by Jay Lynn
Soaking wet, Alec’s hair hung in his wild eyes. Never acknowledging his friend, he continued to scrub away the invisible stains.
Gripping his arm, Isabelle gave him a good shake. “Alec, there’s nothing there.”
“It won’t come off. Why won’t it come off?”
Grabbing his hands, she moved in front of him. Blinking, the warrior gazed around. Breathing heavily, he raised his shaking fingers, examining them closely.
“Isabelle?”
His voice was raw, reminding her of that dreadful day in Terra.
“It’s alright, Alec. Come on. Let’s get you dried off.”
Guiding him back to shore she tried to ignore the audience watching from the hillside. His expression closed off, Alec concealed the turmoil swirling within. He couldn’t however, stop the tremors traveling through his limbs.
Summoning a water spell, Isabelle pulled the moisture from his clothing as Alec took a seat on the grass.
Cassidy stood hovering protectively over him.
Lowering herself to the ground beside him, Isabelle said nothing.
After a few moments, the shaking ceased. Alec was privately grateful for her silent company. Releasing a ragged sigh, he pounded the dirt with a clenched fist.
Bumping his shoulder with hers, Isabelle offered him a smile.
“Why don’t I go make you a cup of coffee? It should warm you up after that swim.”
Alec nodded without shifting his gaze.
“Hey,” Isabelle said, tilting her head to get a better look at his face. “It wasn’t your fault. You had no choice.”
Alec opened his mouth then closed it. Swallowing, he tried again.
“I was still the one holding the blade.”
What do I say to that? Biting her lip, the sage sighed. Hesitating, she leaned over and wrapped him in an embrace.
The warrior neither moved nor spoke.
Holding tight for a few seconds, Isabelle gradually pulled back. Forcing a smile, she told him a little too brightly, “I should fetch that coffee. I could surely use a cup myself.”
Rising to her feet she brushed off her clothing.
“Thanks,” came a quiet voice.
Glancing down, a real grin lightly softened her features. “Anytime.”
Crossing the creek Isabelle was met on the other side by Titus.
“Isabelle,” he began in a soft tone. “What, pray tell, happened to him in Zerrok?”
Gaze darting to the queen a few feet away, the sorceress shuffled her feet. “While we were in Terra our owner...forced Alec to do some terrible things. Every match he had to kill all of our opponents.” She looked across the water at her friend. Still sitting with the dragons, his head was bent with his fingers buried in his dark hair. “It almost destroyed him,” she finished sadly.
Following her line of sight, Titus peered at the warrior. Adjusting his belt, he stepped towards the water’s edge.
“Titus, where are you going?” Kalendra questioned, eyeing the flowing creek.
“To speak with our son. Stay here, my pearl. I shall return shortly.” A quick look to the guards that had joined them told the men not to follow.
Watching the dragons, Kalendra reached out towards him. “Titus—”
It was no use. His Majesty was already beginning to cross the stones.
Isabelle paused. Should she go with him? No. I should give them a moment alone. Perhaps hearing some advice from their king...his father, would help. The best thing she could do to aid her friend was to grant them some space. Making her way up the hill Isabelle entered the small cottage. Having been there several times, she was relatively familiar with the kitchen’s contents.
Filling the kettle from the outside spigot, she didn’t notice a figure now sitting at the table as she re-entered the dwelling. Lighting a small blaze, she set the kettle over the flames then turned to get some mugs.
“Eeek!” the sorceress shouted, her hand flying to her chest.
Gasping, Kalendra leaned back in the chair. “Forgive me. I did not intend to frighten you.”
Holy crap. Isabelle hadn’t heard the queen follow her to the cottage or enter the structure. Willing her heart to slow its pounding, she tried to recover her equilibrium.
“How may I be of service, Your Majesty?”
Needlessly fixing her hair, Kalendra rose gracefully to her feet. She started towards the sorceress and drew to a halt a short distance away. Clasping her hands, she watched Isabelle intently.
“There is something we need to discuss.”
