Season's Feather

Chapter Nineteen

Years prior, before Anthony became a man, before the fathers of Delilah and Anthony had passed, and back when adulthood was a joke. Anthony and his father sit down in the forest as a deer stalked in front of them.

— & —

"Easy now. All right, take your time." Edmund whispered.

"He's bloody huge," Anthony replied.

Edmund smiled at the boy, "Yet no match for a bullet. Now, all it takes is one clean shot to the heart to befall even the greatest of beasts."

Anthony nodded his head and steadied himself. The point of the gun was directed straight at the deer. He takes a breath, and shoots. "It's impossible." Anthony sighs seeing the deer run off.

"Now now," Edmund shakes his head, "There'll be plenty of other opportunities."

Anthony sighs, "I've failed each time. I can just hear what Benedict will have to say about this. Colin too."

"All the more reason to keep trying."

Anthony shook his head however, "They'll be insufferable."

Edmund raises a hand to Anthony's shoulder, "Shh. Shh, shh." Edmund brings up his gun, a buck right in front of them. He aims and shoots. Moments later, a heft fall sounds against the forest ground.

Anthony smiles, "You have to show me how to do that!"

Edmund chuckles, "Come along. It's more about confidence than anything else. You decided that stag was too large to shoot before you even touched the trigger, I'm afraid. But you'll learn. You'll learn in time."

"You make it sound so easy." Anthony sighs. "Nothing ever rattles you, does it?"

Edmund laughs, "Oh, I believe your mother would have quite a few things to say about that. You do know that you cannot show someone your best without allowing them to see your worst. Speaking of which, she would adore those."

Edmund reaches down to the flowers lined in the ground. Pulling one he takes a breath of the floral scent, "They're quite lovely, are they not? Daphne and Delilah will be jealous if we do not return with anything for them. Anthony, do pick some flowers for the girls."

Anthony nods. He bended down and began to pick a few healthy flowers.

Edmund grunts, "Ugh this bloody..ah."

"Father?" Anthony asked.

"The damn thing stung me." Edmund grunts. He goes to stand, but his breath falters and he staggers forwards.

"Father? What is it? Father!" Anthony yells.

Edmund clatters to the ground, his breath still struggling, his face is red, his body is shaking.

"Help us, someone!" Anthony yells, "Someone, please! Help!"

"What happened?" James Silvester runs out, in gasped breaths. It was common knowledge that his health had been declining. Yet, he was still very present, even in times when he could barely walk.

"I don't know.." Anthony cried, "I don't know. I don't know!"

"Edmund." James called to his friend, "Edmund you must breathe, my friend, breathe."

"I can't-" Edmund gasped.

James watched and Anthony stared silent. Edmund's body stopped moving, his chest stopped pounding. James began to breathe faster, his hand shaking came to Edmunds chest, "No."