Ilmur stood in the yard slashing at the bean bags with his practice sword, it didn’t matter that they were only practice bags, not even real soldiers would have been able to stand before him. He felt such shame when looking back at the meeting. Father had only looked at Gandon to see how he would react or if he had any suggestions at the topic at hand. Was Ilmur himself really that useless? Was it just best for his betters to ignore him when handling delicate matters? Was that all he was? A dumb ogre with a club that could hit an object harder than anyone else?

“Can I approach you? Or will you show me the same kindness as the opponents in your head?”

Ilmur heisted, he had been completely in his own thoughts, he hadn’t noticed that anyone approached him. He dropped his sword feeling nauseous. It was his elder brother Saran that had approached him.

“Saran, I haven’t seen you in a while,” said Ilmur, not knowing what to say.

“You can say that again, you would almost believe that you didn’t care for your blood brothers.”

“Gandon is a brother to me just as much as you and Taln are, you know that.”

“You say that, but I would say that Taln and I are lesser. You have never shown us the same affection.”

Ilmur slumped his shoulders. “Did you just come here to scold me?”

To his credit Saran looked apologetic. “I’m sorry, it’s just something that has been bugging me for a long while now.”

“Taln has always looked at Gandon with disdain, and we are the same age, Gandon had no one else to turn to.”

“Could we sit down, this environment is too hostile for my taste,” said Saran while waving a fan in front of his face.

Ilmur wasn’t going to refuse his older brother. It was true, they talked seldom these days. There were no spectators so there were plenty of seats to choose from when they removed themselves from the ring.

“Why did you stop with your sword practice? It was you who inspired me,” said Ilmur.

“Father believed that I was too valuable, since I’m the future king.”

Ilmur’s anger had been put on hold when he saw Saran but now it was rising to the top again. “But he has no problem sending his second line to the slaughter then? As long as the royal line is secured?”

“What’s the matter with you? You have always liked standing here beating your opponents, isn’t this what you want to do?”

This time Ilmur let out a deep sigh. “I thrive in it but…” He looked up at Saran. “Do you think I’m an idiot?”

That took Saran by surprise. “Not at all, there is always someone more intelligent or stronger than you. I think there are many of your opponents that have experienced that fighting you in this ring. Wouldn’t you say so?”

Saran interrupted him when he was going to argue back. “You mustn’t compare yourself to Gandon. He has been told ever since he was little that he is a protégé, he is prideful, but that has hurt him a lot. I heard that he cut his bonds with Yvan. That pride of his will be his downfall one day. He doesn’t learn from his lessons that you do. There he could learn a lot from you.”

That made Ilmur feel a lot better. “Thank you.”

“So, you are still here practicing every day?”

“I try to, but sometimes life gets in the way,” said Ilmur. He felt distracted, his thoughts were still on Gandon. “You are smart, more so than me anyway. Gandon is really stuck on his past lately. What do you think happened before he came to the capital?”

Saran rubbed his chin. “It’s very strange, isn’t it? Why would father hide his true parents from us? Many have accused Gandon of being a bastard, but mother would never love him as much as she does if that were the case. You know how mother is. Also, if Gandon were from a noble family, there would have been someone to take care of him. Gandon’s real parents must be dead, not that it helps us much. If father refuses to tell Gandon what his deal is, we will have no better luck.”

“I just wish I could help him somehow; this is eating him alive. But I believe that all your assumptions must be correct, nothing else would make sense.”

“I think just being there for him helps him a lot.” Saran put a hand on Ilmur’s shoulder. “There is something else we need to talk about. There is a reason why father is so anxious that you get married.”

“It’s not really a head scratcher, is it?” said Ilmur. “He just wants to secure the royal legacy, nothing strange with that. He will probably search for some suitable prospects to Gandon and Taln, not before long.”

“That is true Ilmur, but there is something else that makes the situation more problematic. Nalia is barren, or the fault lies with me. We can’t have children.”

Ilmur felt like he had been punched in the stomach. How would Nalia have reacted when she heard the news? “Are you sure? Sometimes it takes a lot of time before…”

“We have tried for a very long time now and consulted the best men in the kingdom. It isn’t going to happen. That means that you and your sons after you is going to sit on the throne one day.”

He might inherit the throne one day? Not even in his wildest dreams had he imagined such a thing. Saran had always been in his life and there was no reason to believe that anything was amiss until now. He had always been second in line, nothing more than that.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Ilmur pulled at his uniform “It’s really hot here, isn’t it?”

“I’m sorry to put this burden on you, but you deserved to know. Could you keep this to yourself a while longer? At the moment only father and mother know.”

“Of course, but I am so sorry. I could never have imagined.”

“Me neither, but sometimes reality is even scarier than your imagination.”

They sat there for a while not saying anything, just trying to be there for each other.

“I know that what I am asking for is quite a lot, but when you get your own children, I want to be heavily involved in their upbringing. You haven’t been trained to the same extent to lead as I have. Even though I’m sure your tutors haven’t denied you your education.”

“Of course, I wouldn’t want it any different anyway. Please help them as much as you can. But I don’t want to become a father just yet.”

“Not today, or tomorrow, but that day will come sooner than you realize. You can’t hide here in your ring forever.”

Ilmur grabbed his wooden sword. “Now, who is hiding out of us two exactly?”

Both were smiling.

“You want a piece of me?” asked Saran.

“Maybe more than one. Quite rude to interrupt me during my training.”

“Alright, alright, but go easy on me. It’s been a while since I have done it.”

