Claiming The Remnant

Chapter 57

[ Ethyn ]

The noise of the castle was a deafening hum as Zach pulled me through the walls. As quickly as it began it was over. Why we were where we were I had no idea.

"Honestly Zach, was that really necessary?"

"King." He replied with a noncommittal shrug as he rushed around me trying to smooth out the creases in my clothes.

"Uh-huh." I sucked my teeth. "We will pretend I believe that." Hector watched from his post outside my Father's study trying his darndest to keep a straight face.

"Urgent." Zach reaffirmed, yanking at my rumpled sleeve.

"Urgent… right, and we are outside of the study because…?" I could feel myself getting shirty with him. I liked to think of myself as his big brother. There was around 10 years between us, it had never seemed like a big gap to me. We would hang out in my quarters playing games. Right from the start when I was 20 and he was 10 I couldn't care less that people might think me too old for such childish endeavours.

Zach could be pretty inventive with games and often included his magic in them. Certainly made some things more interesting. Catch, for instance - it got pretty crazy trying to guess which wall the ball was going to come out of.

I loved reading to him as well. We would make a fort in the middle of the sitting room. Drove the Head Housekeeper mad the way we kept reorganising the furniture and taking all the bed sheets, pillows and cushions from where they belonged. We fell asleep in the fort with an open book more times than I can count. It was the last thing we did together before I went to the Kingdom of Velexarin 8 months ago.

"Messy." He snipped, before yanking me up to my knees into the floor and reorganising my hair.

"Let me up, let me up." I babbled, feeling panicked. "Zach, now." My brain just couldn't get around the sight of my legs inside the floor. It had my stomach churning.

"Sorry." He pulled me up, not sounding particularly earnest, and I took some deep breaths. Hector watched but didn't interfere. Zach knew I didn't like that sort of thing.

"Look, I know you have a lot of magic and it's really easy for you to use but that doesn't make it ok to just go around using your intangibility on people. Communicating when the castle is busy is difficult for you, I know, but sometimes you could easily achieve the same results with a little patience as opposed to going straight for the magic. You could really do with working on being more respectful of people's boundaries." I lectured him, feeling less confident in each word I spoke because of the way Zach's lip began to tremble and his eyes filled with tears that I knew he hated to spill. "Zach, I'm sor…" I started.

"You - are - right." Zach told me with his eyes closed, pacing out each word so he could say them properly. Well, that was a first. He normally shrugged and just did what he wanted. He also would normally disappear rather than cry in front of people. A single tear marked his youthful face he held out his hand for me to take. "No, m-magic." He promised.

Obviously I took his hand, I was going to take it anyway. Zach, credit where it's due, not only knocked but also opened the door the non magical way.

"You know you're meant to wait after knocking." I chuckled lightly as we stepped into my Father's study. Cue eye roll and shrug from Zach.

"Ethyn." My Father greeted me. Face morphing from a scowl, no doubt brought on by whatever papers he was reading, to joy at seeing me. "My Son! You are back early, we did not expect you for another week." He pulled me into his strong, loving embrace. A fatherly hug that I had missed. "Zach, are you alright?" My eagle eyed Father spotted the errant tear on his cheek.

"I told him off." I admitted, while my Father held the lads face, tenderly inspecting him for anything that might be awry.

"Lesson." My honorary Brother nodded, deadly serious.

"A good one I hope?" Father said while giving him an affectionate pat on the head.

"Yes." He squeezed my hand.

"Well, Father, I'm here. What is so urgent that I have been summoned?" My question was quite deliberate, intentionally phrased to catch Zach out in his little pork pie.

"I was unaware of your arrival, my Son." Father caught on quickly, I could see the beginnings of a smile hiding in the corner of his mouth. "I did not send for you."

"I knew it! You rascal." I went to nab him but he was gone in the blink of an eye leaving only laughter behind. "Next time I see you, I'm going to tickle you within an inch of your life!" My Father laughed along with me.

“So my Son,” He headed back to his seat, “where is your Sister? Surely you arrived together…?” It was my Father’s turn to be asking an ‘intentionally phrased’ question.

“You wound me.” Hand over my heart, I dodged answering the question. “I thought parents didn't have favourite children, here I am, returned to you and you just want to know about your feisty favourite, Colette. Tut tut.”

“Come now, Son,” I took the seat opposite him while enduring the oh so parental look that he gave me, the one that said he could see right through me, “neither you nor I are foolish and yet you insist on this folly.”

