Stolen Dream

Chapter Sixteen

Sanyo sat next to the still body of his brother and wept silently. He couldn't believe what had happened. Wished he'd been there to see it for himself. From what Novo had told him, Mirek had submitted to Keyvon, then, when Keyvon's back was turned, threw Keyvon's own spear at him. Keyvon had turned, seeing it coming, but wasn't able to get out of the way in time.

It was a horrifying mental image, but Sanyo still wished he'd seen the entire thing in person. Hearing what had happened was very different from being there himself, to witness it first-hand.

Now the head researcher was pressuring Sanyo into taking up the mantle of Sovereign in his brother's stead. Novo insisted that, without a definite leader, their world would descend into chaos with repercussions beyond what Novo wanted to even think about.

Sanyo rubbed his face, willing the sorrow away. He hadn't even known Keyvon that well, but what he did know was that Keyvon hadn't wanted to be Sovereign. He'd wanted Sanyo to take up the mantle of leadership.

He touched his brother's lifeless hand, squeezed his eyes shut, and turned towards the door. He pulled himself together and went through the portal to face Novo and the others who were waiting. Sanyo looked to Novo and nodded. "I will follow my brother's wishes and be the next Sovereign," he announced decisively.

Novo nodded to a small group of messengers who were waiting by the exit. "Go, spread the word immediately that Sanyo, son of Mirek, is our new Sovereign by wishes of his elder brother, who has given up his birthright."

The messengers vanished into the night.

"What is your first order of business, sire?" Novo asked respectfully. "There is, of course, much to attend to."

"Where is my mother?"

"Still in a cell, I believe."

"I need to talk to her before anything else is decided. Please bring her to my, er, chambers, I guess."

Novo bit back a smile. "Of course. I will see to it personally."

"Thank you."

Novo turned to leave.

"Uh, Novo?"

"Yes, sire?" Novo replied, turning back immediately.

"Where, exactly, are my chambers?"

"Come with me, it's on my way."

Sanyo followed Novo out of the medical caverns and into the hidden doorway that led to the Sovereign's domain. "Look around. This entire area is yours," Novo told him. "I'll be right back with your mother."

"Thank you." Novo left and Sanyo looked around curiously. He'd only been through here briefly before, and he hadn't been paying much attention at that time.

It was much less opulent than he'd somehow imagined. He'd been expecting it to look larger than life. Something big and brightly coloured. Instead it was significantly smaller than he'd thought and, while beautiful, not nearly as colourful. He went through to the room where he and Keyvon had been taken and sat on what had once been Mirek's throne.

It felt strange to sit in such a position of power.

He was still there a few minutes later when Novo returned with his mother.

"Mom!" he cried out, rushing out of the chair and into his mother's arms.

"Oh, honey," she crooned, holding him tight and stroking his hair. "What's going on, where's Mirek?"

Sanyo pulled back with a frown. "Novo didn't tell you?"

Novo cleared his throat. "She wouldn't listen, sire."