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for such a dark chapter. There's only two left in this story! Crazy! Took forever to get through it. ","description_bbcode_parsed":"Sorry for such a dark chapter. There's only two left in this story! Crazy! Took forever to get through it. ","writing":"[b]THE BOY HEROES FROM THE LAND OF ERIK (A Series of Epics)[/b]\n[b]Epic no. 4 - [/b]\n[b]Lev’s Tale[/b]\nBy [i]DamiJon[/i]\n\n[b]Chapter Sixteen[/b]\n\n[u]P.S. – This is a very dark, depressing, and disturbing chapter. You’ve been warned. Sorry, nothing sexy in this one. [/u]\n\n\tAldan quickly checks on both classrooms before returning to his office. He sits and sighs heavily, reaching for paper and quill. He makes some quick notes on Neke and Alec's cases, listing reasons why the new law should be applied to them, why they should be given a chance to reduce their sentences and redeem themselves. He chews on an unlit cigar as he thinks and writes, irritated and angry that the two boys are being put through even more torture with this situation.\n\tGrant enters loudly, running to sit down and holding a collection of scrolled papers in one hand. A glimmer and smile that Aldan hasn't seen before surprises him. “Guess what, Aldan?”\n\tSmiling at the distraction and hoping for some good new, Aldan sets aside the lists for Alec and Neke. “What's up, Grant? I don't think I've ever seen you happy before!”\n\tHe pulls off the string from the scroll, showing him the papers. “They said I qualify! I'm going to fight for our kingdom! On the frontlines, too. Isn't that awesome?” He points to signatures and certain parts listing his jobs, where he will most likely be stationed as well.\n\tAldan claps his hands, standing and moving around the desk. He shakes Grant's hand, clapping him on the shoulder. “Outstanding! Congratulations, Grant. You must be excited. When do you leave?”\n\t“Not for another three months.” He rolls his eyes. “They said that I need more training. My parents aren't too happy at me... We fought all night. They said I shouldn't be fighting my ancestors and that I still have family in Cruiberg.”\n\t“Well, we can't choose our family. We can choose we're willing to fight for, though.” He sits. “You'll be grateful of those four months of training when you get into your first battle, believe me.”\n\t“Yeah...” He sits deeper into his chair, looking around the room. It's sunny outside despite the cold weather. “You're going too, right?”\n\t“I hope to. It depends on my wife. We've got two young children at home, and she's due to give birth soon.” He smiles and tilts back in his chair. “I should be able to convince her. My oldest boys are old enough to help around the house. We'll see. You can never tell with women.”\n\t“Well, maybe we'll see each other on the field?” He looks over his documents. “Probably not. It looks like they have me closer to the forests by the castle, not outwards in the mountains where they say the major battles will take place.” Raven knocks on the door, asking for Grant to come to class and take his exam. “Well, I best get going. We have mid-term finals.” He waves, almost forgetting his scrolls as he leaves.\n\t“Whoa. You've going to need those.” He laughs. Grant's news relieved a good deal of Aldan's stress. He lights his cigar and gets to work once more on the petitions for Alec and Neke. He's anxious to get home and get Lev and Jay settled. It occurs that he forgot that Lev and Jay would be able to help Kate around the house. “I'm having kids too quickly. I can't keep up.”\n\tAfter filling his paper work for the day at the school, he heads to the prison to speak to some of the other inmates that qualify for the new about their opportunities for working in the war. It's a tiresome day and as much as he wants to see Neke and Alec, he knows there are plenty of other youths that he has to see, along with the other few that weren't given the change of sentence. Being emotionally exhausted, he sits outside of the fountain after his work at the prison. Peter finds him there during his break and sits down beside him. He lights a cigarette, offering one to him. “They wouldn't listen to me, so the petition I've handed to them will be further reviewed again on the day of Alec's planned execution. I tried to give one out for Neke as well, but they were even less interested with his case.” He leans back with both of his arms clenching to the fountain. “I spoke with one of the judges off duty about it and he said he would look after the petition next time, so there's some hope. Him and I have a good friendship, grew up together and all.”\n\t“Did they say why Neke and Alec weren't given the chance under the new law?” Aldan lights up.\n\t“It's stupid.” He grunts. \"The dates of their sentences predate the start of the new law, therefor they must be charged for their crimes. And for Neke, they made a case that his victims family will cause too much of a controversy towards them if they let him live.” He spits. “With the other judge, it'll be easier to convince the counsel to give Alec the right to live, although these things take time and I have to be quick to get it all complete and make it back to the prison. For Neke, it'll be harder, especially since his execution is scheduled first in the day, but... You'll just have to have faith in me.”\n\tAldan nods. He spits. “You'd think after all the years we've served they'd listen to us. We just had a major attack. Dozens dead. How much of a stink could they make over Neke or Alec? Dammit, I'm a fucking hero! Throw me a fucking parade. That'll distract them enough.” Aldan stands. “If I can do anything, let me know.”\n\tPeter tosses his cigarette into the fountain, stands up, and bows. “Sorry to break the surprise, but a little birdie told me that the king is planning to grant you high honors in the next few days. They're still trying to recover from the chaos of the attack on the castle. Something tells me that he will allow you any position in the war. That is, if you want it... Well, I'm off. Long day. Four sympathizers to execute and graveyard shift watching over the young ones.” Peter does his usual hand gesture as he walks away.\n\tAldan waves. Slowly he walks back into the school, watching Raven's students at their exam. Then he checks on Jack's class. Finally, he returns to his office. It's nearly time for school to be dismissed. He makes some final notes on Alec and Neke's case files. Aldan has an idea. With luck, he might just save both boys.\n\tAfter school is out, Jay and Lev make their way to the office, standing by the door impatiently and waiting for him to finish up his work. Jay jumps in glee and excitement. “I can't wait to get home! Now that the sun is out, we can actually play outside in the backyard for once! Bryan promised to let me ride Whirlwind.”\n\tThe two of them make small talk until Aldan is ready to go. As they venture on the path back home, Lev's mood slowly starts to change. Suddenly, his ears twitch and he feels a tightness in his chest.\n\t“What's up, Lev? Is it your arm?”\n\tHis tail flaps back and forth like a broom cleaning the streets. “I sense danger. Like as if someone's watching over me. Or us.” He looks around but doesn't spot anything. However, his ears and nose tell him otherwise.\n\tAldan and the other boys don't notice Lev's apprehension. Milliken and Bryan and Jay are each talking a mile a minute. Each of them rattles off a dozen things they can't wait to do together. Fishing, picnicking, riding whirlwind, having fresh food every day, and so on. Aldan's mind is more on Alec and Neke. The glimmer of an idea that he had in his office has begun to coalesce into a plan. Confident that he's onto a solution, he barely hear their plans.\n\tAs they near the house, Lev's senses are on edge. He's certain they're being watched. All he can see are the usual tradesmen and townspeople going about their business. None of those people seem to be paying Lev's friends any extra attention. Still, he can't shake a growing sense of doom. His thoughts suddenly turn to Aizen, wishing that he and Holt were here with them.\n\tLev pauses for a moment, grabbing Bryan and whispering something into his ears, then he squeezes Aldan's hand as tight as he can. “Your shoe is untied. He kneels down on one foot, as if he could actually tie it with one hand. When Aldan goes to kneel, he whispers to him. “Someone's following us for sure. I don't know where, but I know it's true. Be prepared. If anything happens, I'll guard the others with my powers.” He stands up, sighing and casting a fake smile. “It's a grand day, isn't it, Bry? Maybe we can make it to the lake again!”\n\tBryan plays along, taking his boyfriend seriously. “It sure is. We might have to run home to get some extra layers of clothing, though, but I think we can work it out!”\n\tAldan says nothing, but Lev sees a change in the man's demeanor. His eyes constantly scan around him. His sword hand stays near the weapon, ready to draw at a moments notice. He walks on the outside of the knot of boys, between them and any threat, ready to intercept any attack.\n\tNone of the other boys notice Aldan and Lev watching over them. They continue to chatter happily, taking the idea of a simple ride to the lake into a grand picnic for the whole family with games and a bonfire. Jay is especially excited, his family didn't enjoy spending time together. His mother was usually too tired and his father too drunk to have fun with their children. His excitement rubs off on Milliken, who busily makes plans, not even realizing that he's not writing them down.\n\t“Hey!” Jay points ahead of them. “Isn't that Whirlwind?”\n\tThe group looks ahead. In the distance is home. But nearer them is Whirlwind, no saddle, no tether, whinnying nervously. Bryan calls to him, and the horse swivels his ears, heading for the boy with eyes wide and ears twitching. Bryan pats the horse's neck, calming him, as Jay and Mikey try to assist. “Hey, boy, how'd you get out? What's wrong boy?”\n\tWithout warning, Aldan draws his sword and races for the house. “No. No. No. No. Gods, no.”\n\tThe boys are too surprised to follow.\n\tLev's heart thumps faster and faster. He nervously tells the others, “Stay close together.” As his hand slips out of Bryan's grasp, he casts an invisible sphere around them, caving them and Whirlwind into it. He rushes to the door, a flame in his left hand as he approaches closer to Aldan.\n\tThe boys do as they're told. Clutching together and holding onto Whirlwind. The horse turns it head to and fro, his ears still swiveling, almost as if he's protecting them.\n\tAldan reaches the front door, which stands open. Hesitating for a moment, he steps inside. His eyes scan the sitting room. He looks back at Lev, and gestures for him to hold. The man stands for a moment listening. His face is pale. Holding his sword at the ready, he moves to the kitchen, gesturing for Lev to follow, waiting for Lev to join him. As the pair move forward, their bodies tense as adrenalin courses through them, Lev hears water dripping.\n\tLev feels the worst coming to him. The fear is worse than anything he felt when being possessed or threatened by the spirits and dark mages. It's not him they've come after, but Aldan and his family. Even with the flame in hand and being told as the strongest demon alive, he feels powerless in this moment. He wants to cry to Aldan like a child, ask him to protect him.\n\tWhispering, Aldan warns Lev, “Stay behind me.” With his free hand, he guides the young demon, still just a boy himself, despite his power and recent trials, behind him. Cautiously, Aldan moves into the kitchen.\n\tThere's no smell of coffee. No bread baking in the oven. All of the smells of home, that Aldan is used to and that Lev has come to associate with his new family, are missing. Instead, the air smells of metal...and urine.\n\tAldan stops. His sword clatters to the floor. “Kate. . .” The name is whispered more than spoken, with such pain that Lev shudders. “Oh, Katey...no...”\n\tDropping to his knees, Aldan sobs. “No . . .no . . .no . . .What have they done to my babies??? Lev, what have they done to my babies?”\n\tHis heart barely beating, his stomach in his throat Lev follows Aldan's gaze. Times stops for him as it has stopped for Aldan.\n\tThere, in the back half of the kitchen are Katey, Sally, and Jereminy. And the fourth child. They lay on the floor, their throats opened from ear to ear. Kate, who this morning made coffee for Lev and breakfast for them all is split open, from the nape of her neck through her female parts. Her baby has been cut out of her, it's own throat slit, it's own little body opened up and hollowed out. All of them are naked. All of their eyes are open, staring right at the door he and Aldan entered through. Staring right at Aldan.\n\tThe warriors crawls forward and hands and knees, tears falling to the floor. Snot and spit fall from his mouth as he whispers over and over. “My babies...My babies...” He crawls through the growing, congealing pool of blood, reaching Jereminy first. Gently, reverently, he pulls him to him, hugging him as he closes the dead boy's eyes. “I'm sorry, Jere. I'm sorry. Daddy should have been here. I should have been here to protect you.” He lays Jereminy down, with such care that Lev fears his own heart may break.\n\tLost in a world of pain and grief, Aldan crawls to Sally and holds her close, closing her eyes. He chokes and cries as he tells how sorry he is for letting her down, for not being there. “Daddy's little girl...I'm so sorry.” He lays her down next to her brother, taking their hands and clasping them together.\n\t“Lev.” Aldan faces the demon. “Don't let Bryan or Milliken in. Send them to the temple...anywhere but here...”\n\t“I'm... I'm not...” His voice croaks, tears and snot covering his face. Everything is becoming a blur to him. With one step behind him, he vomits, holding his hair out of the way. The fire in his blood quakes and blisters his skin. Steam rises from his body and his horns seem as if touching them would incinerate the person immediately. “Not letting you go.” He falls back on the floor, holding himself with one hand, mouth wide open and still trying to wake himself up from the nightmare. Ears twitch and he turns to his right, immediately exploding a bolt of fire towards whatever is there. It moves too fast for him to kill. He jumps back and onto the table, then again towards the wall. Everything is spinning for him. With every step he takes, his feet leave burn marks. “ALDAN!”\n\tAldan turns to Lev, blankly looking at the boy. He runs a gentle hand over Sally and Jereminy's faces. He stands, wiping his hands on the back of his legs. Reaching for Lev, he quickly moves to the demon. Grabbing Lev's arm, he ignores the pain in his hand. “Stop.” He says firmly but without much conviction. He grabs Lev, shaking him for a moment. “Do as I ask. Please, Lev. They can't see them like this. Please.”\n\tLev turns his face to and fro, still paranoid and plagued by hallucinations that the shadow creatures are there attacking them. His body shakes like as if he's convulsing, but he's able to nod. “Y-Y-Yes...” He lets out a horrible, painful moan, kicking his feet against the ground before he sprints out of the house, his robe covered with blood. He tries to compose himself, but is still sobbing uncontrollably. Once entering into the sphere, he orders his boyfriend, “You and Mikey get on Whirlwind. Jay, stay close to me. Nobody is going to harm us. I'm taking us to the temple. Just follow me.” He's pushing Bryan with his one hand, forcing him to do as he says. “Please, don't argue.” And then he wipes his face off with the robe, smearing blood over his eyelids.\n\tBryan resists Lev, trying get by him and run to the house. Mikey shrinks into himself, until Jay wraps his arms around him. They're both crying, and Mikey buries his face in Jay's chest. Whirlwind moves nervously, always in between Bryan and the house. Bry pushes on the horse, his own tears falling, he pushes at Lev. “Let me go...let me go...what is it? What's wrong?”\n\tJay reaches out and grabs him with one arm, tugging him close. “Listen to Lev! Mikey needs you!”\n\tBryan glares at Jay for an instant, then looks at Mikey. He seems small and frail, huddled against Jay, crying loudly. Looking helplessly at the house and then at Lev, then at Mikey. He stares at the blood on Lev's clothes. His strength and courage dissolve. He leans into Lev, sobbing. “I don't want to know . . .I don't want to know.”