The Villain

the other sons

"Then, the tension in the room turns unbearable, purple strands all around us, the witch facing our king in stubborn pride.", Kai stopped, his look wandering over his little audience.

His wonderful Joanne, glued to his side the way Kai liked it, her hand on his knee as if to mark her territory, leaning against him.

Hayden leaned forward in interest, the flames of their fire dancing between them, hanging on Kai's lips, always hungry for stories and especially the ones that would make him laugh - the ones Kai told.

And Jace of course, right beside him, not sure why Kai had to tell Hayden all that. It was enough that one of his instructors had seen his panicked behaviour when dealing with seidr - no reason that Hayden had to find out all about this too.

Kai nudged Jace slightly, a devilish grin on his lips. 

"Jace freezes on the spot, when a purple line stops right in front of him, as if to challenge our young hero to a fight. But he doesn't pull his sword, assessing the situation the way his outstanding instructors, truly two of a kind never to be found again, matched by no one in talent, wisdom or... strength taught him. We all know their names.", Kai stopped again and Joanne chuckled by how Hayden smiled at Kai's praise.

"Kai and Hayden.", she exclaimed, raising her cup as if to honour them, and Kai dropped a kiss on top of her head.

"Exactly.", he smiled, before turning to face Hayden again, a grin on his lips.

"But, this is the story of Jace. So. The boy doesn't pull his sword for himself, looks back at me and fear in his eyes makes place for duty - his sole motivation protecting our king. A true guard, always ready."

"I'm not a boy.", Jace intervened, but nobody paid him any attention.

"I stopped him before he could bring any harm upon himself, but he wanted to fight for his king, and that deserves an applause.", Kai started to clap and both Joanne and Hayden did the same. "But - and this is the far more important question - why were you so terrified by a little seidr?"

Hayden snorted at that, shaking his head.

"Kai, leave him alone. I'm sure you weren't any less afraid. Everyone who isn't has never seen seidr in action.", he explained, his hand tracing over the deep, long scar on his neck, a reminder on how dangerous seidr could be.

He remembered that mission as if it were days ago, the guilt heavy in his bones.
Heimdall never forgave him - and he couldn't blame him for it.

What they did that night, what they stole from him, his happiness and home and his little, happy family - some things Hayden had done for the king were beyond redemption.
And this was just one of them.

"Yes, I was scared. But my duty is to the king, I would've stopped her if she attacked him.", Jace explained, and Kai smiled at him, patting his shoulder.

"Good that I was there to stop you then. You don't attack the witch, no matter what.", Kai reminded.

"She has a name, you know.", Hayden said sharply, earning a confused look from the others.

"I'm pretty sure she calls us only 'guard', so why should I treat her any differently?", Kai asked, shrugging and Joanne looked at her fingertips.