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I'm still developing characters and I promise you lots of enjoyable, rich and different characters, that will fill world "Kain" had fallen into, with their passions, dreams and purposes...

This is another short chapter like last one, but I will do my best to go up to 10000 characters for next chapter and so on in future...

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05 – Promise

Riley Cohen’s POV

As usual, I was sitting on my armchair in library at corner where I was almost invisible with no light shining on me. On my right side were shelves filled with books. Door was placed after them. On my left, blood red curtains were covering most of gigantic windows. Lights coming from in between two curtains were illuminating map that was placed on wall parallel to windows. Fourth wall had bookshelves built in front of it too.

I was discussing family matters with Farrell, my only son and heir, when maid disturbed us with news of fire happening in servants living quarter. He went to see it for himself and solve out the problem. Naive son, he was. I am solely responsible for his wrong upbringing. Mistake from my side was made when I let him marry youngest daughter of House of Byron’s. He had told me “it is love, father” but I should have known that there is nothing more important than survival of family. Not even love. Everything shall and must be sacrificed for family.

Farrell Cohen entered library, after knocking door for three times consecutively. He entered without second thought. Normally, he would have waited for me to allow him into room but not anymore. After my heart attack 3 years ago, he had told me “you are too old to rule, father”. I knew person responsible for poisoning me. I knew person responsible for whispers to his ears that ‘poisoned’ his mind too. For future of family, I stepped back though I shall not stay away. I’m Riley Cohen who has continued legacy of Cohen family and I shall make Farrell to follow it until his last breathe.

“Father you still manipulate puppets of yours behind scenes. I thought I rule this house, not you” in low voice he talked to me. “You shall rule after my death, as it has always been in our family” was my answer. I could see nervousness and indecisivity in his eyes. “Time is ripe, Nasreen’s family shall back me up too” he said waiting for my approval. “Byrons shall support me, and her relatives from mother side - Catalon family shall assist me too” he added while I stayed silent. “Farrell, do you know first thing that a person shall do to you if you put him at your back as rear guard?” I asked without waiting. “What can he do?” he questioned me. “He shall put down his pants, take out his dick and fuck you up in the ass without using any oil at all to ease pain you shall feel from being buttfucked. Do not forget, allies stay side-by-side...” I told him in anger. It was first time ever I was cursing in front of him. He was shocked to see me use words of low standing in my speech.

“Tell me Farrell, why our vaults are filled with gold? Why our stocks of meat, corn, rice and other edible resources are more than any in this damned continent? Why?” – I tried to investigate his mouth to know what was going through his mind. “Because we have been better rulers for millennia than anybody else! I am planning to take us one more step up to sit on throne” murmured he in disbelief to everything that he was blabbering. “Are you a better warrior than Ernis ‘Berserker’ Cohen?”, “No, father!”...”Are you a better mage than Normann ‘The Lightening’ Cohen?”, “No, father!”...”Are you better with words than Neal ‘Shadow’ Cohen?”, “No, father!”. “You are inferior to all of them. I am below par too. But I am no fool!” I raised my tone again. “I am no fool to take my family into destruction by following my wife’s whispers to my ears at nights...” I waited for his reaction. “Secret to longevity of our family is that we have our eyes everywhere but not on king’s seat. That seat is cursed. If you disagree, then read history of our continent. At least once a century ruling family changes and new one destroys even infants of old one...Sometimes two or three times a century. Everywhere is in ruins or trying to develop while we are always at pinnacle.”

I waited for few minutes for him to grasp what I wanted to tell him. “Bring my grandson Kyle to me. I do not know how long I have left in this world. Maybe ten years, maybe twenty, maybe a day or maybe less. I shall instruct him while I am alive.”. “Yes, my Lord” he nodded in agreement. “What was reason for fire?”, “Nothing important, ineptitude of Anthony’s wife.”... “Anything important?” my eyes met Farrell’s. “Yes, father. There was a kid. A month old maybe. His eyes had changed to red when I cast water magic” he replied. I put my index right finger on my lips and support my chin with thumb. “Red eyes”, I whispered. “Leave me, Farrell. If you don’t want to be hanged from your balls instead of your head, do not act without consulting me!”.