\n\tA neighbor, a middle aged man Lev has seen many time before approaches cautiously, his wife watching from their porch. His name, Lev remembers, is Wellem. “Oi, what's going on here?” Lev answers, telling the man to get the boys to the demon temple, that's what Aldan wants. The man looks at Lev, his horn and tail. Lev prepares for an argument, but the man simply nods. Aldan needs me to get the boys to the temple. “I'll be back when I can, hon.” \n\tThe neighbor looks at Lev, water in his eyes. He knows something horrible has happened. And he know that Lev can't say anything in front of the boys. “You go help Aldan, little demon. I'll see to the boys.”\n\tLev is reluctant, but he's seen Aldan talking to the man, sharing a smoke and drink in the evenings. “And Aldan shouldn't be left alone. Find Aizen and Holt and send them home.” He runs back to the house, dreading the scene once again.\n\tAldan watches Lev run to his boys. He turns to the carnage in the kitchen. Kate. His beautiful Kate. He kneels next to her, tears flowing, dripping and landing in the blood. Moments of clear soon overcome by blood. He looks at her, his beloved wife. First Drew and now Kate.\n\tHe brushes the hair from her face and closes her eyes. He turns to the baby. A boy. Mutilated, cut open and his organs missing. The cruelty of it is too much. His shoulders shakes as he picks up his son. “Drew. . .you were going to be Drew, little one.” Carefully, he wipes the blood from the tiny face. “You look like me.”\n\tLev enters the house and kitchen, managing somehow to keep his stomach down. His ears twitch alertly. Whoever, whatever did this may still be here. He listens, intently. He's at once overwhelmed by the horror and pain of what has happened, and livid with rage, hoping for an assassin to appear. To be a target for Lev's anger. He watches over Aldan.\n\tAldan places the baby on Kates chest, wrapping her arms around him. He holds his hand over Kate's hands on the babe's chest. Be with mommy. . .I'll be with you soon. Aldan cries. He sobs and wails. At times he drives his fists into the floor. Over and over. Only to fall into silence, weeping and touching one his children or his wife. Minutes pass. His sobs stop and he stands. He looks at Lev. “The boys?”\n\tLev looks down and away. The fire inside of him is replaced with a coldness. Hatred. Rage. “Wellem is taking them to the temple.” Lev steps closer, allowing himself to observe the gore and blood spewed out in the kitchen. Here, where Kate taught him how to cook for humans, where he fed the young ones and dreamed of being a future-uncle to them, having them there when he marries Bryan. All of the fantasies and images destroyed. A part of him feels as if it's too much to handle. Maybe they should all be dead and wouldn't have to suffer from what has happened. A selfish thought, considering how painful it must be for Aldan to continue to lose those close to him. “You still have Bryan. And Milliken. They need you more than ever now.”\n\tAldan nods slowly. He walks over to his sword, staring at it for a moment before wiping his hand and picking it up. He turns towards the back door, swinging open like the front and holds the weapon up to the fading sun light. The beams of light reflect off of the blade's keen edge as Aldan contemplates. He angles the blade near his throat.\n\tLev swallows hard. Is he contemplating opening his own throat?\n\t“If you kill yourself...” Lev raises his voice. “You know just as well that I'll do the same. And don't think for a second Bryan or Milliken wouldn't give into the same fate.” Lev grabs his arm, forcing it with as much strength as he can down and away from his neck.\n\tAldan easily holds his arm still, looking at Lev, confused. His eyes are pools of pain, loss, and confusion. It almost hurts Lev to look into them but he knows that if he looks away, Aldan may be lost. He meets the hopeless gaze, trying to lend strength to the man who risked everything for him.\n\tThe confusion leaves Aldan's eyes. Replaced by? By what? Illumination? Recognition? He turns towards the back door. “How did Whirlwind end up on the street?”\n\tLev looks to the barn. “They could have let him go. Or he broke free on his own. They're probably watching us right now. Waiting for us to let our guard down. If we don't find and kill them now, they'll go after the others, even if they're protected at the temple.” His ears are still twitching, but now his tail is moving swiftly and in dances. “When Aizen lost his parents... He said that even though the attack failed, it was as brutal, horrifying. He told me what the Cruiberg dark mages did. He's still staring at the barn. Wherever they are, they must be close.”\n\tAldan twists the sword in his hand, flashing the blade side to side. His eyes almost glow with a cold anger. “Stay behind me, watch our backs.” He leads Lev to the back door, or starts to. He stops and looks at Lev' feet. “We'll go around outside. I don't want you to have to step in.” He chokes on that.\n\tHe moves through the sitting room, out the front door and around the house to the back yard. The barn door sits open, sway gently in the breeze. Aldan motions to Lev to follow him and remain quiet. They approach the barn. Lev watches behind them, his heightened senses alert for ambushers. They pause against the barn wall, just to the side of the doorway.\n\tAldan holds up three fingers, slowly counting down. A he drops the last finger, the two of them throw the door open wide and brandish their weapons as they enter. They are greeted by more carnage. Two bodies lie inside the doorway. Their throats are cut, but not ear to ear like the family's. A short, deep cut is the fatal wound. Not opening artery or vein, but slicing open the wind pipe and very little damage beyond that.\n\tAldan and Lev study the scene. The two are dressed in robes of darkest purple. “Dark Mages?” They carry daggers. One of the two still has his dagger at his waist, sheathed. The other's dagger lays nearby, in the dirt. A small line of blood on the blade. They were surprised by someone. The taller was killed quickly, the shorter one was able to fight back and wound his attacker.\n\tThere's a pair of small bags between the two bodies, and a section of floor, maybe a circle six feet across where the hay has been swept away. Strange rocks have been placed around the perimeter of the cleared area, with a larger, perfectly round rock at the exact center of the circle.\n\tCarefully, Aldan opens one of the sacks. He moans and drops it to the ground. A small glass philter rolls out. Inside is a tiny heart. The baby's heart! Aldan leans against Whirlwind's stall, the latest outrage shaking him once more.\n\tLev aches for his friend. More than friend. He tries to think of something to say, but words fail him. As he looks helplessly at this great warrior, hero of the realm, crying forlornly, he notices a flower seated carefully atop one of the posts of Whirlwind's stall.\n\tAs he approaches, the fear that he once felt starts to die out, although the pain still resides.” Aldan... Someone left a signature.” He points up at the flower.\n\tLooking up through tears, he spies the flower. Reaching for it, Aldan is wracked with a piteous sob and falls to his knees. He holds his hands in front of him, turning them over from palm to back of the hand to palm again. Grabbing a handful of hay he tries to wipe them clean, to remove the blood of his family. He wipes and scrubs harder and harder, grabbing fresh hay when that in his hand is stained and streaked with blood. Try as he might, he cannot remove all of the blood.\n\tIt's almost as if he's forgotten that Lev is with him as he scrubs his hands. He whispers and mutters and it takes the demon-boy a moment to realize that Aldan isn't talking to him. He's not talking to anyone. “It won't come off. . .it will never come off. . .My babies. . .Why hurt my babies. . .?”\n\tLev walks up to him, kneels down, and holds his one arm around him, his tail sliding from left to right as he tries to comfort the man that saved his life. They stay there, becoming seemingly catatonic in how motionless and broken they are. When Lev closes his eyes, he can see the images of the dead flashing violently through his mind, but when he opens it all he can think about is what Aldan found in the jar. Everywhere he looks he's plagued with death.\n\tAn entire hour passes. Sounds from horses and other men surround the house. The barn door is open and Lev looks to his right, the flower come tumbling down as Aizen rushes in to hug his friends. Holt maneuvers around slowly, observing the dead mages in the corner. Around thirty knights are outside, searching and trying to make sense of what has happened. One of them walks to Holt. The half-elven boy points him into direction. “Those were definitely the ones that did it. Dark mages from Cruiberg.” He notices the way the stones are placed and the jar with a babies heart inside of it. Memories attack him immediately. “The two of them had already gone inside and saw what had happened, immediately understanding why they had caused so much damage to Kate. They were going to use the parts of the baby for some kind of ritual. Their magic grows stronger through the use of other's pain and suffering. These stones, they were going to leave, but someone killed them. I don't know who or why... If it were our men, they would have reported it.”\n\tThe commander of knights listens carefully to Holt. Nodding and observing what the elf points out. “Tis true, any of our men would have reported right away. My men are securing the house and area. Too many lookie-loos already gathering. I'll send word to the Palace and High Inquisitor. The White Mages as well.” He looks over at Aldan, shaking his head slowly. “Where do we take him? He can't stay here and he's in no condition to answer questions.”\n\t“He can come with us for now. Right Aizen?” Aizen crawls back a few steps, then nods. Holt then stops and points out, “The king has a few houses set out for families that need immediate protection. I think it would be best to ask if they can stay at one of those for now. In fact...” He shrugs. “I think it would be best for them to move in there permanently as well.”\n\tLooking to the house, the commander nods. “We'll guard the house until they're resettled. We'll take our off hours and move their belongings.” He looks at Aldan again. “Then we'll burn it. Gods, the Cruiberg will pay for this.”\n\tHe calls over a corporal and issues orders. The corporal gathers men, and they fan out to Aldan and Kate's neighbors, gaining use of a wagon and horse. “Can one of you talk to him? Get him in the wagon. He knows you, yes? The corporal will escort you wherever you need to go.”\n\t“Yes. We'll be there in a moments notice.” Holt nods, then proceeds towards the three. He kneels down, easing Lev off of Aldan and onto his arms, then helps hold him up with his one good arm over his shoulder. Aizen bites his bottom lip, watching as the two walk off, then notices his own necklace glimmering, along with the one across Aldan's face. “Come with me. We're going to take you some place safe.” He rubs his back, using as much of his healing energy to try and calm the much larger man down.\n\tAldan pulls away. “No... I have to stay. I can't just leave them.” He looks around frantically. “My sword. Bryan! Milliken! Where are they?” He tries to break away from Holt and the others, heading for the house. Guards help restrain him.\n\tNo one's in there who needs you, sir. Aldan looks at the guard before calling out for Bryan and Milliken and Lev.\n\tHolt tries to hold him back, grabbing him forcefully by the face so that he's looking at him. “Bryan and Mikey are with the high lord at the demon temple. They're safe. We're going to get them right now, okay?” He lets go of him, a frustrated look on his face. All of these circumstances are too familiar to him, having seen his own people face even crueler, more sadistic deaths. As much as he wants to be there for him, he knows someone has to play the villain and force him to be a father.\n\tAldan looks at Holt. His eyes well up again. “Holt . . .Holt. . .They killed my babies. My Kate. I wasn't here to save them.” He looks to the house, but no longer struggles to reach the porch. “I killed all those children...now mine are dead. Dead.” He cries, allowing Holt to steer him to the wagon. He lays in the back, curled in a fetal position hugging his sword. Holt covers him with a blanket and turns his attention to Lev.\n\t“Lev.” The elf meets the wolf-boy's eyes. “Can you help us get some clothes for Bryan and Milliken? We can go in through the front.” He holds Lev at arm's length, trying to hold his gaze with his own. Trying to keep Lev from collapsing as Aldan has.\n\tLev tries to wipe away the snot and tears from his face, but when goes to do so he notices all of the blood on his robe and cast. Aizen lifts up the bottom of his shirt, quickly wiping his face clean and brushing his hair out of his eyes. “Yes... Sylvian will have clothes for them.” He tugs on Aizen's shirt, pulling him to him and hugging him deeply. “If I had just died that night, maybe none of this would have happened. Maybe everyone would still be alive.”\n\t“No... That's not true.” He rubs his back as he holds and rocks his friend. Neither of you can blame yourself. “The Cruiberg did this. Not you.” Holt sits down, squeezing the temple of his forehead and sighing in exhaustion. He needs Aizen. Lev needs Bryan. Aldan needs them all. They all need someone, but everything is too loud and chaotic to make sense of.\n\tHolt helps get Lev to the wagon. “No. If they hadn't tried with you, they would have tried with another demon. Maybe that one wouldn't have met Bryan and fallen in love. Then maybe Aldan wouldn't have stopped the plan and we'd all be dead.” He forces Lev to look at him. “Maybe the only reason we're still alive is because of you, Lev. Because you fell in love.” He tries to smile.\n\tLev and Aizen sit in the back of the wagon with Aldan. Hold sits up front, holding the reigns for a moment before looking back at the gaurds. “I don't know how to drive this thing.” A guard, a heavily jawed man with deep set eyes offers to drive. The wagon lurches out with the guard driving and three more guards walking along side.\n\tAs they wind their way through the streets, a light rain falls. Aldan barely moves, though he stops sobbing. He may even be asleep, but no one wants to disturb him to see one way or another. Aizen and Lev whisper to each other in the tongue of their people, both of them shaken by what they've seen today, Aizen fighting to keep memories of past atrocities from overwhelming him. Holt sits and watches the crowds and people that they pass. He hears the whispers of the demons, but only understands a few words.\n\tWord of the crime and atrocities has spread like a wildfire. People notice the wagon and armed escort, and once they realize who it carries, the story spreads again. They pass a knot of people. Two men are harassing another man, calling him a Cruiberg sympathizer and worse. They brandish a rope, the crowd around them murmuring their approval. Before they can lynch the man, a cluster of guards arrive, breaking up the crowd and escorting the man home.\n\tFeelings were already running hot against townsfolk of Cruiberg blood, or even rumored to have some connection to the Cruiberg. The vicious murders of Kate and the children could be the spark the causes the city to explode. Sensing this, the Commander of the Watch has his men out in force, patrolling with clubs as well as swords. Small groups of watchmen, slightly less well trained and less well equipped than soldiers guard the homes and shops of townsfolk linked to Cruiberg. Criers wander the streets, the clanging hand-bells of their office, drawing attention as they announce a curfew and warning that attempted lynching will be met with the strongest response.\n\tAs the temple comes into view, it's a hive of activity. Guards watch the temple, guarding it from Cruiberg saboteurs and angry crowds alike.\n\tThe wagon stops and Aldan stirs. Rolling over onto his back. He looks like hell. He's got blood all over the front of his clothes. There's still blood on his hands and face. His eyes are red and swollen. Worst of all, his eyes are empty. As if whatever it was that made Aldan what he was is gone now.