Ch. 2.2 (Orilis)

“You may leave and tell his majesty I will be there.” I told the maid tersely, my tone barely containing my annoyance at the man who was my father. 

‘You don't see them often enough’? Well yeah that's what happens when your brothers look and most definitely want to kill you because you're a threat to them. My exasperation for my fathers oblivion of my family's actual standing among each other was clearly going to be peaking today if nothing else. I’ll never understand how unintelligent one must be to have that level of delusion and frankly I most likely would give myself a headache trying.

In the royal family there were seven princes: Aliv, Zedian, Lorcs, Ior, Xi, Calv, and me. Out of seven I was the youngest, which was either good or bad depending on who you asked. 

Personally I thought I was blessed, my brothers fought tooth and nail for everything no matter how small while I could just keep a low profile as the youngest and do whatever I wanted, almost always achieving what I wanted whether people realized it or not. Well I used to anyway. Past mistakes had put my brothers on high alert when it came to me. 

Shaking my head, I glanced down at my attire debating whether to change. Father won’t mind me wearing this will he? Not like anyone will be there except family right? I began pulling on my boots, lacing them up over my breaches. My brothers could argue all they wanted that I was not the mask I wore but they would never be able to prove it. 

I can use this quote on quote family breakfast to gauge whether my father is leaning towards Aliv or Zedian for the throne anyway. Not that I intended on letting either within ten feet of my throne but it was always good to know what was happening between the two and the dynamics of their vie for power. 

There was a soft click of distaste originating from the main window as I entered my study. I sighed knowing she’d overheard everything.

 "Liv, you'd best hang back for the duration of this ‘family breakfast’," I said, grimacing. She didn't respond so I glanced at the window where Liv sat, her yellow gold eyes watching the sky. Rays of sunlight reflected off her autumn bronze hair and her yellow eyes seemed to glow in the morning's light. I would love to take her with me, I really would. Unfortunately my brothers had an innate knack for infuriating the people close to me and the last time I had allowed Liv to come to a supposed family meal, she had almost thrown a knife at Xi for making a snide comment about my profound interest in metalsmithing. 

When Liv finally responded her voice was exasperated, "You can't go alone, they'll eat you alive!" 

This was true, but I wasn't about to let Liv have a repeat of last time either. 

"Do you recall the last time? You know, the incident involving the kitchen knife, my interest in blacksmithing and your terrifyingly accurate aim?" I said pointedly. 

Liv turned her head to glare at me, likely trying to find a logical argument to change my mind. 

"Liv, you stay here, please." My concern for her radiated in that last word. After Vail we can't afford another incident. Too much could be exposed.

“Reach out to your friends, they should be able to help us figure out if Vail got word out to anybody at least.” Liv’s “friends” were her informants from the world of sinners no one dared directly speak about. And right now we needed information, if Vail did by chance tell someone, they would know about it. 

Seeing my point Liv offered me a brisk nod and rose to leave. She was pist at me that was for sure. Her whispered words of promised vengeance in my ear clarified that much. I shivered, she would make me pay hell for saying no to her tonight and I knew it. 

"I'll be back in an hour or so," I called after her, knowing she’d hear me and hoping she would bring back the all clear for the Vail incident. Goddess help us if not. 

Groaning I dragged my feet out of my wing of the palace and began running through a list of excuses to get out of the full five course breakfast and the hell that was bound to ensue because of it. I most certainly didn't get enough sleep to deal with them today. I had spent quite a bit of the last few nights combing through archives and Vails personal effects, erasing traces of his existence and searching for any inkling that Vail had told someone else of our conveniently hard to prove, treason worthy actions. If anyone was told it would be hard to search for proof without me knowing so I wasn't too concerned but I still took extra precautions all the same. Hence my lack of sleep, I thought irritably. 

Exasperation for the absurdity of my situation almost made me laugh, I truly was having horrible luck this week. 

The two guards wordlessly opened the door to the royal dining hall for me as I stepped through the giant double doored archway that marked the entrance to hell. I was met by six cold stares and my father's naive smile. How on earth did he manage to land a place on the throne? Screw that, how is this man even still alive? I knew all too well that my brothers were not above hiring assassins to eliminate threats, I had several scars to prove it. At least I actually got off my ass and got my hands dirty when I needed someone to disappear. Well, most of the time at least. And they call me a coward. Ha. 

"Father, Brothers," I said, offering my father a low bow. Only in private or when addressing the king directly was I able to call him father without being rude. 

Taking my seat at the far end of the table next to Calv, I steeled myself for the next few hours of chaos that were sure to ensue upon all seven of us being present in the same room.