Trilverda - Winds of the fall

Chapter 2 (Part 2)

Reynor bowed his head as his uncle went with his father, chattering about anything. The bald man strode towards Reynor.

“Congratulations, you successfully inherited a kingdom,” he said. “Your uncle is a loving man, innit?”

Reynor felt insulted, easily hurt and offended with his words, as if a venomous snake had bitten him. He clenched his teeth. The man smiled at him as he turned around and paced forward.

Nothing left to be done on the road, Reynor aggressively followed the stairway.

Behind a thick layer of soldiers, a familiar face lurked across the street. Timmer rested his back against the tavern door and witnessed everything that happened, sipping ale with his green eyes half-open.

The hall, fully decorated, smell of flowers and sweets. Melvis and Kelvin stood in front of the throne. The bald man stood behind them, staring the throne. Reynor stood at the door, he had no desire to stay near the bald man.

“It's a pretty throne” Melvis ridiculed. “Suitable for a Queen”

“Your jokes never get too old, do they?” Kelvin grinned.

“So, when is the ceremony?” Melvis asked.

Kelvin grabbed his hand and hauled him towards the benches nearby. “Midnight. Sharp midnight”

“What? Why?” Melvis questioned with his eyebrows raised.

“The Gods line together tonight. And it is rumoured that Juin will fall to the lands of men”

“That cannot be true. Juin falls once in ten thousand years, it is nonsense”

“Not me who predicted. Evey priest living in this isle believe it to be a fact”

“Serpent will bear a body of a mortal as his God commands him to ring the bell of his arrival in this land of sin. Well, I see no serpent here”

“You sure know the books, brother,” Kelvin stood up and walked instructing Melvis to stay where he sat. He walked to the chair next to the throne.

“As the coronation will be held exactly in the midnight, I request everyone to get a good rest. Priest, sleep. Guards, sleep. Beautiful maids, sleep. Everyone in this city will sleep this noon and no one will be allowed to move out of the city. People from all across the kingdom will arrive here, let them come. Now sleep” he said with his fragile old voice, hands waving as he spoke.

Every soul inside the hall went to their chambers, even Reynor quickened his pace and went to his chambers, without being noticed by the bald man.

 While Timmer played with the children inside, he heard the gate of the castle being closed. He grabbed this sword and gave a silver coin to a child.

“Give this to your mother” he suggested the child and left the tavern, not long after.

He went to the walls of the castle and hid behind, waiting for the guards to return to their homes.

After every guard had left the castle wall unguarded, he climbed the wall and passed through it. He spat in his hands before clambering the steep walls that led to Reynor's chamber's window. He climbed the wall as perfect as a lizard would, he reached the chamber's window. He peeked inside and saw Reynor. Reynor looked busy doing something else. He peeked longer, he saw Reynor take out fruits from his pocket. He seemed like he was feeding something.

Timmer kept peeking through the window. Reynor held the Grey-ling in his hand and raised it and lowered it down, he played with it. Timmer saw the Grey-ling and giggled. He knocked on the window, startling Reynor. Reynor tried to hide the cub and glanced at his window. He saw Timmer sitting there licking his lips as he giggled. Reynor went towards the window and gradually opened it, his eyebrows still raised.

“Why are ya here?” Reynor asked, voice raised in pitch.

“Here to protect my King” Timmer smirked as he replied.

“Anyone could have seen ya coming, you know that, innit?” Reynor said, holding the Grey-ling, hands hidden in the back.

“Yes, but I am an assassin, well, former assassin. Which means I know what I am doing” Timmer replied, his green eyes staring at Reynor's anxious eyes.

Reynor struggled to keep his eyes competing with Timmer's. His iris moved rapid, anyone could sense the discomfort that pulsed through them.

“I know what you are hiding” Timmer didn’t blink. Timmer's lips widened as he saw drips in Reynor’s forehead. “There is no point of struggling, you know”

“You know nothing, pretty boy” Reynor revolted.

“I do, actually. Do not hold the Grey-ling that tight, might suffocate”

Nothing left to hide, Reynor loosened his grip. The Grey-ling fell from his hand and moved its tiny libs to come forward. The sunray kissed the little cub making his limbs relaxed as he lay down, innocent, on the mattress. Reynor lowered his eyes, his face washed out of emotion.

“How long has it been with you?” Timmer asked.

“Two days. Since I killed its mum”

“I see. A Crustonian King, sworn to slay any Grey-bear that presented itself in their sights, actually taking care of its cub” Timmer brushed the fur of the cub with this long thin fingers. “So what have you named it?”

“A name? Ya crazy lad? I’m giving it to me men to look after” Reynor replied, clasping his eyelids and eyebrows.

“Men? What men? Those five?”

“Yeah. Those five, me pals”

“They can't even take care of themselves, you are considering to just give them this precious beast?”

“They’re fools, I know. But good of heart. They will loo—”

“Slight carelessness and this bear is exposed to the people. They will demand you behead it. And what? Will your good of heart men persuade those people and pardon you from your oath?”

“What’s parr-seu aid?” Reynor questioned, eyes wide open.

“Convince” Timmer replies in a windy voice. “Look, don’t risk its life. Do you have any idea how intelligent these beats are?”

“I suppose I do. Alright, enough-a scolding. Tell me what ya want me to do?” Reynor let out, creasing his knees.

“Give it to me. I know one Grey-bear, she recently gave birth to two lings. Milk can be fed”

“Well, take it” Reynor said handing the cub over to Timmer.

“Not now. Only after the coronation ceremony. I got to make sure that you pronounce me as a King's protector” Timmer replied, enjoying the soft fur of the ling.

“Oh come on, mate. Ya think I won’t do it? I gave you me word” Reynor grunted.

“You better”

Sun's heat began to fade, winds blew cooler as the high noon began to break. The city enjoyed its sleep. Only birds chirped on trees and wind howled.

“Well, I suppose I will be staying here until you are officially the King of Cruston” Timmer looked out of the window, witnessing the clouds cover the sun.

“This is me chamber. Why would I let ya stay here?” Reynor rasped.

“I am sure the King has other problems” Timmer smirked, pointing towards the bald man in blue silk robes, through the window.

The man had gathered around three of Cruston's guards. It seemed as if he was instructing them to do something. Reynor peeked through the window and saw the man. Reynor’s fists strengthened.

“I bet the baldie is conspiring against me” Reynor grunted in a low, angry voice.

“Better go and check him out” Timmer suggested.