\n\tAs soon as the wagon stops, Aizen jumps off and runs to a group of demons waiting outside of the shop. He commands them to bring soap and warm cloth to clean Aldan off with, then walks back to the wagon, taking Holt with him. “We'll be back in a second.” He squeezes Lev's hand before heading back into the shop. The temple is crowded with demons, all of them murmuring in their language to each other in a nervous, fearful voice. The three boys, Bryan, Milliken, and Jay, all sit at a table with the high lord Sylvian, who has been trying to calm them down with stories as much as she can, but she knows just as well what has happened before ever being told. Nobody has told the boys of what happened yet, afraid to cause more chaos inside, but they all know that something horrible has happened. The brothers look almost paralyzed in confusion and fear, not knowing how to feel. Holt takes them to the cart while Aizen speaks with Sylvian, whispering to her what has happened. For a moment, she chokes up and looks across the room, feeling the heavy weight of her influence holding her down. The young blond demon follows with her downstairs and into a clothing room, gathering robes of different sizes and handing them to him. As they venture back upstairs, she promises to come by tomorrow with more clothing. As he leaves the temple, Sylvian makes a loud announcement for all demons to either stay inside of the temple if they live there or go home immediately until the curfew is over. She also calls for everyone to arrive tomorrow morning.\n\tAizen rushes as fast as he can back to the wagon, jumping back on top and moving one of the demons out of the way that had just cleaned the blood off of Aldan's face. “Head back inside. Tell everyone out here to be at the temple tomorrow morning.” The man leaves them behind.\n\tBryan is crawled up next to Lev, whispering to him. “What's going on, Lev? What happened in the house?”\n\tHe shivers, ready to fall apart again as he relives the recent memory of walking through the house. Out of nowhere, the words slip out. “They're dead... All of them. Assassins. I'm so sorry...” Lev begins to sob once again, hugging onto Bryan. The younger boy freezes up and tries and cannot process what has been said for an entire minute before realizing that what he's saying is true. On the opposite side of the wagon, Milliken begins to hyperventilate and slip into a panic attack, panting and yelling. Jay tries to comfort him, but also begins to freak out not knowing if he's doing the right thing or not by being around him. Aizen shifts over to them, feeling dizzy and beyond exhausted as he tries to help Milliken calm down. Milliken cries without sobbing. The tears simply fill eyes and overflow down his cheeks.\n\tBryan stares at Lev. Fear flashes over his face, replaced by a scowl. “That's not funny, Lev. Not at all.” He looks around. Seeing his father, he sees the traces of blood still being cleaned from him. Aizen's face. Holt's face. Lev's face. “But. . .they can't be dead. That's mom. And Sally's just a little girl! Jereminy can't even count his fingers and toes!” He clasps his hands together in front of his chest, flexing his fingers over and over. “Why would someone kill my mother? Lev?”\n\t“To make us suffer. To hurt us.” He finishes sobbing, falling into that lost, soulless feeling that consumes him. Bryan needs him to comfort him, but all of the emotions he's felt have finally taken his toll and put him overboard.\n\tJay begins to cry by watching all of the others around him in pain. He's panicking as well, freaking out over the fact that everyone around him is in just as much distress and feeding off each-others madness. The wagon continues to move on despite it all. As it draws closer out of the city and towards the royal neighborhoods by the castle, guards fill the street to guide and support them without realizing that they're scaring them all just as much. Holt stands up, telling them all to stand back and let them breathe. It's raining harder and lightning spreads across the sky. Even the sky weeps for them.\n\tMilliken grabs Jay's shirt, pulling him to within a foot or so. His breathing is panicked and he stares at Jay's chest. As Jay moves closer to hug him, Mikey pushes him back, keeping hold of his shirt and stopping him at the same distance. Mikey snorts in a huge wad of snot, swallowing it with a loud gulp and he wipes his sleeve across his face. He stick out a finger and begins tracing letters on Jay's chest and stomach.\n\tHis fingers fly and the more he traces, the more his breathing and crying calm and become normal. His lips move soundlessly as he traces. Not know what else to do, Jay stands still, finally holding Milliken's side. Neither boy speaks for the rest of the ride.\n\tBryan looks at Lev. He slaps his shoulder, anger filling his voice. “That's fucking bullshit! Who are they? Why would anyone want to hurt us?” He points at Milliken. “Why would they want to hurt Mikey and me?” He pushes Lev, continuing his angry questioning. “That makes no sense. Why would they want to hurt us? We're just kids! Sally and Jere are just kids!” He looks at Aizen and Lev. “You guys are demons! You have magic! Why didn't you see this?? Why didn't you stop them! We stopped them killing you. . .You owed her! You owed mommy! She loves you! It's not fair!!! It's not fair!” His voice breaks. “It's not fair.” Bryan begins to cry. “It's not fair.” He grabs hold of Lev, dissolving in his arms and against his chest. “It's not fair. Mommy.”\n\tHolt shifts over to Bryan and Lev, taking the blanket that was on Aldan and replacing it to them. He tries to comfort them as much as he can, looking to his husband on the other side as he joins the others. And then there's Aldan, just laying there, a million times more destroyed than any of them. As they draw closer, Holt moves towards Aldan, pulling him up with as much strength as he can and trying to knock him out of whatever catatonic episode he's slipped into. “Aldan, we're almost here. I know that you feel like this is the end of the world, but your boys need you. You have to be strong for them or else they'll break even harder. Can you hear me? Nod if you hear.” \n\tAldan nods, although his face is flat. The wagon comes to a stop outside of a large, newly built house. A few of the guards guide Whirlwind towards a new, much more gigantic barnyard. When Bryan starts to freak out, Aizen shifts over and explains to him the situation at hand. They're pulled up as close to the front door as possible. Holt asks, “We're getting out, Aldan. Are you ready?”\n\tAldan looks at Holt. His expression changes, he looks at Holt strangely. He reaches out and touches Holts ear, tenderly and softly. “I - - - loved and elf boy once. Years ago.” His eyes well up again, his face twisting in anguish. “The Cruiberg killed him.” He reaches over and gently touches the other ear. Somehow, Holt understands that Aldan isn't seeing him. He's seeing the elf boy from years ago. “They used him to decorate the village green...peeled his skin away.” Aldan stops and drops his hands and his gaze. “I couldn't save him either.”\n\tHearing his father's voice, Milliken stops writing on Jay, grabbing his shirt and pulling him close. He buries his face in Jay's chest, leaving just enough room for him to peek out at his dad with one eye. He holds Jay tightly, trying to disappear in him.\n\tBryan cries in Lev's arms.\n\tAldan looks at Holt, his eyes returning to today. “But you're not him. You're Holt.” He reaches out, laying a hand on Holt's chest. “My friend Holt.” With the other hand, he reaches up, clutching Drew's amulet. He inhales and spits over the side of the wagon. With a grunt and heave he stands. He move over to Bryan, cupping his son's head in his hand. “Come on, Bry. Let's go inside and . . .” He seems lost for a moment. “…Do something about our wet clothes.”\n\tHe moves on to Milliken, ruffling Jay's hair and kneeling down. He closes one eye and looks at Milliken's eye. “I bet they have paper and ink in there. We'll get cleaned up and you write down everything, okay? You're our historian, right?”\n\tMikey nods. “My books.”\n\t“We'll get them later. Later.” He holds out a hand for each of his boys. Mikey and Bryan take their father's hand. Their friends beside them, lending them strength, they march up the path.\n\tAs they leave the wagon, Aizen wonders to himself how much strength he must have put into pulling himself up and going into the act of being their father again. Then he remembers, that's what true, real parents do. Not like the ones that Lev grew up with, whom only hoped that Kate and Aldan would be his step-parents. The young demon walks side by side with his husband. They hold hands, collectively sharing the sadness they feel for them and also being able to empathize with them more than they can understand. The house is enormous, possibly three times as large as their own. As they walk into the house, guards light torches and candles to lighten the rooms and hallways. They lead the boys to the sitting room, having them all lay down. Glasses and pitchers of water are brought in front of them before they even arrive to the sofas and chairs.\n\tHolt sits close to Aldan, while Aizen sits inbetween the two brothers, whom are both being comforted by their lovers. The young elf warrior scoots his chair up towards Aldan and remembers what he was told and then responds. “That elf you knew... I might have been related to him for all I know. Most of my family were killed by Cruiberg. Aizen and I..” He lowers his voice, staring at his husband, whom is speaking to Mikey. We know what it's like to lose everything and see it happen in the process. “Aizen wakes up to nightmares when he sleeps. For me, it's almost every other night. But I'll tell you what. It doesn't end here. It ends when we have killed every Cruiberg in the battlefield.”\n\tOther knights enter the room. A white mage, female and about Aldan's age, begins wiping down Lev's face. She replaces his cast, then helps him out of his robe and into a new one. She tends to the other boys, speaking to them if they have questions, wiping their faces with warm rags, giving them medicinal teas so that they don't get sick from being out in the rain, and then she leaves after her work is done. All of the guards exit outside until everyone has dressed into cleaner clothes, tossing their dirty ones into a pile by the fireplace. Half of an hour passes, which feels like years for them all. Suddenly, a guest enters, one that pulls up a chair across from Aldan and surprising him.\n\tAldan blinks. The shock of the day's events preventing him from recognizing his visitor. Suddenly, the face matches a name. Aldan stands, and drops to one knee. “Your Majesty.” He looks at the others. “Bow, this is the King!” Mikey and Bryan bow, numbly following their father's example. Holts and the others follow suit. Aldan stammers. “I beg pardon, Your Majesty.”\n\t“No, no. It's I who is intruding and ask for forgiveness.” The King of Harath, Haelex Rhumstold II, steps from his seat, bows down on one knee, and then sits back into place. “I'm here to apologize for not coming to you after you had saved the kingdom, not just my life. As soon as the word came to me as to what happened to your family, I left immediately.” The king is dressed much more formally than he has ever done so before, as is his way to break the barrier between king and normal folk. “My child, whatever we can give you, it is yours. The entire kingdom is here to support you now. You're not alone.”\n\tThe king looks to one of the guards and nods. Holt stands up and is spoken to. He speaks to all of the boys, guiding them into a bedroom as large as their kitchen and to a bed. Aizen follows suit, speaking with them and being in support. Once the boys are gone, the king speaks with Aldan alone.\n\t“Sire.” Aldan is overwhelmed. If not for his years of training, he would be catatonic. “Thank you for use of the house, Sire. For the guards.” Emotion forces Aldan to stop.\n\t“You may stay here for however long as you'd like. You can have the house as well.” The king looks around the house, trying to give some space between his words so that the man in front of him isn't so overwhelmed with emotion. “I looked into your records and found your parents. Lukas and Marta, if I'm right. I've sent a letter for their arrival, which should come to them by the end of night, along with the fastest boats in the world to bring them here as soon as possible. They should be here within two days.” He pauses again, filling himself a glass of water and holding one out to Aldan. Once he see's the warrior in front of him drink, he continues. “If you choose to enter war, I'll acquit you with whatever position you see fit. You want a hundred men? They’re yours. A thousand? They’re yours. Nobody could have done what you did to the mages that day.” After Aldan sits his glass down, he pulls out a pipe, filling it with tobacco and lighting it. He doesn't just offer it to Aldan but forces it into his hand. “Once everything has settled down, we can further discuss how the Crown can show you our gratitude for your service and sacrifice.” He lights a match, igniting the tobacco when Aldan inhales. “I don't know when you would like to have the funeral take place, but I will rule tomorrow that anyone loyal to the kingdom participate and honor you, your family, and others affected by it.”\n\tAldan nods, fighting back tears. “Thank you, sire. For the house, for coming here in person. For everything.” He raises the pipe and glass of water. Still struggling against tears, he ploughs onward. “What must be done, must be done. Kate and the littles - - -“ He chokes back a sob. “They need to prayed over for a day and a night. Her father needs to be notified. Her mother is dead. The funeral, I think, two days hence. I'm grateful, Your Majesty, for your kindnesses. But I don't think a huge funeral is what Kate would want.” He manages a laugh, thinking of what Kate would say to the king face-to-face. “A small funeral, I think. I know where to have them buried. But she would want me to ask you for a boon, a mercy. So, for her and Sally and Jereminy, I would make a pair of requests, Sire, with your permission.”\n\tThe king nods. “There you have it. I'll allow you personal space and remind everyone to refrain from staggering your family with questions, food, and sympathy. Your family...” He frowns, grating his teeth. “They've been taken to the hospital to be cleaned and prayed over. A mage will come to you tomorrow morning to ask you about how you would like to proceed with the funeral.” He pulls out a small notebook from a pocket, writing down notes to remind himself to get in contact with Kate's father. As he writes down, tears break lose and fall down his cheeks. He wipes them away, not ashamed by showing emotion. “You mentioned a request?” He prepares to write whatever needed down.\n\t“Yes, Your Majesty. Two small ones.” Aldan clears his throat and takes a sip of water. He knows he may be pushing things. “Firstly, she was so pleased and proud of Your Highness for seeing the mercy of allowing children to have a chance to redeem themselves. She never knew that it only pertained to some prisoners and others were not so lucky. I would ask, Sire, that all children under sentence of death be given the chance to redeem themselves. Regardless of when they were sentenced.”\n\tThe king pauses his writing. “Yes, sir Aldan... This issue has already been dealt with though, hasn't it?” He looks at him confused.\n\t“No, Sire. I know of two boys still facing the axe and the rope. Boys that I feel are truly regretful of their crimes and eager to prove themselves to you and to the kingdom.”\n\tThe king nods. “Has a petition been put out for them? I cannot promise anything unless I know otherwise. If you'd like, I can schedule to be there for the days of their cases and resolve the issue at hand.”\n\t“Please, Sire. These two especially deserve another chance. I'll make sure the information is sent to the palace”\n\tThe king writes down some more notes. “Then it is done. And for the second request?”\n\t“She would ask that more be done for poor mothers to help them care for their children.”