Heir of the Underground

Chapter 18: Aurelia

Azrael Kolthorne.

His name was Azrael Kolthorne.

It was a strange realization, especially for Kassius. After seventy years of not knowing, of wondering if the child had even survived long enough to have a name, there it was.

Azrael.

According to the book of records, he had been born two days into Briseida's capture. And where had he been sent?

The book wasn't clear. It spoke of Azrael's future in the vaguest term possible: weaponry.

Azrael had been sent to weaponry?

In all her years in Rheolaeth, Aurelia had never heard of a Fey being sent to such a place or put on such a task. But there it was, plain as day. Azrael had been assigned to weaponry.

"He must've been strong even at birth," Kassius murmured. He flipped the page of the book, looking on the back for more info, for another word about his brother, but there was nothing more.

"Do you think they trained him as a soldier for the army? Or turned him into a private servant or guard for someone?" Aurelia suggested. "If he was strong and they had him from birth, it would certainly be easy to brainwash him into being a loyal fighter for their cause."

"That sounds likely," Kassius nodded, though he still seemed unconvinced. "Weaponry." He repeated the word back to himself. Then again. And again. But it never quite seemed to click.

He stared out into space, trying to make sense of that one word that rest on the page. The book went limp in his grasp, so Aurelia took it from him, taking a moment to look it over with her own eyes.

"At least we know he's alive," she said finally. "And he has a name. So we don't have to refer to him just as your sibling anymore," she remarked, attempting a lighthearted comment.

And yet, the comment didn't land the way she intended. Rather, it sparked something in Kassius's eyes. His posture stiffened, and though his focus remained forward, his mind began to turn.

He was piecing something together.

"What is it?" she asked suddenly. She leaned in toward in, as if hoping that his thoughts would drift into her head, as others' thoughts so often did for him.

"His name. I don't know how he got his name," Kassius uttered. "My mother didn't give it to him. I saw your dream with my own eyes. She passed before she could have a say in his naming." His puzzled frown grew deeper. "So then how in Willow's name did he end up with Azrael?"

Now it was Aurelia's turn to frown confusedly. "I still don't understand," she admitted. "What's so bad about the name Azrael?"

"It's Fey," he explained. "And not just a Fey name. It's a word from our ancient language. The one we spoke before our people adopted the human language. We attempted peace with the humans hundreds of years prior to the war, and during that time, gave up our own language so that we might negotiate and come to an agreement." He scowled, "Obviously, that didn't help. But the point is, we gave up our language. Few remember it anymore. And yet, Azrael is a word. From that language. The humans shouldn't have known it. They shouldn't have been able to name him that, of all things."

"You say that as if Azrael's name holds a bad meaning."

Kassius finally looked to Aurelia, meeting her gaze. And with a solemn nod, he revealed the truth. "It means weapon."