Episode 4

Meanwhile in the city

Thomas: Count Lorens

As Thomas approaches, Javier stops walking and waits for him.

Javier: Prince?

Thomas: I want you to teach me how to fight.

Javier: Why is that?

Thomas: I need to go to the frontier, to protect my friend.

Javier: A friend at the frontier?

Thomas: Yes, a week ago, my only friend returned with her father to the frontier, and I know it's dangerous.

Javier: I see. I'll teach you, but you have to tell me who your friend is.

Thomas: Valery Roberson. She defended me from a group of boys, beating them with a stick. She's the most beautiful girl in the kingdom.

Javier remembers his own sister was headstrong and despised injustices.

Javier: Tomorrow at the training ground, I'll expect you.

Thomas: Thank you, Count.

Thomas returns to his teacher, a great philosopher and mathematician.

Leon: Where have you been, Prince?

Thomas: I asked Count Lorens to teach me how to fight.

Leon: Young Prince, violence won't solve problems, you should seek diplomatic methods.

Thomas: Leon, wars aren’t won with diplomacy. If Count Lorens teaches me, I’ll become the best strategist. He’s the second-best warrior in our kingdom.

Leon: And the first?

Thomas: General Roberson.

Leon: I feared you would say that name. Now, let's start our lesson.

As Thomas sits in class, his brothers discuss the increasingly critical situation at the frontier with their father. The fight has been going on for years, and the king of the north refuses to cease the battle.

Leo: Father, is it so difficult to resolve this war?

Leonardo: As long as the king of the north covets our lands, it'll be impossible, my son.

German: There must be a way out; the villagers can't take it anymore.

Leonardo: Indeed, my son.

Meanwhile, in the garden

Amelia looks for Thomas; she always spotted him in the garden and found him quite handsome.

Irene: Are you looking for something, Duchess?

Amelia: Princess, you startled me. Ah, I wasn't looking for anything specific. Excuse me, I'm off to join my mother.

Irene thinks to herself that Amelia is silly, just like her mother.

Merida: Daughter?

Irene: Mother.

Merida: What are your thoughts on the Duke's daughter?

Irene: She's as arrogant as her parents; I don't like her. Why do you ask?

Merida: I considered betrothing her to your brother.

Irene: Which one?

Merida: Thomas, of course.

Irene: Mother, don't do it. Thomas has someone, and even though it's early, I know they'll end up together.

Merida: Who might that be?

Irene: I won't tell you yet, but please don't make that mistake.

Merida: Very well, I shall wait.

As promised, Thomas arrives at the training ground bright and early.

Watching him, Javier chuckles to himself. The young prince is brimming with enthusiasm. The first thing he does is have Thomas run with the recruits, where titles mean nothing. Any youth wanting to train and become a soldier for the king had to set aside their noble titles.

Meanwhile, back at the castle...

As everyone has breakfast, the king and queen look around and inquire about their son Thomas.

Maid 1: Majesty, the prince left early, having eaten before departure.

Leonardo: Where could he have gone so early?

Maid 2: I heard him mention going to the training ground with Count Lorens.

Leonardo: Ha! That I've got to see.

Merida: You can't allow it; my son mixing with those commoners!

Leonardo: Merida, he's the first of our children to go to the training ground without requesting private lessons. Javier is the foremost warrior in our kingdom.

German: Father, I stand corrected. According to Thomas, the Count is the second-best; the foremost is General Roberson.

Leo: Yes, our brother holds him in high regard.

Merida: He better not wish to go to the frontier. Leonardo, you must stop any foolishness from our son.

Leonardo: Calm down, Merida, that will never happen. Now, have your breakfast.

Leonardo is curious to find out what his youngest son intends to do.

Meanwhile, at the frontier, Valery earns the nickname 'devil', for she is mischievously adventurous, leading the exploits of Carlos and her new friends, Tadeo and Benjamin, who are sons of peasants joining them in the training.

Valery runs in covered in mud.

Lucas: What have you done now, little devil?

Greta: Lucas, don't call her that. My beautiful girl, let's get you cleaned up.

Lucas: Greta, don't coddle her.

Jaiden and Dikson laugh; their sister was a handful.

Lucas: And you two?

Jaiden and Dikson: Nothing, father.

Lucas: This little imp...

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