Mind elsewhere, Alec didn’t hear the approach of footsteps. His gaze remained focused on the grass until a deep growl from the dragons drew his attention. Stiffening, the warrior glanced up.
Hand tucked causally by his sword, Titus surveyed him thoughtfully.
“Greetings, Alec.”
No smile touched the warrior’s lips. Face closed off, he made no attempt to engage in any form of small talk. “Your Majesty,” he grumbled.
A strained silence fell around them. Neither made any further attempt to speak. Alec’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Is there something I can aid you with?”
His tone was just polite. A fact which caused the royal’s brows to lift momentarily. “I do believe I am the one who should be asking you such a question.”
Jerking away, Alec quickly got to his feet and turned his back to Titus.
“I’m fine.”
“Your behavior a few moments ago says otherwise.”
As Alec moved away, Titus went to follow, but stopped as Cassidy bore her teeth. Lowering her head, she glared at the man. The large red dragon acted no friendlier as Titus hovered nearby his son.
Eyeing them carefully, he didn’t push onward. Briefly clenching his hands, he forced himself to remain where he was.
Alec hadn’t responded to his words. Titus however, was not deterred. Someone needs to get through to him. He tried again.
“I know what it’s like to do things you are not proud of in the midst of battle. Some sins are easier for us to forgive than others, but dwelling on those sorrows will not lessen the pain. It will only serve to slowly tear you asunder.”
Head bent, Alec’s jaw tightened. His shoulders pulled back stiffly as his fingers dug into his palms.
“Why do you care what becomes of me?”
“You know the reason, Alakaid,” Titus told him, holding out his hands as if welcoming him.
The warrior snorted. King Titus called him by his real name, so the others must have informed him of Alec’s true lineage. The son of the king. Alec shook his head. It was a revelation he, too, was still struggling with. Glancing towards the cottage, he noted Isabelle’s self-appointed task had not been completed. She’s probably trying to give us some space. She was a kind hearted person.
Alec swallowed hard. Thinking of his friend only served to return his mind back to the loathsome images of his nightmare. He couldn’t bring himself to regret saving her, yet his selfishness cost so many others their lives. His heart knew he had no choice. Then why was his head tormenting him?
“I don’t know what you expect from me, what either of you expect from me,” Alec stated quietly, referring to his mother. “Malcolm insists we are of relation and I trust his judgement, but that changes nothing. You still left me to rot in a dungeon, not once…but twice. I suppose I may understand the trickery placed upon you when I was young. There is no excuse for what befell me and Isabelle in Terra. You knew we had been imprisoned by soldiers and left us there.”
Alec finally turned to face Titus. His eyes blazed dangerously with no hint of softening.
“Did they tell you, Your Majesty? Do you have any idea what I did, the people I was forced to slaughter so Isabelle wouldn’t pay the price?” Alec didn’t give him the chance to respond. Releasing a cold bark of laughter, he pressed on. All the anger and bitterness built up inside of him seemed to spill at once, allowing him the freedom to speak his mind in a way he never had in the pa
st.
“I’m a monster!” the warrior declared, swiping a hand to the side. “In Terra, my former master purchased us. ‘Kill them all’, he commanded of me during every battle. If I refused, Isabelle… So I did as he commanded. You want to know my sins? Dozens of people fell to my blade because I put her life above everything else. Lads, who had yet to become men, were slaughtered by my hand because I was selfish and weak. I…I couldn’t let him hurt her. And their blood is on my hands.”
Alec’s eyes shifted back to his hands. His face briefly scrunched up with disgust. For a split second, he swore he could see a crimson stain on his skin. Why wouldn’t it go away? Fingers curling into his palms, he looked back at Titus.
“If Ardys hadn’t helped us escape I might still be there…killing. Left in a never-ending hell, all in the name of service to my King,” he finished frostily.
Titus said nothing at first. Never before had someone spoken to him in such a fashion. Though not outwardly disrespectful, Alec’s chilling speech was filled with venom. If it had been anyone else, Titus would have thrown him in the stocks or even the dungeon. Yet, this was his son, Titus acknowledged. Seeing him again, he couldn’t doubt what the wizard told him. Alec’s anger, as strong as it seemed, was not solely due to grievances against him. There was a lot of residual pain forged by his old master.
