The Obsidian Heir

Rein

"It's been two years dammit, at least let the prisoner see the light. We need him, but not to look like a damn zombie," said Teval Oaks.
Teval Oaks was the sworn sword and shield for Raehera, and one of his councilmen. He had short brown hair, with a sharp nose and tough brown eyes, his voice was annoying and strong.
He sat in the council room in shining white armor with a blue cape and the symbol of Reinfield on his chest plate.
Raehera looked at him from across the table. "Tontly is my prisoner. I do with him as I must. He's also my enemy. I do not have a bit of respect for my enemies."
Teval shook his head, "I feed him and give him water everyday and wine once a week, he needs nothing more to stay healthy. He must be doing physical exercise there to keep his body from falling apart," Raehera said stubbornly.
"He needs light my lord," Teval said in a defiant attitude. "Keep that attitude and you'll be boiled like the rest of my men who rebel against my words," threatened Raehera.
Teval made a pouty face and shrinked in his chair. "My lord, your brother and his sons and wife are coming to visit you this coming week, you ought to set up a feast for his coming," said Tay Philip who was brother of Rhya, and the messenger for Reinfield.
Tay sat in a silky white and blue robe. He had no hair. His head was bald and shiny. His face was wrinkled and his hazel eyes small.
Raehera sighed, "What for?" asked Raehera not really caring for a feast. "For the second year anniversary for the victory at Aren River, my lord. The place you defeated Gregor," responded the messenger.
Raehera's face turned red with anger. Doesn't this messenger fool know that I know where I defeated Gregor, thought Raehera. He wasn't going to let his anger out. Not at the council table at least.
Raehera rose from his chair and stared at his council. "We will host a feast for him, and a tournament of knights," Raehera stared at Teval, "You will be participating in this event, do not fail me Oaks."
Teval nodded his head. "Y'all may be dismissed," said Raehera, staring at his council. His council consisted of four members. Him, Teval Oaks, Tay Philip and finally his mother, Lorane Rein of house Rein and Oaks.
The Oaks was a small house, only being around for two hundred years. Teval was his mother's nephew. His mother was absent today at the council.
His mother's brother who was named Talon Oaks married Lucy Oaks of house Oaks and Hall, and they had two sons, Homer Oaks the heir of Oakland and then Teval Oaks the youngest.
Talon Oaks had dark gray hair and evil brown eyes. He had barely any wrinkles which was surprising for how old he was. He stood tall and slim. He was a great sword fighter who has won many battles.
Lucy Oaks had long auburn hair that had darken to the color of bronze over the years. She had sullen brown eyes and pale skin that looked as if she had the souls sucked out of her.
Homer Oaks had short auburn hair and sullen brown eyes just like his mother. He was more burly than his father, but not as great as a fighter.
Raehera exited through the door of the council room and went down a long hallway surrounded by bricks of stone and spruce floors. Windows let light shine into the hallway as well as torches that hung on the walls.
Once Raehera got to the end of the hallway, he went down a set of stairs. Which seemed to last forever.
Once he finally made it down, he entered the throne room. Raehera looked at the throne. The throne was huge, the biggest in Esternia. It was made of pure gold.
Light from the windows reflected off of the throne. Raehera slowly made his way towards it and sat down at the throne.
A few minutes after he sat down his mother entered the throne room. His face was expressionless before she entered and still afterward.
He stared at her. She had oily long gray hair and her skin was filled with wrinkles, she had dull gray eyes, and her cheeks hung low.
"Mother," Raehera said softly, staring into her soul. Lorane looked at him, and gazed at his mightiness on the throne, "I'm sorry I didn't make it to the council today, my lord."
Raehera shifted uncomfortably in his throne. "Tell me, were you busy?" asked Raehera. His mother nodded, "Yes I was," she answered, "I was praying above your father's tomb," she said truthfully.
Raehera took a deep breath and his fist clenched the arms of the throne. "Praying to what? The almighty gods of the Land of Souls? The gods are not real mother, there's no such thing as them," he said stubbornly.
Raehera did not believe in the five gods. The five gods were supposedly a god of vicissitude, a god of gattitude, a god of famine, a god of battles, a god of order, and finally a god of heritage.
They don't even have names, and you believe in them... stupid foolish mother, he thought.