\n\tThe king pauses, raising a brow to Aldan. Thinking for a moment, he comes to the first option on his mind. “I'll donate a piece of my wealth to help all the mothers of Harath struggling to help their children.” He scribbles down some more, then shoves the notebook back into his pocket. “Is that all? Nothing else?”\n\tAldan sits in stunned silence. Finally recovering himself, he shakes his head. “No, Sire. That's far more than I expected...That's incredibly generous of you, Sire.” Aldan bows Incredibly.\n\tThe king smiles and nods, letting him take the pipe. He stands up. “I'll come tomorrow with my family to offer you lunch and dinner. If you need anything, we're a mile away. Good night, Aldan.” The king exits the house. Guards enter and stand by the door, but otherwise he's felt alone in the house. He remembers that the boys are in the other bedroom. Sitting the pipe down, he finishes his glass of water and heads into the bedroom. His sons, Bryan and Milliken are asleep together and holding each other. Jay sleeps beside Mikey. Aizen and Holt are sitting in-between Lev, trying to calm him down. The demon won't sleep tonight. It's physically impossible for his demon body to do so. Holt notices Aldan entering, and nods to him. “Aizen helped calm them to sleep. I can't promise that they'll stay that way for too long.” He glares at Milliken, who looks like he's having a night terror.\n\tAldan crosses over to Holt and the demons. Each in turn, he places a hand on top of their head, bending over to kiss their forehead. Holt, then Aizen, then Lev. “Thank you. I would have ended myself at the barn or lost my mind if not for you three.” He looks at them, his eyes welling up yet again. “You're my family. Mikey always has trouble sleeping away from his mother.”\n\tHe gives them a sad smile. Aldan moves to the other bed. Gently, carefully, he slides onto the bed, lifting and rearranging the boys so they're heads are resting on his lap. Stuffing a pillow behind him, he drapes a blanket around his shoulders. He doesn't try to sleep. He knows he cannot, not yet. He strokes each boy's hair as he watches them sleep, including Jay's. Sometime, after midnite, Aldan dozes. More from exhaustion than are the result of a clear mind.\n\tOnce Aldan has fallen asleep, Aizen shuts out all of the lights and lays with him in the tightened space left in the bed beside Bryan. After he's calmed down, or just completely numb, he leaves with Holt to the other bed where Aldan stays. Neither of them fall asleep that night. Outside of the house, the kingdom becomes silent and haunted from the curfew law in place. If people were scared before, they're terrified now. The story has already made its way to the papers for tomorrow morning. In just a few hours, the issue at hand has been politicized and turned into a dangerous propaganda machine against those associated or with Cruiberg blood, whether they're innocent and mean no harm or are sympathizers and spies.\n\tAnd more than a thousand miles away in the kingdom of Cruiberg, young Alex stands at the balcony of his Kings castle, somehow able to sense that something horrible has happened. “Please, for once, don't let my fortune be right this time.”\n\n\tThe days after the trial pass in a blur. Alexander spends nearly every moment with Markus. For three days he barely leaves the side of his king. In the mornings, after exchanging quick blowjobs, they breakfast. Markus deals with any overnight developments and reviews correspondence while Alex studies and reads, unobtrusively observing how Markus deals with his servants, his staff, and his duties. Before luncheon, the spend an hour at sword play or swimming in the lake. The water is frigid, but doesn't bother Markus, even though Alex is somewhat blue, literally, when they finish.\n\tAfter luncheon, they rest for an hour or so. Markus holding Alex close, they smoke by the fire. They talk of their early lives or read poetry to each other. Invariably, the kiss. The rest of the afternoon is spend with kingly duties and more study. Dinner is either in the castle, with distinguished guests, or out in the town, gracing one establishment or another or feasting at the home of a nobleman or respected townsman.\n\tThese are often the most boring times for Alexander. The nobles don't entirely trust him and some are obviously jealous of him. One evening he's forced to sit through a ridiculous display as a local minor lord tries to persuade Markus to marry his daughter. Insulting enough for Alex, but the girl in barely 10 years old and looks more a boy than a girl! And she clearly has no wish to marry any man, but has been beaten into the role of eager would-be wife. That night, as they walk back to the castle Markus teases Alex.\n\t“So, my young friend, what do you of young Marguirite as a wife for me? Do you think she would bear me many strong, male children?” Markus asks.\n\tAlex rolls his eyes. “Women shouldn't give birth until they're of healthy age to do so. Wait...” He pauses. “You guys don't... Practice forced marriages, do you?”\n\t“I'm a king, Alex. I don't have to force anyone.” He smirks. “My subjects do as I ask because they love me.”\n\tAlex smiles, bumping into him. “That's right.” His fingers tingle and tap his pants pockets, wishing to hold Markus's hands. They approach the castle. As soon as they enter, one of the librarians rushes to Alex. He notes to him that the map he's made has been sown together and a much better print of it is in the works, along with several copies of it for all of the kings to review. They make their way into the kitchen first, where a servant boy sets up a tea for Alex, pulling up his seat for him and placing the cup down in front of him.\n\tMarkus looks at Alex, his eyes narrowed. “What's all this?”\n\t“It's for the plan. For the invasion of the kings castle.” Alex holds his head up with his chin. “That is, if Rhys even considers it. It could be a horrible idea, a massive failure, could put the Cruiberg civilians living in Harath in much more danger. Maybe I'll let go of it after it's sent out, let them decide what they want to do and have no participation.” He shrugs, then sips his pink flowery tea.\n\tMarkus nods, glancing at Alex. There's something in his eyes. Could it be uncertainty? Guilt? Whatever it is, it passes in an instant. “That's a bold plan.” He examines the map closely.\n\t“Don't you remember me explaining it you a few days ago?” He pushes his cup to the side, sitting up in his chair and pointing to an underground tunnel, one where the king is supposed to flee to if the castle is under attack. “This would be the most logical part of the castle to enter through. Not many people know about it either.”\n\tMarkus follows along with Alexander's explanation. Again, a fleeting look of uncertainty crosses his face as he listens. “Would you expect the attack to have increased security for these areas?”\n\t“Yes and no.” He traces fingers through different rooms, pulling out a marker and writing down from 1-10 how guarded certain areas are. “Technically, nobody has to go into it. If people were able to get through the secret tunnel and put some sort of explosion down there, the castle would be done for, ka-bloo-ie.” He takes a large sip from his cup, then makes a hand motion and sound, 'Psssshhhh.' “But there could be children inside for all I know... It's more dangerous to infiltrate and would take more people, probably a suicide mission, but that counts that factor out of the way.”\n\t“Well, I'd rather not destroy the castle I hope to rule from at some point.” He takes Alex's hand. Addressing the servants, he orders, “Bring our tea to my chambers. And wine.” He pulls Alex away from the map and the kitchen, leading him up the grand staircase to the second level and to the chamber they've been sharing.\n\tAlex takes off his boots and socks, leaving them by a chair as he heads back to the bed. He stretches out his back, pressing up against the pillows and bedframe, and yawns loudly. “All of that swimming from earlier sure has me tired. Do you go swimming a lot? That's why your body looks like that, right?” He grins, winking at him.\n\t“I try to swim twice a week, at least.” Markus slowly takes his boots and socks, flexing his toes in the area rug. The servants bring the tea and wine. He pours both for Alex, bringing them to him beside the bed. He pours wine for himself and sits behind his desk. Slumped down in his chair, he stares the key for his desk as he swings it from its silver chain. He glowers at the key.\n\tAlex takes a book off of the nightstand, one that he's been reading for the past few days. It's a work among many others he plans to read by a philosopher from Cruiberg explaining their history, ways of living, and why they despise the non-humans, particularly the demons among all of them. He's not too keen on the latter parts, although he slowly begins to understand and reason with what he reads.\n\t“What was the name of your paramour guard, Alexander?”\n\tHe puts the book down, his heart immediately going stone cold. “Uhm... Aldan. Aldan Jaeger.”\n\tMarkus drums his fingers lightly on his desk. He continues swinging the key and glowering at it. “That's what I thought.”\n\t“Why do you ask?” Alex marks the page of the book, putting it back where it was, and then proceeds to look to his left side at Marcus.\n\t“I've had word from the Harathi capital.”\n\t“What is that supposed to mean?” Alex looks confused.\n\t“Exactly what I say. I've had word from the Harathi capital.” Markus sighs, looking at Alex with sadness in his eyes. “Remember that the Dark Mage sent assassins after your Aldan?”\n\tAlex nods. “Yes, and I accused you of something you hadn't done. I remember very clearly.”\n\tMarkus unlocks his desk and pulls out an envelope. Opening it, he reads over the parchment. “There were two assassins. Dark Mages themselves.”\n\tHe becomes silent, hearing his own heart beat. Alex clenches it and tries to catch his breath. “They're all dead, aren't they? Him as well...”\n\t“My man arrived too late and just in time.”\n\tAlex freezes, feeling some sense of guilt, as if he were the one that caused the crimes. “How... You sent...” It occurs to him that the order of execution he wrote was not to Aldan, but towards the dark mages sent to kill him. “I-I...” His heartbeat returns to a normal. “What happened? Tell me everything.”\n\tMarkus closes and locks the desk. He takes a sharp letter opener and cuts part of the letter away from the rest, throwing it into the fireplace. He watches it burn and uses a poker to stir the ashes. He grabs his wine glass and returns to the bed, quickly stripping and climbing under the covers. “My man made the best time he could. Tracking down where Aldan lived was no problem at all. He arrived too late, you see. The assassins were already in the house.” He sips his wine, watching Alexander carefully. “He waited for them, ambushing them in the barn as they prepared their teleportation circle to return. He dispatched both of them, receiving minor wounds in the confrontation.”\n\t“They killed his family?” Alex raises his legs up, hiding his head into them and curling into a ball. Even though he hasn't seen what they do in person, he's read enough to know the kind of violence dark mages can inflict on others. “I have a request... If I may.”\n\t“No, they didn't kill them all. Just the wife and two youngest. A boy and girl, perhaps 4 and 6 years old.” He takes another sip of wine. “The wife was pregnant. The mages. . .harvested her unborn son for his organs. Aldan and the two older boys, both near ten years old, survived. The demon that Yakras had targeted as the weapon was there as well. They were all shocked and terribly upset, as you might imagine.” He looks at Alex. “What is your request, Alex?”\n\tAlex moves up closer to him and looks in his eyes. “You said that Yakras would suffer for only a week? Make it last for as long as possible. And when the time comes for him to die, remove every one of his limbs. Have him drawn open and every organ in his body torn out. Have him watch it all before his throat is cut wide open. Make him suffer as long as he possibly can.”\n\tMarkus nods. I understand. He pulls the sash next to the bed. Moments later a servant enters. Markus summons a scribe and details the order. “Should I have one of his children peeled as he watches?” He asks Alex. At the mention of 'peeling', the servant and scribe both pale considerably.\n\tAlex shuts his eyes, trying to understand right from wrong. Inflicting damage on young ones goes against his morals. “No. I won't participate in something like that. If he has any relatives older than eighteen, then have them peeled with him and in front of him. Have them all die before he does.”\n\tMarkus seems taken a back. “All of them? Brothers, sisters, cousins? All of them?”\n\t“If they qualify...” Alex goes to finish his tea. “Yes. All of them.”\n\t“As you wish.” Markus dictates the order. The scribe hands it to him, he reads over it. Tapping the quill against his cheek, he makes a notation and then signs the order, sealing with wax and the imprint of his signet. The scribe and servant bow and scurry away. “It is done.”\n\tAlex nods. He scoots up closer to him and lays his head on his chest. “Thank you... For saving him. Even if your man was late. You didn't have to do that, but –“\n\tMarkus plays with Alexander's hair, running his fingers through it, twirling it, lifting it only to let it fall. His face is serious, He adjusts the covers so they're both warm, protected against the autumn chill. “But what?”\n\t“You love me.” Alex leans over on top of him, grabbing his book from off of the night stand and lays beside his king as he opens it back up.\n\tMarkus sips his wine, placing the empty goblet on the stand next to the bed. He rolls onto his left side, facing Alex. He folds his pillow and watches Alex. “Yes. I do.” He leans forward, kissing Alex's shoulder. “Strange it seems, I love you, Alexander.”\n\tHe finishes reading a paragraph before he responds. “Fate isn't strange to me. I'm with you for a reason.” Alex continues reading for a while. “You think we'll ever get married? Like... ever?”\n\tReaching out, under the thick, soft blankets, Markus rubs his hand slowly over Alex's chest. He thinks for several minutes, watching his bedmate read. “No, not legally. Too many issues related to my crown and position. I'll have to marry and have children at some point. If only for an heir, preferably a boy.” He lays his head on Alex's arm. “I can't produce a legitimate heir if I'm a bigamist.” He kisses Alex's shoulder again, sliding closer to him. “I'm sorry if that hurts you. We can enact an informal bond, recognized by ourselves and some trusted others. But not a legal wedding, I'm afraid.”\n\tAlex frowns, looking away, but accepting the kisses and touches. “I understand...” He snuggles closer up in bed with his pillow and sheets, then turns around to face Markus. “Good night, Markus. I love you.”\n\tMarkus gently places his hand over Alex's, closing the book. They lay face to face, their noses almost touching. Each can smell the wine on the other's breath, can feel each other's warmth. Markus smiles sadly. “I love you, Alex.” He moves as if to kiss Alex on the lips but stops...he waits, letting Alex decide if he wishes to kiss and cuddle or not.\n\tAlex kisses him one more time, snuggling a leg between Markus's, then quickly falls to sleep. His heart seems irregularly loud to the king in bed with him. The young Cruiberg in training falls into a violent, horrifying dream, imagining that he himself were the agent sent by Markus and came too late, finding Aldan's youngest ones dead. He sweats in bed, panting and rolling back and forth, but eventually after he's killed the two dark mages in his sleep does he finally calm down.\n\tMarkus, Blood King, watches the boy sleep next to him. He wonders what nightmares torment him as he sweats and tosses and turns. Are they his own or does he suffer on behalf of another? When his upset seems the greatest, Markus wipes the sweat from his forehead and brow. He's stopped being king and spends the rest of the night as a worried lover.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","writing_bbcode_parsed":"THE BOY HEROES FROM THE LAND OF ERIK (A Series of Epics)
Epic no. 4 -
Lev’s Tale
By DamiJon
Chapter Sixteen
P.S. – This is a very dark, depressing, and disturbing chapter. You’ve been warned. Sorry, nothing sexy in this one.
