The Bane of Everin

Chapter two

"You three are crazy" my mother cursed as I helped her with putting the food on the large table. My father sighed as Valor ran his fingers through his hair trying to hide his grin.

"The king is mad and will destroy this kingdom if not the whole province" Valor hissed as dad agreed with him by pointing with a flat hand. Finally me and mom sat down at a large oak table covered in carvings of vines and began to eat in silence.

"He could have us killed" my mom muttered over a mouthful of bread.

"I'd like to see those lazy guards try" Valor grinned with confidence as he cut into his pork.

"Your mom is right, we do need to be cautious. The king, I'm sure he feels threatened" my father groaned picking at his food.

"He should be threatened, I say we kill him and take the crown" I huffed before shoveling potatoes into my mouth, gaining a frightened stare from my mother, a slightly proud but unsure glance from my father, and a fist bump from Valor.

"You scare me when you talk like that," my mom said with a droopy face. I rolled my eyes as we slowly finished dinner. Mom and I washed dishes in silence then headed to bed neither of us knowing what to say to the other. My mother and I had a weird relationship. She had always dreamed of having a daughter to go dress shopping with and to participate in a braid train with but I turned out to be just another son in a female's body. I walked through the well decorated house looking at the deer trophies and down at the elegant rugs or sliding my fingers only the frame of some of grandma's paintings. Once I entered my room I shut my door and took off the stupid silk dress, which was a nightmare. What if the king does kill me and my family, what would the people of Lothic do? Would they rise up in rebellion or take it as an excuse to forget about having a good king and to forget about the privilege of freedom. I soon realized how sleepy I was and hit the hay and before I knew it...

"Everin...Everin, the sun is up" Valor's kid-like voice met me as I exited the world of wondrous and gallant sleep. I growled and lazily swung at him with my hand before he began to shake me.

"Ok, ok. I'm up. Let me get ready" I groaned slowly sitting up in pure misery. Once the annoying sibling left my room I removed my blankets at a snail's pace and shoved my armor over my head before putting my hair in a ponytail.

"And she arrives, the black under her eyes is still radiant from the lost sleep and her vision lacking due to poor stamina from...also lost sleep" Valor announced to the flowers of the garden with a grin as I walked into our quart yard surrounded by a miniature stream and four large torii. I stopped in the middle and shook my head.

"I look like a hag because of you" I growled, pulling my two medium ranged swords from my sides as Valor circled gripping his great sword with excitement. He closed in with side steps as I watched him from the corner of my eye. The training battle began.

. . .

"Your majesty, more claim to have seen a large flying beast" General Phokis sighed, taking off his damaged iron helmet as the chainmail that fell down the back of his neck made obnoxious noise. I waved, summoning him further into a glorious throne room.

"This again" I whined, shaking my hands. Can a king just have one day off?

"I rule over good for nothing, cry baby mutts" I shout, throwing my goblet of wine on the throne room floor grabbing at my hair.

"Sir, there is proof this time" Phokis's voice informed sounding weak and petty.

"Oh really" I hissed "then show me". Phokis rapidly shook his head and headed out through the side door he came out of just behind my throne. I felt as if I was going insane, my people always need me for something. Can't they just do it themselves. I threw my head back and looked up at the gray luscious canopy then examined the banners on the wall. A proud silver tiger was switched into every blue cloth along the walls. Once I thought I had given enough time for Phokis to get my horse ready I stood from my chair and sluggishly stepped off my stage, careful not to trip going down the steps. I headed to the barn just outside the castle gates.