A Tale of Time: The Malice of Men

Chapter 17: Treachery

Treachery is shunned. Treachery is necessary. 

Treachery is unholy. Treachery is encouraged.

Treachery is sad. Treachery is mad.

Treachery is a necessary means to achieve a revolution.

Kevin Ironsborough was nursing his wounds. They were attacked by a group of highway bandits on their way back. The soldiers of Barastar were good, but Kevin Ironsborough was a brave and rather reckless man. When the enemy broke formation, he decided to charge them himself. One poor fellow stood up to him. He was quickly trampled to death, but not fast enough. He raised his spear in one final, desperate attempt and got Silvya's father in the eye. His body was now rotting on a spike far, far away.

The wound was a bad one though. Kevin lost his eye and there was no way for the wound to heal. To save others the look, he wore a patch. It made him look odd, but that was what he looked like when he was at his best anyways.

Right now, he found himself capable of doing very little, or so Silvya believed. Father was always a little rough when he was in a bad mood, but even she hadn't seen him in such a black one before.

"Wine!" He called out. A very timid attendant poured out a glass of the finest wine from Summersdale. He took a sip. "Stronger, you idiot!" He shouted, flinging the glass at his face. He dodged it right in time. Kevin Ironsborough stood up. "Can somebody tell me why I am the only person who seems to be doing something right?" Silvya came to the poor fellow's rescue. "You are tired, father. You need some rest. It's not his fault...."

"NOT HIS FAULT?" He boomed. "I'll tell you what isn't his fault: being born! He is responsible for every mistake he committed after  that. And I am resting! Or have you  gone blind too, child?

When I was your age, I could train all morning with the master-at-arms, spend all afternoon reading and then ride and fight some more and I would still be left with enough strength to swim across Owësha!"

Silvya walked up to her father and placed her head on his shoulder, gently stoking the other with her hand. Kevin was known for such outbursts, but he always, always came through and became a better person in the end. That was the best part about him. "I know, father. I know." Silvya said. Looking up, she directed the poor attendant to leave. There was no need to tell him twice.

That left the father and daughter all alone in the warm and cozy room. The formal welcoming was, mercifully, over and now the Governor could spend some time with his family. Clearly, he was preoccupied. There was something that disturbed his peace, though Kevin Ironsborough didn't voice the reason for his displeasure yet. It was probably some slight that was paid to him on the way back or the incident with his eye. Usually, it was something of that sort that left him in a bad mood for the rest of the day. Asking him directly would only flare him up though. The task of soothing Kevin Ironsborough was a difficult one that had to be executed with no small amount of tact and finesse.