\tAldan quickly checks on both classrooms before returning to his office. He sits and sighs heavily, reaching for paper and quill. He makes some quick notes on Neke and Alec's cases, listing reasons why the new law should be applied to them, why they should be given a chance to reduce their sentences and redeem themselves. He chews on an unlit cigar as he thinks and writes, irritated and angry that the two boys are being put through even more torture with this situation.
\tGrant enters loudly, running to sit down and holding a collection of scrolled papers in one hand. A glimmer and smile that Aldan hasn't seen before surprises him. “Guess what, Aldan?”
\tSmiling at the distraction and hoping for some good new, Aldan sets aside the lists for Alec and Neke. “What's up, Grant? I don't think I've ever seen you happy before!”
\tHe pulls off the string from the scroll, showing him the papers. “They said I qualify! I'm going to fight for our kingdom! On the frontlines, too. Isn't that awesome?” He points to signatures and certain parts listing his jobs, where he will most likely be stationed as well.
\tAldan claps his hands, standing and moving around the desk. He shakes Grant's hand, clapping him on the shoulder. “Outstanding! Congratulations, Grant. You must be excited. When do you leave?”
\t“Not for another three months.” He rolls his eyes. “They said that I need more training. My parents aren't too happy at me... We fought all night. They said I shouldn't be fighting my ancestors and that I still have family in Cruiberg.”
\t“Well, we can't choose our family. We can choose we're willing to fight for, though.” He sits. “You'll be grateful of those four months of training when you get into your first battle, believe me.”
\t“Yeah...” He sits deeper into his chair, looking around the room. It's sunny outside despite the cold weather. “You're going too, right?”
\t“I hope to. It depends on my wife. We've got two young children at home, and she's due to give birth soon.” He smiles and tilts back in his chair. “I should be able to convince her. My oldest boys are old enough to help around the house. We'll see. You can never tell with women.”
\t“Well, maybe we'll see each other on the field?” He looks over his documents. “Probably not. It looks like they have me closer to the forests by the castle, not outwards in the mountains where they say the major battles will take place.” Raven knocks on the door, asking for Grant to come to class and take his exam. “Well, I best get going. We have mid-term finals.” He waves, almost forgetting his scrolls as he leaves.
\t“Whoa. You've going to need those.” He laughs. Grant's news relieved a good deal of Aldan's stress. He lights his cigar and gets to work once more on the petitions for Alec and Neke. He's anxious to get home and get Lev and Jay settled. It occurs that he forgot that Lev and Jay would be able to help Kate around the house. “I'm having kids too quickly. I can't keep up.”
\tAfter filling his paper work for the day at the school, he heads to the prison to speak to some of the other inmates that qualify for the new about their opportunities for working in the war. It's a tiresome day and as much as he wants to see Neke and Alec, he knows there are plenty of other youths that he has to see, along with the other few that weren't given the change of sentence. Being emotionally exhausted, he sits outside of the fountain after his work at the prison. Peter finds him there during his break and sits down beside him. He lights a cigarette, offering one to him. “They wouldn't listen to me, so the petition I've handed to them will be further reviewed again on the day of Alec's planned execution. I tried to give one out for Neke as well, but they were even less interested with his case.” He leans back with both of his arms clenching to the fountain. “I spoke with one of the judges off duty about it and he said he would look after the petition next time, so there's some hope. Him and I have a good friendship, grew up together and all.”
\t“Did they say why Neke and Alec weren't given the chance under the new law?” Aldan lights up.
\t“It's stupid.” He grunts. "The dates of their sentences predate the start of the new law, therefor they must be charged for their crimes. And for Neke, they made a case that his victims family will cause too much of a controversy towards them if they let him live.” He spits. “With the other judge, it'll be easier to convince the counsel to give Alec the right to live, although these things take time and I have to be quick to get it all complete and make it back to the prison. For Neke, it'll be harder, especially since his execution is scheduled first in the day, but... You'll just have to have faith in me.”
\tAldan nods. He spits. “You'd think after all the years we've served they'd listen to us. We just had a major attack. Dozens dead. How much of a stink could they make over Neke or Alec? Dammit, I'm a fucking hero! Throw me a fucking parade. That'll distract them enough.” Aldan stands. “If I can do anything, let me know.”
\tPeter tosses his cigarette into the fountain, stands up, and bows. “Sorry to break the surprise, but a little birdie told me that the king is planning to grant you high honors in the next few days. They're still trying to recover from the chaos of the attack on the castle. Something tells me that he will allow you any position in the war. That is, if you want it... Well, I'm off. Long day. Four sympathizers to execute and graveyard shift watching over the young ones.” Peter does his usual hand gesture as he walks away.
\tAldan waves. Slowly he walks back into the school, watching Raven's students at their exam. Then he checks on Jack's class. Finally, he returns to his office. It's nearly time for school to be dismissed. He makes some final notes on Alec and Neke's case files. Aldan has an idea. With luck, he might just save both boys.
\tAfter school is out, Jay and Lev make their way to the office, standing by the door impatiently and waiting for him to finish up his work. Jay jumps in glee and excitement. “I can't wait to get home! Now that the sun is out, we can actually play outside in the backyard for once! Bryan promised to let me ride Whirlwind.”
\tThe two of them make small talk until Aldan is ready to go. As they venture on the path back home, Lev's mood slowly starts to change. Suddenly, his ears twitch and he feels a tightness in his chest.
\t“What's up, Lev? Is it your arm?”
\tHis tail flaps back and forth like a broom cleaning the streets. “I sense danger. Like as if someone's watching over me. Or us.” He looks around but doesn't spot anything. However, his ears and nose tell him otherwise.
\tAldan and the other boys don't notice Lev's apprehension. Milliken and Bryan and Jay are each talking a mile a minute. Each of them rattles off a dozen things they can't wait to do together. Fishing, picnicking, riding whirlwind, having fresh food every day, and so on. Aldan's mind is more on Alec and Neke. The glimmer of an idea that he had in his office has begun to coalesce into a plan. Confident that he's onto a solution, he barely hear their plans.
\tAs they near the house, Lev's senses are on edge. He's certain they're being watched. All he can see are the usual tradesmen and townspeople going about their business. None of those people seem to be paying Lev's friends any extra attention. Still, he can't shake a growing sense of doom. His thoughts suddenly turn to Aizen, wishing that he and Holt were here with them.
\tLev pauses for a moment, grabbing Bryan and whispering something into his ears, then he squeezes Aldan's hand as tight as he can. “Your shoe is untied. He kneels down on one foot, as if he could actually tie it with one hand. When Aldan goes to kneel, he whispers to him. “Someone's following us for sure. I don't know where, but I know it's true. Be prepared. If anything happens, I'll guard the others with my powers.” He stands up, sighing and casting a fake smile. “It's a grand day, isn't it, Bry? Maybe we can make it to the lake again!”
\tBryan plays along, taking his boyfriend seriously. “It sure is. We might have to run home to get some extra layers of clothing, though, but I think we can work it out!”
\tAldan says nothing, but Lev sees a change in the man's demeanor. His eyes constantly scan around him. His sword hand stays near the weapon, ready to draw at a moments notice. He walks on the outside of the knot of boys, between them and any threat, ready to intercept any attack.
\tNone of the other boys notice Aldan and Lev watching over them. They continue to chatter happily, taking the idea of a simple ride to the lake into a grand picnic for the whole family with games and a bonfire. Jay is especially excited, his family didn't enjoy spending time together. His mother was usually too tired and his father too drunk to have fun with their children. His excitement rubs off on Milliken, who busily makes plans, not even realizing that he's not writing them down.
\t“Hey!” Jay points ahead of them. “Isn't that Whirlwind?”
\tThe group looks ahead. In the distance is home. But nearer them is Whirlwind, no saddle, no tether, whinnying nervously. Bryan calls to him, and the horse swivels his ears, heading for the boy with eyes wide and ears twitching. Bryan pats the horse's neck, calming him, as Jay and Mikey try to assist. “Hey, boy, how'd you get out? What's wrong boy?”
\tWithout warning, Aldan draws his sword and races for the house. “No. No. No. No. Gods, no.”
\tThe boys are too surprised to follow.
\tLev's heart thumps faster and faster. He nervously tells the others, “Stay close together.” As his hand slips out of Bryan's grasp, he casts an invisible sphere around them, caving them and Whirlwind into it. He rushes to the door, a flame in his left hand as he approaches closer to Aldan.
\tThe boys do as they're told. Clutching together and holding onto Whirlwind. The horse turns it head to and fro, his ears still swiveling, almost as if he's protecting them.
\tAldan reaches the front door, which stands open. Hesitating for a moment, he steps inside. His eyes scan the sitting room. He looks back at Lev, and gestures for him to hold. The man stands for a moment listening. His face is pale. Holding his sword at the ready, he moves to the kitchen, gesturing for Lev to follow, waiting for Lev to join him. As the pair move forward, their bodies tense as adrenalin courses through them, Lev hears water dripping.
\tLev feels the worst coming to him. The fear is worse than anything he felt when being possessed or threatened by the spirits and dark mages. It's not him they've come after, but Aldan and his family. Even with the flame in hand and being told as the strongest demon alive, he feels powerless in this moment. He wants to cry to Aldan like a child, ask him to protect him.
\tWhispering, Aldan warns Lev, “Stay behind me.” With his free hand, he guides the young demon, still just a boy himself, despite his power and recent trials, behind him. Cautiously, Aldan moves into the kitchen.
\tThere's no smell of coffee. No bread baking in the oven. All of the smells of home, that Aldan is used to and that Lev has come to associate with his new family, are missing. Instead, the air smells of metal...and urine.
\tAldan stops. His sword clatters to the floor. “Kate. . .” The name is whispered more than spoken, with such pain that Lev shudders. “Oh, Katey...no...”
\tDropping to his knees, Aldan sobs. “No . . .no . . .no . . .What have they done to my babies??? Lev, what have they done to my babies?”
\tHis heart barely beating, his stomach in his throat Lev follows Aldan's gaze. Times stops for him as it has stopped for Aldan.
\tThere, in the back half of the kitchen are Katey, Sally, and Jereminy. And the fourth child. They lay on the floor, their throats opened from ear to ear. Kate, who this morning made coffee for Lev and breakfast for them all is split open, from the nape of her neck through her female parts. Her baby has been cut out of her, it's own throat slit, it's own little body opened up and hollowed out. All of them are naked. All of their eyes are open, staring right at the door he and Aldan entered through. Staring right at Aldan.
\tThe warriors crawls forward and hands and knees, tears falling to the floor. Snot and spit fall from his mouth as he whispers over and over. “My babies...My babies...” He crawls through the growing, congealing pool of blood, reaching Jereminy first. Gently, reverently, he pulls him to him, hugging him as he closes the dead boy's eyes. “I'm sorry, Jere. I'm sorry. Daddy should have been here. I should have been here to protect you.” He lays Jereminy down, with such care that Lev fears his own heart may break.
\tLost in a world of pain and grief, Aldan crawls to Sally and holds her close, closing her eyes. He chokes and cries as he tells how sorry he is for letting her down, for not being there. “Daddy's little girl...I'm so sorry.” He lays her down next to her brother, taking their hands and clasping them together.
\t“Lev.” Aldan faces the demon. “Don't let Bryan or Milliken in. Send them to the temple...anywhere but here...”
\t“I'm... I'm not...” His voice croaks, tears and snot covering his face. Everything is becoming a blur to him. With one step behind him, he vomits, holding his hair out of the way. The fire in his blood quakes and blisters his skin. Steam rises from his body and his horns seem as if touching them would incinerate the person immediately. “Not letting you go.” He falls back on the floor, holding himself with one hand, mouth wide open and still trying to wake himself up from the nightmare. Ears twitch and he turns to his right, immediately exploding a bolt of fire towards whatever is there. It moves too fast for him to kill. He jumps back and onto the table, then again towards the wall. Everything is spinning for him. With every step he takes, his feet leave burn marks. “ALDAN!”
\tAldan turns to Lev, blankly looking at the boy. He runs a gentle hand over Sally and Jereminy's faces. He stands, wiping his hands on the back of his legs. Reaching for Lev, he quickly moves to the demon. Grabbing Lev's arm, he ignores the pain in his hand. “Stop.” He says firmly but without much conviction. He grabs Lev, shaking him for a moment. “Do as I ask. Please, Lev. They can't see them like this. Please.”
\tLev turns his face to and fro, still paranoid and plagued by hallucinations that the shadow creatures are there attacking them. His body shakes like as if he's convulsing, but he's able to nod. “Y-Y-Yes...” He lets out a horrible, painful moan, kicking his feet against the ground before he sprints out of the house, his robe covered with blood. He tries to compose himself, but is still sobbing uncontrollably. Once entering into the sphere, he orders his boyfriend, “You and Mikey get on Whirlwind. Jay, stay close to me. Nobody is going to harm us. I'm taking us to the temple. Just follow me.” He's pushing Bryan with his one hand, forcing him to do as he says. “Please, don't argue.” And then he wipes his face off with the robe, smearing blood over his eyelids.
\tBryan resists Lev, trying get by him and run to the house. Mikey shrinks into himself, until Jay wraps his arms around him. They're both crying, and Mikey buries his face in Jay's chest. Whirlwind moves nervously, always in between Bryan and the house. Bry pushes on the horse, his own tears falling, he pushes at Lev. “Let me go...let me go...what is it? What's wrong?”
