"What do you want?" one of the men had the temerity to ask.
"A drink," Skandra answered. "My sword is thirsty, too, but she doesn't drink ale."
Ithacles visibly seared. One step forward and he shot one of the men a look that said get a fucking handle on him, or I will.
"Enough," one of the soldiers stood up slowly. "You're in the presence of our prince, you lot. Drink and be silent."
He rarely had to handle the reigns that way. And truth be told it always made him uncomfortable. When he reprimanded one of his men it was swift and stern and he didn't even realize he'd lost his temper til it was completely flown. The riders he patrolled with were more disciplined than those in this tavern, though.
Today he was out of patience.
Skandra and Vedette took their seats. A man had come from the back--Ithacles guessed he was the owner--at the hushed beck of his wife. Without hearing her Ithacles knew exactly what she said. By the time the mutton-chopped man strode over to the Prince he was almost breaking a sweat.
"Your Majesty, to what do I owe the, uh--"
"Oh, just thirsty," Ithacles said with a smile. "We'd all like some ale if it isn't too much trouble."
"Too much trouble! I should hope not, Sire."
And the man shuffled off to find them their drinks. Ithacles stayed on his feet until the man returned, and the two of them spoke quietly. He didn't want to shun the man's hospitality, but nor did he want him rolling out the carpet and slaughtering a prize pig. So if Ithacles's tone shifted into the dismissive, it wasn't entirely accidental.
The burly man seemed to understand. He bowed with as much grace as someone like that could muster and went back behind the bar.
Ithacles finally took his seat and seized his tankard immediately.
"What a miserable day," he told the drink.
As for the King's men, those with the mark, Ithacles was never comfortable with the idea. He was far more liberal than his father in that sense. The only men he wanted dying around him were those willing to do so. And he'd made his opinion known more than once at Ithunvel's table.
"And more than that, why wasn't I informed?" he wondered aloud. "You would recognize these men if you saw them, correct?"