The Semideus

Chapter 5

Howard

Outcast? Me an outcast? Our father had just been slain yet he was beseeching this monster to banish me... Had my brother gone absolutely insane?

"So you want to banish your own brother, who has never left the cradle of this kingdom to a world of endless dangers and impending monstrosities? And I thought I was the savage one?"

The King chortled, his mood suddenly light. He proceeded to sit on my father's throne, my dead father's throne. I felt my knuckles harden, I wanted to kill him, tear him limb from limb, feed his carcass to the hyenas...

"I am glad you find this entertaining sire."

Sire? Did the next king in line just acknowledge this murderer as the King of Fallon? That treacherous bastard!

"What are you doing? He is not our King! You are!"

My eyes shot towards the direction of one of the elders who seemed to be connected to me telepathically, Elijah.

"Do not be foolish Elijah, King Wallace has just conquered the throne by killing my-"

He couldn't say it. He couldn't bring himself to say it. I watched as the King eyed my brother, awaiting him to finish his statement. Lancelot stared down at our father's lifeless body, I could have sworn I saw a glimmer of tears in his hazel eyes.

"Bottom line is, he is our new King until a counter agreement is done. I believe once we find the sword, we will be able to attain our Kingdom's throne once more."

King Wallace regarded Lancelot for a while, his expression unfathomable. He was considering his words.

"Bring your brother to me."

Peter dragged me backwards, as Towan soldiers dispersed at the order. Lancelot went with them, turning his head slightly towards our hiding place. He didn't disclose my whereabouts immediately. Did he have an orchestration in play?

"Come on, let's  go out this way."

I heard Stephen's muffled voice calling out to the rest of us. We had to get out of the palace before Wallace's men reported me missing. I stepped in tow with the rest but quickly dashed backwards to see him once more. King Julian laid dead on the ground floor of the palace, his ashen long hair sprawled on the sides of his wrinkled face. His golden majestic robe was now just but a symbol of his once long rule. The last words I said to him haunted me, causing an involuntary shiver down my spine. It suddenly occurred to me that for once in his life, my father went against our solemn tradition, he had fought, fought to keep this treasured sword safe. I would be damned if Lancelot simply handed Wallace the sword.

"Get a move on Howy!"

I swiftly obeyed turning my heels towards the secret dungeon which allowed us to exit the palace unnoticed. Upon exiting, we almost collided with the Towan men but thanks to Bob's cowardice, we realized their presence beforehand. Out of the corner of my eyes I caught a glimpse of someone staring at us.

"You go this way, I will go that way."

"I only take orders from our King, prince."

I watched as Lancelot flinched at the way the soldier sneered his title. I was about to teach the bastard a lesson when I saw something I thought would never come to be. Lancelot swiftly disarmed the soldier, bringing him down to his knees with one hard kick to his shin.

"Maybe you didn't hear me earlier because of the ridiculous amount of wax implanted in your ears you filthy goon. I am going this way and you will go that way, am I clear?"

I felt my lips tugging upwards. Whatever happened to no fighting, turn the other cheek facade that our Kingdom strongly upheld? The soldier nodded in submission, scurrying away while glancing behind twice before disappearing within a swarm of his fellow soldiers. Lancelot kept the small knife he had acquired from the soldier whilst rearranging his robe gracefully. I have never been so proud of my brother.

"And here I was fearing you were somewhere organizing a coup to overthrow our new King already." Lancelot smirked at me.

I reached out to him, embracing him with all my might. I felt him stiffen at first before relaxing in the heartfelt embrace. I felt his sadness, loss and grief. He had loved my father just as much as I had.

"He killed him Lance, we have to revenge our father's-"

"No, you will do no such thing."

"What are you talking about Lance, our father has just been murdered-"

"I know, I was present at the time."

Lancelot pulled away from me, his eyes cold.

"We shall not revenge, you will leave this wretched Kingdom and find a life for yourself-"

"Are you insane! No! Never! I refuse to abandon my people-"

"Your people are better off without your poisonous ideas of waging a war we can't even win!"

Both of us stared daggers at each other, both of us seething. I couldn't decipher his words. Why seek me out here, away from the Towans just to tell me to give up and leave, for good?

"I will not lose anyone else tonight."

My head whipped up to view my brother, his voice had changed. It was straining, dripping with emotion. He reached for my hand and squeezed it.

"I was barely ten when I lost her. Today I have lost him. I will not lose you too."

I knew who 'her' was, our mother. I couldn't even remember her. All I knew is that my father never spoke of her. Lancelot let go of my hand and stepped away. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.

"Here he is! Take him to the King!"

My eyes widened as soldiers came rushing towards us. Had they been listening this whole time? Stephen punched one across the face, while kicking the other in the stomach. Peter bashed his head against one of the soldiers, sending the poor man tumbling backwards, falling on the ground with a thud. Bob knelt down his hands up in surrender, ready to be taken. I just stood transfixed facing my brother with only one question in my mind, was he just saying goodbye or was there more to his words than meets the eye?