Ancient Kingdom Time Forgot

Chapter 15

“Fascinating, don’t you think Uncle?” Bridgette took her uncle aside into a hallway as they watched people nod their heads as they noticed her presence. “Ealdorman Silas yipped in celebration. Amazingly, they used thuribles as the Romans or Catholics do in ceremonies.” She acknowledged each person that nodded their head in passing with a smile or nod. “Amazing really, at first I didn’t think much of it, but having no contact with the rest of the world and still having these things in common is astonishing.”

“Yes, it is remarkable, though I wish you would have stayed in school to finish your Ph.D. in history.” Dr. Hawthorne replied as Ajay appeared seemingly out of thin air.

“You were majoring in history?” Ajay asked c*****g his head to the side.

“This is something new I did not know,” Raiden walked up next to Ajay almost a foot taller standing side by side he overshadowed him.

“Yes,” Bridgette said flatly walking out of the hallway.

“You would become a doctor like your Uncle?” Raiden brushed passed his subjects stepping side by side next to his betrothed. “Is this something you want?”

“No,” She replied looking up at his eager face. “Well not anymore, not really.”

“Come now, Bridgie!” Dr. Hawthorne urged hard as his voice boomed in the long hallway. “You love history, you surely could’ve taken the break and gone back after the accident.”

“What accident?” Ajay squeaked now fully invested in this conversation with his newfound family, quite different from the one he left behind.

“My brother,’’ She replied as her voice started to crackle, she stopped at her door and went in closing it before anyone could follow.

“Brother?” Raiden questioned as he stared at Jasper for the answers.

“Yes, I think we better sit,” He started walking toward his room just down the hall. As they enter they are greeted by Mrs. Watson, Mr. Wiley, and Dr. Dubois. Jasper quickly informed them of the events that transpired and ushered them to sit so he could tell them what happened to his great-nephew. “My nephew, Cameryn, was Bridgette’s older brother, he passed when Bridgette was twenty-three, he was twenty-six. Bridgette was in college she had a year left to get her doctorate in history.” He quickly smiled. “She was always interested in history from a young age, Desmond and I encouraged her to pursue her passion. That's Bridgette's father.” He cleared his throat and took his white fedora off of his head as he looked down. “He was shot during a robbery.”

“I did not realize the loss, you have my condolences,” Raiden stepped closer to Dr. Hawthorne as he laid his hand on his square shoulder, the padding that laced the inside of his ivory-colored suit.

"Yes, well it was some time ago," Jasper uttered as he sniffled and placed his fedora back on top of his snow-colored hair. "I should check on my niece and you now have a wedding and a coronation to prepare for." He stood up as he addressed Raiden and headed out the door. "Bridgie," He knocked on the door before heading inside the monarch's room to find his niece sitting on the bed crying. "I know, I know," He moved to the bed and wrapped his arms around her trying to soothe her wails.

"I am so sorry Uncle, it's been three years, I thought it wouldn't affect me so much now," Bridgette cried onto her uncle's shoulder.

"No, I still cry over him from time to time, it wasn't fair and he deserved a full life," Jasper paused as he drew his niece away from himself to look in her eyes. "But, it's in the past and we have to look toward the future, and always keep him with us."

"My love," Raiden walked through the door watching Jasper get up from the bed and kiss his niece on the head before walking out of the room. "Do you need a shoulder?"

"No Handsome, I need a distraction shall we start planning the wedding?" Bridgette asked with a smile as she wiped away the tears on her cheeks.

"We will, but first we need to bury my Uncle Seti and I need to find another advisor," Raiden muttered as his eyes began to swell with tears.

"Oh, Raiden I'm so sorry, I didn't know." Bridgette hugged her betrothed as they both got up from the bed and headed to the burial washroom. As they both watched Seti get washed by the Prexiuses as is their way before they can be Ealdermen, Raiden tried to hold back his tears but they flowed out like rain before a great storm. So, Bridgette did the only thing she knew to do, she held him close and let him cry on her shoulder until he couldn't anymore.

"We will bury him now," Raiden cleared his throat as he watched his cousin walk in and start to caress her father's red hair. "Come, my love, we will get ready," Raiden and Bridgette got dressed and led everyone outside to the burial water as they sang out the Aktorian song for the lost souls. Just as before Seti was dressed in a shroud, his insides were scooped out and filled with rocks, but he was given to the water with the sign of a swirl on his forehead. It is meant to be recognized as a royal in the afterlife and to have the best in the life beyond, he was the brother of a King, son of a King, and was considered a Danu in their language as a spare King.