Chapter 35
Ryzen
I didn’t know how much time had passed. I must have lost track of it. Because… well, I had just lost everything hadn’t I?
Anyone could have told me that there was no point to me sitting hunched on Lyn’s chair, gaze fixed on her quill, torn nightgown and hairbrush on the bed, the pieces of parchment on the marble floors, the shattered glass that was now becoming something that resembled myself.
“You know that it’s not blood in the tub.”
It was more a statement than a question.
I only nodded, not wanting to speak. My intertwined fingers at my chin, I still gazed at her things.
“I didn’t expect a grand welcome, but this is a nice change.” The voice; flat. Gruff. Accented. One that I knew well.
“I’ve been preoccupied,” I said at last, not bothering to turn around, my voice rough.
“So I see,” that familiar voice responded. “Also heard of her all the way in Merdocia.”
I finally stood up, turning around to face him, my words not having its usual energy, “You keeping tabs on me my friend?”
“I always keep tabs on this family. You forget it’s my job.”
I took in his shoulder-length dark hair, the rich olive skin, the thickly-scaled dark body armor as I clasped his hand in a firm grip.
“Welcome back Galanth.”
He nodded.
“I-”
A knock sounded on the door, alerting me to the presence of the guard whom I had seen earlier.
“Sorry to bother you sire, but there is someone here for Lord Rorcan,” he said, gaze flitting between me and Galanth.
“Send them away, I’ll-”
“Actually,” Galanth interrupted with a pointed look at me, “tell them he’ll be with them shortly.”
I raised a brow in question. He turned his attention back to the guard.
“Have they identified themselves?”
“No sire, it is a woman.”
My gaze snapped back to him at that.
“A woman?” He nodded.
It was now Galanth’s turn to look at me with a question in his eyes.
I said to Galanth, “I might know who she is.”
Elva was a beautiful woman. With rich dark skin and long hair, kind eyes and standing almost up to my height with gracious curves, she was everything I could see my brother liking.
“Lord Ryzen,” she said in an equally graceful voice with a small bow.
“You must be Elva,” I responded as Galanth and I walked into Rorcan’s room.
She nodded, cutting a glance towards Galanth.
“It’s alright,” I said in what I hoped was a reassuring tone. I had to be careful not to give away any hints. That’s what Rorcan would do. Calm, aloof.
“Where is he?” she asked, not waiting for pleasantries.
I raised a brow, but a glance at Galanth showed me a neutral expression.
“I was hoping I could ask you that,” I responded gingerly, clearing my throat a few times in an attempt to soften my hoarse voice.
“I do not know milord.” Her response was anything but meek, yet her jaw was set and her eyes clear and honest. “He left quite abruptly today morning right after…” she trailed off and her jaw tightened.
“Right after what?” I prodded.
Straightening her back, she said unflinchingly, “Right after he ended everything.”
I inhaled sharply at that.
What have you done brother?
Silence ensued for the next few minutes where I did not know what to say or do and Elva and Galanth were present in the room, equally uncomfortable. I could have walked away. I could have left it alone.
But I knew my brother well. And I knew that he wouldn’t just leave without a word. The man notifies me of every little visit, official or otherwise and especially when his favorite navy coat and most of his handknives were gone along with it, I knew he had left.
“You can go Elva.”
I didn’t bother turning away from the large balcony to face her as she left, my arms crossed behind my back as I thought and thought and came up with nothing.
“I know he’s going to be okay.” Her gentle voice carried across the large room and it reminded me so much of someone that I gripped my fingers a little tighter. “He can take care of himself, your brother.”
And with that she left. Leaving me alone to the silence that awaited, the thoughts readying to pick at my corpse like vultures.
A moment passed where neither Galanth nor I spoke.
Then he said, “Have you considered the possibility that maybe they left together?”
My eyelids closed of their own accord. I did not want to see the golden whorls that were no doubt, finding their way around my body; I could feel them well enough.
“Remember who you are speaking of Galanth,” I said through my teeth, turning around to face him. “This is my brother, Rorcan Malavek. The same man you taught to survive. The man you know has always been the best of us.”
“I do know that Ryzen,” he said, his voice still void of emotion. It was one of the things that I had never mastered and Rorcan had. They both knew how to manipulate emotion and there was never a weapon more dangerous.
“It is because I know him I say this; matters of the heart are confusing and inconvenient as it is. But it may be that your brother wanted to save you some pain.”
The scowl on my face deepened as I sneered, “Save me pain? How is this him saving me pain?”
The gold around me became more prominent with each step I took towards him.
“If anything is happening here, it is about her, not him. It’s all her.”
Galanth watched me for a moment, seeming to ponder my words.
“Have you alerted the High Queen?”
“No.”
“Do you not want to?”
I sighed. “It no longer matters what I want, does it?”
Galanth ran a finger over one of the many paintings in the room; a fractured glass breaking the surface of water. It looked as if it was done haphazardly, with no regard for the proper demarcations or tones. Yet, it looked pleasing, as though the artist knew that the reality of most beings was raw, broken and undefined.
“I have taught your brother many things,” Galanth stated, still staring at the painting. “And he may have many secrets and he may be good at winning a fight. But the one thing your brother chose not to learn was deception.”
I looked to him at that.
“Rorcan Malavek would never willingly get involved in some great conspiracy with what came lies and secrets.” He dropped his hand from the painting but his gaze remained fixed on it. “Unless it was to save his brother.”
To be continued…
Cant wait...write write. You are really good with your plots and words.