I was quiet in my chair, staring up at Kole’s image. It was almost like I didn’t see Adele with him after my first glance. My eyes were only on him now and I started to rise. “It’s beautiful.”
“Jaylyn?” Troy rose to his feet after me.
“I’m okay. It’s just—sad to see.”
“You can stop looking at it any time.” Adele said.
I cracked a smile and turned to her. “So, what’d he do?”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s giving you the ‘I’m sorry, please forgive me’ face. I’ve seen it a few times.”
Adele laughed. “Nothing. It was just a pose. Trever wanted the focus to be on me. That’s why I’m looking and Kole has his eyes on me.”
“Well, considering that it makes you look like a couple, I like it.” Zayden said. “You’re very pretty.”
“And it really was a while ago.” I added, examining the painting some more to see the whole picture. “You don’t have your marks.”
“Actually, I did have them. We just agreed to not add them. We didn’t want people looking at the portrait and seeing an Assassin. There’s nothing fantasy about that. We’re real.”
“So were Kole’s wings.” Darius joked.
“Well, yeah but no one would have guessed that. It’s what made the choice so easy about what Trever would paint. Then Kole suggested it should be a pair thing and chose me because—”
“You look better with dark hair.” I said. “I see it.”
“You were actually the first choice but Trever is the one that said no because he didn’t want to change your hair or your eyes. You know how he is about your family image.”
“Yeah, I do.”
“So, I was easier to change. My hair was just darkened to go with all of the black but my eyes stayed the same.”
“Well, it’s easy to see why it won first place.”
“It was the only one in the gallery that featured people. The others were all animals.”
“What’d it go for, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“I think the winning bid was around fifty thousand gold.”
“Fifty thousand?” Troy wondered. “And he just gave it back?”
“Kole’s death was sad for more people than you think. Just because he was feared a lot doesn’t mean he wasn’t loved.”
He didn’t respond, especially when he looked at me like he didn’t know how I would react.
I was fine and getting tired of repeating myself. Of course I missed Kole but things happen and he’s needed somewhere else now. I could understand that.
The more I did, the more I thought who he was really with.
“I’ll take it upstairs.” Zayden said, getting a different conversation going but I didn’t stop thinking about it.
“I’m going to go up too. I think I’ve waited long enough. I’d like to read my father’s journal now.”
“Of course.” Adele said. “Take all the time you need.”
“I’m glad you say that. Trever said, once I start, I won’t want to stop and it’s pretty heavy so there’s a lot in it.”
“You can now if you want.” Troy said. “We can handle teaming up to watch Bryce.”
“I know. You’ve proven that but are you sure you don’t mind?
“Of course not. If you want to do this now then you can and if you need someone to talk to or just merely vent then we’re here for that too.”
I smiled and kissed him. “Okay. I’ll try to take breaks and not make you feel like you’re being ignored.”
“I don’t care. You’ve been wanting to see it for a long time. Take your time like he said.”
“I will but I’d still like my meals if that’s not too much trouble.”
Adele laughed. “We’re not going to have you starve until you’re finished. You know I don’t usually like to but we’ll bring them up to you just so you don’t forget to eat.”
“Thank you.”
“And the boys will be fine.” Zayden said. “They don’t even notice us right now. They’re too busy playing.”
“I’ll be in the study just so you know where I am. I want to be at a desk so I don’t ruin it or anything.”
Troy smiled and kissed my forehead. “Go ahead.”
I nodded one last time and gave them one last smile before turning towards the stairs. I found the journal in the hiding place I put it in and I was ready for this or I thought I was. Knowing I was going to finally get to read it made me a little nervous and I was hesitant to even reach for the key around my neck.
The journal had finally sat in front of me with its leather strap removed, ready to be opened. The cover lifted slowly and I was instantly submerged in its text, seeing the words through the coded inscription.
PART II:
Bryce’s Journal: Jaylyn’s Journey
Entry I:
I’ve lived many years and have seen many things. It only makes this more difficult to know where to begin but I have an idea and every word has its purpose.
Telling a man’s tale could take over a lifetime but my tale really begins when my life gained its true meaning; I was to have a son.
Anna, the girl who grew beautifully from my childhood, was ready to give birth to my son, my heir, any day. I remember her just blooming with life, not scared of the outcome. She continued to impress me with her strength. Though we have never married, she’s been loyal at my side but in the darkest night, I fear why. She knows who I am and what I could easily become but she has never understood that this time isn’t meant for me. This isn’t the time to be selfish. The world must come first and it was to start with the birth of our little son.
The word father passes through my mind. Long have I yearned to hear it being called by the innocent voice of a child. My child. I never would have thought it would be possible. Someone like me, hiding in the shadows, to have a chance at such a task.
The father I want to be has always existed within me. I want to teach him everything from the simple things like how to be a good man to matters more important, who we are. He will know and he will grow like me to trust in it and follow the path that Fate has planned for us. Not be greedy. Do its will until the time is right. It’s all I could ever hope to see in my son, my heir.
