Flower of Bulann

Chapter 46

Vior stepped out onto the balcony, draping a thick sheet around Kinna's shoulders.

He had worried that she would fall pregnant at Kuan's hands... as Ovinna had done by him, but still she remained barren.

"I feel useless," she said in a hollow tone.

Vior held her in his arms and kissed her cold cheek, for the late spring had become bitterly cold.

"But you are not," he told her gently.

He had given Hinata back to her, assigning a new nobles daughter to serve Ovinna. And, much to Vior's relief his wives had seemingly put the events of those dark months behind them. Becoming the best of friends once more.

"Let us go back inside, you will catch a cold staying out in this," Vior persuaded her, Kinna eventually taking his offered hand.

The two of them went indoors, the wind howling at their backs. Kinna took a seat beside Ovinna and her dower mood vanished, replaced with a joyous mood that made his son giggle with laughter.

"Do not disturb Lady Kinna," Ovinna said gently, but Kinna shook her head.

"Do not fret, Ovinna. It will not do to scold the boy for such a trivial thing," she said kindly, letting his son playfully grasp her index finger. "Besides, he is quite... adorable."

Kinna's sad smile broke his heart, and Vior swore to himself that if the chance came to get her pregnant he would take it.

As his wives fawned over his son, there was a knock upon the door frame.

"Enter!" He called out, one of his servants entering quickly and bowing.

"Lord, Prince Rassan has arrived," he started, Vior paying attention upon hearing that his friend yet lived. "He is accompanied by another young man, he has white hair... yet bares a resemblance to you, my lord."

Vior walked past his servant, snatching up his blade from its place by the door and gathering four of his black guards to him, before descending down to the lord's hall where Rassan and the guest waited.

Vior didn't miss a step as he entered the hall, though he was unsure whether to remain stern or welcoming. It remained to be seen what this newcomer's intentions were, but if he resembled himself... then Vior had to consider him being his half brother a reality.

He smiled upon seeing Rassan's tanned and smiling face, though his beard was no longer oiled and his clothing was filthy from what must have been months in the saddle.

The young man his servant had mentioned stood calmly behind Rassan, his white hair lay beneath a straw hat, like the ones the peasant farmers wore.

The sight of him put Vior on edge, if he was indeed his brother, would he lay claim to the Faden clan? Would the people side with him... Vior pushed such thoughts aside for now, after all, there was no proof of his identity... Vior didn't even know his name.

"It is good to see you, old friend," Vior greeted Rassan, clasping his forearm in greeting.

"And I you, Lord Faden," Rassan replied warmly before turning to the young, white haired man. "This... this is Hide, he claims to be a Faden... and though I am loathe to speak any words that may undermine you... he saved my life."

Vior eyed Hide, then stepped past Rassan. The white haired man removing his hat as he did so. The resemblance was almost uncanny, from the times Vior had seen his reflection, he knew this man was of his blood.

"I am grateful to you, for rescuing my friend. If there is any way I can repay your kindness... then please, do not hesitate to ask for it," Vior said in the most hospitable manner he could.

The man bowed, quite unexpectedly and looked back up at Vior before smiling.

"My mother told me you would be a bastard, like our father," he said plainly, though his words did not match his pleasant demeanour. "She told me, that if you were like him... I was to kill you, how glad I am that you are not."

Vior felt perplexed, he was unsure whether he was being insulted along with his family or not... but he was sure in some strange way that Hide was of no imminent threat.

"Then... you are my brother?" Vior asked, Hide having straightened up and smoothed out his white robe.

"Oh, yes. We share a father... though my mother hates him, I suspect he raped her... but she never spoke of him without a slew of cursing. How about you?" Hide asked, his eyebrows raised inquisitively.

"My mother killed our father, right before she was murdered," Vior replied... those memories were still very raw in his mind and they caused him nightmares still.

"I see, I am sure my mother will rest easy... now that I know he is dead," Hide smiled, putting his hat back on once more.

"Are you leaving already?" Rassan asked, coming up beside Vior.

"My task here is complete, I do not wish to disrupt the balance here... I am the eldest son after all," Hide reminded them, his grasp of their culture and hierarchies commendable.

"At least stay the night," Vior suggested. "I will have provisions and clothing readied for you in the morning... it is the least I can do."

Hide smiled, and a shiver ran up Vior's spine.

"Then, I shall accept your gracious offer, brother," he said jovially before removing his hat once more.

Vior had a feeling, a dark and sinister feeling that he had made the wrong choice.