Birthright: The Contested Seat

Kael

Kael settled into his designated office, patiently awaiting Edwin's arrival. Though Edwin seemed less than enthusiastic about mentoring him in this work, Kael held onto the hope that he wouldn't abandon him entirely. The minutes stretched on, and Edwin was now over half an hour late. Despite the delay, Kael couldn't bring himself to believe that Edwin truly didn't care.

Just as Kael was contemplating whether to start looking for Edwin, the office door finally swung open, and Edwin glided in effortlessly. His presence had a disarming effect on Kael, instantly diffusing any frustration he had felt.

"You're late," Kael remarked, attempting to sound more upset than he truly was. There was just something about Edwin that made it challenging to hold onto his anger.

Edwin eyes flashed with annoyance. "I arrive precisely when I mean to, whether it be sooner or later."

"You specifically instructed me to meet you here in the morning. It's nearly an hour past sunrise now," said Kael, pointing out the window as if he were revealing the sun for the first time.

"Precisely. In the morning. It is still morning, is it not?" replied Edwin, a mischievous smile pulling at his lips.

As the sun continued its ascent, there was no denying that it was still morning.  However, he was purposefully late. He was certain that Edwin would have preferred him to be angrier than he was, but Kael recognized this behavior. Edwin was no different from the other noble sons he had encountered in his youth—seeking attention and causing disruptions to test the limits set by their fathers.

Edwin was all but kicking and screaming for attention from his father. The praise he longed for remained elusive, so he settled for negative attention instead.  He did not fear his father, as most noble sons do, nor did he fear disinheritance. In truth, he seemed to beg for it. Ever since that day in the library, Edwin's defiance had piqued Kael's interest.

Though Edwin did not fear his father, there was one man whom he seemed to dread. His uncle Octavian appeared to exercise complete control over Edwin. Kael comprehended the reasons behind it. Octavian was a stern figure, the Commander of the City Guard, and Edwin was unwilling to test the boundaries of his forbearance.

"Well, I'd prefer if you didn't keep me waiting for so long. Perhaps I'll have a word with your uncle Octavian about it," said Kael in partial jest.

Edwin stiffened, his complexion draining of color like the winter's snow. "I will not be late again. Please do not speak to my uncle," Edwin murmured softly, avoiding Kael's gaze. The once confident and vibrant man who had entered the room mere moments before now appeared timid and pallid. The mere mention of his uncle had instilled such a profound fear in him that he began to tremble slightly.

Whatever Octavian had done to evoke such a reaction must have been grave. Kael pitied Edwin and felt an immediate duty to shield him. He did not fear Octavian as Edwin did, and Kael certainly would not permit him to harm Edwin any further.

"What has your uncle done to warrant such fear?" asked Kael. He was concerned, but even more curious.

"It's nothing. My uncle just holds too much sway over my father's actions. One word from him and I'll be locked away until the day I'm to ascend as lord," said Edwin dismissively, "Besides, it's not really any business of yours, is it?"

"As you say," replied Kael with a shrug of his shoulders. He did not think that Edwin would offer up such information, but Kael would find out sooner or later. Perhaps he would need to gain Edwin's trust first, but he didn't know how he would do such a thing.

With an eagerness to proceed, Edwin commenced the instruction, bestowing upon Kael the weighty knowledge of his newfound responsibilities. He reached for Laelic's ancient tomes, meticulously chosen from the nearby shelves, setting Kael's mind ablaze with a whirlwind of information. Though adept with numbers, the sheer magnitude of this task dwarfed any prior encounters. In hindsight, he had failed to fathom the vast expanse of time required to administer the city's finances.