\tJay reaches out and grabs him with one arm, tugging him close. “Listen to Lev! Mikey needs you!”
\tBryan glares at Jay for an instant, then looks at Mikey. He seems small and frail, huddled against Jay, crying loudly. Looking helplessly at the house and then at Lev, then at Mikey. He stares at the blood on Lev's clothes. His strength and courage dissolve. He leans into Lev, sobbing. “I don't want to know . . .I don't want to know.”
\tA neighbor, a middle aged man Lev has seen many time before approaches cautiously, his wife watching from their porch. His name, Lev remembers, is Wellem. “Oi, what's going on here?” Lev answers, telling the man to get the boys to the demon temple, that's what Aldan wants. The man looks at Lev, his horn and tail. Lev prepares for an argument, but the man simply nods. Aldan needs me to get the boys to the temple. “I'll be back when I can, hon.”
\tThe neighbor looks at Lev, water in his eyes. He knows something horrible has happened. And he know that Lev can't say anything in front of the boys. “You go help Aldan, little demon. I'll see to the boys.”
\tLev is reluctant, but he's seen Aldan talking to the man, sharing a smoke and drink in the evenings. “And Aldan shouldn't be left alone. Find Aizen and Holt and send them home.” He runs back to the house, dreading the scene once again.
\tAldan watches Lev run to his boys. He turns to the carnage in the kitchen. Kate. His beautiful Kate. He kneels next to her, tears flowing, dripping and landing in the blood. Moments of clear soon overcome by blood. He looks at her, his beloved wife. First Drew and now Kate.
\tHe brushes the hair from her face and closes her eyes. He turns to the baby. A boy. Mutilated, cut open and his organs missing. The cruelty of it is too much. His shoulders shakes as he picks up his son. “Drew. . .you were going to be Drew, little one.” Carefully, he wipes the blood from the tiny face. “You look like me.”
\tLev enters the house and kitchen, managing somehow to keep his stomach down. His ears twitch alertly. Whoever, whatever did this may still be here. He listens, intently. He's at once overwhelmed by the horror and pain of what has happened, and livid with rage, hoping for an assassin to appear. To be a target for Lev's anger. He watches over Aldan.
\tAldan places the baby on Kates chest, wrapping her arms around him. He holds his hand over Kate's hands on the babe's chest. Be with mommy. . .I'll be with you soon. Aldan cries. He sobs and wails. At times he drives his fists into the floor. Over and over. Only to fall into silence, weeping and touching one his children or his wife. Minutes pass. His sobs stop and he stands. He looks at Lev. “The boys?”
\tLev looks down and away. The fire inside of him is replaced with a coldness. Hatred. Rage. “Wellem is taking them to the temple.” Lev steps closer, allowing himself to observe the gore and blood spewed out in the kitchen. Here, where Kate taught him how to cook for humans, where he fed the young ones and dreamed of being a future-uncle to them, having them there when he marries Bryan. All of the fantasies and images destroyed. A part of him feels as if it's too much to handle. Maybe they should all be dead and wouldn't have to suffer from what has happened. A selfish thought, considering how painful it must be for Aldan to continue to lose those close to him. “You still have Bryan. And Milliken. They need you more than ever now.”
\tAldan nods slowly. He walks over to his sword, staring at it for a moment before wiping his hand and picking it up. He turns towards the back door, swinging open like the front and holds the weapon up to the fading sun light. The beams of light reflect off of the blade's keen edge as Aldan contemplates. He angles the blade near his throat.
\tLev swallows hard. Is he contemplating opening his own throat?
\t“If you kill yourself...” Lev raises his voice. “You know just as well that I'll do the same. And don't think for a second Bryan or Milliken wouldn't give into the same fate.” Lev grabs his arm, forcing it with as much strength as he can down and away from his neck.
\tAldan easily holds his arm still, looking at Lev, confused. His eyes are pools of pain, loss, and confusion. It almost hurts Lev to look into them but he knows that if he looks away, Aldan may be lost. He meets the hopeless gaze, trying to lend strength to the man who risked everything for him.
\tThe confusion leaves Aldan's eyes. Replaced by? By what? Illumination? Recognition? He turns towards the back door. “How did Whirlwind end up on the street?”
\tLev looks to the barn. “They could have let him go. Or he broke free on his own. They're probably watching us right now. Waiting for us to let our guard down. If we don't find and kill them now, they'll go after the others, even if they're protected at the temple.” His ears are still twitching, but now his tail is moving swiftly and in dances. “When Aizen lost his parents... He said that even though the attack failed, it was as brutal, horrifying. He told me what the Cruiberg dark mages did. He's still staring at the barn. Wherever they are, they must be close.”
\tAldan twists the sword in his hand, flashing the blade side to side. His eyes almost glow with a cold anger. “Stay behind me, watch our backs.” He leads Lev to the back door, or starts to. He stops and looks at Lev' feet. “We'll go around outside. I don't want you to have to step in.” He chokes on that.
\tHe moves through the sitting room, out the front door and around the house to the back yard. The barn door sits open, sway gently in the breeze. Aldan motions to Lev to follow him and remain quiet. They approach the barn. Lev watches behind them, his heightened senses alert for ambushers. They pause against the barn wall, just to the side of the doorway.
\tAldan holds up three fingers, slowly counting down. A he drops the last finger, the two of them throw the door open wide and brandish their weapons as they enter. They are greeted by more carnage. Two bodies lie inside the doorway. Their throats are cut, but not ear to ear like the family's. A short, deep cut is the fatal wound. Not opening artery or vein, but slicing open the wind pipe and very little damage beyond that.
\tAldan and Lev study the scene. The two are dressed in robes of darkest purple. “Dark Mages?” They carry daggers. One of the two still has his dagger at his waist, sheathed. The other's dagger lays nearby, in the dirt. A small line of blood on the blade. They were surprised by someone. The taller was killed quickly, the shorter one was able to fight back and wound his attacker.
\tThere's a pair of small bags between the two bodies, and a section of floor, maybe a circle six feet across where the hay has been swept away. Strange rocks have been placed around the perimeter of the cleared area, with a larger, perfectly round rock at the exact center of the circle.
\tCarefully, Aldan opens one of the sacks. He moans and drops it to the ground. A small glass philter rolls out. Inside is a tiny heart. The baby's heart! Aldan leans against Whirlwind's stall, the latest outrage shaking him once more.
\tLev aches for his friend. More than friend. He tries to think of something to say, but words fail him. As he looks helplessly at this great warrior, hero of the realm, crying forlornly, he notices a flower seated carefully atop one of the posts of Whirlwind's stall.
\tAs he approaches, the fear that he once felt starts to die out, although the pain still resides.” Aldan... Someone left a signature.” He points up at the flower.
\tLooking up through tears, he spies the flower. Reaching for it, Aldan is wracked with a piteous sob and falls to his knees. He holds his hands in front of him, turning them over from palm to back of the hand to palm again. Grabbing a handful of hay he tries to wipe them clean, to remove the blood of his family. He wipes and scrubs harder and harder, grabbing fresh hay when that in his hand is stained and streaked with blood. Try as he might, he cannot remove all of the blood.
\tIt's almost as if he's forgotten that Lev is with him as he scrubs his hands. He whispers and mutters and it takes the demon-boy a moment to realize that Aldan isn't talking to him. He's not talking to anyone. “It won't come off. . .it will never come off. . .My babies. . .Why hurt my babies. . .?”
\tLev walks up to him, kneels down, and holds his one arm around him, his tail sliding from left to right as he tries to comfort the man that saved his life. They stay there, becoming seemingly catatonic in how motionless and broken they are. When Lev closes his eyes, he can see the images of the dead flashing violently through his mind, but when he opens it all he can think about is what Aldan found in the jar. Everywhere he looks he's plagued with death.
\tAn entire hour passes. Sounds from horses and other men surround the house. The barn door is open and Lev looks to his right, the flower come tumbling down as Aizen rushes in to hug his friends. Holt maneuvers around slowly, observing the dead mages in the corner. Around thirty knights are outside, searching and trying to make sense of what has happened. One of them walks to Holt. The half-elven boy points him into direction. “Those were definitely the ones that did it. Dark mages from Cruiberg.” He notices the way the stones are placed and the jar with a babies heart inside of it. Memories attack him immediately. “The two of them had already gone inside and saw what had happened, immediately understanding why they had caused so much damage to Kate. They were going to use the parts of the baby for some kind of ritual. Their magic grows stronger through the use of other's pain and suffering. These stones, they were going to leave, but someone killed them. I don't know who or why... If it were our men, they would have reported it.”
\tThe commander of knights listens carefully to Holt. Nodding and observing what the elf points out. “Tis true, any of our men would have reported right away. My men are securing the house and area. Too many lookie-loos already gathering. I'll send word to the Palace and High Inquisitor. The White Mages as well.” He looks over at Aldan, shaking his head slowly. “Where do we take him? He can't stay here and he's in no condition to answer questions.”
\t“He can come with us for now. Right Aizen?” Aizen crawls back a few steps, then nods. Holt then stops and points out, “The king has a few houses set out for families that need immediate protection. I think it would be best to ask if they can stay at one of those for now. In fact...” He shrugs. “I think it would be best for them to move in there permanently as well.”
\tLooking to the house, the commander nods. “We'll guard the house until they're resettled. We'll take our off hours and move their belongings.” He looks at Aldan again. “Then we'll burn it. Gods, the Cruiberg will pay for this.”
\tHe calls over a corporal and issues orders. The corporal gathers men, and they fan out to Aldan and Kate's neighbors, gaining use of a wagon and horse. “Can one of you talk to him? Get him in the wagon. He knows you, yes? The corporal will escort you wherever you need to go.”
\t“Yes. We'll be there in a moments notice.” Holt nods, then proceeds towards the three. He kneels down, easing Lev off of Aldan and onto his arms, then helps hold him up with his one good arm over his shoulder. Aizen bites his bottom lip, watching as the two walk off, then notices his own necklace glimmering, along with the one across Aldan's face. “Come with me. We're going to take you some place safe.” He rubs his back, using as much of his healing energy to try and calm the much larger man down.
\tAldan pulls away. “No... I have to stay. I can't just leave them.” He looks around frantically. “My sword. Bryan! Milliken! Where are they?” He tries to break away from Holt and the others, heading for the house. Guards help restrain him.
\tNo one's in there who needs you, sir. Aldan looks at the guard before calling out for Bryan and Milliken and Lev.
\tHolt tries to hold him back, grabbing him forcefully by the face so that he's looking at him. “Bryan and Mikey are with the high lord at the demon temple. They're safe. We're going to get them right now, okay?” He lets go of him, a frustrated look on his face. All of these circumstances are too familiar to him, having seen his own people face even crueler, more sadistic deaths. As much as he wants to be there for him, he knows someone has to play the villain and force him to be a father.
\tAldan looks at Holt. His eyes well up again. “Holt . . .Holt. . .They killed my babies. My Kate. I wasn't here to save them.” He looks to the house, but no longer struggles to reach the porch. “I killed all those children...now mine are dead. Dead.” He cries, allowing Holt to steer him to the wagon. He lays in the back, curled in a fetal position hugging his sword. Holt covers him with a blanket and turns his attention to Lev.
\t“Lev.” The elf meets the wolf-boy's eyes. “Can you help us get some clothes for Bryan and Milliken? We can go in through the front.” He holds Lev at arm's length, trying to hold his gaze with his own. Trying to keep Lev from collapsing as Aldan has.
\tLev tries to wipe away the snot and tears from his face, but when goes to do so he notices all of the blood on his robe and cast. Aizen lifts up the bottom of his shirt, quickly wiping his face clean and brushing his hair out of his eyes. “Yes... Sylvian will have clothes for them.” He tugs on Aizen's shirt, pulling him to him and hugging him deeply. “If I had just died that night, maybe none of this would have happened. Maybe everyone would still be alive.”
\t“No... That's not true.” He rubs his back as he holds and rocks his friend. Neither of you can blame yourself. “The Cruiberg did this. Not you.” Holt sits down, squeezing the temple of his forehead and sighing in exhaustion. He needs Aizen. Lev needs Bryan. Aldan needs them all. They all need someone, but everything is too loud and chaotic to make sense of.
\tHolt helps get Lev to the wagon. “No. If they hadn't tried with you, they would have tried with another demon. Maybe that one wouldn't have met Bryan and fallen in love. Then maybe Aldan wouldn't have stopped the plan and we'd all be dead.” He forces Lev to look at him. “Maybe the only reason we're still alive is because of you, Lev. Because you fell in love.” He tries to smile.
\tLev and Aizen sit in the back of the wagon with Aldan. Hold sits up front, holding the reigns for a moment before looking back at the gaurds. “I don't know how to drive this thing.” A guard, a heavily jawed man with deep set eyes offers to drive. The wagon lurches out with the guard driving and three more guards walking along side.
\tAs they wind their way through the streets, a light rain falls. Aldan barely moves, though he stops sobbing. He may even be asleep, but no one wants to disturb him to see one way or another. Aizen and Lev whisper to each other in the tongue of their people, both of them shaken by what they've seen today, Aizen fighting to keep memories of past atrocities from overwhelming him. Holt sits and watches the crowds and people that they pass. He hears the whispers of the demons, but only understands a few words.
\tWord of the crime and atrocities has spread like a wildfire. People notice the wagon and armed escort, and once they realize who it carries, the story spreads again. They pass a knot of people. Two men are harassing another man, calling him a Cruiberg sympathizer and worse. They brandish a rope, the crowd around them murmuring their approval. Before they can lynch the man, a cluster of guards arrive, breaking up the crowd and escorting the man home.
\tFeelings were already running hot against townsfolk of Cruiberg blood, or even rumored to have some connection to the Cruiberg. The vicious murders of Kate and the children could be the spark the causes the city to explode. Sensing this, the Commander of the Watch has his men out in force, patrolling with clubs as well as swords. Small groups of watchmen, slightly less well trained and less well equipped than soldiers guard the homes and shops of townsfolk linked to Cruiberg. Criers wander the streets, the clanging hand-bells of their office, drawing attention as they announce a curfew and warning that attempted lynching will be met with the strongest response.
