Second Born

by Lance Wilson

  “About time you showed up, you know if you really wanted to improve you might even spend some time in here when you don’t have to.” His father says, his voice sharp and cold

  “Sorry father.” Attonnan says his head now lowering, his voice weak

  “Begin your training where you left off” He says and walks to the side of the room

  Attonnan only looks at his brother for a moment; He is a larger built elf. He is wearing black pants and a black shirt with no sleeves or collar, over his left shoulder is some armor that looks a lot like large scales and over each wrist is a metal bracer. Slowly Mellyruna draws his blade, it is a claymore, larger then most elves use but he is still excellent with it. Attonnan slowly draws his own blade, a typical elvish sword. With that the two begin to fight. Attonnan charges his brother but is blocked easily as his brother brings his sword over and blocks. Then spins himself to the side and brings his sword down so the flat of it swings and hits Attonnan hard in the back making him stumble. Mellyruna takes advantage of this and quickly kicks him right between the shoulders. Attonnan falls flat on his face but quickly rolls away as he sees his brother’s sword coming down. He does a quick summersault and gets back to his feet. His brother brings the sword down again and Attonnan blocks with his own blade but the weight and power behind the blow make him take a few steps back. Mellyruna only continues the onslaught of blows keeping his brother on the defensive. His father has not seen Attonnan at his best. Mellyruna has though. He has wandered into the training room at nights when Attonnan couldn’t sleep and watched him train alone. He is better then he is in front of their father, alone he is fast and focused. He can only guess that it is there father being here that makes him nervous and unsure of his moves. He knows that if Attonnan were to ever get rid of the complex he has, he would be a match for anyone he can think of. Even perhaps the captain of the guards, Vulge. Mellyruna keep up the work and soon has his brother pressed against the wall. He goes for a blow but Attonnan only rolls out of the way, but his next move is predictable. And he watches as Attonnan goes for a slash at the back. Mellyruna only throws his blade behind him to block and hears the sweet Ring of metal against metal. Mellyruna then quickly springs and pushes his blade against Attonnan forcing him to fall and land flat on his back. He then kicks Attonnan’s blade away from him bringing his own blade to Attonnan’s throat.

  “Do you yield?” He says a smile on his face, He knows that this is only practice and he would never cut his brother.

  Attonnan cannot bring himself to say the words but instead only nods and lets out a sigh. He lost, again, like he always does.

  “Wonderful Mellyruna, truly and excellent execution of using your opponents weaknesses.” Their father says glowing at his son

  Attonnan looks up at his father hoping for some kind of praise but only quickly looks down when he feels his father’s piercing gaze on him.

  “Below par as usually Attonnan, you’ll be useless on the battlefield at this rate.” his father says and places his hand on Mellyruna’s shoulder.

  “I try father, I really do.” He says his eyes focused on the floor, never meeting his father’s gaze

  “Hmmmm, yes I’m sure” Feff says and growls at him, Attonnan only hangs his head further and lets out a bit of whimper.

  “Mellyruna come here, I want to talk to you. Attonnan, I’m done with you, you may leave.” He says smiling at his oldest of sons.

  Attonnan only goes and picks up his blade watching as his father walks over to his brother. His father walks over to Mellyruna and kneels before him.

  “Tomorrow will be your Kentonmen, that day you will become a man. I wish I would be there but I have to go to the other lords. There is a wolf at our gates, Mecmed, an elf from across the lands. Only by uniting the other clans will we be able to stand.” He says calmly and takes a deep breath. Attonnan is only standing there ignored by his father. Normally that would bother him but right now he is happy his father is overlooking him, it gives him the chance to listen to what he is telling his brother.

  “The clans, but the clans haven’t united as long as anyone can remember. Can it be done?” Mellyruna asks his voice one of shock.

  Attonnan knows his father would never talk to him like this.

  “I’m not sure. They have made deals with others and greed can be a powerful force.” Feff says and smiles at his son. He will make an excellent leader

  “Which clan will you go to first father?” Mellyruna asks looking over at his brother. Attonnan is looking over the weapons on the wall; He is almost positive this is only to give him an innocent look. He knows that Attonnan is listening

  “That is not for you to worry about. For now I do want you to make a promise to me. I want you to promise me that when I leave that you will look over your family, you will be the man of the castle, prince now.” He said and laid his hand on his sons shoulder.

  “Yes father.” Mellyruna says and looks over at Attonnan again.

  “Your brothers are smaller and weaker and cannot handle themselves like you can. Your job will be to protect and care for them. Can you do that for me?” He says and looks deep into his son’s eyes.

  The shock of these words makes Attonnan drop the blade he is looking at, but the sound goes unnoticed. So that is what his father thinks of him, small and weak, something that needs taken care of. This is too much for him and with tears rimming his eyes he walks out of the room. This can’t be right, did his father think that little of him. Mellyruna watches this out of the corner of his eye. He feels his fathers hand on his shoulder and part of him wants to scream at his father. How can he do that to Attonnan? Attonnan is just as good as he is but his father doesn’t see it. All his father sees in him is what everyone else sees, something weak something to be pulled to one side so it doesn’t hurt itself. Once he is done here he will go to Attonnan and talk to him.

