until the sword decides our fate

Chapter 6

Big lower lip and thin upper one, a medium well drawn straight nose with a small round shape at the end of it, small black eyes, thick eyebrows, round cheeks defining his bone structure, a sharp jawline and ginger hair falling on his forehead, that was the prince of Stazel in the name of Isaac. He sat there behind his locked door, playing flute or violin or cello or whatever other instrument he could play, guards would stop in front of his door to hear what he was playing every time, and stayed in the hallway until the music stopped, then walked away. When he got bored he started painting next to the windows, breathing fresh air, and he'd walk out of his room with paint all over his hands.
That's exactly what he was doing this morning, music filled the corridors, than it suddenly stopped, he took a paint brush and rubbed it against his canvas, looking from time to time out the window.
In the room facing his, was his brother, laying ill in his bed, he was born seven years before Isaac, these two were inseparable, Reginald had taught his brother everything he knew, and when he fell on the ground, in sickness for the first time, Isaac developed a fear of loosing him, and his pretty smile vanished, he lived in denial, refusing to admit that his brother was at the very last of his days.
So he painted, mixing red, blue, yellow; Painting trees, clouds and rivers, as an escape to his dark thoughts. The thoughts of loosing his big brother.
Painting and playing music weren't his only talents. He could hit running animals from miles away with his archery skills, he could ride on a horse like he merged with it, he could write poems that made bodies shiver, but he kept all that to himself, even in that moment no one knew what he was capable of. He walked in the streets and murmurs flew. To people, he was the tall muscular ginger haired seventeen years old teenager. However he was very silent and secretive: Some even though he was deaf. People were afraid he would be the successor. People were afraid he couldn't rule the kingdom, but he knew he was far capable of doing so.
He then walked carefully from corner to corner of his room so he wouldn't step on any of his belongings as he walked towards the door. He opened it and kept walking and sauntered down the stairs, as his hand skimmed on the stair ramp, and his eyes fixed his foot that moved down slowly.
His father saw him asked him to sit down next to him drinking tea. He explained that he had to send him to the new land because his brother was unable to do it, his stare was focused but did not cross his father's eyes, his ears were wide open, he listened to every word attentively, "I don't mind" he speaked for the first time today in his deep relaxing voice. His father shook his head proudly and smiled, Isaac smiled back and got to his room to get ready.
When he got back into his room, his heart was racing, his hands were shaking, his tears were falling. He wiped them off his cheek thinking it's a sign of weakness. Downstairs he had shown a courageous face, up here in his room it was quite the opposite. He didn't mind going to the new land but the thought of leaving his brother probably in his last days haunted him. But he held back his tears, cleared his voice and shouted: "Williams please get a cage of homing pigeons that I can take with me", to one of his gards that did as he asked as he packed his bag. He carried rags rolled in salt to whiten his teeth, some tunics, jackets, trousers, cloaks and shoes. A normal bag to carry to such adventure. Only he added a few canvases and a pen with some ink to write his brother letters. He held his bow and put arrows in his quiver before attaching it to his right thigh. He walked out his room and sat besides his brother and kissed him on the forehead:" I'll send you letters" he murmured, "I'll be waiting" Reginald said putting a huge effort to say these four simple words.
Then, like every other, he came downstairs to find his companion. Which was tall very handsome and quite polite. Isaac barely said hello, not because he was impolite but he was reserved, and then walked out of the palace with him holding his bow in a hand and the cage of pigeons in the other.
His mother stood in front of the door watching him walk away, praying for him to be safe. Like every other mother would do. She watched him until he disappeared in the fog and came back to sit besides her other son praying for him to heal.
And Isaac prayed for Reginald too. He looked straight ahead silently and hoped to see his brother again...