“Come now, Father,” I mocked (just a little), “nothing happened. I am back safe and sound. Really, it is safer to travel alone, dressed as a pauper, no one knowing who I am, than with a noisy gaggle of guards practically waving a banner announcing ‘here is someone important worth robbing’. Besides, it was the last time; a little adventure all to myself, watching the dawn break as though the sun was rising just for me.” A certain someone in the Library had also made me feel that way. Looking out into the distance, I remembered the way the light burst over the trees. It was a memory to be cherished, more than that, it was a feeling; a feeling of just being me. “There is a mantle to be picked up, one that means I can no longer afford such frivolity.” Father studied me for a moment.

“You think that is dressing like a pauper?” An eyebrow went up in obvious amused disagreement.

“Well, I thought it was pretty convincing.” Looking down, I couldn’t help but inspect my outfit. It was basic rough cloth, dirty from my journey, frayed in places and more than a little rumpled - despite Zach’s fussing.

“Snuck in around dawn I presume?”

“Is there another time better for sneaking?” We shared a smile. I had paid the stablehand for his silence before heading to the library to get some kip. While rousing some maids to prepare a room for me would have been easy, it would have also caused too much of a stir in the castle, not to mention unfair on the maids. The library was nice anyway. The scent of books was soothing and it had a calm, quiet atmosphere.

“So, how was Velexarin?”

“Snow, snow and more snow. A blander, colder land I have not seen. The culture was rich and the people were warm.” I shrugged. Truthfully I was happiest at home.

“Warm people? I see, did someone catch your eye.” Father asked with a cheeky twinkle in his eye. I loved that he didn’t ask if a woman had garnered my affections. There were still some who clung to the Old Gods, unaccepting of the truth that is love. Each to their own I say.

“My bed was never empty, I shall put it that way, but my heart was never full.” Until now. Desperately, I wanted to broach the subject of my mystery lady but I held off.

“I’m sorry to hear that, my Son. Shame, it seemed Prince Jolin had his eye on you.”

“That he did, but firstly his vanity was quite the turn off and secondly I had no desire to fight Colette for him. Prince Jolin, it seems, is exactly my Sister's cup of tea.” Seeing my Father’s surprised expression reminded me of my own shock at seeing Colette, who had shown no interest in anyone in that way, suddenly fawning over this self obsessed Prince. “She is more than a little taken with him. I would not be surprised if their courtship is on the short side and they are entwining themselves in vows and blessings before the year is out - perhaps even before the season changes.”

“Ye Gods, what an unexpected turn of events. There are only a few weeks until the solstice, perhaps the annual ball will be a perfect opportunity for the announcement or am I getting ahead of myself?”

“Not at all Father. Colette is besotted and despite my jibes, Jolin has been equally entranced.” Stretching, I tried not to be entirely entranced myself by a certain someone; it was near impossible, her enviously blue eyes were calling me. I kept seeing the moment where her lips parted to offer me her name. The suspense was joyous but also tested my patience. The look on Father’s face told me he would happily continue speaking about Colette and her Prince all day but considering I had endured the amorous pair for the past 8 months, I wanted a new topic. “Your excitement is understandable but they will be here in a week, she is bringing the Prince; much as she would bring home her kill from the hunt I suspect, and so may we speak of something else? This news is new to you but I have had my fill.” I rolled my eyes and sagged in the chair.

“Let us sit more comfortably, and some tea is in order I think.” He nodded to himself while writing his order and I chose a comfy seat. The blue one of course. Like her eyes but nowhere near as imposing in shade.

My Father started with all the usual, boring, goings on of the castle and Kingdom but it was better than listening to Jolin and Colette gush over each other. My Sister had never been the gushing type; until now that is.

As King he had always been an advocate for the equal treatment of all shades and in my absence it seemed he had really dug into the endeavour. It was very impressive and noble but seemed fruitless. People would not change their opinions just because the King said so. If they did then I would not be the way I was.

“Hold on, did I just hear you right?” Impossible… I must have misunderstood.

“Grace Doran was dismissed from my employment a few days prior. She left immediately. Her belongings have been packed and shipped. As of yet she has not been replaced.” There was no joy in my Father as he told me. I did not expect any. He was rather fond of Grace, or Gracie as he usually called her.

“Ye Gods,” I gasped, “what happened?”