Ilmur had forgotten the time when he was practicing, if he didn’t start to get himself ready soon, he would be late for the dinner and that wouldn’t do at all. He made the sign that they should stop for today.

“Same time tomorrow, my friends?”

The men only grumbled when they walked away. They could give him a little bit more of respect, but he decided to let it slide this time. Maybe calling them friends didn’t do much for morale. If he was going to be a commander someday, he needed men that trusted and respected him. Beating them day after day didn’t seem to be the right strategy. Ilmur liked to be in his white soldier uniform as much as possible, but today he needed something more extravagant. He didn’t even know what he had in his closet, servants took care of that.

What Gandon had said about Alexandra had worried him, even though he had thought about it himself. He wasn’t as confident as saying no to his father as he had exclaimed earlier. How long until they arrived? If they had started the journey over a week ago, they would be here maybe next week. He didn’t really want to think about this right now. He would deal with this later.

When he arrived in his chamber, he decided to dress himself instead, not bothering to call his servants. Gandon would be able to see immediately if he had dressed himself or not. This was an important day for Gandon and Ilmur wanted to show that the day meant a lot for him as well. He decided to go for a blue robe with a matching silver necklace and a brooch with the two towers. His house sigil. This looked much more festive than his worn white soldier uniform, but it wasn’t as comfortable. He was a soldier true and trough.

He arrived at the dinner hall, and they hadn’t started eating yet, which was good. The soldier had captured a boar earlier today, and the cook was famous for his fine culinary arts when it came to that animal. He knew nothing would be left if he arrived too late. To his surprise he discovered that Gandon hadn’t arrived yet.

He sat down and had a look at his father, it was quite clear that something was bothering him. Ilmur thought that he could puzzle it out, he wasn’t good with books, but he understood people, and he knew father and Gandon better than anyone. Father had probably wanted to have a private talk with Gandon since it was his day, and he always did that with his sons on every birthday. Gandon was intelligent, no question about that, but he wasn’t as good with people. Ilmur knew how to make people comfortable and appreciated, and best of all, he knew when to be silent, Gandon himself wasn’t always as subtle, and he had probably pushed father too hard this time. But what could they have been arguing about? He hoped that Gandon would arrive soon, it wouldn’t do, to have him missing the day he became a man.

Mother was sitting next to father and seemed to be in a much better mood. She was clad in a red dress and wearing her silver crown, while she had her black hair up in a tight knot. He knew that his mother was seen as beautiful, and he didn’t like the looks one of the bards gave her.

Taln asked about how the training had gone, but Ilmur didn’t have so much to say about that. He like to train and keep himself in shape, but talking about it felt so meaningless, Gandon never asked about Ilmur’s training, and always challenged him intellectually instead. He needed Gandon in his life, for that reason and many others and even though he had two biological brothers and Gandon had none, it had always been clear to Ilmur that he appreciated Gandon’s friendship more than Gandon did. It was a disturbing thought, and he tried not to think about it. It was not a competition, and they saw each other as brothers, that was enough.

Suddenly, Gandon arrived and took the empty seat on Ilmur’s left side. Mother beamed at Gandon. When Taln was born, father had told mother that there wasn’t going to be any more children, but thanks to Gandon she had gotten at least one more extra. Father had a cold stare when he looked at Gandon, but Gandon himself wasn’t looking at anyone in particular, it was deliberate, too deliberate. Father and Gandon had much in common, maybe too much. He should have been there when they talked with each other. He could have defused the situation.

Mother clapped in her hands and in came minstrels and bards and started to play in Gandon’s honor, it was lovely, but Gandon himself didn’t seem to care, it was clear he was somewhere else.

A beautiful maid came in and put several necklaces and rings on Gandon’s fingers. Ilmur was quite surprised by that. This showed that father and mother saw Gandon as a man with royal blood. Gandon nodded to father without smiling and father nodded back and emptied his cup.

Mother gestured to the servants that they should take the boar to Gandon so he could start carving.

Saran started to talk with Gandon when Ilmur started to cut his share. Saying that his feast was much more beautiful than when he had turned eighteen. Ilmur didn’t really remember it like that but decided not to comment on the topic. He noticed to his delight that Gandon was wearing the necklace he had gotten for him.