Father is me.
It happened on a sunny day in springtime. I held that little child, cradling him fully in my hands. He was so tiny, fragile. Not something one would expect. I didn’t at all. He was perfect. So young but still, I could already see that he looked like me and would show it more in the coming days; my little Torrin.
I didn’t live with Anna at the time. We stayed in separate places and I would have to go to her to see him. In the beginning, it didn’t seem like much. I was busy. Thought of having a child never made its way into my life until it was too late. He was growing up and I had to do something to be there.
I spent as much time I could with him but as a baby, he couldn’t be with me everywhere and my time seemed limitlessly spared. It wasn’t until he started walking well, that I could take him places. But five years have passed and like the wind, I couldn’t stop it. He was becoming more like me in the way I thought but it’s his mother who he seemed to spend most of his time with. I had to change it. He needed to know me and who we are. The perfect opportunity soon arose.
Entry: II
The world was changing.
A dear friend of mine, Aleksander Balwin, loyal soldier if I’ve ever seen one, leaked a bit of information to me that I never thought would be true and in my time, I was going to see it. Seni’s Prince, a sworn enemy of my very existence, has become a neutral in our world. I had to go. I had to see him and show him my place, setting the stage for my son in the future.
I didn’t know what this would lead to but like many things, one could only hope. I knew this would take me away but unsure of how long. It was just something I had to do. Only someone in my position could really understand why.
Travel was long. We were on
the road for days and even longer that I had to be away from my son. If only he could understand if I told him it would be worth it. It just had to be. The world needed this. There would never be another opportunity like this. I had to go.
We came in view of a great structure within the bordering mountains between Kalu and Seni. An unseen place, inexistent to all but its beauty should have been known. Masses of rushing water fell all around this luxurious estate. It glistened in the rising sun. It was the perfect setting for such a meeting. No one lived around for miles and these mountains have always been scarce of travelers due to the war. No one would want to get caught within them but we needed this.
We let our horses relax from the journey outside, safe from wandering off due to the water that surrounded us and I went inside with Aleksander.
I was cautious of course. I’m sure even he could have understood why and I waited by the door while he walked in farther. I saw him shake a man’s hand while he rose to his feet for a simple greeting embrace. It was so warming and friendly that I never would have guessed who it was. Aleksander then looked in my direction, knowing he was talking about me, I took a few steps forward. The figure in front of him turned and this was a moment I could never forget. Eyes as bright as the tropical seas would shame them if he stood close by and hair of a glimmering gold. He stood with honor and intense pleasure to meet me.
He was introduced to me as Izin Vendel, Prince of Seni and I to him as Bryce Chamberlin, Kalu’s forgotten heir.
He seemed surprised that Aleksander said it with such poise, figuring he should have been thrilled to know me. I, of course, didn’t notice it at all. I knew I could trust Aleksander. He’s been my friend for many years and was the only man I trusted to tell that secret to. He seemed to trust in Izin just as much or else I would have just been known to him as Bryce Chamberlin, average guy, just a good friend. Somewhere, I wanted to be able to trust him too and found it more than easy to do.
Izin was not what I expected. He didn’t seem like much of a neutral. He seemed more like he was one of us. We sat around and talked but war had never come up, not that I was encouraging it to. A lot of people hated it. I was glad to see that some of the right people started to too. The kind of people in positions that could change the world.
The longer I sat with him in this relaxed, eased setting, the more I wanted to bring my son to see this. I hated being away and knew that I would have to get back soon. I had another job to do that wasn’t just about being a father to him. I was supposed to be watching over Gwenyth.
The lovely Miss Paige was one of Kalu’s Assassins but I was her sent protector. She’s too easily recognizable with her scarlet red hair and there were people out there who wanted her dead. It was up to me not to let that happen. I began to think about it more and knew she would also like to see this.
I wanted to bring it up but something stopped me. As night came to the mountains and the smell of cigar smoke and liquor consumed everything, my conscience reminded me of the facts. I wanted this and yet it didn’t take away from knowing Izin was still our enemy. Being here now may not mean a thing in the future. I didn’t get much sleep that night, unsure if I should even close my eyes but by morning, I was level with my mind and brought up the idea of adding more of us mid conversation when Aleksander and Izin were just trying to get back on their feet from the drinking the night before.
It was silent for a moment but after thinking it over themselves, they seemed to go with it. They too knew some who would adore to see what was happening secretly with the world’s future and we all agreed to bring one guest each on our next visit.
I wanted my guest to be my son but maybe not yet. I would feel much more comfortable knowing there were other’s here that he knew well. I would begin with bringing Gwenyth and I know Aleksander had Kathryn in mind, a longtime friend of ours back into our school days and leader of the Kalu Assassins. We could trust her with this secret and who Izin chose would be up to him. We wouldn’t know who until they arrived and we scheduled our next meet in a month.
