"A Little More Kin..."
Chapter 9
By: Crystalis Blade
Edgar walked through the door with Liam close to his heels. The red carpeted corridor was crowded with people still entering. Full dressed guards stood solid at their posts without flinching with their spears pulled taut at their sides and looked as though they were a part of the pillars themselves. The guests bowed their heads to the entering royalty and walked past to the chancellor. The chancellor noticed Edgar and finished greeting a guest,
"thank you and I hope you enjoy the evening. If you'll excuse me" He walked over to Edgar. "Cutting it a little close my young prince?"
"I am here, am I not," Edgar retorted.
The chancellor rolled his eyes. "Where's Sabin?"
Liam and Edgar looked at each other.
"He's not here yet," Edgar finally asked.
"No. I thought he would be coming in with you."
"Well, I guess I will have to work tonight," Liam said walking over and getting a spear from a fellow guard.
"No, Lee. Wait. I'll get him," Edgar said starting to turn away, but the chancellor grabbed his arm gruffly,
"No Edgar. It's Liam's job. YOU have to make an appearance, or at least have your face in the crowd."
"But-"
"No buts. Stay, and he will showhe'd better show."
Liam waited for a sign from Edgar who stood half turned in the chancellor's grip. Edgar dropped his head and the chancellor let go. He completely turned, still with his head down, and lifted his hand with a head nod to tell Liam "go."
Liam did as told. He threw his spear up and took off running towards Sabin's room. He knew that Sabin wasn't going to be there, but he checked nonetheless.
The sands themselves shimmered with the reflections of candles and the shadows they cast. Liam's feet light footprints in the shadows as he ran past. He opened Sabin's door and trudged up the stairs. The prince's room was the same as it has always been; bed in the corner, desk covered in musicand no Sabin.
He won't be in the music hall either; it's full of guests. The battlements?
He walked outside and looked up. Nopeno Sabinwhere IS he?
For the time being, Edgar was walking into the music hall to greet guests. They all recognized him with veneration; some people gave simple bows and curtsies, others ran over and gave him a hug. Edgar smiled and did the same to each person. Ever time afterward though, he would grimace at his actions. I REALLY don't want to be here. Heh, Sabin cheated; he took the easy way out. Edgar began to look around for his father to no avail. He continued to nod to people and smile stopping to answer questions here and there.
"My lord, what of the succession," one person asked in a group conversation.
"What of it," Edgar replied as if it were nothing.
"Do you want the kingdom, or does Sabin," another asked.
"I've heard there has been some friendly sibling rivalry over it," someone else furthered as another went on "can the two of you handle the kingdom when the king dies?"
"Do you regret your life as prince?"
"What will you change?"
"Are we really breaking allegiance?"
Edgar couldn't believe that people had really come to believe these sort of things. And yet, he could understand why they were. After all, he himself had asked those things. His answer?
"Pleaseplease," Edgar said putting his hands up as people quieted down to listen. "First of all, the kingdom shall be passed down to whomever father feels is prepared. Its not a matter of who wants' the kingdom; that has nothing to do with it. The kingdom' is you, the people and we look into that. As for the allegiance, I can personally tell you after being in treaty talks all day that no, we are not breaching ties with Vector. It will be officially announced this evening."
The second Edgar stopped to breathe, more questions came at him and so did the chancellor. Never in his life had he been so happy to see him. He turned to the crowd, "PLEASE!" Once the crowd had hushed, Edgar continued, "all your questions will be answered tonight. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a few matters that need attention." He gave a slight bow as did the rest of the crowd as he left. He pushed through the mob as best he could. He kept his head down and let thousands of thoughts crash into his head at once. He finally squeezed through to the chancellor who stood at the door and heaved a sigh.
The chancellor smiled, "having fun?"
Edgar looked up and glared, "oh yesYou?"
"Heh, come now. Your father is waiting for you in the throne room."
"Yes, chancellor." Edgar lifted his head, set his shoulders back and took a deep breath. "By the way, chancellor, did Liam find Sabin?"
"I don't know, m'Lord."
Edgar stepped out and headed to the throne room with the chancellor behind.
As he went into the hall Liam came running up panting.
"I have looked everywhere! And I can't find Sab!"
Edgar stopped. "No where?"
"No where"
Edgar heaved another sigh and continued down the hall as the chancellor broke from his side and opened the door as Liam took position next to Edgar.
"Any ideas," Edgar asked the chancellor who solemnly shook his head. Edgar walked through the side door and into the crowded room once again. He immediately noticed his father in the corner and made his way towards him. The king was discussing the terms of the treaty with a few of the noblemen. Edgar gently touched his father's shoulder,
"Excuse me, sirs," he said bowing his head.
"Hullo your highness. How can we help you," one noblemen asked.
"Actually, I need to borrow my father, if that is alright." The chacellor by this time had worked his way back over to the two and was helping the sickly king stand. Edgar hated to watch his father like this; it burned within him like a fever.
The king looked up at Edgar, "announcements, son."
"Yes, father, soon."
The king nodded at the chancellor's help. "Thank you. I have one more person to talk to and then we shall."
Edgar nodded and turned as another nobleman asked, "Prince Edgar, where is your brother, Sabin?"
"Yes, son. Where is Sabin? I haven't seen him all evening," the king asked as he finally stood on his own.
The chancellor's eyes got large at the blank expression on Edgar's face. Don't say it Eddy, don't the chancellor thought. Edgar himself didn't know what to say. Do I tell Dad, yeah, your son has mysteriously disappeared' or
"He's mingling with the guests in the music hall." Edgar gave a small laugh. "They're trying to convince him to play the piano for them!"
The king smiled, "that won't happen"
"That's what I tried to tell them," Edgar smiled and the chancellor breathed in relief.
"Edgar, why don't you go retrieve him for us," the chancellor asked starting to walk the king to the thrones.
Edgar nodded, "yes, chancellor. If you'll excuse me, gentlemen," he bowed to them and then kissed his father's cheek, "father." He sharply turned and headed towards the door.
He was mumbling to himself, "Sabin, when I find you, I swear I'm going-" he stopped as he turned his head to the side. He turned completely and unconsciously let his mouth drop a little. He couldn't believe it.
There, standing by the pillars, stood Sabin, watching the evening from afar. He inconspicuously stood holding the curtain back with his left hand watching the workings of the night. His armor glistened as the light caught it. His attire was different and simpler than his brother's traditional armor; he wore a breastplate over his navy blue turtleneck that was lighter than the covers he wore over the plate. It had a rounded collar that came up around his neck that had full pieced that came around his shoulders like a jacket that was completely connected, but broken into and stopped at the upper portion of the breastplate. He didn't have shoulder pieces like his brother, but his jacket came out past his shoulders and curved back down past his armpits. His sword belt had a gold amulet buckle that hung loosely around his waist. His pants were tucked into the tops of his knee high boots. His boots had a unique engraved design in them that matched his crown. He wore his shabby bangs over his crown that slightly covered his refined eyes.
He's been here the whole time