His mother's face turned into a frown. She said nothing and just stared at him in offense. "Brother will come in under a fortnight, we're preparing a feast, and a tournament of knights, your nephew Teval will be competing in it," Raehera told his mother.
Mother smiled, "I believe he'll crush them all," she said confidently. "Not if he's boiled before the tournament, he gets more defiant as the days pass," said Raehera arrogantly.
His mother loved him, although right now she wanted to slap him and curse at him. She wanted to teach sense in him. He's stubborn.
His mother's face twitched, "Go off, I have no need of you right now," said Raehera. His mother bowed and exited the throne room.
Lorane Rein went into the courtyard outside of the throne room. Her eldest grandson Hall Rein was practicing with Teval.
"Now block! Swing down. Good, good," Teval demanded. Hall did exactly as he said. Hall looked at his grandmother whom he's always been real close to.
"Hello grandmother, do you wanna watch me train or do you have other important matters to attend to?" Hall eagerly asked.
Lorane smiled, "I wish to watch, yes. But I'm going to visit your sisters, and where is John?"
"John is in the library as usual," answered Hall. Teval looked at Lorane, "I expect to see you at council tomorrow lady Lorane," said Teval.
"I'll be there, don't you worry," responded Lorane. Teval nodded. "Your son is still being stubborn about the prisoner Tontly, it's been two years dammit, he hasn't seen light. Except for torches when a guardsmen goes down there to feed him, may the gods have mercy on him," Teval said.
Lorane frowned, "Tontly is our enemy still, but yes I agree he needs light, we don't want him to go crazy in the dark."
Teval nodded in agreement. "At least you agree lady Lorane, I'll leave you be now. Farewell," Teval said.
"Farewell grandmother," said Hall. "Farewell boys," she responded. She continued her walk as she heard the clashing of Hall's and Teval's swords again along with Teval's instruction to Hall.
A book dropped on the floor with a thud. John picked the book up which had been open when it fell.
The pages were talking about the house of Rein and the family tree. The strong members of the family.
He was reading a section about the War of the Ice Age. This war was five hundred years ago.
All the land in Esternia had turned to ice. The frozen wasteland felt like the end of the world to the people back then.
The Great Grim Rein was king of Reinfield back then. Grim Rein was the most powerful king in history.
He had the most land and the most food, and the biggest army then. The other kings waged war against him for his crops and land since the ice age left them with nothing.
He was defeated, but his son, the Cruel Jaime Rein, had gotten his revenge. He killed all of his father's enemies and took more land than anyone in history.
On his fiftieth name day, he was poisoned. Then his heir became king. John was interested in his family history, and other history in general.
He's the wisest man in his family. He's read countless books with hundreds of pages. If you asked him a question, he'd be able to answer it in a snap of a finger.
John laid the book back on the table he was reading at. He used a few candles as light sources.
"Reading again. As usual," said a voice he recognized. "Grandmother," he said, turning around.
"Uncle is coming to visit soon, he and I always get along well, so I cannot wait," said John.
"Father is dissatisfied with me because I rather read than fight like a knight," said John sullenly.
Lorane frowned, "Reading makes you smart, wisdom is power." John smiled, "Indeed it is," he said, closing the book he was reading.
It was titled, the Reign of Rein. "This is one of my favorites, I'm nearly done with it, I'm just on the part about the war during that ice age five hundred years ago," said John.
"Oh I love that story, Johnny you have no idea. My father used to tell me about it everyday. The way Jaime was able to avenge his father. It makes me so proud that the Reins never go down easily. Although sadly Jaime was poisoned," said Lorane.
John frowned. "You know when you're old enough you're gonna be your brother's bannermen. I'm not saying you should stop reading, but you need to start practicing with a sword," said Lorane.
John sighed, "I can't deny that truth." "Neither can anyone else, but your wisdom can probably get you through it all, you could prepare attacks. Raids, and many more. You'd make a good brother for Hall when it comes to war," said Lorane.
Her words made John cheer up from the hard truth with a slight smile. He had to accept the fact that day may come where he's helping his brother on the battlefield.
In his eyes he tries to look at the good things in life. At least I'll be helping my brother, he thought.
Lorane smiled, "You're a good boy John," said Lorane, she put her hand on his knee, "You'll make a good bannermen, now I'm going to visit your sisters, have fun reading your book."
