In Another Era

Chapter 39: Making Amends

13 years ago, one week after the dark plague

Archie stared at the wall. He had never felt this numb ever before in his life, albeit he was only twelve years of age. He had just lost his mother. She was the one that birthed and raised him, the only parent he had. Archie had never known who his father was. Though his mother had told stories about him and his bravery.

He was a soldier in the King's army and had lost his life in battle right before Archie was born. His mother had been a widow, and now Archie was an orphan.

A part of him was relieved, too. The plague was not kind and his mother was suffering immensely. Archie teared up just thinking about how he watched his mother cough up blood as she laid almost lifeless, her face drained of any color and her eyes vacant. At least her pain was now over. She was at peace now, the only silver lining.

Archie wanted her back. He would do anything to get her back. But death was a part of life, an inevitable truth that nobody could overcome. And now all the poor boy could do was accept reality. No matter how much he wanted to hold on and be in denial.

The silence was killing him. So was the emptiness, and he could not bear it anymore. He needed someone, and there was only one person left in the world that he could go to.

Kenric.

Archie finally left his room. Kenric, too, had lost his father, the King, in the plague. Godric had been crowned the new king just yesterday, and the entire capital was in shambles. Countless lives were lost but the plague was now on the verge of being over. People were no longer falling sick, and some that already were ill were now beginning to get better. If only his mother was one of them...

No. He could not think this way. There was no point in wishing for the impossible. Archie needed Kenric, so he set out to find him.

Archie was on his way to his friend's room when he came face to face with the oldest prince...well, now the young king.

"Your Majesty," Archie bowed down.

"Archie," Godric spoke with distaste in his voice. "Looking for my brother again, are you?"

"Yes," Archie replied meekly, his spark no longer ablaze. "Do you...do you know where he is?"

"Do you not remember what I warned you about, you foolish boy?" Godric scoffed. "I told you that the day I become King I will put an end to your so-called friendship with my brother. You are beneath him, and he does not need you. He is above your company."

"But—"

"I will not hear any arguments from you!" Godric snapped. "Do you wish to be thrown in the dungeons? Because I will not hesitate in doing so."

"No... I have not done anything wrong," Archie argued, his voice cracking as he spoke.

"Stay away from my brother if you do not wish to be punished. The prisoners down there will chew a boy like you before spitting you out like the trash that you are. Mark my words, Archie, I will not tolerate your insolence any longer, not like my father did. If I see you with my brother again then you both will pay the price for it. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Archie whispered, staring down at the ground in fear and shame. "I will no longer bother Prince Kenric."

Just like that, Archie lost not one, but both the important people in his life.

The youngest prince, barely a few feet away, stayed hidden behind the pillar, having heard the entire conversation. Frederic frowned, not understanding why Godric would want Archie and Kenric to not be friends. But his elder brother was the King, and what he ordered was not to be defied.