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Brother and Sister
"I think that these young people might have a good point,
Thryhen," said Brethe. He leapt of his chair, seeking support on his crooked
stick. He stood between Merogan and Merrhyna. "We shall call a meeting, the
situation will be discussed...actions will be taken." He bowed to the assembly
and disappeared in a dark corridor, going back to his tailor shop. The others
followed his example; only Merrhyna and Merogan were left behind.
"I'm afraid that we will have to reside here,
the guards are looking for us and, I think, especially for you. If you go through
that corridor you will find a mattresses and blankets, you can rest there if
you want." She pointed at the corridor to their left. Merogan slowly nodded
and disappeared in the dark holding a torch. Merrhyna sat back down at the table
and started scribbling some plans and strategies on parchment. Merogan had reached
the so-called bedroom but passed it and went deeper and deeper into the dark
halls, clutching his torch, his hand on his sword.
Illyne was slowly brushing her long black hair.
She gently stroke it with her hand when the brush had just passed. It felt so
soft; it made her all dreamy. She sat down in front of her mirror and sighed.
It had been a lovely birthday except for that young Lupe that had come to trouble
their festivities. She wondered what he had said for she was standing to far
away and afterwards the guards had escorted her back to her quarters. Even now
she could here the running in the halls and the yelling and screaming in the
streets of Meridell. She had asked her father what happened but he locked her
up and as she could hear by the screams and thumps in the next room, so was
her sister. She moved towards the window and leaned out. The sky was now coloured
red and orange, the sun hiding behind the trees of Meridell forest. She gently
sighed and felt the warm hair blow along her cheeks, she smiled. The soft breeze
picked up lock of her black hair and started tossing around in mid-air; she
watched it, as it was trying to escape. Then someone knocked on her door, the
lock came back to its owner and she pulled back in the dark room. She skipped
towards the door and opened it.
A servant bowed, solemnly said "Your lunch Milady."
Closed the door and locked it again. She put the tray on her wooden table and
sat down. She wasn't even hungry, she wanted to go outside and skip true the
green hills, such a beautiful day and she was stuck inside with her psychotic
sister who was still screaming and thumping in the next room. She got up again
and started singing an ancient faerie song that her mother thought her, that's
what her father told her. She was softly humming the tune and twirling around
when someone jumped from her window and grabbed her, she started yelling but
a hand covered her red lips, prevailing that any sound would come from them.
"I will not hurt you princess! Please, just listen
to me!" whispered a voice in her ear. Slowly the hands let go of their grip
and she turned. She backed against the wall and looked at Merogan with frightened
eyes.
"W-who are you, what are you doing here? Don't
come closer or I'll scream for help!" She yelled at him 'Wait, you are that
young Lupe that threatened my father, aren't you? How dare you sum up the nerve
to barge in her like that! Who do you think you are...I'm calling the guards!"
She walked over to the door and wanted to bang on it, just then he grabbed her
wrist and pulled her very close to him.
"That man...is NOT your father." He spat the
words in her face with the greatest despise. She stared at him with wide eyes
and loosened the mussels in her arm so that he would let go. She rubbed her
wrist and sat down on her bed.
"Just leave...leave and nobody will get hurt!"
"It's a little late for that, about 16 years
late, that is!"
"What on earth are you talking about?" said Illyne.
Merogan sighed, pulled up a chair and sat in front of her.
"Believe me or not, but I am your brother. Now,
before you say anything let me finish my story." She vaguely nodded with incredulous
eyes. "Kreneh, is not your father he is your uncle. He killed our father about
16 years ago. Did you ever hear of Ghisen?" She shook her head. "He was our
father, he was the ruler of Tyherdell, it was a peaceful setting on the other
side of the forest. He adopted me to become his heir, for he had just twin daughters,
you and Illiana. But Kreneh wanted to be king, ruler so he founded Meridell
and torched Tyherdell. I don't have much more time to explain everything to
you, but I AM your brother..." He grew silent and looked at her.
"Say, that you are my brother...what does that
change...what is going to happen, that you have risked your life to come and
tell me this?"
"Kreneh's rulership has lasted for too long,
he exploits the peasants and tries to make up for it by one jolly evening with
food. He killed our father, isn't that a bog enough crime?" He stopped and got
up. "We attack tonight, come with me...join the rightful cause!"
"What will happen to him?"
"I don't know, but he must somehow pay for his
crimes...he is an evil person, Illyne, he must be stopped."
Illyne's face darkened, she slowly got up walked
towards the corner and turned to Merogan with a hand in her sword. "I don't
believe anything of what you have just said, get out and live! Kreneh is my
father; he has been good to us even after MY mother died! You do not have the
right to come in here and destroy my entire life!"
"You want to know how your mother really died..."
he said bittered by pain. "Ask him, ask him the truth!" He backed towards the
window, grabbed his bow and an arrow to which a piece of rope was tied and shot.
The arrow reached a tree and planted itself firmly in the wood; Merogan attached
the rope to the bed. "Let the doubt enter your hart and only cut the rope when
I have reached firm ground." One leap and he had vanished. She rushed over to
the window and saw him running true the fields, yet no one seemed to notice
him. She cut the rope and fell on the bed. Her head was spinning with contradictory
thoughts and tears welled up in her eyes. She pulled herself together got up
and started banging on the door, immediately a guard appeared at the door.
"I wish to speak to my father...to the king,
it is very urgent." The guard bowed and led her to the throne room. She walked
in the hall, Kreneh smiled. "How did my mother die?" she asked plainly looking
at Kreneh with hard eyes. His smile quickly faded.
"She was sick, and died shortly after you two
were born..." he said.
"How...did...she really...die?" she hissed at
him.
He averted his eyes and seemed sunken in thoughts.
"I don't have time for this...I will tell you all about her sickness later,
again!" He lowered his head and started reading the documents that were on his
lap. Suddenly, she jumped forward yelling 'How could you' and started punching
him; a guard clutched her arms behind her back and dragged her away. Kreneh
was lying on the floor struggling to breathe; he looked at her with begging
and truly hurt eyes. He really loved his girls, but Illyne pulled loose and
ran out of the hall. She grabbed a cloak that was lying on a nearby table and
escaped from the castle, some guards chasing her. She had quickly reached the
city but did not know where to look for Merogan. She wandered around in the
many streets and decided to carefully ask. She passed a small clothing stall
and stopped, she ploughed true the different fabrics and found a familiar one,
it was the veil she had lost one day. She smiled.
"Care to buy this beautiful veil, lady? Very
nice quality," said the merchant.
"Yes, it is. Maybe I shall buy it," she said,
as she pulled closer to the merchant she made sure she was well hidden in her
cloak. "I'll take it, but say, maybe you can help me...do you know where I can
find Merogan?" she said whispering. The merchant eyed her doubtfully.
"Come here, customers pay at the back of the
stall." Illyne followed him. The merchant and some others pulled a large cloth
over her head and knocked her out. Soon they disappeared the traitor safely
packaged...
What happens to traitors during war...?
To be continued...
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