Derek rolled his eyes again. “I said stop.” He took the helmet away from Isaac and clipped him on the back of the head. “That’s not how I taught you, so stop being stupid. Hale doesn’t mean blood, it means bond. Are you going to quit this dying crap or am I going to beat it out of you later?”
He stiffened then before glowering at the Prince, sighing deeply as he nodded in resignation. “You’re right, of course. You’re always right. And I know that, I’m just…making sure that she’s taken care of, that’s all. I love her, Derek…” He sighed once more, before reaching for his helmet with a pointed glance.
The prince let him have the helm, hazel eyes raking Isaac’s face. “So live. It’s not like you haven’t fought big guys before; you fight me all the time.” He put his hands back on Isaac’s shoulders and shook him again. “Hale knight. My men don’t lose.” Then he turned Isaac around and pushed him toward the field.