CHAPTER NINE
Raymond was starting to get a sense of what it must be like to be his brother. Around him, people walked expectantly, the crowd of them, the army, following from village to village. With every step, Raymond could feel their eyes on him, their expectations, and their adulation.
“Royce, Royce!” a boy called out, far too young to be there.
“What is it?” Raymond asked him.
“I want to be just like you when I’m older. I want to fight the king’s armies and save everyone.”
Raymond smiled at that. “But when you’re older, we’ll already have won. Roy… I’ll be the king. Are you going to fight against me?”
The boy looked horrified by the prospect.
“It’s a good thought,” Raymond said. “But you’re too young to fight now. You need to go back home and make sure that your parents are saf