Saran was three years older. The beating he had given Ilmur when they were children had been quite brutal. He had no intention of holding back. He could at least do his job as an ogre properly.

*

He noticed that Saran wasn’t among them when he arrived for the dinner. He asked mother about it.

“Your brother is not feeling well. He will not be joining us this evening.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Oh? I pray that my brother is alright?”

“Saran assured me that he was just tired and needed rest. The servants have already brought food to his room.”

Nala wasn’t there either, probably busy taking care of Saran. He felt a little bit guilty over the pain he had caused Saran, but only a little. Saran had done the same on him at least two times to many. However, Saran would probably never spar with him again now. It was good that he could force soldiers to fight him, otherwise he would run out of opponents fast.

Gandon arrived a few minutes later, his hair was a mess.

“Late again Gandon, your book buried in a book perhaps?” said Isilma.

“My apologies, mother. A bad habit of mine.”

“What were you reading? Pray tell.”

“Some poetry, if you must know.”

“Poetry? You? You are full of surprises, Gandon!” Isilma looked like she was about to fall off her chair. “Who were you reading?”

“We can discuss it later, I’m starving. But the lost hero cycle is excellent.”

Ilmur wanted to discuss the information that Saran had brought him earlier with mother, but now wasn’t the time, there were too many people present.

The salmon was excellent, the cook never disappointed and after a whole day of training it tasted especially good. Gandon however did barely touch his plate.

Alexandra wasn’t still eating with them, should he ask her to join them or was it still too early? Maybe she would take offense if she wasn’t included? On the other hand, they hadn’t spent so much time with each other yet. One part of him hoped that she would come and look at him while he trained but she never did.

Mother had lost all interest in him and spent all her time with Gandon after his poetry announcement. Taln wasn’t speaking with anyone in particular so he decided to give his little brother some attention.

“Little brother, how are your studies with Geor going? Scholar Dreymir had been old and died a few months ago and Geor had offered to step in. He had no idea where Geor found all the time, the man seemed to hardly sleep at all.

“Geor is an excellent scholar, I like math the most,” said Taln.

“Good thing that! We have plenty of gold coins for you to count my boy!” bellowed their father that seemed to have had a few beers already.

Gandon looked annoyed when father had interrupted his conversation with mother.

Taln raised a glass to their father. He and Saran could never be quiet, but Taln had always been more reserved.

“I still struggle with history, I can never remember the names and dates, always been like this, even when I was a child.”

“Same for me but we can’t all be like Saran and Gandon.”

“And what do you mean by that?” said Gandon.

Ilmur had meant it as a compliment, but he didn’t like Gandon’s tone. He was surprised Gandon had heard him. “Nothing, continue your conversation with mother.”

Ilmur turned back to Taln. “Why don’t you join me tomorrow and practice with me in the ring?”

Taln gave him a smile, he had probably talked with Saran. They had turned to each other as young when Gandon and Ilmur spent so much time with each other. If he knew about Saran, Saran had probably told Taln days or even weeks ago. Even though he had said only mother and father knew.

“I think not.”

“Then I have to beat up the same poor souls as yesterday,” said Ilmur simply.

“That you have.”

After the dinner Ilmur asked if Taran wanted to play five towers. It would be fun to practice in secret and see if it made any difference against Gandon. They always spurred each other to greater highs.

*

Ilmur didn’t feel tired, so after the games with Taln did he decide to go and talk with father and mother about the day’s events. Isilma was still in nightgown when Ilmur knocked on their door. “Apologies for disturbing you mother, but I need to speak with you.”

“Ilmur, what on earth is the matter? Are you alright?”

“Saran has told me everything.”

That took her back. “So soon? I thought he would wait a while longer, come in then.”

Elram was sitting in one of his armchairs; it was quite clear that both were making themselves ready for the night.

“I assume father, in the light of the new events you no longer want me to travel to Alden.”

“What? Are you stupid?” said Elram jokingly.

Ilmur could feel himself starting to get angry again, he seemed to have awfully short temper today, like someone else he knew.

“You haven’t seen anything yet, Ilmur. You have spent your whole life in the capital, you need to get out there see the world and show yourself to the people, you might be our future king after all, if Saran doesn’t outlive you.”

He hadn’t expected that from father, but he was relieved. He agreed with him, he had lived sheltered her all his life, he needed to go and see the world. One part of him still hoped that the issue with Saran could be resolved, because he didn’t want this responsibility.

Isilma touched him on the arm. “How are you feeling my son? None of us wanted to throw this upon you so sudden, nobody could have seen this coming.

“I cannot lie, it took me by surprise, poor Saran. Imagine how he and Nala must feel.”

Isilma was rubbing his shoulder. He was becoming a man, but it still felt good to feel cared for by his mother. He could see that she was worried about him. “Did your brother say anything else?” she asked.

“He wanted to be part of my children’s upbringing. That was always the plan, of course I want my future children to have their uncle in the picture.”

“Yes, but it might be more intense now than you had imagined previously.”

“How long have you known?”

“A few weeks, I wanted to tell you sooner, but it was up to Saran to decide for the right time.”

“How’s it going with Alexandra?” interrupted Elram. “You were seen riding together.”

Can’t you have any secrets in this city? Thought Ilmur.

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“Don’t play coy with me, boy. Do you think it’s just a coincidence that Ravon decided to come the time he did?”

Gandon and I figured you out way before she even arrived here. Your plan was not as secret as you thought.

“I like her company,” admitted Ilmur.

“She already likes you, now all you need to do is not to mess up.”