We parted our ways, back to our own countries and I was feeling hopeful about it. I couldn’t wait to tell Gwenyth. If I could only get there. We were days away. The trip home seemed even longer than when we arrived. It was just because I wanted to get there. I wanted to see her. I haven’t realized that the long trip made me miss her. I hope she wasn’t getting into too much trouble. She was good about not doing that when I was around but when I was gone was something different.
Entry III:
Home. At last. We finally made it. The whole way I thought how to tell her. How would I explain? How could I? This is something not to be believed. But I’ll find the words. They’re always with me when I’m with her.
Her eyes went blank. The golden tones just stared at me. She was trying to believe because she wanted to but didn’t know she did. She was silent for a while, a long while. I didn’t know what I should say; what else I could say. I thought if I immediately left her alone, she would decide for herself. She knew she could trust me. It was just a matter of doing so.
I left her alone for a while, only thinking how Aleksander was doing. He went to talk to Kathryn the same time I went to talk to Gwenyth. I hope maybe that went better. She had a more open mind to these kinds of things. He had the better end. Kathryn was a dreamer. She always wanted to see better in the world. She’d want to see it. She’s probably dreamed about it. I know a lot of people have but they all couldn’t know about this. This was different. This had to be kept secret. It was dangerous for us to know but after that meeting, we really had to do it again. And we would. Soon.
On a sleepless night, days after my return, Gwenyth came to me. I wasn’t expecting it but her eyes were the same. She just stared at me. I didn’t know what I should say. I just stood there looking foolish but she looked me over and started to smile. She hugged me in a clenching grip I couldn’t escape. I didn’t want to. She became excited and thrilled. I was happy to hear it. Finally. She pulled away from me, bouncing up and down like a child, her hands clapping in excitement. I liked seeing her happy. It took her awhile to think about what this meant but she wanted it. She wanted to leave right then and I felt bad for changing her mood but we couldn’t. Not yet.
We waited longer until the day came. We could leave again. I didn’t want to leave my son but they needed to do this. They needed to know. I would see him very soon and soon he’d be able to join me. I want to see that most of all; my son a part of it.
Travel this time seemed more anxious than before. Gwenyth and Kathryn stuck together like young sisters waiting for some kind of surprise. It was all they talked about. Joking and giggling about meeting Seni’s Prince, once hearing talk that he was a sight for any maiden to see. Aleks and I merely rolled our eyes to their ongoing delight. We certainly didn’t see him to be that way but clearly women were a different breed.
They calmed down when we finally made it there like it suddenly hit them about what we were doing and how important this could be. I still wanted to think that it was but there was always that small part of me saying ‘keep your eyes open.’ I knew I had to when I looked at Gwenyth next to me. I would do anything for her, stand in the way of any threat and made sure I remembered as we went inside.
Everything seemed almost as before. Quiet but eager. Aleks was practically dragging Kathryn in like she was intensely nervous and everyone finally came into view of each other. It was the strangest thing I’ve ever seen. Izin rose to greet us with his guest by his side, a blonde woman, blue eyes and the silence hit again. Whoever she was, she was staring at Aleks and he her and Kathryn’s eyes were locked on Izin and his on hers. It was almost like no one could speak. I looked next to me at Gwenyth and she looked back with a smile. We both saw it. They instantly formed a liking towards each other and one of us would have to speak first.
I began with introducing Kathryn to Izin since I could see that’s what he was waiting for and he began to notice the behavior between Aleks
and his guest and he did the same. Ice, broken at last. The woman was Cynthia, Izin’s—well, I’m unsure of what to call her except friend. They grew close together in their lives much like Kathryn and Aleks have but they may have even been together. Aleks and Kathryn have always kept it at a friend level, she has a son too, just a year younger than mine.
We sat around and just talked the rest of the night. It was interesting to see. Everyone got along so well and Aleks and Izin joked about how we all brought women as our guest. I laughed about it with them but not at the same intensity. I didn’t bring Gwenyth as a need to have a woman because we’ve never been that way with each other. It was a mutual respect. She knew I was somewhat involved with Anna and I knew there wasn’t a man out there worthy enough for her, not even me but I stayed close by her side the entirety of our stay. It was only three days but we all knew we needed to get back, each having reasons of our own. I wanted to see my son again and spend time with him, hopefully one day being able to bring him.
Weeks passed before we decided to do it again. Same group, just this time Kathryn had her young son, Ryon. She was unable to find anyone to watch him since his father wasn’t involved in his life so I decided to bring Torrin with me. I knew I always wanted to, this just made things easier. He would have someone to play with since I never really thought I was good at that. I haven’t played as a child since I was one and that has long passed.
It was becoming routine. Simple greets and then talking, talking, talking. We began to do it as often as we could, sometimes only being home for a day or two in between and others started to join us. There were people we knew from Kalu and people Izin knew from Seni. Things were seeming more and more out in the open when there were more of us but Izin always stressed about what would happen if his father found out. I’ve heard the stories just like any other Kaluian, he was a selfish, brutal man and according to Izin, they were all true. It began to put the stress on us and trying to keep this a secret only got harder and harder.
Rising Sun (Fate's Intent Book 9) Page 18