Edgar walked over to a small
little supply closet in the main hall and grabbed a small lamp.
He lit it and tipped toed through the halls as to not wake a
soul. He sneaked around and out the side staircase up to the
upper-battlements.
The blue hue of the moon shone
perfectly on that one spot of the castle. Edgar smiled. "I
see why Sabin loves it so much up here." The mountains to
the far north were beautifully lit amongst the clouds and
moonlight. He set the lantern down on the ledge and looked out
for a moment; a perfect mirror whose image was about to
shatter
Suddenly, Edgar's stomach
became a tight knot. It was finally starting to sink in about
what he was about to do. He felt queasy He leaned onto the
ledge and bent down putting his head down, taking deep breaths.
They became short, then turned into gasps, and finally, they
turned into sobs. He tried to control them, but he couldn't.
He put his left hand to his forehead and crossed his right arm
diagonally over his stomach and leaned against the shelf. Slowly,
he sank down to the ground, rocking, letting the tears flow.
He wasn't going to miss his
father
Sabin laid in bed watching the
seconds tick by on his clock. Meet me on the battlements
Edgar had told him.
"Why," Sabin whispered
to himself. He was curious at to what his brother was up to. Upon
that thought, Sabin pulled the sheets off himself and set his
feet on the ground. He sighed and stood, rubbing his hand through
his shaggy hair. He kept it there and again whispered, "what
are you up to, Eddy?" Sabin finished his nervous twitch and
sighed again. He stood straight up and turned to the stairs; he
didn't bother with getting dressed or putting shoes on.
He walked down the stairs and
opened the door. He quietly closed it and padded over the sand.
He entered the main foyer and treaded lightly to the side door;
he walked right past his father's door.
He kissed his fingers and placed
his hand on the door and walked away.
Sabin slowly walked up the
stairs, pushed the door open to the battlements and quietly
walked up behind his brother. Edgar was standing and leaning on
the ledge again by the lamp, looking out at the mountains. His
stern face had a hushed glow that made his features stand out
more; he seemed older than he should. Edgar heard his
brother's approach behind him and turned around to find
Sabin with crossed arms.
"You rang," Sabin said.
"You came," Edgar
breathed.
"I did What did you
call me up here for, Eddy."
"SabinI know that
dad's death has" Edgar began and let the sentence
drift off as Sabin put his head down. "I know this is hard
on you, just as it is on me, but what can I do; what do you
want?"
"What do I want," Sabin
asked looking at his brother somewhat harshly, dropping his arms.
"I want out! I don't want someone calling me "your
majesty" and waiting on me. I want my dignity, but
especially my freedom," Sabin said looking solemnly
into Edgar's eyes. "You said you were sick of it too,
right?"
""
Edgar whispered. The one thing in the world he could never have,
but that his eternal soul would long for. He was a bondman;
forever trapped in what people thought they wanted to be and no
one ever understood what it meant to be "king." He
would serve his people without complaint when deep down
inside If they only knew he would muse to himself.
"EdgarI know you feel
the same Out, freea life to live—"
"But what would happen if we
both leave, Sab," Edgar interrupted. "You and I both
know we can't leave our kingdom."
Sabin put his head down; he knew
it was true. What would happen if they both leave? Figaro would
fall apart piece, by piece. Traitors—that's what
they'd be; bondmen—that's what they are.
Edgar noticed his brother's
meditation and added, "what would dad say?"
"I know, brother. I
know," Sabin said finally looking up, lost.
Edgar stepped forward and said,
"let's settle this with a coin toss." Edgar pulled
out a coin and began to roll it up and down his knuckles like
water in a stream.
Sabin recrossed his arms as he
stared at the coin, glistening in the moonlight.
"What's the catch?"
"If it's heads, you
win, and you get your freedom" Edgar said flipping the
coin about eye level. "but if it's
tails" he caught the coin and flipped it again as
Sabin watched intently. "I get mine. Whatever the
outcome, we'll choose whichever path we want, without
regrets. Okay?"
Sabin thought for a moment. What
if he wins? Can I handle this alone? I meanwill I be a good
enough king; strong enough to handle this? Butwhat if I
win? Sabin looked up at his brother who was still flipping
the coin in front of them.
"Well?"
Sabin only nodded.
"We'll choose whichever
path with want, without regrets. Okay?"
Sabin nodded again.
Edgar finally stopped flipping
the coin and gave one final meaningful look to his brother. And
Edgar knew, it might have been his last.
Edgar turned and breathed.
"This is for dad"
He threw the coin high into the
air and let it disappear as a star among the black night. It
shone when it hit the round glow of the moon at the peak of the
toss and finally, it began to fall
Multitudes of thoughts struck
each brother's mind; but especially Edgar's. He raised
his head and looked over to his brother to find Sabin staring up
at the coin, as though an eternity had elapsed. The coin started
to come crashing down to the deck. The gold piece of fate kept
spinning until it began to slow. Sabin leaned over and looked
down as it began to stop. Edgar didn't have to. He only
whispered,
"good
byebrother."