by Jeff Wilson
tendency with such an occurrence, where an event of obvious importance transpires in such a way that its causes are not well understood, opinions surfaced immediately. Some said with authority, although they spoke in ignorance, that it was the normal state of affairs in matters of succession in Rendish nations, to put to the sword any family rival who might threaten to split an inheritance. This was purely imaginative on the part of those who spoke, with barely any basis in truth. But no one questioned these claims, for they were prepared to believe much that was terrible, and little that was good, of the foreign nations in other lands, and they felt the same about the people who lived in such far off places.
The tendency, too, where it was natural for some people to invent exaggerated details when retelling a story, should have been expected, especially when as in this case, there was so little risk of being reliably contradicted. However, the death of Beonen, who had defeated in combat so many of the champions of the other noble Houses of Nar Edor, and the deaths of three other young nobles, all accomplished themselves to varying degrees in the mastery of sword combat, needed no such exaggeration. The stories that were told, if anything, gave Aisen less credit than was due, for they made no mention of the unnatural talents and abilities that his brother had demonstrated.
One point, universal in all accounts, was that Aisen was invincible in combat, and that he had no capacity in forbearance towards any who stood in opposition to him. This reputation would spread far beyond the borders of Nar Edor, and would follow Aisen, forever now known as the Blood Prince, all the rest of his life.
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Jeff Wilson