Family #2
“Can’t you see it? I think people could see it from Nhamashel it is so bright and beautiful,” Vex said as he looked back at his son and the Sun King.
Rahven was pulling out a seat for the Sun King.
Evidently, while dinner was completed for some, dessert was not.
Aquilan looked over his shoulder at Rahven with a smile that could melt hearts and change minds.
Rahven’s stoic expression softened and his lips parted.
A faint blush heated his son’s cheeks as he tucked Aquilan into the table before taking his own seat beside him.
“How is that going to work if Rahven is the Phendar Cithrel?” Haera asked.
“That is a fascinating question! But one thing at a time. First, before Rahven takes his place on stage again he really needs some training. And, as you so rightly intuited, Haera, your brother will teach my son to weave magic even better than him and you… you will help hone Rahven’s martial mastery,” Vex said.
Haera regarded Rahven speculatively with narrowed eyes. “He definitely moves like a fighter–”
“Hunter,” Rhalyf corrected and Vex, once more, regarded his nephew with new respect.
He knew, of course, that Rhalyf was clever.
Very clever. His magical weaving abilities were truly like nothing he’d ever seen.
Vex had sheer power, but Rhalyf could take the littlest spark of power and make it into something far more.
And he’d unerringly sensed when things were going south with Ashryn.
He was not surprised that Rhalyf had fled without a glance backwards.
No one had earned his nephew’s loyalty until the Sun King.
And now he is determining just what he is willing to lose for it. I am right about him. I know it.
“Hunter? Ah… well, yes, I suppose.” Haera’s eyes flickered between her brother and Rahven. “I think I see what you mean. He’s… alone.”
“He can fight well with others. Excellently actually,” Rhalyf said. “But he is built to battle alone.”
“Good to know,” she said after a moment. She, too, obviously respected her brother’s intelligence and intuition about people. “I’m sure I can do something, Uncle.”
“You need to do more than something. Rahven will never be safe,” Vex said quietly. “He will always be in danger. Always. He must be prepared for anything and everything.”
Haera regarded him steadily for long moments. “I understand. He cannot be used against you.”
“Ha, he never would let himself be. Rahven would never expect me to save him,” Vex laughed softly. “Not that he won’t be captured at times, but… he would understand that getting himself out of such a bind would likely have to come through his own mettle.”
“Besides, he can only be a danger to our uncle if our uncle allows him to be,” Rhalyf murmured.
Again, Vex stared at him. “Yes, Rhalyf. It is my feelings that will be used against me if I allow it. Rahven has little to do with that.”
Except, of course, he had responded in a way that Vex had not expected that night. A way that had shattered his defenses. And now, here they were. He had made his decision and Rahven would be paying the price for it.
“In reality, it would have been easier on him if I had simply killed him. For what is coming will not be easy. His existence will not be… peaceful. At least, not always,” Vex glanced over to where Aquilan and Rahven sat eating dessert together.
Aquilan was attempting to tempt Rahven with some cake.
Rahven, at first, refused, but then he was opening his mouth like a little baby bird to be fed something sweet.
“So he must be prepared and, hence, he must be trained.”
“I’m surprised you don’t want to train him yourself, Uncle,” Haera said. “There is no one, after all, better than you in both magic and martial arts.”
“Oh, I intend to do my part. But I can hardly be here all the time,” he answered simply. “A king can take a vacation, but not a sabbatical. Not really.”
“Yes, yes, of course, you must return to Nhamashel or people will wonder,” Haera murmured.
“But you two are here and can remain here as long as is necessary,” Vex informed them happily.
“I do not know how long that will actually be, Uncle. You see, Aquilan may be very distracted with Rahven now, but he knows that something is up with me and my… heritage,” Rhalyf said tightly.
“Ah.” Vex smiled at him.
“Ah? Nothing more? He will discover who I am and then he will fling me from the Empire! If I am lucky!” Rhalyf informed him a little dramatically.