\tAs the temple comes into view, it's a hive of activity. Guards watch the temple, guarding it from Cruiberg saboteurs and angry crowds alike.
\tThe wagon stops and Aldan stirs. Rolling over onto his back. He looks like hell. He's got blood all over the front of his clothes. There's still blood on his hands and face. His eyes are red and swollen. Worst of all, his eyes are empty. As if whatever it was that made Aldan what he was is gone now.
\tAs soon as the wagon stops, Aizen jumps off and runs to a group of demons waiting outside of the shop. He commands them to bring soap and warm cloth to clean Aldan off with, then walks back to the wagon, taking Holt with him. “We'll be back in a second.” He squeezes Lev's hand before heading back into the shop. The temple is crowded with demons, all of them murmuring in their language to each other in a nervous, fearful voice. The three boys, Bryan, Milliken, and Jay, all sit at a table with the high lord Sylvian, who has been trying to calm them down with stories as much as she can, but she knows just as well what has happened before ever being told. Nobody has told the boys of what happened yet, afraid to cause more chaos inside, but they all know that something horrible has happened. The brothers look almost paralyzed in confusion and fear, not knowing how to feel. Holt takes them to the cart while Aizen speaks with Sylvian, whispering to her what has happened. For a moment, she chokes up and looks across the room, feeling the heavy weight of her influence holding her down. The young blond demon follows with her downstairs and into a clothing room, gathering robes of different sizes and handing them to him. As they venture back upstairs, she promises to come by tomorrow with more clothing. As he leaves the temple, Sylvian makes a loud announcement for all demons to either stay inside of the temple if they live there or go home immediately until the curfew is over. She also calls for everyone to arrive tomorrow morning.
\tAizen rushes as fast as he can back to the wagon, jumping back on top and moving one of the demons out of the way that had just cleaned the blood off of Aldan's face. “Head back inside. Tell everyone out here to be at the temple tomorrow morning.” The man leaves them behind.
\tBryan is crawled up next to Lev, whispering to him. “What's going on, Lev? What happened in the house?”
\tHe shivers, ready to fall apart again as he relives the recent memory of walking through the house. Out of nowhere, the words slip out. “They're dead... All of them. Assassins. I'm so sorry...” Lev begins to sob once again, hugging onto Bryan. The younger boy freezes up and tries and cannot process what has been said for an entire minute before realizing that what he's saying is true. On the opposite side of the wagon, Milliken begins to hyperventilate and slip into a panic attack, panting and yelling. Jay tries to comfort him, but also begins to freak out not knowing if he's doing the right thing or not by being around him. Aizen shifts over to them, feeling dizzy and beyond exhausted as he tries to help Milliken calm down. Milliken cries without sobbing. The tears simply fill eyes and overflow down his cheeks.
\tBryan stares at Lev. Fear flashes over his face, replaced by a scowl. “That's not funny, Lev. Not at all.” He looks around. Seeing his father, he sees the traces of blood still being cleaned from him. Aizen's face. Holt's face. Lev's face. “But. . .they can't be dead. That's mom. And Sally's just a little girl! Jereminy can't even count his fingers and toes!” He clasps his hands together in front of his chest, flexing his fingers over and over. “Why would someone kill my mother? Lev?”
\t“To make us suffer. To hurt us.” He finishes sobbing, falling into that lost, soulless feeling that consumes him. Bryan needs him to comfort him, but all of the emotions he's felt have finally taken his toll and put him overboard.
\tJay begins to cry by watching all of the others around him in pain. He's panicking as well, freaking out over the fact that everyone around him is in just as much distress and feeding off each-others madness. The wagon continues to move on despite it all. As it draws closer out of the city and towards the royal neighborhoods by the castle, guards fill the street to guide and support them without realizing that they're scaring them all just as much. Holt stands up, telling them all to stand back and let them breathe. It's raining harder and lightning spreads across the sky. Even the sky weeps for them.
\tMilliken grabs Jay's shirt, pulling him to within a foot or so. His breathing is panicked and he stares at Jay's chest. As Jay moves closer to hug him, Mikey pushes him back, keeping hold of his shirt and stopping him at the same distance. Mikey snorts in a huge wad of snot, swallowing it with a loud gulp and he wipes his sleeve across his face. He stick out a finger and begins tracing letters on Jay's chest and stomach.
\tHis fingers fly and the more he traces, the more his breathing and crying calm and become normal. His lips move soundlessly as he traces. Not know what else to do, Jay stands still, finally holding Milliken's side. Neither boy speaks for the rest of the ride.
\tBryan looks at Lev. He slaps his shoulder, anger filling his voice. “That's fucking bullshit! Who are they? Why would anyone want to hurt us?” He points at Milliken. “Why would they want to hurt Mikey and me?” He pushes Lev, continuing his angry questioning. “That makes no sense. Why would they want to hurt us? We're just kids! Sally and Jere are just kids!” He looks at Aizen and Lev. “You guys are demons! You have magic! Why didn't you see this?? Why didn't you stop them! We stopped them killing you. . .You owed her! You owed mommy! She loves you! It's not fair!!! It's not fair!” His voice breaks. “It's not fair.” Bryan begins to cry. “It's not fair.” He grabs hold of Lev, dissolving in his arms and against his chest. “It's not fair. Mommy.”
\tHolt shifts over to Bryan and Lev, taking the blanket that was on Aldan and replacing it to them. He tries to comfort them as much as he can, looking to his husband on the other side as he joins the others. And then there's Aldan, just laying there, a million times more destroyed than any of them. As they draw closer, Holt moves towards Aldan, pulling him up with as much strength as he can and trying to knock him out of whatever catatonic episode he's slipped into. “Aldan, we're almost here. I know that you feel like this is the end of the world, but your boys need you. You have to be strong for them or else they'll break even harder. Can you hear me? Nod if you hear.”
\tAldan nods, although his face is flat. The wagon comes to a stop outside of a large, newly built house. A few of the guards guide Whirlwind towards a new, much more gigantic barnyard. When Bryan starts to freak out, Aizen shifts over and explains to him the situation at hand. They're pulled up as close to the front door as possible. Holt asks, “We're getting out, Aldan. Are you ready?”
\tAldan looks at Holt. His expression changes, he looks at Holt strangely. He reaches out and touches Holts ear, tenderly and softly. “I - - - loved and elf boy once. Years ago.” His eyes well up again, his face twisting in anguish. “The Cruiberg killed him.” He reaches over and gently touches the other ear. Somehow, Holt understands that Aldan isn't seeing him. He's seeing the elf boy from years ago. “They used him to decorate the village green...peeled his skin away.” Aldan stops and drops his hands and his gaze. “I couldn't save him either.”
\tHearing his father's voice, Milliken stops writing on Jay, grabbing his shirt and pulling him close. He buries his face in Jay's chest, leaving just enough room for him to peek out at his dad with one eye. He holds Jay tightly, trying to disappear in him.
\tBryan cries in Lev's arms.
\tAldan looks at Holt, his eyes returning to today. “But you're not him. You're Holt.” He reaches out, laying a hand on Holt's chest. “My friend Holt.” With the other hand, he reaches up, clutching Drew's amulet. He inhales and spits over the side of the wagon. With a grunt and heave he stands. He move over to Bryan, cupping his son's head in his hand. “Come on, Bry. Let's go inside and . . .” He seems lost for a moment. “…Do something about our wet clothes.”
\tHe moves on to Milliken, ruffling Jay's hair and kneeling down. He closes one eye and looks at Milliken's eye. “I bet they have paper and ink in there. We'll get cleaned up and you write down everything, okay? You're our historian, right?”
\tMikey nods. “My books.”
\t“We'll get them later. Later.” He holds out a hand for each of his boys. Mikey and Bryan take their father's hand. Their friends beside them, lending them strength, they march up the path.
\tAs they leave the wagon, Aizen wonders to himself how much strength he must have put into pulling himself up and going into the act of being their father again. Then he remembers, that's what true, real parents do. Not like the ones that Lev grew up with, whom only hoped that Kate and Aldan would be his step-parents. The young demon walks side by side with his husband. They hold hands, collectively sharing the sadness they feel for them and also being able to empathize with them more than they can understand. The house is enormous, possibly three times as large as their own. As they walk into the house, guards light torches and candles to lighten the rooms and hallways. They lead the boys to the sitting room, having them all lay down. Glasses and pitchers of water are brought in front of them before they even arrive to the sofas and chairs.
\tHolt sits close to Aldan, while Aizen sits inbetween the two brothers, whom are both being comforted by their lovers. The young elf warrior scoots his chair up towards Aldan and remembers what he was told and then responds. “That elf you knew... I might have been related to him for all I know. Most of my family were killed by Cruiberg. Aizen and I..” He lowers his voice, staring at his husband, whom is speaking to Mikey. We know what it's like to lose everything and see it happen in the process. “Aizen wakes up to nightmares when he sleeps. For me, it's almost every other night. But I'll tell you what. It doesn't end here. It ends when we have killed every Cruiberg in the battlefield.”
\tOther knights enter the room. A white mage, female and about Aldan's age, begins wiping down Lev's face. She replaces his cast, then helps him out of his robe and into a new one. She tends to the other boys, speaking to them if they have questions, wiping their faces with warm rags, giving them medicinal teas so that they don't get sick from being out in the rain, and then she leaves after her work is done. All of the guards exit outside until everyone has dressed into cleaner clothes, tossing their dirty ones into a pile by the fireplace. Half of an hour passes, which feels like years for them all. Suddenly, a guest enters, one that pulls up a chair across from Aldan and surprising him.
\tAldan blinks. The shock of the day's events preventing him from recognizing his visitor. Suddenly, the face matches a name. Aldan stands, and drops to one knee. “Your Majesty.” He looks at the others. “Bow, this is the King!” Mikey and Bryan bow, numbly following their father's example. Holts and the others follow suit. Aldan stammers. “I beg pardon, Your Majesty.”
\t“No, no. It's I who is intruding and ask for forgiveness.” The King of Harath, Haelex Rhumstold II, steps from his seat, bows down on one knee, and then sits back into place. “I'm here to apologize for not coming to you after you had saved the kingdom, not just my life. As soon as the word came to me as to what happened to your family, I left immediately.” The king is dressed much more formally than he has ever done so before, as is his way to break the barrier between king and normal folk. “My child, whatever we can give you, it is yours. The entire kingdom is here to support you now. You're not alone.”
\tThe king looks to one of the guards and nods. Holt stands up and is spoken to. He speaks to all of the boys, guiding them into a bedroom as large as their kitchen and to a bed. Aizen follows suit, speaking with them and being in support. Once the boys are gone, the king speaks with Aldan alone.
\t“Sire.” Aldan is overwhelmed. If not for his years of training, he would be catatonic. “Thank you for use of the house, Sire. For the guards.” Emotion forces Aldan to stop.
\t“You may stay here for however long as you'd like. You can have the house as well.” The king looks around the house, trying to give some space between his words so that the man in front of him isn't so overwhelmed with emotion. “I looked into your records and found your parents. Lukas and Marta, if I'm right. I've sent a letter for their arrival, which should come to them by the end of night, along with the fastest boats in the world to bring them here as soon as possible. They should be here within two days.” He pauses again, filling himself a glass of water and holding one out to Aldan. Once he see's the warrior in front of him drink, he continues. “If you choose to enter war, I'll acquit you with whatever position you see fit. You want a hundred men? They’re yours. A thousand? They’re yours. Nobody could have done what you did to the mages that day.” After Aldan sits his glass down, he pulls out a pipe, filling it with tobacco and lighting it. He doesn't just offer it to Aldan but forces it into his hand. “Once everything has settled down, we can further discuss how the Crown can show you our gratitude for your service and sacrifice.” He lights a match, igniting the tobacco when Aldan inhales. “I don't know when you would like to have the funeral take place, but I will rule tomorrow that anyone loyal to the kingdom participate and honor you, your family, and others affected by it.”
\tAldan nods, fighting back tears. “Thank you, sire. For the house, for coming here in person. For everything.” He raises the pipe and glass of water. Still struggling against tears, he ploughs onward. “What must be done, must be done. Kate and the littles - - -“ He chokes back a sob. “They need to prayed over for a day and a night. Her father needs to be notified. Her mother is dead. The funeral, I think, two days hence. I'm grateful, Your Majesty, for your kindnesses. But I don't think a huge funeral is what Kate would want.” He manages a laugh, thinking of what Kate would say to the king face-to-face. “A small funeral, I think. I know where to have them buried. But she would want me to ask you for a boon, a mercy. So, for her and Sally and Jereminy, I would make a pair of requests, Sire, with your permission.”
\tThe king nods. “There you have it. I'll allow you personal space and remind everyone to refrain from staggering your family with questions, food, and sympathy. Your family...” He frowns, grating his teeth. “They've been taken to the hospital to be cleaned and prayed over. A mage will come to you tomorrow morning to ask you about how you would like to proceed with the funeral.” He pulls out a small notebook from a pocket, writing down notes to remind himself to get in contact with Kate's father. As he writes down, tears break lose and fall down his cheeks. He wipes them away, not ashamed by showing emotion. “You mentioned a request?” He prepares to write whatever needed down.
\t“Yes, Your Majesty. Two small ones.” Aldan clears his throat and takes a sip of water. He knows he may be pushing things. “Firstly, she was so pleased and proud of Your Highness for seeing the mercy of allowing children to have a chance to redeem themselves. She never knew that it only pertained to some prisoners and others were not so lucky. I would ask, Sire, that all children under sentence of death be given the chance to redeem themselves. Regardless of when they were sentenced.”
\tThe king pauses his writing. “Yes, sir Aldan... This issue has already been dealt with though, hasn't it?” He looks at him confused.
\t“No, Sire. I know of two boys still facing the axe and the rope. Boys that I feel are truly regretful of their crimes and eager to prove themselves to you and to the kingdom.”
\tThe king nods. “Has a petition been put out for them? I cannot promise anything unless I know otherwise. If you'd like, I can schedule to be there for the days of their cases and resolve the issue at hand.”
\t“Please, Sire. These two especially deserve another chance. I'll make sure the information is sent to the palace”
\tThe king writes down some more notes. “Then it is done. And for the second request?”
