Elder Born

6. Duty

6

Duty

Kyle looked up to see one of the house staff enter his rooms.

“My Lord Kyle, your father Lord Strafford is here to see you as you requested. He’s in the guest lounge waiting your convenience.” The man bowed and retreated as Kyle nodded his acknowledgment.

He looked at Bennett as he assisted in strapping on the last of his weapons; dark brown eyes much like his own stared back at him as he caught his long-term servant’s eye in the mirror.

“Well, this could be an interesting conversation.” Kyle wished he had a better idea of how his father was going to respond.

Bennett held out his hand to one of the other staff for the jacket, then helped Kyle into it with a practiced ease.

“Yes, my lord. Maybe he just needs this prompt.” Bennett’s face and tone showed no indication of what he was actually thinking.

“Perhaps. I guess I’ll find out soon enough.”

Kyle tugged at one of the sleeves of his formal jacket. He hadn’t worn his less formal attire since the death of the king. That awful night and the failure they all felt keenly was something his mind shied away from. He’d stepped up in his role of Companion of the Fourth, taking turns with the others in guarding William while he recovered. Kyle shuddered. That they had nearly lost William as well didn’t bear thinking about. When he hadn’t been standing guard over William, he’d been on Elizabeth’s shoulder as she took up the burden of ruling as regent while her twin brother and soon-to-be king recovered.

Kyle shook his head as he gave his appearance one final check in the mirror. It surprised him, really. He felt, given everything that had happened to him, that a wizened, old grey-haired man would be staring out at him. Instead, his black hair showed no sign at all of age, no more than the rest of him did. He still looked fit and healthy. The man that looked back out at him was lean and well-muscled, with no signs of the excesses and strain he’d put on his body in recent times. Of course his appearance was aided by the power of the veil that flowed through him and a body that would heal most things—except his head being parted from his body or a dagger in the heart. Kyle smiled tightly.

Realising he was delaying, Kyle straightened his shoulders and turned resolutely towards the doors of his suite. Bennett was a step ahead of him, well used to his mannerisms. The doors swept open in front of him without him having to ask and Kyle stepped out into a living room area, ignoring the comfortable, inviting lounging chairs. This room was private, shared by himself, Alex and Jess with doors from their individual suites all leading into it. Visitors to their private domain in the Complex of the Fourth were never brought in here unless one of them gave permission.

His measured pace soon took him into the wide corridor leaving the palatial, private lounge with its throw rugs and wide windows looking out into the garden courtyard behind him. He walked the short distance down the corridor, and lights flared to life ahead of him as he walked. Kyle grinned. It was a habit he’d picked up from Alex and with such a small use of power he wasn’t even aware he was doing it half the time. He was absolutely certain Alex never notice he was doing it or that it left some in the court a little wide-eyed in panic.

A servant on the doors opened them on his approach and he passed through, leaving the private areas of the Complex for the more public side. Kyle noted the presence of the Elite, always around since the assassination of the king, and gestured for them to withdraw before turning his attention to his father. As his father began to rise on his arrival, Kyle grimaced and waved him back into his seat.

“Please, we are in private and you are my father.”

“Even so, you are dressed for court and as Fourth’s Blade you do outrank me.” His father smiled at him but complied, relaxing back into the leather chair.

Kyle shook his head. “I have enough people bowing and scraping to me, seeking favours. I may be dressed for a formal court session but until I’m out of the Complex there is no need for formality.”

As he spoke Kyle assessed his father. It saddened him that he seemed to have aged so much in the last year. Recent events had weighed heavily on him. As much as Kyle didn’t want to add to his father’s burden, Kyle knew it was past time for Lord Strafford to step back up into public life.

“Well, you did summon me here, Kyle, and in your official capacity I take it, not as my son.” There was not even a hint of resentment in his father’s tone.

“I did. Father, I understand your grief, but Elizabeth needs you.” Kyle almost sighed as he saw his father’s face crumple a little before he caught it and his expression smoothed.

“I failed Michael.”

Kyle made sure to hide his impatience. “We all failed our king that bloody night in the court, Father.”

“The mess with your sister, the things I said to Alex, to Michael.”

“Yes, he was your king, but he was also a parent himself and your friend, Father. He understood your pain and grief over what happened to Amelia. He didn’t blame you.”

“I should have been there, at his side…”

“Then you’d be dead too.” Kyle smiled grimly as his father looked up at him, shock written all over his face.

“I might have been able to save him.”

“Amelia knew full well you served as the King’s Blade. She would have killed you.” Kyle knew he was being blunt, but sometimes a little bluntness was needed to cut through wallowing.

His father winced. His mouth opened then closed abruptly although Kyle was relieved to see he was at least thinking things through.

“What do you need from me?”

“Elizabeth needs you. Where you lead, the others will follow. At least start to appear in court again and on the council sessions. Either Alex, Jess or myself will stand at her shoulder, but the older councillors will be less inclined to argue with her if you are seen to be supporting her.”

“They are being difficult?” His father looked at him, frowning.

Kyle’s eyes narrowed. “Lord Kastler suggested Elizabeth usurp the throne and take him as her consort.”

It had been a close call when he’d found out. His first instinct had been to place a blade in the man’s heart and ending his miserable existence. The lord had no idea the only reason he was still alive was because Elizabeth had ordered Kyle not to kill him where he stood. She’d said there had been enough death and Vallantia didn’t need to add yet another member of the peerage to the death count right now.

“He did what?”

Kyle smiled grimly at the outrage that shook his father’s voice. He’d known that little piece of information would get to him.

“Without you being there as Lord Strafford, he’s been puffing his chest out and seems to think his family can rise in influence.”

His father laughed. “He has none, but I take your point. I will start resuming my duties again. I’ve spent enough time mired in self-pity.”

Kyle stood and placed his hand on his father’s shoulder, squeezing it.

“Elizabeth understands your grief, Father. If I could let you withdraw from official duty I would, but we’ve lost too many and the realm needs your leadership right now.”

“I’ll do what I can and return to council duties from tomorrow.” His father ducked his head, then stood. “Son, about Amelia…”

Kyle nearly sighed, he’d hoped this was the one time they wouldn’t have this conversation. “Father, we’ve discussed this.”

“Please Kyle. Alex never gave up on you when you were in trouble and Amelia is your sister.” Kyle could hear the ragged edge in his father’s voice.

“I know and I would have been lost more than once if it weren’t for Alex, Jess and William.” Kyle stared at his father with seeming calm; his father didn’t need to see that the topic hurt him as much as it did him.

“Then at least try to help her. Please. She’s my little girl, I can’t just forget her no matter what she’s done. Damn it Kyle, even if she’s lost as you say, she wouldn’t want to live as what they’ve turned her into!”

As grief clouded his father’s face, Kyle felt like he’d been hit over the head as he realised what his father was asking of him. To actively track down Amelia, and if he couldn’t save her, to kill her. While it was his job since she had killed the king, it didn’t mean he liked to think about it. Of course, as soon as William healed and they could start looking for the Order, it was likely that was exactly the position he’d be forced into.

“Right now my duty is clear, Father, but rest assured I will look for Amelia.”

Kyle didn’t apprise his father that there was nothing left of Amelia to save. It was an argument they’d had before. He’d come to the conclusion that if it helped his father to think that he could save Amelia then for now the lie could stand and serve its purpose. Kyle let the relief he felt show that the cloud of grief that had been dogging his father since Amelia’s capture had finally lifted. His father left the room with his head up and purpose in his stride once more.