Styxx (Dark-Hunter 22)

The valet glared at him, but he had no choice except to obey.

Ryssa grabbed Styxx's arm, sinking her nails into his flesh until he was certain he'd have half-moon cuts from it. "That was rude!"

And grabbing his arm in front of everyone wasn't? "Let me go," he growled.

She tightened her hold. "Father will have a fit if he sees you here without your valet."

"I have my guards."

She shoved him back. "Fine. I hope he catches you, you little beast. You deserve it." Without a word, she spun toward her guard and escort and left him.

Styxx rubbed at the small cuts she'd left behind on his flesh. He definitely didn't feel like getting her a present now. But if he didn't, his father would be furious.

It was expected, after all.

I better be quick. Ryssa would run to tell on him. He had no doubt. She always did. His heart pounding in fear of being caught in public without his manservant, he went into the next store, where he often bought gifts for his father.

He was rather surprised to find Master Praxis inside. But since this was usually Styxx's allotted study time with him, it made sense that Master Praxis would also be running errands.

His tutor inclined his head to him. "Prince Styxx ... How has your pursuit of a gift gone?"

"Futile so far, sir. But I'm hoping to find something here."

"Perhaps I could be of service?"

Styxx smiled at him. "I hope so, Master Praxis. Otherwise I won't have time before her banquet."

His tutor returned his smile. "Then let us count this as a lesson in economics."

Styxx was more than grateful for the help.

The owner came out from the back with a ring for Master Praxis. "Greetings, young prince."

"Greetings, Master Claudius." Styxx wandered about to look at the necklaces while his tutor finished his purchase.

"I take it you're not shopping for His Majesty," the owner asked as soon as he came over to assist Styxx.

"No, sir. My sister."

"Ah ... Her Highness was in here earlier." He pulled out a pair of pearl hair combs. Intricately engraved, they were very pretty. "One of a kind. She was quite taken with them, but said she'd have to ask your father for the price."

Styxx bit his lip. "How much?"

"For you, Highness, a tetradrachm."

"That's a bit steep, is it not?" Master Praxis asked the owner.

"These are the finest quality pearls available, as is the silver and gold. And the workmanship is in a class of its own."

Styxx sighed as his face warmed from even more embarrassment. "I'm afraid I don't have that much."

"How much do you have to spend?" the owner asked.

"Half of that." He'd brought all his savings, including the money he'd set aside for a set of dice he'd wanted to buy himself for his birthday next week.

"Would you be interested in a trade?"

Styxx hesitated then nodded.

"What you have, plus ... your fibula."

His heart clenched at the price. The king had given the brooch to him last year and it was one of his most prized possessions. He bit his lip in indecision.

Master Praxis frowned. "That's a dear cost, Highness. Perhaps she'd like a bracelet?"

She had drawers full of those....

"Did she really like it?" he asked the owner.

"She did, indeed."

Styxx glanced around, but didn't see anything else as pretty ... and if he didn't make her happy, his father would be furious. A king must sacrifice for the good of his people. It would always be expected of him.

He looked up at Master Praxis. "The good of the many is always better than the good of the few." Still, he really loved his fibula.

His sister not so much.

Styxx fingered the brooch that was his sole piece of grown-up adornment.

We must spoil our women, boy. A happy woman makes a happy home. An unhappy one makes us drink.

His stomach aching for the loss, Styxx nodded and unpinned his brooch. He handed it and his coins over to the jeweler, who had his apprentice box the gift.

"She will be thrilled, Highness," Claudius said.

Master Praxis appeared as thrilled about the purchase as Styxx did.

"Thank you." Styxx took the hair combs and left.

Master Praxis followed him outside. "Would you like me to walk home with you, Highness?"

"Yes, please. Thank you, Master Praxis."

And while they walked, his tutor went over the philosophy lesson that had been suspended for the day so that Styxx could attend his other duties.

By the time they reached the palace, his father was waiting for him in the foyer with a glower on his face that wrenched Styxx's stomach hard. "Where is your valet?"

"I sent him back early."

"And look at you. Out in public ... an embarrassment to me." His father snatched Styxx's chlamys where Styxx was holding it in place with his hand. "Where's your fibula I gave you?"

Styxx exchanged a glance with Master Praxis and begged him with his eyes not to tell his father what he'd done. To know Styxx had bartered with a merchant like some penniless fishmonger would only anger his father more. "It's lost, Father."

"Lost!" His father cursed. "Get upstairs and put yourself in order."

Styxx headed up the steps to find Ryssa smirking in the hallway. He wanted to throw the gift at her.

But the cost for it was too dear.