That night, Morgan dreamt about the first time his father took him to hunt when he was ten years old. They were accompanied by a pair of hunters and his older brother, Emmer.
Morgan made his best effort to act enthusiastic but everyone could see through his facade.
Only his brother commented about it, “Nervous?” He nodded. “It is okay. When the moment arrives, I know you’ll do it fine.” Emmer smiled.
“And if I can’t?”
“Then you can always leave it to me. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”
Despite his kindness, Morgan didn’t feel relieved. While warm, that charming smile was the same Emmer used while acting on his role as House Selbair’s heir.
After seeing it so many times, it looked almost artificial, so Morgan had no idea what Emmer was truly feeling. Did he want to help him on his own volition or just because it was expected from him as the older sibling?
The hours passed and he wished they wouldn’t find any prey, but sadly it wasn’t his lucky day. They crossed with a deer.
“I can shoot it, Father,” Morgan said, trying to sound eager. Considering his scarce skill with the bow, he expected to miss and scare off the gentle animal.
However, Elvran wasn’t deceived. “You,” he ordered one of the hunters, “do it and don’t fail.”
The man shot, hitting the deer but failing to kill it. That wasn’t his goal.
They followed the animal for some minutes until it fell asleep, a victim of the substance coated in the arrow’s tip. Then, the moment Morgan feared arrived.
Elvran gave him a knife. “Now finish it off.”
He walked slowly and crouched beside the defenceless animal. His hands trembled and his eyes were fixed on the soft breathing of the deer. There was no way he could do it.
“Brother, give me the knife,” said Emmer in a gentle tone. “I’ll do it.”
He almost breathed in relief, until his father grabbed his shoulder in a vice grip. “Emmer, back up and be silent.” The older boy did as Elvran said. “Morgan, you won’t move from there until you do what you must.”
Fear invaded his being and between tears he eventually did it.
I’m sorry…
Morgan and the Basthed waited by the castle’s walls as a group of riders approached in the distance.
Something was off.
First, Elvran wasn’t around, and Morgan knew the man wouldn’t allow himself to be anywhere but leading the group. Second, there was no transport where his mother -who hated riding horses- could be. Only a modest carriage for provisions followed behind.
The knights leading the way made place for his brother to advance to the front. It was Emmer who dismounted first, a neutral smile on his face. “Nice to see you again, little brother.”
Without needing to look, Morgan knew Bertrand was making a stupid face at that statement. Despite being older, Emmer was the smaller of the two Selbair siblings.
Emmer’s height was about the same as Bertrand, who was four years younger and still growing.
“The same, Brother.” He couldn’t hide the awkwardness he felt. Emmer hadn’t changed much, so looking at him brought some bad memories back.
Before he had the chance to ask anything, Emmer turned at his cousins. “Cousin Bertrand. Cousin Cailin. It has been a while since the last time I visited, so you probably don’t remember me that well.” He expected Cailin to act sheepish, but instead, she met Emmer’s gaze with a surprising intensity.
Why is Cailin glaring at him?
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Emmer extended a hand to Bertrand. But instead of shaking it, he caught Emmer in a crushing hug.
“Haha, now I see all of you Selbair people are cut exactly the same,” said Bertrand. “So stiff and formal!”
Slightly embarrassed, Morgan sent an apologetic look at his brother and the men that accompanied him. He froze, though, noticing a knight in dark red armour glaring at him.
“Heh, you were always an extroverted one.” Emmer took a step back as soon as the hug finished.
“You have grown to be a fine young man, nephew,” commented Seras.
“And you haven’t aged a single day, aunt.” Emmer took her hand gently and kissed it. Even if he meant it, his words and gestures were obviously practised. “And Lord Sigmund, it’s an honour to be received in your abode.”
“It’s no problem. But you can call me just uncle.”
Morgan’s expression twitched. Emmer’s current situation was almost the same as his six years ago.
He wasn’t sure if that was good or bad.
“Wait a moment, brother, where are Father and Mother?” Morgan asked. “Are they in another group?”
Emmer stood silent, looking as if he knew Morgan was going to ask that question sooner than later. “They are not.”
His eyebrows knitted. “What do you mean?”
“I came by myself. Because of certain business and other complications, Father and Mother couldn’t make the travel.” Seeing Morgan’s expression dimming, Emmer quickly added: “I hope you understand. There was nothing they could do about it.”
They sent that awful letter but didn’t even come here themselves.
“I know. It’s fine.”
But it truly wasn’t.
