Birthright: The Contested Seat

Kyran

Kyran woke before the maids came in. This was usually an indication that he had woken too early. He peeked over his blankets and saw the sun peeking through the small partition in his curtains. If the sun was out, it wouldn't be too much longer before the maids came barreling in to get him ready for the day.

He let out a groan and pulled the blankets over his head. He was beginning to tire of lessons, but knew they were important. Gerta's stern and serious disposition didn't make lessons enjoyable and Kyran wished that weren't true. If the lessons were enjoyable, perhaps he'd have a better time concentrating. However, this was not his only frustration. They kept him busy at all hours of the day and he hadn't had any free time to make good on his promise to help Talia. He swore he would help her learn more about Sarth but hadn't had the time or opportunity. It must be awful to not know who your parents are, and Kyran really wanted to do this for her. She had no family left, so if her parents were alive, maybe they were worth meeting.

He remembered then that he was to meet with Lord Galia that morning to discuss a change in his lessons. He wasn't told exactly what the change would be, but he was hoping for more free time. At the very least, he could ask Lord Galia for access to Galenport's records. Maybe there was something about Talia's family there, though he knew it was unlikely. Any record of Talia's family would be in Polarica, but it was worth a try.

The bed shook as Senzias jumped from the floor to join Kyran. The little bear cub had grown quite a bit since their time in the forest. Lord Galia had been kind enough to give him a book on Ethosian Brown Bears and he had been reading it diligently. Centuries ago, they were often hunted and traded as weapons of war. It only took one full year for them to be fully grown, though they did not reach sexual maturity until their sixth year. Due to this, the Ethosian Brown Bear was pushed to the brink of extinction as most were used for battle before they were old enough to breed. Eventually, King Alinos Arintear issued a decree that the Ethosian Brown Bear was to be a protected species. When there was protest over this, he famously said, "Those who hunt the Arintear sigil, hunt the Artintears themselves." 

Kyran hoped to be a king who was remembered for the good things he had done. He often wondered how the beginning of his reign would be written. Would they say he hid away in the Riverlands while a war was fought for him? Would they say he fought valiantly or that he avoided a war with cleverness? He could not say for sure. The events that played out from here would determine what the nation's future generations would think of him. He had to be certain he made them proud.

The doors of his chambers suddenly flung open, giving him a start. A wave of maids poured in, all dispersing in different directions. Some moved to the window to pull back his curtains, some to the privy to prepare his bath, and some to his bed to drag him from it. Senzias growled in protest as they pulled the blankets back and ushered Kyran from his bed. He was becoming used to this morning routine, though he wished he could at least converse with the maids about things other than their duties.

He allowed them to take him. They washed and dressed him, then seated him at his table for a spot of breakfast. Not long after he sat, Harren came to join him. Kyran treasured these moments in the morning. They had both been so busy that they hadn't been seeing much of each other, so breakfast with Harren in the morning was welcomed. 

"There are some things I wish to speak to you about, Kyran," said Harren, sipping his tea, "Lord Galia has been kind enough to offer a place of my own, outside of the city."

"You will no longer be in the castle? Why?"

"That is the good news. Your brothers and sisters are being escorted from Picket. They'll be staying with me there and will be attending their lessons, just as you are," explained Harren.