Post by Prince Sabriel de Trevalion on Jun 28, 2006 20:35:12 GMT -5
I couldn’t sleep, yet again. It was late, very late, in Aragonia. The window to my room was pushed wide open to let the cold night air reach me. It washed over me and I prayed it would make the cruel memories go away. Still, eight years gone, I could see her. Lying lifeless and hauntingly beautiful on the misty ground; forever gone from my grasp. The pain still cut deep. Was it my fault? It had been my idea to go riding, but I could not control the shape of the earth or the pace of her horse. Fate was cruel, and I would be forever sorry for her loss, but I knew it was not my fault. My family sought to punish me regardless. I remember my mother’s words, telling me it was only a short time, only to help soothe her grieving family. Two years was not a short time, not when I was only sixteen years old. I was hurt by their betrayal and I had no desire to see any of them again. The old familiar stinging came from within. Once upon a time, I would have cried as well. Now, my tears were forever parched.
I forced my mind to return to a less painful image of Annabel, beautiful and vibrant. As a boy, I would have said I loved her without a doubt. I had, in fact, as had my brother. But as I grew into manhood, I realized what I felt was neither love nor anything close. Obsession mayhap, or perhaps merely reveling in the chase. Truthfully, I could no longer remember.
I was babbling. Worse, actually; babbling within the confines of my mind. I sighed, exhaling hard. News had reached Aragonia of the deaths of Ambrose, Alais, and Louis. It was hard to remember their faces, now. I was of relation but it had been too long to remember who they truly were. It no longer mattered; the time to have gotten to know them had passed, just as they had passed into the Terre d’Ange Beyond. Some in Aragonia mourned, others merely bowed their heads in sympathy. Me, I didn’t do much at all. The news was surprising, but I felt no sorrow or pity. We all must pass into the Terre d’Ange Beyond at some point.
I glanced away from the night sky at the quiet knock on my door. I stood from the window seat and moved to open the door. Joaquin, a boy I paid for information and rumors, waited patiently. I’d asked him to find out more of what was going on in the City of Elua after hearing the news. As my eyes fell to meet his, he gave a slight bow.
“Forgive me for the late hour, my lord.” He said softly in Aragonian.
I shook my head in dismissal of his apology. He knew I barely slept anyways. I gestured for him to come inside and closed the door behind him.
Joaquin must have only been about ten; I didn’t know, I’d never asked. But boy that he was, he found the bowl of sweets with his eyes almost instantly. I moved past where he stood frozen, eyeing the candy, and returned to my window seat.
“Have some, Joaquin.” I said in Aragonian, turning back to watch him. He gave a quick bow and pounced on the candy, giving me a grateful smile in thanks. I made no response and turned back towards the window.
“What news, then?” I asked. After a pause while Joaquin swallowed the piece of chocolate in his mouth, he answered.
“The funerals have been arranged for the King, Princess, and Prince Consort.”
I nodded; nothing I wouldn’t have already known.
“And your brother, my lord.” He began, hesitating before speaking of Augustin. I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up and a prickle crawl the length of my spine.
“What about him?” My voice was hard. I didn’t realize, but my fists had clenched.
“They say he’s quite upset at the death of the King. There are rumors circulating that he’s loosing his mind. He was seen with a bandaged shoulder and some say he did it himself.”
My interest was raised and I felt the tugging of a smile at my mouth.
“And one more thing. Supposedly, he’s visited the house of pain.”
A Trevalion at Valerian? My brother a sadist? The thought was almost worth laughing at. My smile blossomed and I turned to Joaquin.
“Thank you, Joaquin. You may take the rest of the candy and that bag over there.” I said, gesturing to a bag of coins I’d left for him. Joaquin did, and left me with a bow.
Alone, my mind began to wander, wondering at this news. An idea suddenly began to develop and my smile widened. Eight years I’d been gone. I’d told myself I never wanted to see them again. Now, more than ever, I wanted to see their faces when I challenged August for the Duchy. I wanted to watch him suffer as I snatched Azzalle away from his already failing mind.
Consumed by these thoughts of vengeance, I knew it was finally time to return.
I forced my mind to return to a less painful image of Annabel, beautiful and vibrant. As a boy, I would have said I loved her without a doubt. I had, in fact, as had my brother. But as I grew into manhood, I realized what I felt was neither love nor anything close. Obsession mayhap, or perhaps merely reveling in the chase. Truthfully, I could no longer remember.
I was babbling. Worse, actually; babbling within the confines of my mind. I sighed, exhaling hard. News had reached Aragonia of the deaths of Ambrose, Alais, and Louis. It was hard to remember their faces, now. I was of relation but it had been too long to remember who they truly were. It no longer mattered; the time to have gotten to know them had passed, just as they had passed into the Terre d’Ange Beyond. Some in Aragonia mourned, others merely bowed their heads in sympathy. Me, I didn’t do much at all. The news was surprising, but I felt no sorrow or pity. We all must pass into the Terre d’Ange Beyond at some point.
I glanced away from the night sky at the quiet knock on my door. I stood from the window seat and moved to open the door. Joaquin, a boy I paid for information and rumors, waited patiently. I’d asked him to find out more of what was going on in the City of Elua after hearing the news. As my eyes fell to meet his, he gave a slight bow.
“Forgive me for the late hour, my lord.” He said softly in Aragonian.
I shook my head in dismissal of his apology. He knew I barely slept anyways. I gestured for him to come inside and closed the door behind him.
Joaquin must have only been about ten; I didn’t know, I’d never asked. But boy that he was, he found the bowl of sweets with his eyes almost instantly. I moved past where he stood frozen, eyeing the candy, and returned to my window seat.
“Have some, Joaquin.” I said in Aragonian, turning back to watch him. He gave a quick bow and pounced on the candy, giving me a grateful smile in thanks. I made no response and turned back towards the window.
“What news, then?” I asked. After a pause while Joaquin swallowed the piece of chocolate in his mouth, he answered.
“The funerals have been arranged for the King, Princess, and Prince Consort.”
I nodded; nothing I wouldn’t have already known.
“And your brother, my lord.” He began, hesitating before speaking of Augustin. I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up and a prickle crawl the length of my spine.
“What about him?” My voice was hard. I didn’t realize, but my fists had clenched.
“They say he’s quite upset at the death of the King. There are rumors circulating that he’s loosing his mind. He was seen with a bandaged shoulder and some say he did it himself.”
My interest was raised and I felt the tugging of a smile at my mouth.
“And one more thing. Supposedly, he’s visited the house of pain.”
A Trevalion at Valerian? My brother a sadist? The thought was almost worth laughing at. My smile blossomed and I turned to Joaquin.
“Thank you, Joaquin. You may take the rest of the candy and that bag over there.” I said, gesturing to a bag of coins I’d left for him. Joaquin did, and left me with a bow.
Alone, my mind began to wander, wondering at this news. An idea suddenly began to develop and my smile widened. Eight years I’d been gone. I’d told myself I never wanted to see them again. Now, more than ever, I wanted to see their faces when I challenged August for the Duchy. I wanted to watch him suffer as I snatched Azzalle away from his already failing mind.
Consumed by these thoughts of vengeance, I knew it was finally time to return.