Trilverda - Winds of the fall

Chapter 4

“Some times we know the inevitable event. We can do nothing but wait and prepare for it” Kelvin said, walking towards a shelf.

“What are you saying, old man?” Reynor let out, struggling to speak straight. The slap hurt Reynor in his cheek, as well as his heart. His father might have said a lot of nonsense about him but never had he slapped Reynor. At least not in a long time.

“Son … why do you think I abdicated the crown of The Brethren Isle? What did yer master tell you? Or maybe yer pals?” Kelvin said, clear, no sob in his voice.

“You went blind, declared ya couldn’t rule the nation without seeing the sorrows of the people”

“Yes, yes” Kelvin took a small box out from behind a book in the self. “But you really know why?”

Reynor’s mind got empty. That’s all he was told by everyone that he met and talked about the abdication. Not ready to accept his father lied to him and the country, he uttered no word from his mouth.

“I knew about the prophecy, I got scared. The Serpent cuts the ribbon and marks the beginning of the end, sacrifices a King to Juin for his arrival. That I saw in the book Journey of the Gods. The book you say was made for children to stay in discipline” Kelvin said. He opened the box.

Reynor glanced at the box. Two small parchments, dusty, sealed. “What do ya mean?”

“What I meant was, I abdicated in the fear of the prophecy. I did not want to be a goat for slaughter and I never wanted my sons to be sacrifices” he took out one parchment, sealed by the stamp of Hairnipolis. “I hoped a family would be strong enough to claim the empty throne. I was wrong. People of this isle wanted Isman to take the throne of all three kingdoms”

“But you didn’t give all three kingdoms to Isman. I was told you did so because he was just a boy of nine years”

“Yes, it is a reason. I gave Hairnipolis to Isman and Olfran to the Kuns. But yer uncle got angry and slaughtered every Kun he found, thus taking the throne of Olfran by conquest. He asked me to crown him as the King if Cruston, but ya kicked yer mother's womb, a rightful King in the eyes of the people”

Reynor stood, taking the help of Kelvin's chair. He went near his father. Kelvin gave the parchment to Reynor and creased his cheeks.

“After yer brother was able to write, yer mother and I instructed him to write a name to whom he wants to pass his reign aafter he dies,” Kelvin said, moving towards his bed.

“And?” Reynor asked.

“He saw a little life, fiddling inside his mother’s belly” Kelvin sat down and stretched his arm to get his pillow. “Who is inside yer belly, mum? He asked, that little boy. The priests suggested it is a boy your mother said”

Reynor stood their, stiff. He listened to his father as if he told a fairy tale, not moving, not questioning.

“What have you named him? Isman asked to us. I gave him permission to write whatever name he saw fit. And he said after I die, my brother, Reynor will be King of Hairy nipples. That’s what he said. Since then, he married no wife and fathered no children” Kelvin continued, recalling the memory of his lost son.

Reynor, stiff, his eyes gleamed. Truth stood heavy. The fact no one told him until now, made his heartache. But the time seemed too delicate for arguing such matter. His head tilted towards the ceiling, tears slid down to the floor.

“Is this parchment to be opened by me, now?” he asked.

“No. Priests will present it to the court and the people, telling them that it was sent using a pigeon immediately after the message of his death was given to you by Erton. Now give me that”