Aethan

Eight Years Ago

My mother’s fingers danced through the thick strands of my hair as she combed it.

Queen Silva hummed her song as she worked, easily stroking the brush through my hair until she became satisfied with it once more. She always spent longer on my hair than she did Aella’s, then Aella would accuse me of getting my hair dirtied and knotted on purpose.

But my hair wasn’t knotted, nor dirty. Between mother and I there was always the understanding that I must never let Aella know that I was her favourite child.

That evening as she brushed she started to speak, “Governess Lila had some things to say to me this afternoon about you two.” Aella and I exchanged a look and waited. “You know your father is under a lot of pressure ever since the land invasions began again, it would really help if we all did our part. Aethan I’m talking to you, especially.”

“What did I do?” I refused to accept any blame.

“Is that so? Then I suppose it isn’t true that you commanded both sons of the Archduke to wear their pants on their heads. Or that you were found urinating in the fountain leading to the chief priest’s personal hot spring.”

That was unfair, no one ever wanted to hear about what the others did. “I was only giving Roni and Roland a taste of their own medicine. They were most awful to the stable hand, they made him lick their boots clean. And don’t even get me started on that priest, everyone knows he buys little girls –“

Mother’s hand had stopped brushing and she gripped the sides of my face, “Just you wait my prince, but right now you don’t have the right to dish out punishments like the cook serves dessert. I know it’s hard, but when you punish the sons of an Archduke for how they treat a stable boy, it makes trouble for your father. The Archduke is too important to be offended like this.”

“Then he should teach his sons to be respectful,” I replied mutinously.

She gripped my chin tightly, “Just like it’s my job to teach mine. You know I don’t agree with it either, but can’t you find other ways of showing people that they are wrong to do what they do? You can’t always fix things by punishing people, you know?”

I perked up, just a little, “Does that mean you won’t be punishing me?”

Queen Silva’s mouth set into an amused curve, “Tomorrow you have a full day with Roni and Ronald in your classes with Master Baldrid. I expect you to apologize.”

“Not fair,” Aella complained, “If I’d have done that I’d be locked away in a tower by now.”

“You mean locked away like a princess?” I teased her, “When do you ever hear of a prince being locked away in a tower?”

“Keep talking and you’ll be the first,” Queen Silva warned, and Aella looked triumphant. She replaced me in the seat close to mother to get her hair brushed. They were quite a way into it before she spoke again. “Oh, and tonight your father wants to see you before bed, Aethan.”

Aella looked at me and her eyes darkened, she was clearly concerned for me.

“It’s fine,” I reassured her uselessly. “It’s probably nothing.”

Mother shook her head, “You both know I don’t like to keep your father’s secrets. It most certainly is not nothing. Aethan I need you to be as quiet as you can when your father is speaking.”

“I’m always quiet,” I muttered, “Makes no difference.”

She had no answer for that. She had always known that when it came to me that father was irrational. Just being in the room was enough to make him frustrated with me. He had picked Aella as next in line for the throne last year and ignored a whole string of advisors that counselled against it. I knew where I stood with my father. Aella was his possession, his prize. I was the price he paid to have his prize. The unwanted addition that refused to go away no matter how he tried.

My mother had tried to change the way he treated me. Whatever it was she tried it failed miserably.

“He’s at his wits end,” Mother replied automatically. Defending the king had become a chore for her, but she did it all the same. Then she met my eyes, “Don’t push him over that edge.”

I promised to stay silent no matter what and after she was finished we both trudged towards Father’s council room. Aella was biting her lips all the way there, as if she knew something but didn’t want to say it. Maybe I’d imagined it.

When we entered we both bowed deeply before approaching and bowing again.

“Your majesty,” I said as Aella said, “Father.” Aella could call him that. Whenever I did he looked affronted and his mouth would curve downwards.

“So you came with Aella,” he began, his tone superior. “Haven’t I taught you not to bring little girls to your battles?”

“I only brought my sister to her father, I didn’t believe there was any harm in th-” I replied mutinously before Aella could cut me off with a jab in my side. I stopped, a little too late. Father’s eyes was already narrowing.

In the corner behind him were two tall figures dressed in black. Only their mouths and eyes were not covered. They wore black hoods and stayed so still I might not have notice them if I were not avoiding the king’s gaze.

“When you address your king it will often feel like a battle, especially when I must order you to do something that you do not wish to obey.” His voice went dangerously calm. He continued writing, perhaps some declaration or other. Or a threat to a lord about his possessions becoming dangerously luxurious.

"This is Master Lumen and his cousin, Lord Virax," my father finally introduced the men dressed in black wearing hoods. They stepped forward and bowed low to Aella, then turned and bowed to me. "They are Sages of the Magi order, do you know what that is, Aethan?"

I didn't know. But then my father wouldn't have asked me if he had expected me to know the answer. "No your majesty." I waited for him to tell me.

His voice, deceptively soft, continued, "It's time I found out what kind of man you are. No more guesswork, no more pampering." So before he was smothering me? Who would've been able to tell? "Master Lumen and Lord Virax have been charged to take you to Gorma. You will not return to the capital unless you are summoned, am I clear?"

