Aivenna was tired. A long day of guard duties was not only boring, but it took its toll. She was a general, surely there was something more she could do in peace time. Apparently, this was not so. The only thing that kept her going was the idea that in a few hours she would be able to march home. Bored to tears, Aivenna kept walking, watching for trouble that would not likely come. As she shuffled through the castle Aivenna stumbled upon the library. A giggling noise summoned her attention and she peered in through the crack in the door.
Inside sat a human who perched himself in the window sill with a book and a littler human in his lap. Aivenna immediately recognized him. The boy had been staying in the castle for some time now, and the nobles had taken a shine to him. Aivenna didn't care for this boy, but Intress loved him like her own child. A sad thought as she loved Aivenna like her daughter, and Aivenna could clearly remember her being the smothering type. She couldn't help noticed how odd he looked in the new clothes Intress gave him.
Inside the boy scratched at his collar, trying to get used to the strange new material the best he could. Tom had to admit it was a little strange wearing the new clothes, but he didn't hate the outfit. His shirt was now a gray material that formed a vest with long white sleeves made of a lighter material. The torso of the shirt fit his small rib cage perfect and the fabric folded over like in ancient Japanese clothes with the V neck line was just low enough it allowed his pendant to rest just on his collar bone. The sleeves, on the other hand, were a bit baggy, made a separate and lighter, white material. They hid the fact that Tom was only slightly muscular, something Tom was grateful for as he didn't care for showing of his arms. The pants were quite similar to his jeans except a dark gray the faded to a darker color the closer they came to the floor. They were held up by a chain-like belt with six diamond links from which he could tie on his small bag of coins and even a holster for his scanner. Even Tom's Converse had been exchanged for a pair of black shoes, made of a flexible cloth and a thin leather sole. They were almost too small, but Tom supposed that was the only way the lace-less shoes could cling to his feet. It was an adjustment, but Tom didn't hate it. He could, however, live without his tiny sister pulling his sleeves around her like a blanket.
"Are you ready for a story?" Tom asked.
"Yes, will this one have a princess?" Anna asked playing with the daisy crown her brother had given her.
Aivenna leaned against the doorway. She could stand a good story. After all there was nothing else to do.
"I don't know, we'll have to read and find out."
"But I thought you wrote the book?"
"Anna, if I tell you then it's not a surprise." Tom reminded her.
True, Tom had wrote the book as a way of practicing the new language he was acquiring with Bodal's lessons. However, what fun would it be to give away the best parts of a book? Tom was many thing, but not a poor narrator. Anna folded her arms in a pouting fashion.
"Okay..."
"Okay..." The elder sibling mocked as he opened the book. "Of Treasure Greater Than Gold; Once upon a time there was a beautiful kingdom far away known as the Rose Kingdom. Over this kingdom rule the great king, Lupus. The king was much beloved by all his people, but none so more than his three beautiful children. Each of them claimed they loved him more than words could describe. Thus, when it came time to chose his successor he was faced with a difficult decision. Tradition demanded that he would give his kingdom to his eldest son and that his daughter would wed the archduke, while his youngest son either swore his allegiance as a knight or left to pursue his own fortune. The king loved all of his children, but he knew that his eldest son was arrogant and if his daughter were to wed it would only be out of greed. Only his youngest son had bothered to learn the ways of the world and was more than willing to venture out to make his mark upon the history books."
"So he gave his throne to his youngest son." Anna said.
"Anna, what have I told you about not listening to the story and telling it yourself?" Tom said shutting the book.
"It ruins the plot... I'll be quiet."
"Don't be quiet, be polite... Now he wanted to give the kingdom to his youngest son, but his children argued the son was too young. He was too wild, too inexperienced and could not take his crown. The king would not have his word ignored and yet he loved his children too much to hurt them."
"What did he do?" Anna asked.
"He purposed a challenge." Tom replied. "Each child would go out into the world for five years and they would bring back their greatest treasure. The one that pleased him the most would have his crown. Each one certain they would bring back the greatest treasure they agreed and left."
Aivenna watched as Tom turned the page. She couldn't help notice how his sister smiled at the pictures. Anna studied all the details intently, trying to see if this was the part where the princess would come in. Disappointingly, the picture he had drawn out on the page opposite to the text was a curious one without a princess. Three Overworld-like creatures stood there, a man and women dressed in fine robes decorated with jewels and then a poor peddler with a small boy hiding behind him. The first two seemed to laugh at the third.
"Five years later they returned and presented their gifts. The eldest son came first. He got down upon one knee and offered his father the sword of the king to the west. Knowing how much his father hated the man he declared war upon him and stole away his kingdom for his father."
"That's mean." Anna said childishly.
"Yep." Aivenna quietly laughed from afar.
"It was." Tom said with a smile. "The king was disgusted by his son's actions. Though he hated the king to the west, he had respect for him and his people. He demanded that if his son wanted to keep his blessing then he would throw away the sword and return the land to its people so they could set a proper king upon the empty throne. The eldest son agreed and stepped back. Next came the daughter. While away she had accepted the archduke's offer for marriage and from his treasury she offered him a new crown. One with every type of gem and crystal known and set in a frame of gold and silver."
"Pretty."
"No, the king thought the crown was ugly as she had not earned it. The crown was built of the archduke's riches and so it was disrespectful to give it away in her name. He commanded that if she wanted to keep her blessing to the throne she would throw the crown away and beg his forgiveness. She did so and threw the crown into the castle moat."
