The Exile Son: Two Kings

The Mistshade pulled the Wavebreaker through the waters by several long, thick ropes. No one from the crew of the Mistshade wanted to sail their prize after the night of its capture. Although they sailed for Muldah in victory, the crew remained in a somber, quiet mood.

Surgeon had been able to keep Albesh alive. “He’s going to be horribly scarred and without an eye. But he’ll live.”

“Damn it!” Kharune punched the wall of the room, leaving a large crack in the wood.

This had been the first time Thame saw Kharune lose his jovial mood.

Surgeon placed a hand on his captain’s shoulder. “I suppose I’m going to have to take a look at that hand now.”

Kharune shook his head. “Fret not, Surgeon,” Kharune wiggled his fingers. “It’s just going to be a nasty bruise.”

Surgeon managed a small smile. He motioned to the door. “Get some rest you two. Albesh needs it as well.”

Kharune left without saying a word. Thame followed soon after. As he left for his hammock, he overheard two men from the crew talking. “What happened on that ship, it wasn’t natural. I'd rather just burn the ship and find another to bring back to Muldah,” The first man said.

The second man nodded in agreement. “The sooner we get rid of it, the better.”

Thame felt a pang of guilt. If it wasn’t for me pushing for Kharune to make good on our deal, then Besh wouldn’t have lost his eye. We would never have faced those creatures. As Thame came to the deck, he found Kharune leaning over the railing as he stared at the Wavebreaker. Thame moved to join him.

Kharune wiped his eyes. “I know what ya thinking, Thame. I had thought the same thing. Don’t blame yourself for what happened. If it had been normal men on that ship none of this would have happened.”

Thame took a slow deep breath before asking the question that had been gnawing at his mind. “What were those monsters, Kharune? There’s nothing of their like from my homeland.”

The cool wind of the night chilled the pair. “We have many legends in the lands of the east, and I assure you that all of them are based in truth. I fear the man I knew as Gethinias became one of those legends.”

Thame leaned in closer to Kharune. “And what legend is that?”

“He had become one of the deathless. Through unholy rituals they forsake their soul for immortality and abilities far beyond what a normal man can attain.”

“The man had died when Besh stabbed him through the heart. Whatever he had become didn’t save him from his fate.”

Kharune scratched his chin. “Then we should be thankful. It is said one needs to remove the head of a deathless, drive a stake through its heart and burn the body to truly kill it.”

Thame nodded. He did not want to think about having to go through that process whilst having to worry about the swarm of monsters Gethinias had at his command. “How do you suppose he came about becoming a deathless.”

“Who can truly say,” Kharune shrugged. “An old book, a benefactor, or something else? I believe, it is perhaps best to bury these events and forget they happened.”

Thame considered telling Kharune about what Gethinias told him before Albesh killed him but decided that he would prefer to forget the night. “Well then, how long until we reach Muldah?” Thame asked, hoping to change the subject.

“Two, maybe three weeks if the wind is favorable.”

“What will happen when we get there?”

Kharune faced Thame and gave him a rueful smile. “I will kill my brother.”

“I see.” Thame tapped on the railing. “Is there any chance you could convince him to aid me instead? You’ve nearly lost your son, because of our deal, I don’t want you to lose a brother for it.”

“In order to help you I must become king of Muldah. I will challenge my brother to a duel for the throne as is my right as a member of the ruling family, Besides, justified or not, he exiled me. I want to kill him.”

“Oh.”

“Do not worry yourself, Thame,” Kharune reached into his pocket. “Hold out your hand,”

Thame did as he was instructed. Kharune pressed Thame’s signet ring into his hand. “I think it’s about time I returned this to you.”

“Have I earned it?” Thame asked.

“I’m returning to my home after nineteen long years. You’ve more than earned ya trinket back. Now it’s time we get you on the way back to yours.”

Thame gripped the ring tight. He smiled. “Thank you,” he hugged Kharune.

Kharune returned the young man's tight embrace. “It’s getting late, little man. Go and get ya rest. You’re going to be picking up Albesh’s work while he recovers.”

“Aye, sir.”

***

Albesh recovered over the next three weeks watching Thame work. “Can’t you let me do something to help?” he asked.

Thame shook his head as he swabbed the deck. “No, no I won’t,” he grinned when he saw the sour look Albesh gave him.

“You’re a little bastard, Thame. I can mop a deck.”

“You can barely drink without knocking over your cup. You need to get used to only having one eye,” Thame pointed to his own left eye.

Albesh groaned. “This is bullshit! I can barely feed myself, walk, I won’t even be able to win a fight.”

Thame stopped his work. He was silent as he felt Albesh’s stare. Thame met his gaze. “You’re going to have to overcome it. It’s not going to be easy, far from it. But, if there’s one person who can do it, it’s you, Besh.”

Albesh grinned. “Not going to sugarcoat it are you?”

“What kind of friend would I be if I did?”

Albesh barked a laugh. “You’re terrible at cheering your friends up.”

Thame chuckled. “I’d rather be honest instead of setting you up for disappointment.”

“Well thank you for that."

Thame turned his gaze up to the clouds lazily wafting through the sky above them. “How long until we arrive at Muldah?”

“Two, maybe three days.”

Thame leaned on his mop and turned his gaze to Albesh. “Have you ever met your uncle?”

Albesh shook his head. “Only heard stories from my father. Always looked up to his older brother. Apparently, my father lost those ships and men trying to impress my uncle. The exile wounded my father deeply. He resents his brother as much as he loves him.”

“He seems set on killing him,” Thame said.

“Then he will be cut down. My father is the best swordsman I’ve ever seen. When he sets himself against anyone with a blade in his hand they die.”

Thame sighed. “Still, brothers should not draw one another’s blood. It will only lead to pain.”

“How would you know this? Brothers would have little need to fight over anything in those fancy palaces of yours with whatever they want at their beck and call, no?”

“Those palaces come with power, Besh. It’s brought more than one pair of siblings to killing each other. My family nearly met its end several times,” Thame raised his left hand, his signet ring rested on his index finger. “We made this to avoid that happening ever again.”

Albesh cocked his head. “How does a piece of jewelry prevent siblings from killing each other?”

“It chooses the rightful king or queen. Even if one sibling killed the other, they would never be the legitimate ruler and would be opposed in all things.”