\t“She would ask that more be done for poor mothers to help them care for their children.”
\tThe king pauses, raising a brow to Aldan. Thinking for a moment, he comes to the first option on his mind. “I'll donate a piece of my wealth to help all the mothers of Harath struggling to help their children.” He scribbles down some more, then shoves the notebook back into his pocket. “Is that all? Nothing else?”
\tAldan sits in stunned silence. Finally recovering himself, he shakes his head. “No, Sire. That's far more than I expected...That's incredibly generous of you, Sire.” Aldan bows Incredibly.
\tThe king smiles and nods, letting him take the pipe. He stands up. “I'll come tomorrow with my family to offer you lunch and dinner. If you need anything, we're a mile away. Good night, Aldan.” The king exits the house. Guards enter and stand by the door, but otherwise he's felt alone in the house. He remembers that the boys are in the other bedroom. Sitting the pipe down, he finishes his glass of water and heads into the bedroom. His sons, Bryan and Milliken are asleep together and holding each other. Jay sleeps beside Mikey. Aizen and Holt are sitting in-between Lev, trying to calm him down. The demon won't sleep tonight. It's physically impossible for his demon body to do so. Holt notices Aldan entering, and nods to him. “Aizen helped calm them to sleep. I can't promise that they'll stay that way for too long.” He glares at Milliken, who looks like he's having a night terror.
\tAldan crosses over to Holt and the demons. Each in turn, he places a hand on top of their head, bending over to kiss their forehead. Holt, then Aizen, then Lev. “Thank you. I would have ended myself at the barn or lost my mind if not for you three.” He looks at them, his eyes welling up yet again. “You're my family. Mikey always has trouble sleeping away from his mother.”
\tHe gives them a sad smile. Aldan moves to the other bed. Gently, carefully, he slides onto the bed, lifting and rearranging the boys so they're heads are resting on his lap. Stuffing a pillow behind him, he drapes a blanket around his shoulders. He doesn't try to sleep. He knows he cannot, not yet. He strokes each boy's hair as he watches them sleep, including Jay's. Sometime, after midnite, Aldan dozes. More from exhaustion than are the result of a clear mind.
\tOnce Aldan has fallen asleep, Aizen shuts out all of the lights and lays with him in the tightened space left in the bed beside Bryan. After he's calmed down, or just completely numb, he leaves with Holt to the other bed where Aldan stays. Neither of them fall asleep that night. Outside of the house, the kingdom becomes silent and haunted from the curfew law in place. If people were scared before, they're terrified now. The story has already made its way to the papers for tomorrow morning. In just a few hours, the issue at hand has been politicized and turned into a dangerous propaganda machine against those associated or with Cruiberg blood, whether they're innocent and mean no harm or are sympathizers and spies.
\tAnd more than a thousand miles away in the kingdom of Cruiberg, young Alex stands at the balcony of his Kings castle, somehow able to sense that something horrible has happened. “Please, for once, don't let my fortune be right this time.”
\tThe days after the trial pass in a blur. Alexander spends nearly every moment with Markus. For three days he barely leaves the side of his king. In the mornings, after exchanging quick blowjobs, they breakfast. Markus deals with any overnight developments and reviews correspondence while Alex studies and reads, unobtrusively observing how Markus deals with his servants, his staff, and his duties. Before luncheon, the spend an hour at sword play or swimming in the lake. The water is frigid, but doesn't bother Markus, even though Alex is somewhat blue, literally, when they finish.
\tAfter luncheon, they rest for an hour or so. Markus holding Alex close, they smoke by the fire. They talk of their early lives or read poetry to each other. Invariably, the kiss. The rest of the afternoon is spend with kingly duties and more study. Dinner is either in the castle, with distinguished guests, or out in the town, gracing one establishment or another or feasting at the home of a nobleman or respected townsman.
\tThese are often the most boring times for Alexander. The nobles don't entirely trust him and some are obviously jealous of him. One evening he's forced to sit through a ridiculous display as a local minor lord tries to persuade Markus to marry his daughter. Insulting enough for Alex, but the girl in barely 10 years old and looks more a boy than a girl! And she clearly has no wish to marry any man, but has been beaten into the role of eager would-be wife. That night, as they walk back to the castle Markus teases Alex.
\t“So, my young friend, what do you of young Marguirite as a wife for me? Do you think she would bear me many strong, male children?” Markus asks.
\tAlex rolls his eyes. “Women shouldn't give birth until they're of healthy age to do so. Wait...” He pauses. “You guys don't... Practice forced marriages, do you?”
\t“I'm a king, Alex. I don't have to force anyone.” He smirks. “My subjects do as I ask because they love me.”
\tAlex smiles, bumping into him. “That's right.” His fingers tingle and tap his pants pockets, wishing to hold Markus's hands. They approach the castle. As soon as they enter, one of the librarians rushes to Alex. He notes to him that the map he's made has been sown together and a much better print of it is in the works, along with several copies of it for all of the kings to review. They make their way into the kitchen first, where a servant boy sets up a tea for Alex, pulling up his seat for him and placing the cup down in front of him.
\tMarkus looks at Alex, his eyes narrowed. “What's all this?”
\t“It's for the plan. For the invasion of the kings castle.” Alex holds his head up with his chin. “That is, if Rhys even considers it. It could be a horrible idea, a massive failure, could put the Cruiberg civilians living in Harath in much more danger. Maybe I'll let go of it after it's sent out, let them decide what they want to do and have no participation.” He shrugs, then sips his pink flowery tea.
\tMarkus nods, glancing at Alex. There's something in his eyes. Could it be uncertainty? Guilt? Whatever it is, it passes in an instant. “That's a bold plan.” He examines the map closely.
\t“Don't you remember me explaining it you a few days ago?” He pushes his cup to the side, sitting up in his chair and pointing to an underground tunnel, one where the king is supposed to flee to if the castle is under attack. “This would be the most logical part of the castle to enter through. Not many people know about it either.”
\tMarkus follows along with Alexander's explanation. Again, a fleeting look of uncertainty crosses his face as he listens. “Would you expect the attack to have increased security for these areas?”
\t“Yes and no.” He traces fingers through different rooms, pulling out a marker and writing down from 1-10 how guarded certain areas are. “Technically, nobody has to go into it. If people were able to get through the secret tunnel and put some sort of explosion down there, the castle would be done for, ka-bloo-ie.” He takes a large sip from his cup, then makes a hand motion and sound, 'Psssshhhh.' “But there could be children inside for all I know... It's more dangerous to infiltrate and would take more people, probably a suicide mission, but that counts that factor out of the way.”
\t“Well, I'd rather not destroy the castle I hope to rule from at some point.” He takes Alex's hand. Addressing the servants, he orders, “Bring our tea to my chambers. And wine.” He pulls Alex away from the map and the kitchen, leading him up the grand staircase to the second level and to the chamber they've been sharing.
\tAlex takes off his boots and socks, leaving them by a chair as he heads back to the bed. He stretches out his back, pressing up against the pillows and bedframe, and yawns loudly. “All of that swimming from earlier sure has me tired. Do you go swimming a lot? That's why your body looks like that, right?” He grins, winking at him.
\t“I try to swim twice a week, at least.” Markus slowly takes his boots and socks, flexing his toes in the area rug. The servants bring the tea and wine. He pours both for Alex, bringing them to him beside the bed. He pours wine for himself and sits behind his desk. Slumped down in his chair, he stares the key for his desk as he swings it from its silver chain. He glowers at the key.
\tAlex takes a book off of the nightstand, one that he's been reading for the past few days. It's a work among many others he plans to read by a philosopher from Cruiberg explaining their history, ways of living, and why they despise the non-humans, particularly the demons among all of them. He's not too keen on the latter parts, although he slowly begins to understand and reason with what he reads.
\t“What was the name of your paramour guard, Alexander?”
\tHe puts the book down, his heart immediately going stone cold. “Uhm... Aldan. Aldan Jaeger.”
\tMarkus drums his fingers lightly on his desk. He continues swinging the key and glowering at it. “That's what I thought.”
\t“Why do you ask?” Alex marks the page of the book, putting it back where it was, and then proceeds to look to his left side at Marcus.
\t“I've had word from the Harathi capital.”
\t“What is that supposed to mean?” Alex looks confused.
\t“Exactly what I say. I've had word from the Harathi capital.” Markus sighs, looking at Alex with sadness in his eyes. “Remember that the Dark Mage sent assassins after your Aldan?”
\tAlex nods. “Yes, and I accused you of something you hadn't done. I remember very clearly.”
\tMarkus unlocks his desk and pulls out an envelope. Opening it, he reads over the parchment. “There were two assassins. Dark Mages themselves.”
\tHe becomes silent, hearing his own heart beat. Alex clenches it and tries to catch his breath. “They're all dead, aren't they? Him as well...”
\t“My man arrived too late and just in time.”
\tAlex freezes, feeling some sense of guilt, as if he were the one that caused the crimes. “How... You sent...” It occurs to him that the order of execution he wrote was not to Aldan, but towards the dark mages sent to kill him. “I-I...” His heartbeat returns to a normal. “What happened? Tell me everything.”
\tMarkus closes and locks the desk. He takes a sharp letter opener and cuts part of the letter away from the rest, throwing it into the fireplace. He watches it burn and uses a poker to stir the ashes. He grabs his wine glass and returns to the bed, quickly stripping and climbing under the covers. “My man made the best time he could. Tracking down where Aldan lived was no problem at all. He arrived too late, you see. The assassins were already in the house.” He sips his wine, watching Alexander carefully. “He waited for them, ambushing them in the barn as they prepared their teleportation circle to return. He dispatched both of them, receiving minor wounds in the confrontation.”
\t“They killed his family?” Alex raises his legs up, hiding his head into them and curling into a ball. Even though he hasn't seen what they do in person, he's read enough to know the kind of violence dark mages can inflict on others. “I have a request... If I may.”
\t“No, they didn't kill them all. Just the wife and two youngest. A boy and girl, perhaps 4 and 6 years old.” He takes another sip of wine. “The wife was pregnant. The mages. . .harvested her unborn son for his organs. Aldan and the two older boys, both near ten years old, survived. The demon that Yakras had targeted as the weapon was there as well. They were all shocked and terribly upset, as you might imagine.” He looks at Alex. “What is your request, Alex?”
\tAlex moves up closer to him and looks in his eyes. “You said that Yakras would suffer for only a week? Make it last for as long as possible. And when the time comes for him to die, remove every one of his limbs. Have him drawn open and every organ in his body torn out. Have him watch it all before his throat is cut wide open. Make him suffer as long as he possibly can.”
\tMarkus nods. I understand. He pulls the sash next to the bed. Moments later a servant enters. Markus summons a scribe and details the order. “Should I have one of his children peeled as he watches?” He asks Alex. At the mention of 'peeling', the servant and scribe both pale considerably.
\tAlex shuts his eyes, trying to understand right from wrong. Inflicting damage on young ones goes against his morals. “No. I won't participate in something like that. If he has any relatives older than eighteen, then have them peeled with him and in front of him. Have them all die before he does.”
\tMarkus seems taken a back. “All of them? Brothers, sisters, cousins? All of them?”
\t“If they qualify...” Alex goes to finish his tea. “Yes. All of them.”
\t“As you wish.” Markus dictates the order. The scribe hands it to him, he reads over it. Tapping the quill against his cheek, he makes a notation and then signs the order, sealing with wax and the imprint of his signet. The scribe and servant bow and scurry away. “It is done.”
\tAlex nods. He scoots up closer to him and lays his head on his chest. “Thank you... For saving him. Even if your man was late. You didn't have to do that, but –“
\tMarkus plays with Alexander's hair, running his fingers through it, twirling it, lifting it only to let it fall. His face is serious, He adjusts the covers so they're both warm, protected against the autumn chill. “But what?”
\t“You love me.” Alex leans over on top of him, grabbing his book from off of the night stand and lays beside his king as he opens it back up.
\tMarkus sips his wine, placing the empty goblet on the stand next to the bed. He rolls onto his left side, facing Alex. He folds his pillow and watches Alex. “Yes. I do.” He leans forward, kissing Alex's shoulder. “Strange it seems, I love you, Alexander.”
\tHe finishes reading a paragraph before he responds. “Fate isn't strange to me. I'm with you for a reason.” Alex continues reading for a while. “You think we'll ever get married? Like... ever?”
\tReaching out, under the thick, soft blankets, Markus rubs his hand slowly over Alex's chest. He thinks for several minutes, watching his bedmate read. “No, not legally. Too many issues related to my crown and position. I'll have to marry and have children at some point. If only for an heir, preferably a boy.” He lays his head on Alex's arm. “I can't produce a legitimate heir if I'm a bigamist.” He kisses Alex's shoulder again, sliding closer to him. “I'm sorry if that hurts you. We can enact an informal bond, recognized by ourselves and some trusted others. But not a legal wedding, I'm afraid.”
\tAlex frowns, looking away, but accepting the kisses and touches. “I understand...” He snuggles closer up in bed with his pillow and sheets, then turns around to face Markus. “Good night, Markus. I love you.”
\tMarkus gently places his hand over Alex's, closing the book. They lay face to face, their noses almost touching. Each can smell the wine on the other's breath, can feel each other's warmth. Markus smiles sadly. “I love you, Alex.” He moves as if to kiss Alex on the lips but stops...he waits, letting Alex decide if he wishes to kiss and cuddle or not.
\tAlex kisses him one more time, snuggling a leg between Markus's, then quickly falls to sleep. His heart seems irregularly loud to the king in bed with him. The young Cruiberg in training falls into a violent, horrifying dream, imagining that he himself were the agent sent by Markus and came too late, finding Aldan's youngest ones dead. He sweats in bed, panting and rolling back and forth, but eventually after he's killed the two dark mages in his sleep does he finally calm down.
\tMarkus, Blood King, watches the boy sleep next to him. He wonders what nightmares torment him as he sweats and tosses and turns. Are they his own or does he suffer on behalf of another? When his upset seems the greatest, Markus wipes the sweat from his forehead and brow. He's stopped being king and spends the rest of the night as a worried lover.
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