Chapter 3 The answer knows only the sea
The red sun stood high on this sunny afternoon, the wind blew lightly and the sea was extreme calm.
Despite the nice weather only one young man took a long walk along the seashore.
He seemed to be in deep thoughts, because he stared at the sand under his feets and his face changed from confused to angry.
Sometimes he would mumble something only he could understand.
At one point he looked up and his amber-coloured eyes grazed the giant palace to his right in which he lived.
It happened frequently that he felt like a tiger trapped in a hugh cage and then he dissapeared for a few hours in order to think alone without somebody in his proximity asking how he was feeling.
Sometimes it was like a curse to be the son of the commander, the second most important man after King Salem.
And then there was times when he was proud of his father and he couldn´t wait to step in his shoes.
One of this days he would be the commander of the royal army and he would reign with his cousin and best friend Zan.
There was only one problem which he couldn´t ignore, the reason why he decided to take a walk.
Flashback
A large man with grey hair and lightblue eyes stood infront of a big table.
His green cloak with the royal symbol, a dragon and a snake entangled, the golden crown with two emeralds in the middle, indicated that he was the King.
To his right sat his beautiful wife Lutecia, her lightbrown hair was pinned up in a bun and her green-brown eyes radiated warmth.
To the left was Mael, the brother and second in command, his black hair which reached to his chin was slicked back. His black eyes seemed to be always on the lookout and every move was observed.
On Maels left side sat his wife Abidale, which wore her long blond hair straight past her shoulders. Her gray-blue eyes sparkled of joy, because she knew why the meeting was called.
Her gaze fell on her daughter Ava, who was on her left side. She was the sunshine of the family. With her blond curls and her clear blue eyes she looked like a doll.
At her side sat her brother Rath who looked like he would be rather elsewhere then sitting here and listen to something the King had to say.
For once his shoulderlength black hair was bound to a pigtail with a brown leather tie and his amber-brown eyes stared bored on the table.
Opposite him was Zan, the son of King Salem. He played with his necklace and waited for the news.
His brown eyes searched the attention of Ava, who seemed to look a hole through the table. With his right hand he stroked his short dark brown hair from his face.
After a few minutes in which Ava ignored his flirting, he turned to his right where Vilandra, his sister, sat. She seemed to be in thoughts. Her crystal blue eyes stared to the ceiling. Her long blonde hair fell in light curles around her face and stopped at her breasts. Zan was certain that she thought about which of her many dresses she could wear tomorrow.
Suddenly the King cleared his throat really loud and everybody, besides Rath, paid attention.
" Beloved Family," King Salem begun." Like you know, a important ball takes place in two month". He waited till everybody nodded before he continued." And I´d like to make a announcement". Again a little break to breath. " At this ball the engagement of Zan with Ava and Rath with Vilandra will be made public".
Zan and Ava exchanged amorous glances, Mael, Lutecia, Abidale and King Salem beamed with happiness. Vilandra looked like she would throw up any minute and Rath seemed to explode with rage.
" No, you can´t do that!" Rath jumped off his chair and knocked him to the ground in the process. His voice shook with anger. " Not without my permission".
Mael leaped on his feet" Of course we can. It´s tradition. Besides that was decided before you were born!".
" I don´t care about tradition!", screamed Rath. " I will not marry someone I care about like a sister!".
Abidale took her sons arm. " Please sit down. We can discuss this calmly". She hated when there was tension in her family. Rath saw in his mothers pleading face and did as she told him.
King Salem began to speak again." There is no discussion. The decission was made a long time ago. The engagement is a concluded case!". And with that the meeting was finished.
End Flashback
Rath couldn´t get his head around the fact that he will be a married man in two month.
And then Vilandra of all people. He loved her that was out of question, but he was not in love with her.
He didn´t believe in true love exactly, but he wanted to wait for the right girl which would made him feel a lot more than a brother.
The very idea of sex with Vilandra was to much for him and he had to quell his nausea.
Angy about the feeling of no control he kicked a orange shell as far as possible.
And then he saw it. A little boat drifted on the sea.
It seemed to be deserted, but on the second view Rath saw a bloody leg which hung lifeless on the outside.
As fast as possible he ran into the red water, grasped the rope and hauled the whole boat to the shore back.
Afterwards he finally dared to look inside.
His first thought was on Caleb, one of the few fisherman of the kingdom, who drunk to much last night and slept it off.
But what he saw was not a drunken man, but rather a injured girl.
Rath took a closer look at the stranger and discovered a inflamed bruise on her left thigh, a laceration on her forehead and several abrasions on both arms and legs.
But he couldn´t be sure with all the dried blood and mud on her body.
He breathed a sigh of relieve as he saw that her chest rose with every breath she took. Thank God she was still alive.
Carefully he move his strong hands under the girl and lifted her up in his arms.
Then he made his way to the hospital ward of the palace, unaware that this moment changed his destiny.
TBC