Chapter 38
367 Words
38
“May I speak with you?” The man from the seventh kingdom asked Jak.
“Of course.”
“My name is Xeku Ameenu. I believe I have answers to the questions you haven’t yet asked.”
“My father. You know him?” Jak asked.
“I do.”
“He lives?”
“He is alive, yes.”
“Can you have him meet me?”
Xeku laughed a little to himself. “Come sit down.” He gestured to one of the seating areas that hadn’t been destroyed in the fighting. The servants were bustling about trying to set the palace back to right.
“I’m your father, Jak.” His eyes rested on Jak’s face, waiting for a response.
“I don’t understand. How?”
“Your mother and I were young lovers in a time of The Choosing. It was treason to fall for anyone other than the princess. Your mother was captivating. She and I, well, we were inseparable, until my parents sent me north to make myself available for The Choosing.”
“But you weren’t chosen.”
“Correct.”
For every answer his father gave, he had a million more questions. He settled on the most important.
“Why didn’t you leave, find my mother, and be a part of our lives?”
“I was asked to join the council. It wasn’t the same as being chosen by the princess, but still a great and honored duty. I sent word to your mother, but she’d already fled to the Wilds, taking you with her. Your birth was a secret, and she wanted to keep it that way. Perhaps to avoid something like this.”
Xeku lifted a hand and gestured to the palace.
“I see.”
“I don’t think you do, but let’s assume so. Now you know the truth of your parentage, will that help you decide to stay and fight with us?”
Jak nodded.
Xeku put a hand on his shoulder.
“Think about it son. It’s a huge responsibility. If I’m not mistaken, you already have feelings for Princess Rasha. If that’s the case, then you’re ready to stand at her side. That’s all we can ask of you.”
“I need time to think.” Jak bolted out of the room.
Rasha gave him a questioning look as he dashed past her. Jak wasn’t ready to talk to her about this just yet. His father was alive and a councilman. Xeku had been there the whole time. Jak was a prince of Winaka. A place he didn’t know, with family he’d never met. All he could think was that if they knew the truth about him, they would never have asked him to stay.
- Writer
