Chapter 11

Raylon

‘Sakala Market’

‘Five Kingdoms’

Tomlee and her sister Asytar ran ahead of us, excited about the day out with their father and uncle.

Guards all around us cleared a path for the children and watched everyone in the square.

My brother and I walked slowly behind, talking.

“My son will come of age soon, Raylon. He will begin training for the throne. Do you remember when we were sent to training?” Zasrus asked me.

I smiled at the memory of my brother and I, as young boys, learning to fight, and lead, and rule.

“I do, brother. You had hopeless aim, and Father thought you missed on purpose to not be forced to continue the training,” I laughed.

“Yes, but you taught me, late at night, when Father was asleep. We would sneak out to the forest, and you showed me. I suspect he always knew what we were doing.

“As the king, I know the palace well, and I sleep in the same room he did once. I can see the forest clearly from my window,” Zasrus said.

“He did know. He knew everything we did. What kind of king would he have been if he did not?”

“You always took care of me. I was younger and felt I got in your way more than you said, but I never felt unwelcome at your side. I hope my children are like you in this, Raylon.”

“You are my brother. We have the same blood in our veins. How could I treat you any differently? And your children are good people. You have raised them well.”

“Mystasar raised them. No matter what was happening, she always had time to read to them or play with them in the garden.

“She had endless love for her family,” Zasrus said sadly.

“She was the best of us,” I replied. “I remember the day she came to live at the palace. Father had accepted her as the future queen. The moment you saw her, you fell in love.

“We were only children, but I knew you were meant to be together. I never told you this, but I spent many nights considering how to convince father to let her be your fiancé, not mine.

“To let you two be together. But then you became the king and it all worked out.”

Zasrus said, “The moment I saw her face, I could not think of anything else. She consumed my thoughts and my heart and still does, to this day.

“Even after her death, she is all I can think of.” We turned the corner and spotted the girls standing at a stall at the end of the street, trying on jewels.

“I miss her too. She was a good friend to me, a confidant, and my sister. And as much as you miss her, you will find love again, brother.

“Your children miss their mother, but they are happy again. They have learned to live without her, and you will too.”

I knew my words might hurt him, but my brother needed to hear them.

“I fear that if I am with another woman, I am betraying her,” he said sadly.

“There is no betrayal greater than not living the life she would want for you,” I replied.

“She would want you to be happy, to love again, and to let go of the hurt you feel. To smile and have joy in the life you live.”

Zasrus stopped and turned to me, then said, “She would want that for both of us. She loved you, Raylon. I never felt anger for it or resentment, but she held you close to her heart.

“Before she passed, I spoke with her. She told me to ensure that you find happiness, no matter what it takes. I took the love you were entitled to.

“I took everything that was to be yours. I cannot stand by and watch as you live a life so lonely.”

“I have accepted my fate,” I said. “I have come to terms with who and what I am. I hold no resentment to you, or to how our lives have turned out.

“It was my choice to stand between the beast and you and father. I knew it would attack. I knew it might kill me, but I made the choice to protect you.

“The life I live now is an outcome of a choice I made many years ago, and one I would not change.”

“It was my fault, you know,” he replied. “If I had not run after that buck our lives would be much different now. You risked everything for me, and I have done nothing in return for you.”

Zasrus turned away from me. I could see his eyes fill with tears at the thought.

“Let us not speak of things that we cannot change. We are here, now. We cannot live in the past. You are the king—and a fine one at that.

“Do not doubt your ability to lead the people. Mistakes have been made, but they have also been put right. That is all anyone can ask for.”

Zasrus took in a thoughtful breath and smiled at me. “Thank you, brother. You and I are a fine pair.”

We continued to walk down the street, and I smiled at the sight of the girls, excited about everything in the market.

One of the guards ran to us and stopped abruptly next to Zasrus. “My King, forgive the intrusion. You asked to be informed if the Fuls are seen in the kingdom.

“Two of their warships were seen entering the border. How would you like us to deal with them?” the man asked.

Zasrus turned to me. “Raylon, contact the Fuls commander,” he said. “See if this is a deliberate breach or if they are lost or in need of assistance.

“Terms were agreed, and if they are broken without consequence, the kingdom will look weak.”

I gave him a stern nod, and the guard followed me back to the palace.

In the command room, I waited for Hynlam to accept my call. His face flicked on the screen, and he spoke. “Raylon, what is the purpose of this call?”

“Two of your warships have entered our borders. Is this a deliberate breach of our terms? If so, the consequences will be severe.”

The look on his face told me that this was news to him. “Raylon, I did not send ships to your kingdom. I do not wish to start another war.

