ready. He may never be ready. What was all this
rambling from the King about a higher power? He was getting delirious.
Richard walked over to open the drapes and let some light in.
“I don’t know him well. Alas, maybe that is also why I must give away my
kingdom now. But there is someone out there, Richard. Someone that directs us
toward good. I have felt him before, when I am doing the right thing.”
Richard remembered the time after an archery contest that Darius
had won. Richard was cross at his son for showing bad sportsmanship and letting
his anger control him. They had both said things to each other that were
hurtful. Richard had taken a walk around an old field, trying to decide what to
do about his son. He had felt something inside of him at that time also, but
had been too afraid to rely on it, and so he buried it back inside. It happened
to be the same day he found out about his son being in line to be the next
king.
Richard walked back toward Edward and dropped down on a chair next
to him. The lightened room made him feel better. It would be evening soon, but
the last rays of light cascaded across the walls opposite where they sat. He
still could not come to grips with his son being the next king. Oh, King Edward
had explained it to him numerous times. Richard’s father, at one time the heir
to the throne, had been disowned by his father, King Charles. That line had
then shifted to Edward, a younger son who was born a year after the banishment.
As a small child at the time, Richard was also included in the banishment with
his father, but his son, Darius, was not.
Darius still didn’t know. It was the worst of many secrets Richard
had kept through the years. Darius and he had not gotten along well the last
few years. Darius didn’t want to settle down and take on the role of a
councilor; he wanted freedom and adventure. His foray into the farmlands and
friendship with them had emboldened the farmers. Along with the recent troubles
in Denir and Belor, the farmers were revolting and stopping food from coming
into the city. No one was happy.
“Edward, we have been friends for a long time, so I must ask you:
why did your father disown my father? What did he do to deserve being dismissed
so cruelly from the royal line? What could have been so bad?”
The King sat up straighter and looked out the large glass window
across from him. Richard let him be for a moment. He knew it was uncomfortable
now for the King to move around much, but he grew restless after not receiving
an answer.
“Edward?” asked Richard again, when no answer came. “I have to
know.”
“Yes, I guess you do.” Edward smiled a reassuring smile.
Richard awaited the knowledge he had craved to understand ever
since he found out his father and he should have been the next Kings of the
Realm.
“Richard, your father married a... girl from outside of nobility.”
Richard thought for a moment. “It has been done before. I can’t
believe the King would disown him for that. I...”
The King interrupted him with a cough, then continued. “She was…
from the farmlands, and he had a child with her. That child was you.”
Richard stood up without even thinking and stumbled to the window
ledge. Grasping it hard, he looked straight down at the castle grounds. He
distinguished his own house a short distance away. Then his head lifted toward
the city walls and out into the distant farmlands. His hands clenched the ledge
so tightly that the ancient rock almost crumbled. Thoughts of his boyhood
played out in small sketches across his mind. He visualized his father and
mother. They had loved each other so much, but his father had given up the
kingdom for her.
“My mother was an outsider?” he screamed at the King. He couldn’t
believe he was a descendant of those who tried to take over the Realm through
rebellion. “That is who I am? One of them?” Spittle flew from his lips. He had
never been so livid in his entire life, and he knew
rambling from the King about a higher power? He was getting delirious.
Richard walked over to open the drapes and let some light in.
“I don’t know him well. Alas, maybe that is also why I must give away my
kingdom now. But there is someone out there, Richard. Someone that directs us
toward good. I have felt him before, when I am doing the right thing.”
Richard remembered the time after an archery contest that Darius
had won. Richard was cross at his son for showing bad sportsmanship and letting
his anger control him. They had both said things to each other that were
hurtful. Richard had taken a walk around an old field, trying to decide what to
do about his son. He had felt something inside of him at that time also, but
had been too afraid to rely on it, and so he buried it back inside. It happened
to be the same day he found out about his son being in line to be the next
king.
Richard walked back toward Edward and dropped down on a chair next
to him. The lightened room made him feel better. It would be evening soon, but
the last rays of light cascaded across the walls opposite where they sat. He
still could not come to grips with his son being the next king. Oh, King Edward
had explained it to him numerous times. Richard’s father, at one time the heir
to the throne, had been disowned by his father, King Charles. That line had
then shifted to Edward, a younger son who was born a year after the banishment.
As a small child at the time, Richard was also included in the banishment with
his father, but his son, Darius, was not.
Darius still didn’t know. It was the worst of many secrets Richard
had kept through the years. Darius and he had not gotten along well the last
few years. Darius didn’t want to settle down and take on the role of a
councilor; he wanted freedom and adventure. His foray into the farmlands and
friendship with them had emboldened the farmers. Along with the recent troubles
in Denir and Belor, the farmers were revolting and stopping food from coming
into the city. No one was happy.
“Edward, we have been friends for a long time, so I must ask you:
why did your father disown my father? What did he do to deserve being dismissed
so cruelly from the royal line? What could have been so bad?”
The King sat up straighter and looked out the large glass window
across from him. Richard let him be for a moment. He knew it was uncomfortable
now for the King to move around much, but he grew restless after not receiving
an answer.
“Edward?” asked Richard again, when no answer came. “I have to
know.”
“Yes, I guess you do.” Edward smiled a reassuring smile.
Richard awaited the knowledge he had craved to understand ever
since he found out his father and he should have been the next Kings of the
Realm.
“Richard, your father married a... girl from outside of nobility.”
Richard thought for a moment. “It has been done before. I can’t
believe the King would disown him for that. I...”
The King interrupted him with a cough, then continued. “She was…
from the farmlands, and he had a child with her. That child was you.”
Richard stood up without even thinking and stumbled to the window
ledge. Grasping it hard, he looked straight down at the castle grounds. He
distinguished his own house a short distance away. Then his head lifted toward
the city walls and out into the distant farmlands. His hands clenched the ledge
so tightly that the ancient rock almost crumbled. Thoughts of his boyhood
played out in small sketches across his mind. He visualized his father and
mother. They had loved each other so much, but his father had given up the
kingdom for her.
“My mother was an outsider?” he screamed at the King. He couldn’t
believe he was a descendant of those who tried to take over the Realm through
rebellion. “That is who I am? One of them?” Spittle flew from his lips. He had
never been so livid in his entire life, and he knew
Similar Books