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Nasreen seemed so naive and vulnerable when she first joined our family. How should I know that she was a ‘snake’ in human form. She was an obedient one and blessed my with two granddaughters. Five years ago when she mothered Kyle, everything changed as if she no more old Nasreed who I knew. Three years ago she poisoned me, luckily holy magic empowered me that was cast same morning by priest sent by Holy Church to our house to serve and I survived with just heart attack. It has been three years that I have gone ‘underground’, creating image of an old man who is not interested in worldly matters anymore.

My eyes swayed left at the motion of bookshelf moving to open a secret passage. Councillor Kalmar emerged from darkness. “Close curtains so we shall talk about details...”

Kyle outsmarted Farrell by a long shot. He learned a lot from me and applied his knowledge into practice with great mastery. I hope he will not be swayed to Nasreen’s side. Blood of Cohen family flows in his veins, so he must not sway. As he reaches 12 years of age, I shall send him to Monarch Academy to master swordsmanship, magic or science. He shall be man of knowledge and studying there shall weaken his relationship with his mother. It has been two years since I started showing him way of Cohen’s. I was pleased with his accomplishments.

“Time shall show!” passed my mind. “It’s too cold this winter” I murmured. A small kid with two firewood on his arms entered library panting heavily. He looked to his left but did not see me as I was protected by shadows and bookshelves on my right. Peeking at map, he moved to fire and threw wood in it. Later on he looked at books, pretending to read their titles. “Typical peasant” popped up in my mind. He exited library and came again with another two firewood on his arms. Adding them to stock, he moved to face bookshelf.

With utmost silence, I moved close to him. He was so immersed at sight of books that my existence was not known to him. He grabbed a book, and I waited to see what he was going to do with that massive book. Turning cover, he read the title: “Essentials of...”

“Magic” I spoke in utmost disbelief.

Kain’s POV

I was shocked to see old man behind me, as I turned back to face him. His hair was almost all white, with some black hair popping up here and there. Slim nose and mouth with wrinkles on his forehead and besides his deep blue eyes made him look like a person of deep understanding of life.

[-]: Who are you?

[Me]: I am me, who are you?

[-]: I am Riley Cohen, head of Cohen family who have ruled domain of Cohen’s for 30 years. I’m father to Farrell and grandfather to Kyle Cohen who are my rightful heirs. Who are you and how old are you?

[Me]: I’m Kain, and two years old. My parents are Oscar and Leila. I’m sorry for disturbing your leisure my lord. If you will excuse me, I shall leave.

[Riley]: Put that book back to its place, take that small stool and come after me.

He sat on armchair in between curtains and bookshelf. “Damn me, I had to be careful” went through my mind. It was late, but I can outmaneuver him, I may have never seen him before, but word was that Riley Cohen was not sane anymore. I placed stool in front of window where sunlight shine on me.

[Riley]: Who taught you how to read?

[Me]: Kyle my lord.

[Riley]: He is barely able to read. Don’t lie to me.

[Me]: I talk nothing but truth my lord. He showed me how to read and write letters though in my free time I began to draw them on sand to practice my reading.

[Riley]: Red eyes...

He murmured...

[Riley]: Kain would you like to live working as a peasant in this house for the rest of your life? Or would you like to study books in this library and have privilege to go to Monarch Academy to be a proper mage?

[Me]: Second one, of course. My Lord, shall I know price for that choice?

[Riley]: A contract, between you and me. After I shall pass away between you and Farrell. After he shall pass away after you and Kyle.

[Me]: What kind of contract my lord?

[Riley]: To serve us as long as we exist.

[Me]: I will honor that contract, my lord.

“I would not need to if you do not exist” were words inscribed in my eyes. If Riley could see through me or could read my mind, he would have killed me here and now.

I shall raise again! Not for myself, but for Oscar and Leila’s sake. Especially for Leila!

Next: 06 - Changes