When Stars Fall (NaNoWriMo22)

Chapter 6

On the opposite side of the Realm Beyond, a battle of power has begun. The remaining five brothers of the late King's family are all sitting together in the burial ceremonies of their father. The entirety of the kingdom is mourning the departure of their grand King. Everyone is mourning, except the very Princes. They sit in their respective seats with faces of stone. Behind every face is one single mission: find the diamond and become King.

Throughout the entire ceremony, they each refuse to look at the other. They continue to face forward with that blank look on their faces, even as they carry the body of their father out of the hall. Even as their people give their condolences. They simply say, "My father thanks you from the Great Beyond." As the last of the attendees leave, the tension between the brothers rise to uncomfortable lengths.

"Who would've thought that father was most beloved?"

"Do not start, Desiderius." The older brother turns to him. "Do not start what, Horaxias? Father was nothing but a heartless, devious man with his own children." Desiderius leaves his seat, striding to the alter. Horaxias rolls his eyes and turns to his other siblings. "Well, pray tell, what do you three plan on doing to get your hands on the diamond? Etraous? Foustaz? Garaex?" Foustaz plays with his fingernails, choosing to ignore his younger brother. He refuses to reveal his hand to his conniving brothers. "Why would we tell you anything, Horaxias? We know very well how you operate." Etraous leans on his knees, glancing over to him with suspicion.

"I don't care about your moronic plans or your idiotic tricks," Garaex retorts to all his brothers. "I only wonder what made Father think that one of us wouldn't just take the crown by force." Desiderius laughs, amused by Garaex's stupidity. He was the only one of the five who studied the laws and traditions of the kingdom. For, as the oldest of his remaining siblings, he was supposed to be the next in line. What his father did was an insult to Desiderius, and he took it personally. "We cannot be crowned without the diamond, or would you rather be crowned with only a part of the crown?" Garaex shoots his brother a heated glare. "What are you talking about, Desiderius?"

He glances at each of his brothers but is only met with blank looks. "It seems that I am the only one who took their studies seriously." He laughs at his brothers. "No, truly. All of you will be great Kings!" His younger brothers seethed with anger at his mocking. "Oh, get on with it, Desiderius!" Horaxias yells. Etraous and Foustaz roll their eyes, unbothered by the never-ending feuds. "One cannot do the coronation without the diamond. It is part of the crown. Once the blood heir is crowned, the diamond changes based on the new monarch. Forever becoming an extension of the New King. It is law."

Irritation ripples from one brother to the next. Desiderius leans against the megalith where their father laid only an hour before. "Oh, yes," he laughs bitterly, "Father was quiet cunning."

The air between them changes as each become determined to find the diamond. They all feel it. The moment their temporary truce ended, and they became mortal enemies. One by one, they each stand before each other. It had been years since they have gathered all in one room. The last time they were together, they were burying one of their older brothers. But it was many years ago. They mourned when the first born died. Then, they mourned for the second son. But, by the time their mother died, all that connected them was their mutual hatred for their father. The love between long lost.

All five brothers share one last look and simultaneously leave the gathering hall. Each are already forming a plan to retrieve the diamond, get rid of their brothers, and become King as they all believe they have a right to be. It's all in their faces. The set jaw, the confident stares, the purposeful strides. One look and you would they were brothers. But with the second, you would realize they are enemies. Desiderius mounts his horse and speedily takes off without a word of goodbye to his brothers. Etroaus waves at his brothers as he enters his carriage and simply says, "Farewell, brothers." Foustaz acknowledges his older brother's goodbye with a nod as he, too, takes off with his horse as well as his trained guards. The last brother to depart watches as all his older brothers embark on their shared quest, each going in different directions of the kingdom.

Horaxias pulls his riding gloves with care as he watches them. It is said that his father ruthlessly won his throne by assassinating all his brothers before his own father died and, inevitably, passed the crown to him. He won by cheating. Horaxias grabs the reigns and waits. "I shall give you a head start, my brothers." He says at their backs. "I shall let you kill yourselves before I strike. But, know this, if I see any of you again, I won't hesitate to kill you. I won't hesitate to kill anyone who stand in the way of my crown."