Telling the warrior the facts behind their search for him and his partner would do no good. Alec knew this already. It wasn’t a reminder of their inability to find them that he needed to hear. In some ways, he was correct. They did fail him. He failed him.
“You are far from a monster, Alakaid. However, allowing your grief to blind you into believing so is foolish,” Titus began meeting Alec’s fire with fire. Speaking in a way that the warrior might see as pity would only anger him further. “Protecting the life of a friend is not dishonorable. In fact, your loyalty is quite noble. I wish it were not so, but those fated to Zerrok’s arenas cannot be saved. If it had not been your blade, it would have been another’s. No matter how much power one might possess, we are still but flesh. We cannot save everyone. Yet, why is it that we fight if not to protect those we care for?”
Eyes narrowed, Alec pressed his lips together in a thin line. Shifting his weight, he dropped his gaze then brushed his fingers messily through his dark hair. Behind him, Ardys nudged his shoulder.
“He’s right, Alec,” the great dragon told him.
Exhaling deeply, the warrior’s upper body seemed to sag. In the distance, he saw Isabelle rounding Malcolm’s cottage with Kalendra.
Glancing once more at the dragons, Titus dipped his head in a short bow. “Thank you for looking after my son.”
Cassidy snorted. “Someone had to. None of you humans seem able to complete the task,” she told him crossly. She proudly tilted her head to the side as she watched him with a frown.
The king’s mouth gaped open as he jerked back. “Alakaid, did this dragon just speak to me?”
Lifting a brow, Alec turned his attention to the royal. Hmm, no one must have told him about this part of my powers, he mused to himself. Watching the startled expression on Titus’s face caused the corners of his mouth to twitch. Perhaps he regrets coming out here. It would serve him right for basically calling him foolish.
“I prefer Alec, Your Majesty. This is Cassidy and Ardys, two of my guardians from Ellfraya. Somehow, I gave Cassidy the ability to communicate with humans when my powers went crazy the other day.”
Alakaid did this?
It took a moment for Titus to process that piece of information. His magic was greater than the royal imagined. Titus swore he heard a faint growl, but couldn’t be sure from which dragon it might have come. Neither were being particularly friendly. It seemed they blamed him for Alec’s suffering as well. Titus ignored it for now. Alec was the one he needed to reach first. He was a fighter. There was no other way he would have survived this long if he didn’t have a strong will. Somehow he had to rebuild the trust Alec once showed him.
“Why are you here?” Alec suddenly questioned wearily.
In a sense, he knew the answer. Alec was a prince of Malyndor, Titus’s own son. While in the past the king had highly praised his skills as a warrior and sorcerer, he never showed any particular interest in him on a personal level. Alec hadn’t really expected that to change. So why had Titus come all the way out here to see him? Would it not have been easier to speak with him when he returned to Stafford?
Alec didn’t know. In the past few days the whole world seemed to have flipped on its axis. He was being subjected to all kinds of unwanted attention. And with the royals, it was difficult for him to know if they sought his company because they truly wanted to get to know him or if it was only because he had been revealed as a prince.
The passing silence seemed to go on forever.
“Every year on your birthday your mother and I still visit your grave,” Titus began solemnly, his gaze unwavering.
Alec’s brows pleated. This wasn’t even close to what he was expecting to hear.
“For almost twenty years we have mourned the loss of our son, but we never forgot you, Alec. We strived to ensure both Alandra and Alicia knew of you. This is not easy for any of us. You are all grown up and I am proud of the man you have become. I was proud when I thought that you were merely Malcolm’s apprentice and I could not think of anyone else I would want to call my son.”
Gazes locked together, Alec sighed. “I’m sorry for the pain your family has gone through, but I don’t want to make any promises I can’t keep. Being part of royalty is…difficult to accept.”
“I understand completely.” Titus took a step towards him. “Would it be too much for you to call me Father? Your Majesty is far too formal.”
