War Of Freedom- Fallen (book One)

Ch 3: The Strength Of Family

From this chapter, I'll be introducing their culture, customs and traditions. I will mark the new words
with - ° and their meaning will be explained at the end of the chapter.

...........

Jadenyx woke up to his growling stomach. He tossed the thick layer of blankets aside and slid into his fluffy slippers. He opened the door and peered into the silence of the corridor. There was not a soul in sight. Grinning to himself, he stepped out.

Saliva bubbled in his mouth when an enticing aroma of tomatoes and corn reached his nose. He tossed the lid aside and took a belly full breath of his favourite soup.

He picked a silver spoon sparkling in the corner of the platform and churned the soup. He would've tasted the most delicious thing in his world if not for a trail of footsteps approaching the kitchen. He dropped it and dashed to hide behind a stack of rice bags, cursing the intruder.

"Jade! You woke up?" His elder sister, Janiz, squeaked with wicked excitement. Her silver eyes scanned the entire kitchen for signs of her little brother.

"I know you are here. Come out now. Father is waiting for you," Janiz sung in a victorious tone. Sure, she would enjoy her little brother getting yelled at, wouldn't she?

Jadenyx stood still like a statue, hoping to not get caught.

Grrrrr!

Damn, his stomach snitched!

Janiz pulled her long brown hair into a bun and walked towards the rice sacks with a wicked grin. She pulled him out of hiding by pinching his ear.

"Ow! Ow! Ouch! Sista, it hurts!" Jadenyx yelped. And almost tripped on her night gown as she dragged him out of the kitchen into the dining room.

Jurdith sat in one of the meticulously carved wooden chair, munching on some fruit, unbothered by the sight of her children fighting.

"What a story, Jade, what a story! You outperformed yourself in stupidity. Well done!" Janiz mocked while letting go of him.

"Hey, it wasn't that stupid. I almost convinced His Majesty, you know," Jadenyx retorted with pride. He rubbed his injured ear and went to settle beside Jurdith. "I am famished! Where's the soup?" He asked while checking out all the dishes on the mahogany wooden table with a glass top.

"Blah! Blah! You failed at the end. And that's a fact," Janiz teased him. She pulled the chair opposite to him and settled in it.

"Now should I list all your stupidities? You couldn't even sneak out of your room without getting caught."

"That's not true! You are lying. No one even knows whenever I jump. But when you do, every one in this house knows." She stuck her tongue out.

"Don't bother covering. That night when you sneaked out to meet that Navy general's son and slipped and fell, mom came rushing to your room. Who managed to distract her? Me. Don't forget..." One look at Janiz's horrified face sealed his lips.

Beside him, Jurdith dropped her silver cutlery with a bang as she choked on the fruit. This drew his attention to the elephant in the room.

Jurdith was in utter shock. "What did you say? Who is that boy?"

Oops! Something was really wrong with his mouth today.

"Nothing. I was just joking." He flashed an innocent smile at her. From the corner of his eyes he could see Janiz glaring at him. If eyes could spit fire, he would've been charred by now.

"Jado, what's his name?" Jurdith's voice deepened few degrees.

"Who? No one. What are you talking about?"