“Perhaps we should go and see master tomorrow, been a while since I’ve seen him,” said Ilmur.

“I don’t know what he’s been doing lately, he never seems to be in the tower when I come and visit,” answered Gandon.

“That is strange, I hope he isn’t in trouble. He could always ask father for trouble if his life is in danger or if his funds are low.”

“His majesty cannot solve all the problems.”

“What do you mean?” said Ilmur, surprised.

“Nothing,” said Gandon and patted him on the back. “Let’s eat, and I want you to sing for me as well during the feast.”

Ilmur scoffed. “I don’t know about that. But I could come to your room afterwards and we could play five towers like we used to when we were children.”

Ilmur could see in his face how Gandon brightened up. “Really? But you never want to play with me!”

“Perhaps that was a mistake, anyway, I’ll bring some wine, it will be fun.”

After the dinner the king clapped in his hands and servants came in with presents for Gandon. Swords and shields, jewelry, gold, books, perfume and more.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Ilmur had for a moment been afraid that father would give Gandon less, but it didn’t seem that father played favorites. If it was father or mother’s decision he didn’t know.

The last program was going to be a dance and Gandon could ask out any lady of the court to dance. No one could really say no, it would be highly frowned upon since it was his day he came into manhood. To his surprise Gandon extended his hand to mother. She looked surprised but also delighted to have someone to dance with.

He could ask anyone, and he asked mother? What game is he playing? Thought Ilmur.

Ilmur started to look around in the court. It wasn’t his day, but he wasn’t afraid of being rejected. He knew how some of the women were looking at him. Who should he ask first? The lovely Aviena with the pretty eyes? Or Dana perhaps? She was known for being a good dancer and she looked lovely in her red dress. Besides, their last encounter had been fun, she didn’t take her self too seriously.

The bards started to play the song two roses when he walked up to her. She gave him a coy look and he already knew that he didn’t need to say that much.

“Care for a dance Dana?” said Ilmur while extending his hand.

“Perhaps, can you promise me you won’t stomp on my toes?”

“Don’t you worry, I’ll only do it with the pretty ones.”

She laughed and gave him her arm. This song was a little slow for his taste, but it was also good, for he wasn’t the best dancer. Even though fighting itself was a form of dance, strange how they didn’t transition so well with each other. The bard started to sing when he put his hand on Dana’s waist.

Oh, a kiss as sweet as honey

Who could ask for more?

A kiss or a treasure trove, what fool would ponder on such thoughts

A rose is growing in my heart, it has your name on it

You’ll be my rose and I’ll be yours

Oh, a kiss as sweet as honey.

Give me one, give me a hundred, from you I’ll never tire

My rose, I’ll protect you in my garden

You have thorns but I don’t care

I’m ready to be hurt again

Oh, a kiss as sweet as honey

The dancing was going better than he could have hoped for. However, Gandon’s words were still troubling him. What if father forced him to marry soon? He liked spending time with Dana, and he wanted to give Aviena some time as well, they hadn’t had a chance to talk much yet and there were many other lovely ladies at court that he wanted to know a bit better. He knew that many had mistresses, father was accused of that, even though he didn’t believe the rumours. The thought of having mistresses didn’t sit right with him. It was alright for him to fool around a little as long as he wasn’t promised to anyone.

He gave Dana a kiss when the bard sang, you have thorns but I don’t care and she reciprocated it. It was a bit risky, but who would see? Everyone was busy doing their own thing. When the dance ended, he looked around and saw Gandon back at the table discussing with Saran. He sighted, talking with women wasn’t as hard as some made it out to believe and Gandon could at least try a little.

He had some more dances with various girls, but you could feel after a while that the party was dying. He excused himself and grabbed a few bottles before walking to Gandon’s room. Gandon was already busy with setting up the pieces.

“I didn’t know how long I would have to wait for you,” said Gandon.

“Why are you like this?” said Ilmur.

“Like what?”

“Don’t feign ignorance with me, Gandon. You’re coming to your own party, barely looking at anyone, father and you are obviously angry at each other, and then you ask mother to dance, the queen. On your day of manhood. You should have seen fathers face!”

