"A passive and ignorant citizenry will never create a sustainable world."

-Andrew Gaines

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Who would want to visit me? All I could hope for would be that it would be one of my parents and not that blasted Princess Karena. Then again, perhaps if Karena visited, I could show her that our knights were not smelly, disgusting men or whatever in the name of Purgatory that she said. Loony girl. She needed to spend some time in the dungeon.

"Send them in, if you must." Oh, dear, that was not proper court etiquette. My father's voice suddenly rang out in my head.

"Damian, remember, if you ever find yourself forgetting your etiquette, give yourself a quick pinch to bring yourself back to kindness."

I pinched my arm. Ouch. That didn't make me feel kind at all. I would have to have a chat with my father.

The door opened, and Kagan, looking apprehensive, led Princess Karena in. Of course. My life is just a daisy chain of muck.

"Prince, are you feeling better?" She placed her hands on my arm. I fought the temptation to hurl her across the arena. Not that I could. I would have been lucky to throw her two cubits.

"Yes, I am, thank you," I said shortly. This earned me another pinch. Curses, I needed to build up more resistance.

"I only wish to apologize for my rude behavior at the supper," she told me, not letting go of my arm. "I fear that I have upset you, and that is the last thing that I want to do as a ruler."

Call me a loon, but her speech did not sound genuine. Clearly she did not put the same time and effort into her speeches that I did. She read it as if she were reading a list of her close friends to be executed. She was simply saying this because she had to, and that was not acceptable. Princess Karena really needed to learn what she was supposed to do, because right now she was about as similar to a ruler as I was to a warrior. I stayed out of the warrior area, and she needed to do the same.

"Well, I appreciate that," I told her with a smile. At least I attempted to be a genuine ruler. I did not know what happened in Forjal, but it was clear that they were all ignoramuses.

"Where are we?" Princess Karena asked me, wrinkling her rather large nose disdainfully. "It smells worse than our royal stable. Perhaps we should go into the garden?" She offered her hand to me, clearly hoping I would squeeze it and sweep her off her feet into the garden and propose marriage then and there. Well, I apologize, princess, but if my life cannot be a fairy story, then neither can yours.

"We are in the knights' arena," I told her stiffly. "Our knights are honorable and wonderful, unlike some we may know." I gave her a very pointed look.

"Oh, of course," Princess Karena told me. "Our knights are disgusting. I pride you on being able to rein them in. Tell me, which disciplines do you utilize? The Forjallian knights are in need of some respect."

"They are naturally that way," I told her, becoming more and more angry by the minute. "These women are the most respectful, hardworking, honorable people that I know, and—"

"Wait!" Princess Karena screeched. Oh, no, she did not just interrupt me! That goes against all court etiquette that has ever existed! I was thinking that now would be a great time to tie her to a goat. "Did you just say women?"

"Yes," I hissed. Could she not see our female knights right here? Perhaps she was blind? If so, maybe I could make an allowance...after all, blindness was certainly an excuse for being unpleasant. I do not know what I would do if I could not view my fairy tale tapestries every night. "Are you perhaps suffering from an injury to the eyes?"

"No," she snapped, before smoothing her hair down. "It is just that I felt I misunderstood, considering no other kingdom has female knights."

What?

"It is really quite unusual," she told me, releasing my arm with disgust. "Men are traditionally the stronger ones in the world...as for women; it is our job to be rescued by strong, brave, chivalrous men." She shot me a look of pure venom. Well, at least I had saved myself from having to marry her. Female knights really are the solution to the world's problems.

"How nice for you," I replied.

"Yes," she told me. "I feel as though you need to be changed. You may still be able to become a brave man like that." She looked at me through critical eyes. "You are chivalrous beyond compare, Prince Damian, and while you are not striking, you are certainly not unattractive." Oh, thank you so very much, Princess Karena. Now my life is fulfilled since you think I am not unattractive. How may I repay you? Perhaps by giving you to a wicked witch?

Oh. Right. Those are not found in this world.

"So, what is your opinion?" Princess Karena asked me. "Perhaps you could visit the royal court of Forjal, and I could teach you the proper meaning of the social order."