Placing a hand on Cassidy’s scales Alec shook his head. “In all the years before I came to Malyndor not a single person cared for me except for Lord Kegan. He is the only father I have ever known. He took me as his son when I was nothing…no one. Calling anyone else by that name feels like a betrayal to the one man who has shown me more kindness than any other person,” Alec shrugged helplessly. “I can’t dishonor him like that.”
Titus didn’t want to, but he could understand where Alec was coming from. Leos was a good man. He resented another being able to call Alec his ‘son’. There was no way to stop the warrior when he felt so strongly about it. Yet, if he must suffer this slight, then Titus could concede it to Leos...for now.
“Titus would be a welcome start. It seems strange for my own offspring to address me in the same manner as my staff when we are not in public.”
Alec nodded. “If it matters that greatly, then I will try.”
Fighting a frown, Titus had to resist the urge to shake him. They might not have been close, but Alec should know him well enough to accept his words at face value. The royal was not prone to making false statements in regards to his affections.
“It does matter, Alec. Though this news comes as a surprise, it is not unwelcome. I know you to be a good man and will be pleased to bestow upon you your rightful title.”
Watching Isabelle and his mother making their way down the hill, Alec’s brows lowered.
“Rightful title?” he repeated.
“Indeed. You are my son,” Titus insisted. “As my first born, it is your right to one day assume the throne.”
Alec briefly froze. He can’t be serious. Me? A king? There was no way he could even conceive such an idea.
Titus pressed on, “I want you to return to Ariston with us and be with your family. As the future king, it is time for you to prepare for that role.”
“Pardon?” For a moment Alec thought he misheard him. What of Alandra? “I can’t go with you to Ariston, Titus.”
Titus clenched his jaw. Hear him out, he mentally advised.
“I never sought to become a lord, let alone a prince. My sister...” The corners of his mouth pulled back slightly. “Alandra has trained her entire life to rule. She is a great leader and ha
s a kind heart. I have no doubt that she will make a fine ruler.” Glancing at Cassidy, he continued, “A different path has been set for me.”
“Alec—”
“Finding my family is a dream come true. I could not ask for more. If you’ll excuse me, Titus. I must continue with my training.”
Bowing, Alec turned and walked over towards Ardys.
Brushing his fingers through his hair, Titus watched him depart with a deep sigh. Stubborn boy. A family trait it would seem. The conversation having ended, there was not much else Titus could do other than let him go. He would wait until another time to renew this discussion. By all means, he would not take “no” as his final answer.
Joining his wife, Titus wore a small grin for her sake.
“Shall he be returning with us?” Kalendra asked hopefully, searching her husband’s profile.
“No, my pearl. I believe he requires some more time to sort this out. This news is even stranger for him than it is for us and that young man has a mind all his own.” His words were mixed with a hint of both sadness and pride.
On the other side of the creek, Alec peered out at Isabelle and his parents.
Stretching out on the ground Cassidy watched him thoughtfully. “Are you sure this is what you desire?”
He slowly bobbed his head. “Yeah, Cassidy. I found them, that’s what’s most important.” Standing beside Ardys, he leaned against the red dragon’s warm scales. “A different fate awaits me other than a palace. I think I’m beginning to understand the true role I must play in this prophecy.”
Neither of them responded right away.
“You would have made a great king, little one,” Cassidy told him at last.
“You have wisdom beyond your years,” Ardys added.
“Yeah,” the warrior drawled.
So much for wisdom. He should have seen what was to come much sooner. As it was, he could not change the course that fate was about to bestow upon him. Gazing at the others, Alec tried to loosen the heavy pressure he felt resting on his chest. There was no stopping what he had to do next.
Early in the morning, Alec strolled down the long dim corridor on the way to Jade’s chambers. Sunbeams starting to glow on the rugs and up the ornate walls didn’t lessen the weight causing his shoulders to slump. Stretching them out, he straightened his posture and inhaled slowly, then exhaled with a sigh. Knuckles hovering by the door, he paused. Try as he might Alec couldn’t muster a smile.