“Calm down, why must everyone fight with me on my own day?” said Gandon, while pouring another glass of wine.

“Why must you be this way? Why do you think that you are better than everybody else? You saw the maid, you know that father and mother treat you like your own flesh and blood.”

“Because I am better than anyone,” said Gandon with a smirk while emptying his cup. “Besides, that still don’t make me their flesh and blood. You know the court calls me a bastard behind my back.”

“Father would never do that to mother.”

“I’m not so sure,” said Gandon.

“What did you say?! How much have you been drinking? Have you been emptying your cup all the time while I’ve been dancing?”

“You sound like mother; I spend my night however I like.”

“Why didn’t you dance with anyone? The feast was in your celebration.”

“You know that women don’t interest me.”

“Or are you just saying that because you don’t know how to talk with them?”

You could see a blood vein almost pop on Gandon’s head. The words had struck a chord deep.

Gandon was pointing at the game board. “Sit down now! We will have our duel, but we will do it on my terms, on my day.”

Ilmur sat down, he probably shouldn’t be drinking more either, but he opened the second bottle nonetheless.

Ilmur moved one of his dragons to capture one of the five towers.

“You always move in hard, but you can never back it up,” said Gandon while moving one of his knights.

“The purpose of the game is to have the most towers captured by the end of it, isn’t not so?”

“Yes, by the end of it, that tower will be in my possession soon enough.”

It was a long game of five towers, Gandon had been drinking considerably more than him, and he felt that the playing field was much more even.

“Have you been playing behind my back?” asked Gandon.

“Some women actually like these kinds of games, you know. You are just too stubborn to realize that.”

Gandon ignored that comment. “I should have moved my king with the wizard, but I still have my emperor. Your dragon is trapped, yes everything will be alright, eventually,” said Gandon reassuringly to himself.

Gandon had been right. The tower Ilmur had captured in the beginning was now being overtaken by Gandon’s forces. They played on for a little while longer, but Gandon had three of the five towers, and they were well guarded, any troops he sent would just be sent to the slaughter.

“I surrender,” said Ilmur.

“Naturally,” said Gandon with a smile.

Ilmur put away the pieces, I have humored you, and I did my best, and now I want some answers. What did you and father fight about?”

“I asked about my father, but his royal highness was too much of a coward to tell me what had happened. I left even though he commanded me to stay.”

He decided to ignore the insult to his father, Gandon wasn’t himself.

Gandon drank some more. “Has the king ever told you how my father died, or who he was? You wouldn’t hide it from me, would you?”

Ilmur shook his head. “Nothing, whatever happened he must be really embarrassed by the whole ordeal.” Ilmur needed some courage and decided to refill his glass against better judgment. “I must confess that when we were little that I hoped that you were a bastard, then we would at least be half-brothers. But father would never do that to mother. He isn’t a bad man, but he is proud.”

“We are brothers, Ilmur, but the king and queen aren’t my parents,” said Gandon.

Ilmur nodded with his glass in both hands. “Yes, you speak truthfully.”

“Sorry about earlier.”

“No, I am the one who is sorry. I could have waited until the morning when we both would be sober.”

“Should we open the last bottle?”

“Why not, we are going to feel horrible tomorrow, either way.”

“I don’t like that the king’s friend is arriving soon, nothing good can come of it.”

“Maybe not, but we can’t do anything about it for the moment.”

A glowing sheen outside Gandon’s window caught Ilmur’s eye. He withdrew the drapes so he could see better. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing, it was a full moon, but the moon wasn’t its usual colour, it was crimson red, he couldn’t do anything but to think about blood.

“Do you know what this means?” asked Ilmur.

“No, but I have heard about it, it’s supposed to be very rare. How peculiar, I hope this isn’t a bad omen, it’s my day after all.”

“That’s it, I’m going to see master tomorrow, it’s been too long. If anyone knows anything about this, it’s him.”

They talked well into the night, rather rattled, speculating what it all could mean, until Gandon fell asleep.

Ilmur was walking back to his own quarter. Doing his best to now think about the blood moon. Oh my head, I wish I could be someone else tomorrow.