"But -" I almost spoke out. What about the family? What about mother and my life here in Readris? He was sending me away from Aella? A single glance at my sister quelled any rebellion. She shook her head. "Yes, your majesty."

"Father," She began, "Aethan wasn't causing any trouble. The archduke's sons were abusing their power -"

"That's exactly it, Aella. It is power. It's meant to be used, I advise you especially to get used to being obeyed." My father had an interesting view of power. Those who had it, were always right.

"And I expect you to obey me," the king turned his attention back to me. His gaze burned with distaste. "Before you leave you will apologize to Lord Kanta's sons."

I clenched my fists and managed to agree through gritted teeth.

My father continued, "You will do it in the council room tomorrow morning. Go now with Master Lumen. He will prepare you."

I lowered my head, accepting his judgment. As far as meetings with father this one hadn't turned out so terribly. I was accustomed to his distaste, it was his cruelty that I feared.

Master Lumen led me from the room and I followed meekly. There was not much to say between us so I remained silent, after all he was just another one of father's lackeys.

But when Lumen finally spoke he surprised me. "A good leader knows how and when to hold his tongue. You'll make a great leader one day."

Surprised I looked at him as we passed soldiers and servants in the hall. "I'm not a leader. And anyway, Aella will become Queen."

"Princess Aella becoming queen has nothing to do with you becoming a leader or not. I can teach you anything if you will accept me." He turned to face me, brown eyes sincere and earnest. He seemed as if he had faith in me. It was a strange and new feeling. Only mother had ever looked at me with an expression like that. "So, let's make the best of a bad turn my prince. Your father the king need not know the depth of our training."

I wasn't so sure though. "I want to see my mother before we leave."

"Of course your highness," Lumen replied, "Although by now I'm sure the servants have informed her majesty of the king's intentions." We entered my chambers.

And there on my bed, while a host of servants swirled around her packing things into a trunk, was my mother.

Her eyes were the first thing I noticed. Stark blue and swimming she stood and held out her arms for me.

Unbidden my body was already moving forward, and I threw my arms around her middle, burying my face into her torso and holding back tears.

"Everybody out," I heard her order as if from far away. The shuffling in the room told me that the servants were leaving. "I'm not going to let go of you, you know?" She stroked my hair now, "I'll come with you and leave the palace."

"Your majesty," Lumen interjected, apparently he was meant to stay. "Her Royal Highness Princess Aella will need you -"

"He can't take my son away, Lumen! I warned him before about the lengths I will go to protect my own, I'll not stand for this."

What was she talking about? And did she already know Master Lumen? Probably.

"Your majesty," Lumen's voice became stern. "His highness is only being sent to Gorma. It is still within sailing distance. He's just two days away."

"Don't you think I know what this is? The king is playing a dangerous game, and he is holding me to ransom using my own son. I love Aella, I really do, but I can't just sit and watch him do this. Won't you help me at all Lumen?"

"I will help her majesty in any way I can, you know that," Lumen's calm words obviously helped my mother.

"Then take Aethan," she said, "Take him to the Eastern Isles and wait for me there."

"Mother what are you saying?" I couldn't stomach it. Run? Away from my country and my home? Leave Aella behind here with my father?

"You must think I am crazy, Aethan, but I assure you that I have thought about running with you to the eastern isles and beyond for the past five years."

"I'm not running. I won't leave Aella."

My mother's gasp cut me to my heart. "I would take Aella if I could but the king will chase after us to the ends of the earth if we took away his heiress. Aella is safe here. With him."

"Then I won't leave either. Mother you're the one that taught me I can't run away from my problems. We can't leave Aella. I won't." I set my chin and turned to my trunk, as if I wanted to see that I had everything I needed.

Lumen was simply observing until he turned to my mother again, inquiring, "What is your command, your majesty?"

He would seriously kidnap me if she said the word. I met my mother's eyes, communicating sternly and silently.

My eight year old gaze must've been effective, because her shoulders slumped and she began to cry. "We can't leave. He's right we can't leave Aella..." Then she said. "I'm a terrible mother. I can't protect you and I thought about running away from the daughter I raised." She gave a dead laugh, "What use am I?"

"Your majesty is doing the best she can," Lumen said.

I went back to my mother and took her hands in mine, "You're the best mother anyone could ask for.”

She swallowed her sobs back with a herculean effort and wiped away the stray tears. She nodded. "I'll go check on Aella. I'll be back right after. I'm spending every moment I can with you before you leave."

When she swept out of the room it took several moments before the servants poured right back in and started packing again.

Among them I recognized Liesha, an assistant to Governess Lila, she gave me a sad little smile and asked which books I wanted packed and which could come later. It was a small kindness, especially since she let me pack all my stories while the history books for my lessons were left behind.

My father had once tried to burn them all, blaming the books for teaching me strange ideas. Maybe he had a problem with me learning about honor and bravery.

To him I was worse than useless.

Later on my mother faced me as I slept. She did not speak, content to just watch me, as if her eyes could soak in the image of me and save it up for later. As I fell asleep, she was humming again.

It was the same song she hummed when she combed my hair. About a mother who died protecting her son.

Even in my dreams, she sounded happy.