“Do you think he’ll physically do it? Like grab your hair and–”
“Uncle!” Rhalyf ran a hand down his face. “This lie cannot stand. For it is not just mine and Haera’s. Finley knows. Rahven knows. You think he will not tell Aquilan something of this–this importance?”
“Yes, that does sound unlikely,” Vex admitted sympathetically.
“I need to get out ahead of this therefore. I need to tell him who I really am and–”
“Oh, yes, you best not let someone else do it,” Vex nodded in agreement.
Rhalyf stopped in mid rant. His mouth opened and shut. Then, almost plaintively, “Yet you have informed me that I am to continue as Lord Rhalyf Neres!”
“Well… yes. I hardly want you out as a Kindreth and my nephew here in the Aravae Empire. That will draw too much attention to Aquilan and he already has problems of his own–”
Rhalyf clutched the front of his shirt. Then realizing what he was doing, released the material and smoothed down Vex’s clothes. “Do you mean to tell me that you simply meant for me to remain in disguise with other people? Other than Aquilan?”
Blink. Blink. “You obviously thought I meant something else.”
Rhalyf shut his eyes and a shudder went through him. “Finley said… Finley told me that I needed to recall exactly what you said and I… I was too busy… oh, gods!” He tilted his head back. “But we haven’t had time and I… I’m still not sure I can undo this lie.”
“It will be difficult,” Vex agreed. “But, as you said, it is bound to come out. You need to do something. And I really do need you to be here. To train Rahven and… keep an eye on things.”
“Now that is a command from the king,” Rhalyf realized.
He nodded.
Rhalyf scrubbed his face with his hands. “It is understood.”
“I am so glad that we are understanding one another so well now!” Vex grinned.
“But you didn’t want him to before?” Haera phrased that as a question.
“I might have been having a little fun at your brother’s expense because he… he left,” Vex admitted and there was that pang he felt when he thought of his nephew fleeing.
But can I really be surprised? I gave him no reason to stay. I left him and Haera both with Eliana. Yes, she is their mother. But…
He felt Rahven looking at him. He turned his head and he was correct. His son was laser focused on him.
You should have saved them, Rahven sent over their mental connection.
They need to save themselves, Rahven, he said sadly.
Lysanthir would have saved them, Rahven answered with no hesitation. He would have wanted you to do so now.
Hearing his name twice from actual mouths other than his own had him flinching. Rahven was right, of course.
Lysanthir wanted to save everyone, his mind voice was hoarse. That is why his soul is trapped forever. Powering a vile weapon.
And you fear that will be your fate if you help those you love? Rahven was implacable. He pulled no punches.
You speak very freely with me. Vex lifted an eyebrow.
About something that hurts you, Rahven intuited. No, he knew. And I am sorry for that. But I know of no other way to speak. Plus, I would not dishonor you by speaking falsely anyways.
Rahven…
You have a chance to make things right. How your brother would want them, his son said.
There is weakness in this course of action, Vex warned.
If strength means caring for no one and nothing so you have nothing to lose then I would not want it. What would be the point? Rahven gave him a final nod before turning back to the table and Aquilan’s tender ministrations.
Vex found he could not tear his eyes away.
“Fear has ruled me for a very long time,” Rhalyf said softly. “The thought that one can escape one’s fate if one is just clever enough, fast enough, and paranoid enough.”
Haera’s expression crumpled for a moment and she quickly looked away from Rhalyf. His nephew stared down at the ground.
Vex opened his mouth then shut it, before he finally said, “This has been a good talk, but I am hungry and thirsty. Go be with those who are your food and drink.” Both of them nodded and Vex made to turn away and walk towards the table when his bandmates eagerly awaited him. But at the last moment, he stopped.
You have a chance to make things right. How your brother would want them.
Vex looked back at them and asked, “Would you both accept one piece of advice from your uncle?”
Both of them paused, looked at each other then back at him before nodding slowly.
“While there is truth in what you said about fear, Rhalyf, the real truth is that fate comes in the end no matter what you do,” he smiled a little sadly.
“So you can either spend your time–however long or short that is–in fear or, instead, experiencing all the other emotions. The good ones even. That choice is up to you.”