Personally, I was thinking about giving myself to an evil witch. She would most likely be horrible for a few hours, but then once she learned that my knowledge of fairy stories (and thus all magical creatures, witches included) was boundless, she would use me to her utmost advantage, and we could create a new social order.

Oh. Right. Witches are not real.

"That sounds like a splendid idea, Princess."

We both spun around. Kagan. Oh, hags. I could have sworn that I had dismissed him...evidently not. The overgrown rat had been listening to our every word. Oh, I was being unkind. Kagan was not an overgrown rat. He vaguely resembled one, but for the most part he meant well.

"Does it not?" Princess Karena smiled, suddenly full of warmth and beauty. "I feel that this would greatly benefit Prince Damian in his studies to someday rule Attra."

"Of course, Your Highness," Kagan said, bowing deeply to the princess. That traitor. As soon as we arrived in my bedchamber, I would sentence him to clean my chamber pot. Ha. That would show the two-faced ogre. "We shall discuss this with the King and Queen at once."

"Oh, I knew you would find it wonderful," Princess Karena cooed. "Good day, Prince Damian."

I attempted to send her a look that screamed, "I will find a way to give you to a witch if it is the only thing I do for the rest of my life" but judging by her unwavering smile, it must have mumbled, "I am too much of a weak, useless, good-for-nothing-but-reciting-fairy-stories 'prince' to do anything but give you this look which could not even frighten a fly."

Kagan nudged me. "Good day," I muttered as Princess Karena retreated. The second that the door closed—and not one second too quickly—I turned to Kagan and shot him that same look. "Kagan, why would you agree to that? Are you attempting to destroy me so you can receive the throne? I will have you know that I have a fourth cousin who lives not far away, and she is next in line for the throne, not you, so your plan is quite amateurish."

Kagan gave me the look that I had attempted to give Princess Karena. Oh, pixies. He certainly knew how to give that look. I nearly used my breeches as a chamber pot. "I hate this hierarchy." My breeches would never be the same again. "Do you think I like having these tawdry maidens saving the kingdom and finding amazing objects while I serve the most useless prince in the region?" Did he just say that? "I had opportunities. I was born in Lubelle, but my parents sent me for schooling here. I could be in Lubelle right now. I could be a knight. I could be doing what men are supposed to do."

"But there is nothing that men and women are supposed to do!" I burst out. "If you are good at something, do it! If you are not, do not, unless you are attempting to amuse people!"

"And you think our female knights are not a source of amusement?" I stared at Kagan in disbelief. "I still have friends. I still know people from other kingdoms. Do you know what the first thing they mention is?"

"The fact that you serve the most useless prince in the region?"

"The fact that our knights are female. And, yes, that I am a mere servant. I think time in Forjal could teach you a lot. It is about time that this kingdom became a real kingdom."

Wait...something else was not right. "Are you saying that more than one kingdom utilizes male knights?"

Kagan placed his hand on his head. "We are the only kingdom that does not have male knights! We are the only kingdom in which the queen is more powerful than the king! We are the only kingdom with such a passive prince!"

That hurt most of all. He could say that I was useless as much as he wished. At least that hinted to the fact that I tried, but I could not achieve anything. Saying that I was passive meant that I did not do anything. That I simply sat and did not try anything. I wanted Attra to improve. Perhaps this was not my ideal method, but I did want to help Attra.

I did want Attra to improve. I did want to help Attra.

I could not disappoint Kagan. He had been so reliable, and it would hurt my heart to see him this upset again.

"I will go."

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Note: Wow, it's been ages since I've updated! It's been fun hanging out with Damian again. I've re-drafted the story, so I now have a new sequence of events that I'm happier with, so I'll probably write a lot more. Thank you all for all of your nice comments, especially those of you who've offered concrit.

Fedorable's Song of the Chapter:
"When They Come for Me" by Linkin Park
Oh, dear. I love LP. At first when I heard some of their new stuff ("The Catalyst", "Waiting for the End") I was kind of unpleasantly surprised at how different they sounded, but I've grown to appreciate it. Anyway, this song is much more similar to their old stuff, especially the Meteora songs. Mike sounds awesome. Go listen while you review (ha).