Sixteen years ago

  “There’s something I have to tell you boys, and you’ll both want to be sitting down to hear it.”

  Aelfredd had been concerned from the moment their mother had called them in from the castle’s training yard and into a nook off of the castle kitchen. He and Markus had shared a look of concern as they begged leave from the guard trainer they were working with and followed her inside, but no words. They did not need words to communicate with each other most of the time.

  “Go on, mother,” Markus took the lead, as he often did.

  “The thing is, well, your father isn’t your real father, boys.”

  She waited a moment while they both gathered their thoughts at this truly shocking news. Their whole lives they had been raised believing their mother’s husband, the castle steward Quarle, was their father. Sure, they took after their mother more in looks, sharing her fiery red hair and solid build, but they’d never had any reason to suspect or believe Quarle wasn’t their father.

  “First you need to know that your father loves you very much. The one that raised you I mean – my husband,” their mother was visibly flustered and stumbling over her words in a way they’d never seen or heard before. Each brother reached out and held one of her hands to reassure her.

  “It was his idea to raise you as his own, for your own safety and protection. There are those who would wish you ill if they knew who your real father is.

  “Your real father and I knew each other when we were young and foolish. Our dalliance was passionate, but brief, and the fact that the two of you came out of it was a true joy for me. We were not meant to be together, though, and we grew apart in time. For many reasons, our love could not have grown into something long lasting.

  “When the father that raised you came into my life I fell deeply in love with him, and he was kind enough to accept my two young sons as his own. I know that he loves you as his own, and hates the idea of telling you this truth now for many reasons, foremost of which is the danger this knowledge brings with it.

  “I’m sure this must come as quite the shock to you both. Do you have any questions yet? There is more we must discuss today if not.”

  The brothers exchanged a brief glance, then both shook their heads to indicate they did not.

  “That is well. Your father– the steward that is, ‘ruption this is going to be difficult and fall confusing,” that outburst shocked the brothers nearly as much as the news their mother had shared, neither could recall having heard her swear before in their presence. “The steward overheard the King and the Swordmaster arguing, and your real father is in danger.

  “Apparently the King made some very unpleasant threats against him when he learned of his engagement to the woman he is now married to. Your father was ordered by the King not to wed this woman, on pain of death if he defied him, which he did anyway. After the wedding, the two of them ran off and have been in hiding for the past year.”

  A glance at his brother told Aelfredd that Markus was also searching his memory to solve for who this man might be, their real father, trying to remember who had been missing from the court for the past year. He saw the moment that realization struck Markus at the same time it hit him.

  “Gaed–…” they both began to say in unison, but their mother cut them off.

  “SHH! Don’t say his name, never say his name in the castle. The King’s fury still burns hot and he has ears everywhere.”

  “Yes, mother,” they both mumbled.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  “As I was saying, your father has been in hiding with his new wife, but we’ve learned that they’ve been located by the King’s agents and have been captured. They have with them their baby son, a baby that is your half brother. The King has made clear he will have your father executed now that he has been caught, and I fear that the King intends to murder the baby boy as well.

  “I wish I could say you can still save your father, or even his new wife, but it is too late for them. The King has them in the castle dungeon under heavy guard. But even the King knows the Dungeon is no place for a baby, and your father – the steward – has learned that the princess’ nurse has been asked to watch another babe for a time. I believe that babe to be your brother.

  “Your baby brother needs your help. Will you help me rescue him from the King?”

  Aelfredd didn’t need to consider that question, and neither did Markus. They both responded with an affirmative immediately.

  “After you rescue the babe you will have to leave the castle, likely for good. This will not be easy for any of us, but it’s for the best that you both leave the castle anyway. The King knows the truth of your parentage, and may one day come to see you both as threats as well.”

  “It’s all right mother, we understand,” Markus again took the lead. “We will do as you ask, and save the boy.”

  Aelfredd chimed in to support his brother and assuage his mother’s fears “We’ll be fine, I’m sure of it, mother. I have friends in the city who can give us a place to stay while we figure things out.”

  His mother gave him a questioning look, but he had no intentions of elaborating on that statement. She knew nothing of his ‘friends in the city’ and he planned to keep it that way.

  “It’s better if you don’t know, mother,” he said instead, “In case the King’s agents question you.” It was a good enough excuse, and she bought it.

  *****

  Weeks later, the brothers watched as their real father and his wife were led out onto the hastily erected gallows in Falkaria City’s main market square.

  The crowd booed loudly and heckled the prisoners, many throwing rotten fruit. Aelfredd didn’t think the people of Falkaria harbored a specific hatred for his father, but they all knew this was the expected behavior towards prisoners headed for the gallows and wouldn’t want to disappoint the King.

  Nearby to where the brothers lurked at the mouth of an alley the watching citizens of Falkaria City speculated about the reason for the executions.

  “I ‘ear he turned ‘is back on the king.”

  “Seems a ‘arsh punishment for tha’. And his ladywife too…”

  Aelfredd snorted in disdain. So that was the story the King was having put out to explain why he was executing their father.

  “Seems like a weak excuse to me too,” Aelfredd whispered to his brother.

  “Aye, that it does.” Markus didn’t seem interested in discussing the matter any more than that, and Aelfredd let it lie.

  Oddly, King Maebric hadn’t even bothered to make an appearance himself for the execution. Aelfredd suspected he was watching from somewhere nearby though. Perhaps from a window on the upper floors of one of the many inns that abutted the market square.

  Markus turned his focus to calming their wailing baby brother while Aelfredd watched the gallows drop out from under their father’s feet. The boy’s mother cried out and sobbed as she watched her husband writhe in pain as the drop failed to end it quickly and he suffocated slowly. When the writhing stopped the executioner did not delay in dropping her as well. Mercifully her neck broke and she died instantly.

  Fortunately the roar of the crowd in Falkaria City’s main market square drowned out the baby’s cries and they did not draw undue attention to themselves. Two young men with a baby was an unusual enough sight, and despite the weeks of malnourishment and not bathing many in the city would probably still recognize the brothers if they were able to get a good look at the faces hidden deep in their cloaks and the shadows of the in which they were currently lurking.

  “Come, brother, we must leave this place. For now,” Markus implored Aelfredd while tugging gently at his shoulder.

  Aelfredd turned to face him and knew Markus could see the dark rage burning in his eyes. This was not the end of this as far as either of them were concerned. But they both knew that today was not the day for vengeance.

  “We must avenge our father, Markus. This is not Justice.”

  “Yes, and we will. But not today. Today we must look to our baby brother’s safety. When he is old enough to make his way alone, then we will seek our vengeance.”

  “Your Wisdom humbles me, as always, brother.”

  With heavy hearts, the brothers slunk back down the alley and lost themselves in the bustle of the city. It was time to begin their new lives.