Brother of the Desert Rats

The Most Beautiful Thing

It was a long silent ride through the desert as the four traveled to the Great Walls of Dune.

Zaelan could not get the chieftain's words out of his head. How had Chief Balor known his father? What was their history together? And for what reason did he blame his father?

He avoided Ara's gaze, knowing she was curious about his silence. But he did not feel like talking to her right now. Not only did he fear causing more strife between the princess and her grandfather, but he also a dark lingering feeling that Ara also did not know of this 'hidden history'. A feeling that warned him that it was truly best that neither of them should ever know the truth.

And so it was that he drew his horse back, leaving poor Emir to awkwardly try to talk to Ara. Captain Lev noticed the looks exchanged between the three and how Zaelan was actively trying to avoid the princess. Pitying the younger man, he nudged his horse forward until it walked in pace with Zaelan's.

"You and the princess have argued?" he asked in a low voice.

Zaelan started in fright as the captain's voice broke his thoughts, and he quickly shook his head.

"No, sir. It's just...who am I to ride side by side with the princess of Dune." He paused, his throat growing tight as he glanced at Emir. "She should be alone with her fiance anyway."

Captain Lev studied him thoughtfully. His dark eyes flickered over him, taking in the way Zaelan occasionally stole a glance in the princess's direction.

"You know, Zaelan, Fate is extremely cruel. It is almost as though she takes pleasure in seeing us mortals suffer. Ara was never meant to be heiress to the throne of Dune, or of anywhere for that matter. She was never meant to have Emir pledged to her in marriage. But Fate laid out many cruel paths and as a result, Ara will be queen and she will be wed to Emir. I am sure you know that she is no willing party in it all. But Fate has a mind of her own, and who are we to defy her?"

"Fate?" Zaelan echoed in a hoarse whisper. His mind turned back to the past and tears stung at his eyes. Was it merely Fate that had caused Zarek to be blamed by the officer? Was it Fate that had caused Zaelan to decide to step in between them? Was it Fate that had turned the knife and plunged it into the officer's chest? Was it Fate that Zarek had betrayed him at the trial? And was it Fate that had led Ara to the market that day?

"But for what?" he asked, not meaning to speak out loud. "What is all this suffering for? I could have been bought and died in the mines. Or maybe I could have escaped and fled to Zora. But why did I have to be dragged here to serve or to die?"

Captain Lev sighed softly. "No one knows what Fate has in store for them. Only she knows how the future will turn out. But Zaelan, don't you think we could give you a better life here than that of the mines?"

Zaelan glanced back towards Ara, then shook his head. "I will always be the Runen slave here. Which reminds me, Chief Balor had commanded-" he cut off, his jaw twitching as he suddenly felt a wave of emotions wash over him. "He commanded that I must be called Lann. I am a slave who can not even own his own name."

"Maybe it could be for the best," Captain Lev murmured, although his eyes were filled with pity. "Even if you were sold by Runens for killing one, you are still of Runen blood. And not only that, your name has connections to the Runen nobles. It may be better for your own safety that no one knows your name."

"I was branded and sold by them," Zaelan argued, his voice sounding more strained than before.

"But do you hate them for it?" Captain Lev asked calmly. "You were raised in the military school. We all know how difficult it is to forget those 'loyalties' that were hammered into our heads ever since we were children. So, who do you give your loyalty to? The people who sold you? Or the people that bought you?"