"Aw." Anna sighed.
Aivenna laughed at the little girl, who fingered her daisy crown imagining the one from the story.
"Next came the youngest son. Unlike the others he looked very sad. His once beautiful clothes had been exchanged for rags and dirt covered his face. Farm work had strained his back and legs, and so he could not drop to his knee as his family had done and begged his father's forgiveness. Yet he swore to his father that he had brought him a unique gift."
"What? A pretty crown?"
"No Anna, not a crown. He gave him nothing of gold or sliver, or even bronze. Instead the youngest son pushed forward a little boy. One dressed in rags and dirt upon his face as well. There was no doubt that this was the king's grandson as he held a strong resemblance to his grandfather. The son explained that he had been robbed on his journey and left for dead. If not for the kindness of a single woman he would have died. This woman became his wife and bared him a single son before departing from the world. This was that son, the king's grandson. The prince loved the boy more than anything and for the past five years he starved so his son could eat, went without medicine so that his son would stay well, and saved what little money he had so his son might one day have an education. This boy was his greatest treasure."
"And the king gave him the crown and they lived happily ever after."
Tom shut the book and stood up, dumping his sister into the window seat.
"Where are you going?" Anna whined.
"To put the book away. You seem to know how the story ends." Tom said starting to walk away.
"No! I'll be good I promise! Please keep reading!"
Aivenna covered her mouth so they would not hear her laughter. Tom sat back down. He looked at her sister as he prepared to reopen the book as she climbed back into his lap.
"Promise to behave?"
"I promise."
"Good...Now the king was furious."
"What?!" Anna said shocked.
"What?" Aivenna wondered softly.
"The boy looked like the king, but he also had the traits of the western kingdom. For you see this boy was a half breed. His mother had been from the west, an immigrant that ran away when the eldest brother laid siege to the land. The king dropped his sword at his son's feet and commanded that if he wanted his blessing then he would kill his son and beg for his forgiveness."
Aivenna covered her mouth. What sort of story was this? It was awful! Anna was just as upset.
"No! He can't kill him, he can't! He's the son's greatest treasure! He just can't!"
Tom sat patiently as his sister threw her fit. He looked at her calmly until she was sitting down to reopen the book.
"The son struggled and took up the sword. He offered it back to the king." Tom continued. "He said 'Father, if one must die then let it be me. For my son has done no wrong and knows nothing but love for his father and his grandfather. Even if you do not, I love him more than my own life and I beg of you one last pardon. Let him live and take my life instead'."
Tom paused waiting for his sister to have another melt down.
"What?" She asked as if he were being completely irrational. "Keep going!"
Tom laughed and continued. Aivenna smiled. She wondered if this story was actually meant to be so depressing, or if it was meant to get a rise out of his overly dramatic sister.
"The king took back his sword and put it away. Taking up his grandson into his arms he smiled and declared the his youngest son would have the kingdom. He had not only brought him the most beautiful treasure, but he had done what his other children could not; show they had the courage to defend it with their whole heart. That was what made a treasure truly beautiful, as it was a prize none could take away. Though his grandson was of foreign blood he would be the new prince and his youngest the king."
"And they lived happily ever after." Anna said joyfully.
"Did they?" Tom asked with a smile.
Anna tilted her head in confusion. She took the book from her brother and turn the pages. She couldn't read the words, but she could tell the difference between the beginning and the end of a chapter. She found they were barely half way through with the story.
"Will you please keep reading?" Anna asked sweetly turning back the pages.
"Nope." Tom said shutting the book.
"Please!" Anna begged folding her hands.
"Nope, nope, nope." Tom sang. "You said happily ever after. That means the story's over."
"But it's not over!"
Tom tucked the book under his arm.
"Then we'll just have to figure out what happens after ever after, after lunch."
"During." Anna protested.
"During desert, IF you behave and eat your vegetables." Tom offered.
"Deal!" Anna said jumping into his arms.
Aivenna backed around the corner as the two came out of the library. With a smile he lingered behind them at a calm pace. She would very much like to hear how this story ended. Unfortunately, during their meal a strange man in a mask came. He said he had to take the girl home. One fit later they left and with a sigh the boy left the book out on the table. Aivenna couldn't help but feel bad for Tom. After his sister was gone he looked so heart broken. Where he wandered off to Aivenna did not know, but she supposed the least she could do was return the book to him before someone threw it out. And if perhaps she saw the ending of the story it would not be so bad.
"Now, what happens after ever after." Aivenna mused as she flipped through the leather journal.
Turning the pages Aivenna searched for the story Tom had been reading. To her surprise there were many stories in the book; In The Eyes of a Thief, The Mugician's Son, The General's Choice... These strangely titled stories even had drawings beneath the titles. Aivenna could help but noticed how some of these characters looked a lot like creatures she knew. One of them was clearly Tangath Toborn in different armor, one held a striking similarity to Najarin, there was Attacat, Intress, Maxxor and... Aivenna froze as she turned the page. The Two Princesses. Underneath this title was a young creature looking in a mirror. Though she was dressed in royal attire Avienna could clearly recognize her sister's face. And there she stood as well, as an image inverted in the mirror. Aivenna shut the book for a moment and then looked again to make sure that she was seeing this. Aivenna hid the book under her arm and returned to the barracks. She wanted to know just what sort of stories this human was writing about them.
