner.

I was about to answer when a thought flashed through my head.

Dang it! I was going to be late for that stupid meeting with Princess Anastasia!