Different emotions struggled within the hunter’s son at the shock of his new friend’s announcement. All of this time, Richard was really Prince Philip.

“Why art thou here?” Peter asked him. Prince Philip threw back his shoulders with great defiance.

“I am here because I look for my father, who has left family and castle to fight the Exthereons. It is to his side on the battlefield that I go.”

“Thy father clad thee strangely for a battle,” said Peter, eyeing his tunic. Philip laughed. How little this foolish boy knew!

“It is to hide my identity, as I said, that I am forced to wear the garb of a peasant,” explained the prince. “Not until I reach my father can I dress according to my rank.”

Peter’s mind quickly put the facts together. “He doesn’t know you are coming?”

Philip looked annoyed. “Well, ... No!”

The hunter’s young son leaned back in his seat. The prince had ran away from home! Peter looked away from him as he asked, “Why did you not stay at the castle?”

The royal eyes rolled with impatience. This boy does not know anything!

“Because my father needs me!” he said. “I need to be with him. None of them understand that as I do!”

“Including him?” Peter looked up and met his eyes. Philip hesitated.

“Yes, even him!” he said quickly and then his voice became quiet. “This is my duty. And… I love my father. I want… I need to be with him. I miss him so. No one understands this. And how can they?” he asked his attentive listener.

“They would have me sit, trapped in a castle; sick with fear for what may happen to my father and know that all I can do - all I am allowed to do - is nothing! Oh yes,” he cried, “ they shall let me see him again! When he returns from battle, I can stand alongside my mother and watch them carry his dead corpse to the grave!” His voice choked as he shouted and his sad eyes became downcast. He was envisioning his father’s death, alone and abandoned in a bloody battlefield. How could their reasons for refusing him possibly be good?

“My one desire is to join him in his peril and face the danger with him. There, as his true knight, I will prove myself worthy of such a title, by battling the Exthereons and defending Amadeum! And if I cannot protect my father with my life, than I shall join him in death!” He raised his head in light of this triumph. “Tell me, Peter,” he said calmly. “Where is the evil in that?”

The peasant sat still and thoughtful. He was not dumfounded or shocked, as one naturally would be, if their prince was unfolding to them all the deep secrets of his soul. Nor was the lad overwhelmed with pride or great honor at the opportunity of advising the king’s son. He felt this boy’s convictions and desires, and he understood them as if they were his own. As he had listened, Peter’s thoughts fell often on his father and how he should feel if his life were in danger. Was the prince then right? Could the older folk simply not understand it? If they did understand, why wouldn’t they have let this devoted son follow his father’s footsteps and ride with him into battle? Why separate them and, in the process, crush this boy’s heart? Why? Why did they do that?

“I tried to speak with them,” said the prince. “I demanded, reasoned and implored them, and all to no avail. I do not know why they have refused me, but it is not my fault! I did all that I could be asked to do, and now I will not be denied. I must act as is necessary to act. I will find my father!” He looked up at the boy in the cart.

“Will you help me!?”