  “Mellyruna, do I have your word, can you do this for me, look over your siblings?” He asks calmly snapping Mellyruna back to the here and now.

  “Father, I was wondering, in two days, I will take the thrown. Why is Attonnan not taking the thrown with me?” He asks calmly, he is sure he already knows the answer.

  “You are a good brother to think of Attonnan. But only one prince may take the thrown and this kingdom is near war. We must have a strong prince and I am afraid Attonnan for what ever reason does not add up.” Feff says and looks deep at his son’s eyes.

  “You have my word father, I will look after my family.” he says and smiles at his father.

  With that he watches as his father leaves the training room. It is just the answer he expected his father to give. Slowly Mellyruna walks over to the long sword that Attonnan had dropped. Slowly picks it up and looks at it, he can’t help but think of Attonnan. How many times has his father hurt him, and how many times has he gone to him and found him in tears from something his father has said. He is sure where he will find him now.

  Attonnan watches as his father begins to leave the training room from a side hall. He sees the captain of the guard Vulge. Vulge is a huge elf, at least a head and half taller then his father and a much larger build. He is dressed in a black chest and back plate with silver inlay, over his back is a red cape. He wears only a black cotton cloth skirt that goes just above the knee and then over that is black skirt made of leather strips tipped as well with silver. He has black steel protection over his calves and knees, two bracers on each wrist and over his left shoulder all the way to the elbow is black steel. His eyes are a bright and fiery green. His hair is long and dark brown. His skin tanned from all the years of battling in the sun. He walks down and quickly joins his father’s side. Vulge has always been good to him; he has sometimes taken him into the training room and had him practice as only he watched. Vulge always tells him that he is surprised at the skill he has, but he knows Vulge is only being polite. He has never beaten hi
s brother so he can’t be that good. Vulge also gives him books to read, books about the thoughts and minds of others around this world, the humans, the dwarves, orcs, trolls. Books about them all and how they think. He can tell at the pace that both his father and Vulge are walking that this is something important. His curiosity getting the better of him he walks behind them making sure not to be seen or heard, which isn’t hard for someone always overlooked.

  “Sir, her escorts are here, they have questions and will not wait any longer,” Vulge says calmly

  “What of the Oda escort” Feff says as if ignoring the first comment

  “He is due tonight, sir I must protest to associating with this sorceress” Vulge says a definite distaste

  “Nor do I, but a pact was made and I must honor my end. I would rather not cross her” Feff says growling at the thought.

  They walk down the hall, completely unaware of the fact that his second born son is following keeping silent. Sorceress’s escorts, he has only herd of one sorceress in the area, the old dwarven mystic in the hill. The door opens to the thrown room Attonnan almost wants to swear that Vulge holds the door open just a bit longer giving him enough of a chance to catch it before it closes. He slips in and looks around quickly dashing to a spot that he knows he will not be seen.

  The thrown room is a magnificent room. It is darker gray stone with pillars lining the walls and banners hanging between each of the pillars. It is behind one of the banners that Attonnan has decided to hide. He watches as his father takes the thrown and Vulge takes his place to his father’s right. Taking a deep breath his father thinks about what the meeting will hold. It was almost a hundred years ago that he swore to her that she would get neither of his sons. But as the weeks of the Kentonmen came closer and closer she sent messages telling him that her payment is coming due. At first he sent the message back that his family is his. Then she reminded him that she could take everything from him. So he agreed to see her escorts, their first visit scared him, and he has never gotten used to their presence. Attonnan watches as the doors open again and two figures walk in. the two figures are draped in black robes and looking into the hoods you cannot see their face. They walk in and when they are at the foot of the thrown they incline their head but only slightly.

  “It is always a pleasure prince Feff” the figure on the write says, his voice quite, almost only a whisper.

  Seeing them and hearing the voice sends shivers down his spines. These cannot be natural creatures.

  “Let us dispense with the formalities, we both know why you are here so state your business” he hears his father say with courage in his voice.

  Feff watches as the figures only nod and then look at one another

  “Our mistress wishes to know which of your children is the strongest” it is the figure on the right again. His voice is still cool, and calm, only a whisper.

  Attonnan only takes a deep breath. The last thing he wants to do is listen to his father go on and on about Mellyruna. But he cannot leave now the doors are closed and he wouldn’t be able to slip out unnoticed.

  “My strongest son would be Attonnan. I will admit that many would say it is Mellyruna, but Attonnan has the true strength, he is well learned and I think he would make and excellent advisor or strategist. My captain Vulge has also told me that his skills in the blade are coming along quickly as well” Feff says lowering his head.

  Both Vulge and Attonnan are taken back. Attonnan has never heard his father talk about him like this, so this is how he has truly felt all this time. Why couldn’t he just tell him? Vulge looks at the prince with a bit of surprise, it is true Attonnan is a learned elf and would make a good strategist or advisor, and his swordsmanship is coming along, but his father has always spoken ill of him. Maybe he has misjudged his prince.

