Radiance

A New Friend

|Tewtiy| 

14 Years earlier

It was a nice day out today. The sky was clear above as I sat on the front steps to the estate. I was mainly waiting on Uncle Arthur to come back, but a slight thought in my mind wanted me to go into town.

Nah, I shouldn't. Uncle would kill me if he found out I wasn't here. Especially since we were going to be having guests tonight.

The Captain of the Royal Guard, his right hand, the Mayor of Sancal, the DaVaias family from the Southern region, Janis Le'spike of Underwood, and Maclean Everrest of Riverrun. I had to memorize all their names so I knew how to address them formally since they were all meeting with my Great Grandfather for some business they had.

Worst part?

No kids my age. Besides my cousins but they were already on their ways to being proper men and not wanting to talk to me as much. Ugh.

The clopping of hoofbeats on the road up to the estate reach my ears and I look up from playing with a loose rock. Sure enough, there was Uncle Arthur riding in on his stallion, Rach. I instantly leap to my feet and dart over to the gate as our servants open it for him and help him off of his horse.

"Woah, Ryan! Slow down or you'll make yourself trip!" Uncle Arthur teases as he hops down and the servants take Rach to the stables. I simply just give him a hug with a grin.

"Hey, these shoes are only new as of three weeks ago! I'm not going to trip in them!" I say with a laugh as my uncle laughs and hugs me back before walking with me to the door. "Hey, you can never be too careful! Cannot blame your ol' Uncle here for keeping an eye out for his favorite Nephew." He gives me a hearty laugh and ruffles my hair as we walk up the stairs and to the door.

"Well, I know I just got back, but I need to check in with your Great Gran to double check my part I need to do for tonight since i'm riding down to greet the guests and lead them up, Alright?" The tall man besides me says and I sag, having wanted to hang out with him. He notices this and looks down at me with his hair drifting into his face. He bends down to my level and gives me a grin. "Hey, I'll play a round of Jacks and Horsemen later once I'm done, alright Ryan?" 

I perk up once he mentions my favorite game to play with him and I nod, grinning. I had my little streak to keep up! The one where I was loosing fabulously to him! I mean hey, I couldn't care less if I was loosing, Uncle Arthur made the game fun! That's all that mattered to me!

"Yeah, I have to keep my streak up! So you better make do on your word, Uncle Arthur!" I say with a mischievous grin and he straightens up. "I promise I promise, don't worry Ryan. We shall make our next joust glorious!" He makes an exaggerated motion with a dramatic voice and I laugh.

He was my favorite, he didn't care as much for formalities around me, which truly made me feel at home.

"Arthur! Aèdailia wants to see you!" A voice calls from the stairs and Uncle looks up. "Welp, That's my que Ryan, I'll see you once your Great Grandmother stops flapping her lips at me." He says with a grin and looks at me as he walks towards the stairs. I nod and grin at him and watch as he heads upstairs before I sigh and walk back outside. I know I shouldn't be outside without reason, but it felt nice outside and I wanted to stretch my legs a little.

A gentle wind picks up and blows through my short, ponytailed hair that my mom had done up earlier when I had woken up. It felt nice out here... Maybe tonight wouldn't be as bad. I had hope, I guess. 

A couple hours pass as I wander about outside, enjoying the warmth of the sun and the sweet fragrance that now drifted through the summer breeze. The sound of a clamor comes from nowhere and the familiar voice of my Uncle reaches over the breeze.