He was almost there, almost home free, Xzenivar hadn’t stopped running since his feet hit the cobblestone and now, framed in the light of Menphina’s moon, sat his ticket to freedom.
Standing at the head of the gangway, the only barrier the young lord had to fear, and one he had hoped he could have avoided most.
Xzanifer Ashallanset, his imposing bulk swathed in the silken robes of a rich merchant stood there, waiting, with a look of eternal patience on his chiseled stone features. His hands resting on the head of his favorite cane, a shinning blue black spire with the head of a mythical beast, the leviathan at its crown.
“Where are you going, little brother?†Xzanifer sighed, a thick finger rubbing his temple in irritation. Despite his clothes and the small glasses that sat on the tip of his nose, there was a powerful presence in every small movement the larger man took.
When their parents were alive, people on their small island would wonder what the children of the proud highlander and a smooth midlander would look like, which parent would they take after both physically and personality wise. Here the two brothers stood, answering those questions.
“You sprang this on me, I have no intention of getting married now. I’ve barely even been off this island. There’s so much to see and to do! I want to LIVE brother! Find out who I am!†Xzenivar’s eyes burned with a passion that usually lay dormant behind his manners and noble barring. “Who is right and who is wrong, the way you do things, the way you treat people, that cannot be right. You’ve never listened to me, so now… now I will do what I think is best! I’ll take a lesson from you, and use selfishness as my guide.â€Â
Xzanifer smiled so faintly, and began pacing back and forth. His cold blue eyes held only ice as he regarded the rebellious youth. “I must say, on some levels, I’m proud of you for this. But this marriage, it is far to important to us, to this island. You may not like how I get results, but my ways have done much for our people here. Turn around, head back inside, and we will forget this…†he motioned as if to brush away a fly. “Silliness.â€Â
Xzenivar ground his teeth, “It is not silly to want to live your own life. Our father let you do as you wish, should I not make my own choices? What kind of man would I be if I let you decide then when and how of everything?†he spat.
The older man nodded slightly, “I won’t deny that you have a point. You have thought this through, perhaps I’ve been too… sheltering.†He nodded to himself. “However, this marriage is a political thing. Once sealed you can do these things, with or without your wife. It matters little to me. Take another lover even, one to cherish, as long as your children are legitimate with your wife then-“
“I WILL NOT MARRY HER!â€Â
Standing at the head of the gangway, the only barrier the young lord had to fear, and one he had hoped he could have avoided most.
Xzanifer Ashallanset, his imposing bulk swathed in the silken robes of a rich merchant stood there, waiting, with a look of eternal patience on his chiseled stone features. His hands resting on the head of his favorite cane, a shinning blue black spire with the head of a mythical beast, the leviathan at its crown.
“Where are you going, little brother?†Xzanifer sighed, a thick finger rubbing his temple in irritation. Despite his clothes and the small glasses that sat on the tip of his nose, there was a powerful presence in every small movement the larger man took.
When their parents were alive, people on their small island would wonder what the children of the proud highlander and a smooth midlander would look like, which parent would they take after both physically and personality wise. Here the two brothers stood, answering those questions.
“You sprang this on me, I have no intention of getting married now. I’ve barely even been off this island. There’s so much to see and to do! I want to LIVE brother! Find out who I am!†Xzenivar’s eyes burned with a passion that usually lay dormant behind his manners and noble barring. “Who is right and who is wrong, the way you do things, the way you treat people, that cannot be right. You’ve never listened to me, so now… now I will do what I think is best! I’ll take a lesson from you, and use selfishness as my guide.â€Â
Xzanifer smiled so faintly, and began pacing back and forth. His cold blue eyes held only ice as he regarded the rebellious youth. “I must say, on some levels, I’m proud of you for this. But this marriage, it is far to important to us, to this island. You may not like how I get results, but my ways have done much for our people here. Turn around, head back inside, and we will forget this…†he motioned as if to brush away a fly. “Silliness.â€Â
Xzenivar ground his teeth, “It is not silly to want to live your own life. Our father let you do as you wish, should I not make my own choices? What kind of man would I be if I let you decide then when and how of everything?†he spat.
The older man nodded slightly, “I won’t deny that you have a point. You have thought this through, perhaps I’ve been too… sheltering.†He nodded to himself. “However, this marriage is a political thing. Once sealed you can do these things, with or without your wife. It matters little to me. Take another lover even, one to cherish, as long as your children are legitimate with your wife then-“
“I WILL NOT MARRY HER!â€Â