  “We will report this to our mistress, she still expects them tomorrow” the figure on the right says and both incline their head

  Both walk out of the room leaving Vulge and Feff alone, or what they think is alone. Feff only lets out a slight chuckle as he sees that Vulge is still looking at him in shock.

  “What is wrong captain?” he says leaning back, letting himself relax a bit before his next task.

  “It’s just that… . well, I’ve never heard of you talk about Attonnan that way” Vulge says calmly but waits, somehow he knows that there is something more to this.

  “I must admit I did not think they would buy it but it seems that they did” Feff says with a chuckle.

  “What, I don’t understand” Vulge says the bit of hope he felt vanishing

  “Do you think I would tell them who my strongest son is? No I gave them the impression that Attonnan was my strongest. The sorceress will want to take the strongest for herself and if she thinks Attonnan is that son then I am all the better for it.” He says and begins to stand

  Tears begin to well up in Attonnan’s eyes, so his father never thought those things. It was all a lie so that he wouldn’t loose Mellyruna.

  “What of Attonnan?” Vulge says now glancing over at the banner. He had left the door open longer; he knew that Attonnan was following him and his father. He was just hoping that the conversation wouldn’t end up this way.

  “What of him. That elf has been nothing more then a waist of my time and resources. He was a mistake. After all how could I love the son that for his first act in this world took the vary strength from my love and wife” Feff says and stands.

  Vulge is left speechless and only walks with his prince as they leave the thrown room.

  So that’s it, he is a waist of life and space, tears stream down his face as his father’s words rip at him. It was true; he was the reason his mother died. He took her strength; he killed her. These words rip through him like a thousand burning swords. He stands there in the empty thrown room, the words echoing though his mind for what seems forever. He’s not sure what motivates him but he walks out of the thrown room into his own room. Slowly he walks around looking at all that is around him. His hands moving on their own find the handle of a silver dagger. It was a gift to him from Rin, his stepmother. It is a simple dagger, thin and sleek, and a razors edge. Slowly he tucks it into his belt and then walks though the halls again. He walks almost in a trance moving like something is drawing him, tears still running down his cheeks. Before he knows it he is standing at the alter of an elven church the dagger now out of it’s sheath. He stares at the reflection of himself in the dagger. The reason he is here slowly begins to come forward in his mind. He is a waist, he killed his mother, took her strength and let the winters chill take her. The only thing left to do is end it, plunge the dagger into his chest and let death come for him. The blade is thin and long, it will do the job easily. It will be simple, quick, a sharp pain and that is all. He watches, as his hands seem to move on their own. Turning the dagger on himself and then slowly placing the tip to his chest. His hands begin to tremble; the knife shakes in his hands. His vision begins to blur from the tears and then. He closes his eyes. Opens them, his hands are shaking more then ever. No, this has to be it. A quick pain and that will be it. It will all be over. He feels his courage begin to slip. He drops to his knees and he can hear the steel of the dagger hit the stone floor. They’re right, they’re all right. He’s weak. He can’t even bring himself to do the right thing and end it. Slowly he lays on his side and sobs, sobs tell everything fades and he’s too tired to care.

  It is later in the evening Mellyruna has been searching for Attonnan since after the training. It is almost time for them to go to sleep. He has even missed supper. He looked in all of Attonnan’s normal spots; he wasn’t in the stables, or the library. All of his normal spots turned up nothing. Mellyruna soon finds himself out on the balcony. This is the longest his brother has ever kept away, he has done nothing but worry the whole day. As he looks at the night sky he feels a gentle hand on his shoulder. Slowly he looks ov
er and sees his step mother Rin.

  “Your tense” she says and stands beside him.

  She is nothing like his real mother, her hair is a golden blond and her eyes a bright green, her skin is pale which in the right like makes her look like some kind of apparition. Tonight she is dressed in a bright blue dress, pale blue. She has watched him grow into a strong young man and knows that he will make an excellent prince, the way he shows the compassion for his brother, it shows that he has not lost the compassion of a child’s heart.

  “It’s Attonnan, he’s been gone all day, since training early this morning. He’s never been gone this long” Mellyruna says and looks at his mother, she may not have been his blood but she was his mother in all the ways that mattered.

  “Your father put his foot in his mouth” she asks knowing that it is a polite way of asking if Feff had hurt him again.

  “Ya” he says taking a deep breath.

  Rin only lowers her head, if only Feff knew how much Attonnan wanted to please him. At first she thought that it would be that way with her own children by him. That he would favor Mellyruna over all others. She has to admit that he does to a point. But he has treated Byrdi Shasos and Maeraer Shyrys like they were his pride and joy. Maeraer with her being his only daughter is actually capable of getting away with almost everything she wants, all she has to do is give her father the sad look and he folds as easily as silk. Her son Byrdi is a lot like Mellyruna, young strong and a warrior at heart. Feff has taken them both into his heart and loved them as much as he loves Mellyruna, true he will always favor Mellyruna a bit more, his is the first born and Prince to come, but never has she seen an elven father treat a son such as Feff treats Attonnan. It is almost like his vary existence angers him. As he pulls Mellyruna closer to his side with his right hand she watches as he forces Attonnan away with the left, but all Attonnan has ever wanted is to please his father, to be something in his fathers eyes.