As the dust rose I looked up into the face of Eric, his natural tan submerged temporarily beneath anger induced floridity, a small gleam of triumph was in those dark, dark eyes. His fists still raised he stood over me, looming. Incongruously I noticed an arrant lock of black hair, sweat smeared across his wide forehead. Behind him I saw his younger brother, timid little Jez, his eyes were wide, his mouth open in a gape of surprise, a surprise that matched my own. I still remember the voices I had heard, voices urging Eric on, some were voices of friends, my friends.
Anger rose in me, a burning rage, but shame was foremost in my mind. A shadowling could not best a Prince of the blood, no it could not be. Mother always said how much better we were than them. True Eric was older, larger but he could not be better.
To my rear loomed the castle walls, the stables and barracks nearby, I shot a glance that way to check that none of mother's soldiers had seen me fall. Good, nobody there. My entourage was enough, a circle of boys, some my followers, some enemies. There faces a mixture of fear, shock, pleasure and excitement.
I felt shame then, double shame on me! No shame on Eric, damnable Eric, always there, always opposing me, always trying to beat me!
"Get up your highness so I can knock you down again, or do you yield?" Eric taunted.
I scrambled to my feet, face no doubt red, mouth set in a grimace; the marks of Eric's fists would show on my face to highlight my disgrace for several days.
"A true Prince of Amber never yields." I cried as I launched myself at him, my voice telling an unwanted tale, that I was near to tears.
A look of fear appeared on Eric's face then, 'Good, fear me you bastard' I thought, but the look was matched on the faces of all the onlooking boys.
A great booming voice rang out, whilst an irresistible force halted my charge. By reflex I tried to twist around to see who or what was holding me back, clamps like iron cords were upon my shoulders.
"Brennus, stop your squirming damn it. You are a Prince of Amber, you should know better than to brawl like a common gutter snipe."
My heart sank. Uncle Gerard. Gerard had seen.