The Game Of Mages (Wattys2016)

Chapter 4: Finn

"Finn Yertear. What a joke."

Finn leaned against the railing of the royal balcony, the sun glaring down at him. His eyes wandered across the garden below him. DragonReach is so beautiful in his eyes. His caramel brown hair fluttered in the light breeze. His dark skin absorbing the heat. He wore a long sleeve white shirt with a black vest hung over it. His pants were a light gray while his shoes black. The perfect attire for a Hand in training.

Behind him was a smug yellow haired boy wearing nothing but a plain white shirt and black shorts. His pale white skin shined in the midday light.

Finn chuckled lightly at his snarky comment. "Well Han Lienstar. I may be a joke but people like jokes." He said simply, not turning to him. "Not my fault you are a prissy prince that no woman would want to be seen with."

"Do you know who you are talking such rubbish too?" Han huffed reaching for his blade. "You are looking at the future-"

"The future dropout king. Yes I'm aware. Your father was nothing but a drinker Han. What a reputation to live by." Finn finally turned to Han. "The Lienstars are becoming a joke."

Han stomped his foot in annoyance. "You'll be working under me when I rise to the throne! Remember that." With that he stomped out of the room.

"Oh I can't wait..." Finn muttered under his breath. The king had died yesterday and Finn felt no difference. No difference in the atmosphere. In the people. Not even in the queen. To be fair the king was nothing but a drunk who did whatever he wanted.

"My father would be a better king than he would be." Finn muttered as he turned to leave. Once he and Han come of age, both of them would be appointed to their roles as The King and The Hand.

He walked out and began looking for his father. He waved to the queen as she passed. "Lady Lienstar!" He said happily. He bowed.

"Rise Finn. You  don't need to bow to me. How are you today?" She asked placing a flower in her hair.

Finn stood up and nodded. "I am doing fine. Have you seen my father?" He asked.

"Why I have. He is in the library again. It's almost as if he is married to those books." She chuckled and waved Finn goodbye.

Finn headed to the library. When he opened the doors, his father sat at a table, stacks of old books surrounded him. "Greetings father." He said formally stepping in and shutting the door.

His father didn't even look up to see Finn. "Hello Finn." Finn sighed and crossed the room to his father.

"What are you looking at?" Finn asked.

"A list of illnesses that cause death." He said flipping the page. Finn raised a eyebrow. He has never seen his father even glance a medical book.

"Why is that?" He asked.

"I have a theory Finn." His father explained, setting down the book. "The King's illness as most say was the flu. But if that is true, then why can someone have the flu for months until they finally die?"

Finn's eyes widened at what his father is suggesting. He already knew the answer to his question but he asked it anyway. "Which means?"

"Which means the King didn't have the flu. Nor any of these illnesses in the book. All of them at least take a week to kill it's victim. And the King died overnight." He paused. "There is only one other solution. Poison."

Finn took minute to comprehend what his father just said. "You mean...someone killed the King?" His father nodded.

"But who!?" Finn asked urgently.

"Keep your voice down. And I have another answer to that as well." He pulled out a sheet of paper with a list of names on it. At the top it said in bold letters, Student Directory. "I was notified a few days ago that the daughter of the Stand of QueenFell is attending a Mage school outside of DragonReach. Isn't it odd for a westerner to be this far south alone?"

Finn nodded slightly confused. "Why does that matter? It could have been anyone father. It probably is just a coincidence. Besides, you can't just go around accusing things that's trea-"

"It would be if it was any other Hold Finn. QueenFell has started wars on us before and lost. But now they have a new Stand. Think about it. Why is a westerner here the day the king dies?"

Finn ruffled his hair. His father did make sense but his gut told him otherwise. "Father. We can't say these things without concrete evidence. Please, let's wait."

"The west is a menace. Just know that. You can leave now." His father ordered.

Finn nodded and began walking out. Before he opened the door, he could hear quick footsteps rush away. Finn quickly opened it to see a dark figure duck into the hallway next to the library. Finn quickly followed, trying not to be seen.

"How much did this person hear?" Finn thought becoming worried. The figure lead Finn down into the bottom floor before the dungeon. It stopped and turned around. Finn quickly ducked back into a stairwell leading back upstairs . He clapped a hand over his mouth and waited for the figure's response. The figure turned back and pulled out a small set of keys. In front of it was a locked wooden door. Using the key, the figure entered the room and closed the door behind it. Finn looked out from the stairwell and creeped toward the door. He slowly opened the door a crack and looked in. He could easily see Han, standing with his arms crossed, listening to what the figure had to say.

"-n. The king is dead thanks to you. All we need is to get The Hand out of the way and then-"

busted.