“These ships do not have permission from me. I gave clear orders for no one to enter the Five Kingdoms. Deal with them as you will. There will be no retaliation from me.”

I nodded. “Very well. I will try to take them alive, so that they may be questioned. Hynlam, you need to consider the possibility that you have a traitor in your midst.

“An act like this could bring our people to war, if not for clear heads. A war neither of us wants to fight again.”

Hynlam nodded and the connection turned off. I turned to the guard, commanding, “Ready the ships. Bring as many back alive as you can.” He nodded and left the room.

Footsteps at the door drew my attention. I looked to see Laylar coming into the room. She quickly glanced around to ensure we were alone and came over to me.

“Laylar, is everything okay?” I asked.

“Is it true the Fuls have breached the border?” she asked, looking at the screen behind me.

“Yes. But there is nothing to fear, Laylar. I have sent ships to deal with them.”

“Is there going to be another war?” She crossed her arms over her chest, and I saw fear in her eyes.

“No,” I reassured her. You have nothing to be afraid of. I spoke to the Fuls’ leader. He has pledged to me that this is not his doing. There is no danger.”

“Then why are they here? What do they want? I don’t want to leave the palace again, Uncle.”

There was more to this than the fear of war. Laylar was a young woman now, and all her life she never showed fear in the face of danger. Not like this.

“Is there something you wish to tell me?” I pushed.

She dropped her gaze to the floor and shifted in her place. “No,” she mumbled.

“Laylar, I am your uncle. Have I ever broken a promise to you? Or told a secret you shared with me?”

She looked up at me. “No. But I cannot tell you. You will have no choice but to tell father, and he cannot know.”

“I promised your mother that I would keep you safe and ensure you are happy. If that means keeping something from my brother until you are ready to tell him, then so be it.

“He may be the king, but I am still his older brother,” I said with a smile she could not see under my mask.

I watched her consider this for a moment. “Let us speak, but not here,” she said. “Will you walk in the garden with me?”

“As you wish.”

We walked out of the palace and onto the winding path through the Gardens.

Once we were alone, she began to speak. “Father still sees me as a young girl. As a child, like Tomlee and Asytar. But I am a woman now.

“I came of age three years ago, but my father does not wish to see this.”

“You are his child. His firstborn. You will always be a child in his eyes,” I said.

“I know. And therein lies the problem,” she mumbled. I had a suspicion I knew what she was going to tell me.

I let her continue. “I met a man, Uncle,” she said, her voice barely audible.

“It was to happen sooner or later. May I ask who he is?” I tried to keep the smile out of my voice. She couldn’t see it, but I did not want her to think I was amused by this.

“I would rather not tell you.”

“Are you ashamed of him? Or me?” I pushed.

“No, I could never be ashamed of you, Uncle. I feel only pride and love for you. But this man…. He is not worthy. Not in my father’s eyes, at least.”

Now I understood the problem. She had met someone my brother would call a common man.

As the princess of the ruling king, she was expected to marry royalty, a son of one of the other four royal families in the kingdom.

The Five Kingdoms were made of five families. Each family ruled by succession. If Azmurtas had not been born, Laylar would be the next king’s wife.

She would marry a suitable prince within the five families, and he would be king. Now, although there was an heir, she was still expected to marry within a royal bloodline.

A common man was anyone not of royal blood.

“He is in the king’s army, is he not?” I asked.

She turned her head to me, her eyes wide with shock. “How do you know this?”

“Logic. You are afraid of another war, but not for ~your~ life. For his. The only reason for that would be if he were called to arms in another war.”

She grabbed my arm. “Please, Uncle, you cannot tell father. Swear to me you will not tell him. If he finds out, he will kill him. I beg you…” Her eyes filled with tears.

I called for my mask to retract, and I pulled her into my arms.

“You have my word, Laylar. I will not tell him. I will keep your secret until the day I die. But I have one request,” I said, meeting her teary eyes. “I wish to meet him.”

She fought with the decision for a moment then nodded slowly. “Fine. But please don’t hurt him, Uncle. I love him,” she said.

“I can see that. I give you my word that I have no intention of hurting him. I only wish to know who has captured my niece’s heart so that she is willing to defy her father for love.”

“His name is Rein. He serves as the first officer to Captain Milrax,” she confided.

“I know the captain,” I said. “He is a good mentor. If Rein is anything like him, then you have a good man at your side.” This brought a wide smile to her face.

“Thank you, Uncle,” she said, wrapping her arms around me. I returned the embrace, hoping my brother would not find out about this until it ended.

It was young love, and likely would not last, but he would kill Rein if he knew. And in doing so, he would push his daughter away for good.