Einon understood. Bowen hated his father, the king, too. He smiled at Bowen. 'When my father dies, I'll be king. And you'll be my man, Sir Bowen.'
Bowen looked at Einon with love in his eyes. 'I'm your man now, my Prince,' he answered warmly.
Chapter 2 The Battle
Brok rode quickly back to the battle. When he got near the fighting, he
heard the sound of swords. He laughed loudly when he saw hundreds of peasants, dead on the ground.
In the middle of a field, Brok could see King Freyne on his horse. The crown on the king's head shone in the sun. On his coat was a picture of a dragon's head on a sword. The king looked down at the dead men below him with hard eyes. With a cruel smile on his face, he pulled out his sword. The peasants on his right and left were afraid. They ran away fast but the king followed them. He loved fighting and killing. Nothing could stop him now.
High above the battle, Sir Bowen and Prince Einon sat and watched. Bowen hated the fighting but Einon was excited.
'I want to fight down there with my father,' he said. 'No, you don't, boy,' Bowen answered sadly. 'I do! I do!' Einon shouted. 'And I want to see you fight too, Sir Bowen.
You're the best fighter in the world!' 'Yes, I am a good fighter. Better than your cruel father,' Bowen said angrily. Einon felt unhappy when he heard this. 'Don't be angry with him, Bowen.
He is my father and he is the king.' Bowen smiled kindly at the prince. He didn't want to make Einon unhappy.
But it was difficult for him to watch the battle. He was a Knight of the Old Code, and it was wrong to kill the peasants.
'Yes, Einon, your father's king now,' he said to the boy. 'But one day you'll be king and you'll wear the crown on your head. When you're king, remember today. And remember the Old
Code. Never, never fight the peasants. Then the crown will shine wonderfully on your head, and you'll be a better king than your father.'
Bowen turned to watch the battle with a heavy heart. He didn't see the prince's eyes when Einon spoke. They were as hard as the king's.
'Yes, I'm going to be a better king than my father, Bowen,' answered Einon. Then he suddenly shouted, 'Oh, look! My father's killing more stupid peasants!