Of Rebels and Kings

Prologue

Keiran

"The day when brothers clash in unexpected war shall usher forth an age of pain. The false leader who rises from the graves of their family will drag a world of light down with them. It is when the air turns white and grey, fire blazing bright on Summersmount, that the Lost One will return home and mark a time of serenity, bringing the world back to the light."

The words rang through my head loudly as my brother stood before me, sword pointed at my throat. It should have been clear all along. From the day the old lady grabbed my arm and told it to me; yet, I was blind to it. Blind to all the signs that he was leading our enemy. How did it get to this? Why?

We were always on the verge of war with Hasenfall. Since I was born it's been that way, but neither we nor they made a move to progress it. It seemed like a fight both sides were giving up on it all. What changed? How did he sneak his way into their command? How did he convince them to proceed? Why did he do it? For the throne? Why? Thousands of questions ran through my head. But I didn't have the courage to voice them.

"You don't have to do this" The wound on my side throbbed, my hand over it wouldn't stop the bleeding. But it was okay. Cordelia was alive, so was Melchoir. I sent them away as soon as the doors got busted down. They're all that matters.

Sterling closed his eyes for a moment. Seeming like he was considering what I had spoken. A sigh told me that it hadn't swayed him. Then the violet eyes we shared opened and he pulled his sword back to swing.

"I'm sorry... Brother" Cordelia's scream rang out as the sword came crashing down. She was too late. We all were.

Asema

The child was brought to me before I even had a chance to get out of bed. My door was thrown open and Arien stood carrying a child who was not his own. Tears had made trails through the dirt caked onto the kid's cheeks, blood seeped deeply into his torn, wet clothes.

Arien and his sons had found him just before dawn when they went for their morning trap check. He was swearing up and down the child was injured due to all the blood. He had every right to make that assumption. I didn't hesitate to turn on the enchanted lanterns and grab my glasses.

He didn't speak to any of us while I checked him over for injuries. I didn't blame him. He looked like he had gone through Zytris and back. He was surprisingly not hurt aside from bruises on his hands and scrapes on his knees.

"He fell down a lot, but aside from that, he's perfectly fine and healthy. Tired, but healthy" I smiled softly, smoothing the child's hair. Arien sighed with relief.

"Good good" the older male mumbled, rubbing a hand over his face. "Sorry to wake ya so early, Asema."

"It's okay. I'm a doctor, this is expected. Thank you for lighting the fire" I said getting up from my chair in front of the child. I didn't have a spare bed in my home. I did, however, have a bed in my office that's attached to the house. But as the fire had already been lit, I didn't want the boy to be left alone. So a blanket pallet near the fire will have to do.

When I moved to grab blankets from my closet and set a space up for him another guest came barging in. Hagar was already at the kid asking a million questions even I couldn't register. Arien's children freaking out probably alerted her that something was happening. The child had clearly become overwhelmed by the impromptu interrogating, as tears were beginning to swell.

"Well?" She demanded. She really had no sense of bad timing. Or patience.

.

"He's just a child, Hagar. I know you don't trust strangers, but that's too much. Even for me." I said throwing blankets to the floor and wrapping the child up in one of them, holding him close to calm him. He was quick to hide from her in my chest. She was scary for an old lady. "He needs to feel safe and get some rest."

"We can talk to 'im when he wakes. Let em rest" Arien chimed in. "Just a wee little lad. All alone. Can't be more than five" I nodded to agree with him, softly shushing the child's sobs.

That day, fate gave me, not a prince to protect, but a son to raise. One of the many things I never expected for my life.