John nodded, "I will." John continued to flip through the pages of the book as his grandmother left the library.
"Loren Gillen does not like straight hair, he loves it when it is braided," said Rhya as she braided Lyanna's hair.
"He loves good posture, great manners, and he likes blue eyes, so you're perfect, darling," said Rhya.
Lyanna smiled, "I hope he thinks that too." "He will Lyanna," her mother said in an attempt to encourage her.
"You're almost eighteen, you're gonna be marrying him in a month, be proud," said Rhya, "I am proud," responded Lyanna, "Never said you weren't," argued Rhya.
Lyanna sighed, "I can't wait. He's so handsome and his hair is so soft."
Rhya smiled, she loved her daughter. "When he visited last week he let me lean on his shoulder, it was so romantical," said Lyanna.
"He loves you Lyanna, I'm so proud of you," said her mother. Lyanna smiled with glee. "Oh my gosh, you look so beautiful sweet Lyanna," said her grandmother as she entered Lyanna's room.
Lyanna and Lorane gave each other a hug. Lyanna's cheeks were red. She was thinking of Loren. His pretty glimmering green eyes, his soft long brown hair. His smooth skin, his euphonic voice, his perfect body.
Lyanna was obsessed with him, ever since they were children. She didn't want to wait to marry him, she wanted to now.
"Your eighteenth name day is in two weeks Lyanna, once then we'll prepare your wedding with Loren," said Rhya.
"A lot of royal houses will be there watching Lyanna, make sure you look confident in yourself," said Lorane.
Lyanna nodded, "I will." Lyanna was blushing just thinking of Loren, she loved him so so so much.
Anna sat down on the steps to her room. Palms on her face. Her black hair reached down to her back. Her brown eyes anxiously looked around.
She had anxiety, she had it worse than anyone in the family. She heard footsteps coming towards her.
She looked around the corner and saw her father. "Anna, are you alright?" Raehera asked worriedly.
Raehera was strict, stubborn, careless, rude, and arrogant, but for some reason he loved Anna so much.
He talked to her the most, and stayed by her side the most. Maybe it's because of how anxious I am all the time, she thought.
"No, I'm a little anxious about uncle coming," answered Anna. "Why is that sweetling?" asked Raehera.
"Just what if he doesn't make it, what if something happens to him?" asked Anna. Raehera sighed, "Then we'll get revenge on whatever hurts him, but baby, don't worry. He'll make it safe," said Raehera.
Anna forced herself to smile to make her father believe her. Anna cuddled up on her father's side.
He slowly stroked her soft hair. She liked when he did that, it felt good against her hair. It gave her a good amount of comfort.
She loved her father just as much as he loved her, "Any special meal requests for the feast coming up?" her father asked.
Anna thought to herself. Then it came to her mind, "I love those fried eggs that chef Reynolds always makes," said Anna.
Chef Reynolds was a short wrinkled man with short black hair and brown beady eyes. He cooked for the Rein family every night, he was their chef.
Raehera smiled, "I'll get Reynolds to make that just for you Anna," said Raehera thoughtfully.
Anna smiled and Raehera put his arm around her tightly and softly rubbed her back.
The night was upon them, so Anna told her father farewell and left to go to her bedroom. She hopped into her soft bed. The blanket was made of wolf fur and it was the softest thing she's ever felt.
There was a knock at the door. Anna leaned up in her bed, "Come in," she welcomed the visitor.
The door opened and Lorane entered. "Grandmother," Anna said happily. Anna loved her grandmother so dearly much.
"Hello my sweet Anna, how are you doing dear, still recovering from when your blood kicked in this morning?" asked Lorane.
Anna nodded awkwardly, "Yes... I am..." she said uncomfortably. Lorane walked closer to her, "I know that hurts, Lyanna goes through the same thing, all women and girls do," Lorane said.
Anna started twiddling with her fingers anxiously, "Even I did," her grandmother said. "Yeah..." Anna said awkwardly.
Her grandmother frowned. "You seemed to be getting settled down to rest, I bid you farewell, have a good rest," said Lorane.
Poor girl, always anxious. I know I'm making her feel uncomfortable talking about her time of the month... I'm sorry my sweet Anna. Even if you don't think I am, thought Lorane.
"Goodnight grandmother," said Anna as she laid her head down on a pillow.