BLOOD OF KHARIS

CHAPTER 59: KIN

"You're still out here," a voice says, causing Callan to snap his eyes open, looking at the person standing by the door.

Quickly, he rises to his feet, dusting himself before facing the elderly man at the cottage door. He appears to be in his eighties, his head now balding, but his eyes are a strong brown.

"I believe my wife told you to leave hours ago."

"She did."

"But you are still here, in the dark, freezing."

"I am."

The man takes a good look at Callan before turning to head back inside. His action causes Callan's heart to drop. But when he hears a low,

"Come in."

he does not hesitate, following the man immediately. The cottage is warm and homey, with a few candles on a round wooden table illuminating the space.

"Have a seat," the man says, as he takes one of his own.

"Thank you very much, " he replies, doing as instructed.

The man stares at him long and hard, making the prince shift uncomfortably.

"Why?" he asks, taking them out of the graveyard-like atmosphere.

"Pardon?"

"After all these years, the past has been left in the past. I have children who now have children as you probably saw earlier, why are you here now?"

Callan nods, understanding the man's confusion. If he had a relative who had been wronged in the past and had finally moved on, just for a random person to show up and ask questions surrounding the incident, he would feel perturbed and skeptical as well. The prince takes a deep breath, choosing his words carefully, but still conveying the truth,

"It is because I want to do what is right. I owe it to your uncle."

"Who are you?"

"Someone who was also affected by the decisions made all those years ago."

Jared shakes his head, "I am afraid you are late. My father, who knew what happened, is dead. I was kept out of it for my own protection."

"I am almost certain you know at least a morsel surrounding the incident. Children are natural-born interlopers, especially when they get to the rebellious stage."

Jared nods, "You are right."

"Any bit of information would help, I assure you."

Jared searches Callan's eyes for a few minutes, before heaving a long sigh.

"My uncle, Bishop Cyrus, was a good man. He devoted his entire life to God, and in service of the crown. Maybe that was why he found favor with King Steven."

Callan listens patiently, waiting for him to continue.

"He came to visit my father one night, saying something was wrong. I don't know the details of the conversation they had, but it was something along the lines of him being convinced that the royal family was murdered in Bethillore."

The prince frowns in confusion.

"The royal family was indeed murdered in Bethillore."

"I don't mean by the hands of the wearhs."

Callan feels his heart drop, "What?"

Had Leonidas spoken the truth when he visited him?

"My father dismissed his feelings of agitation saying that he was simply upset because the king he loved so much was gone."