Ahkdo spotted his brother in his typical area of the garden. The fact that the younger of the two brothers had a book in his hands was not at all surprising. As similar as the twins were in most things and as close as their bond was, Kiv’s love of reading had always baffled Ahkdo. He understood the desire to be out in the gardens where nature flourished, and he certainly sympathized with the need to be left alone with one’s thoughts. However, the actual books had never appealed to him. He continued to suffer through them in his learning because it was expected of him and because he knew that he was a better man for it. But he had never cherished them in anything even resembling the way that Kiv seemingly always had.
The closest that Ahkdo had ever come to finding enjoyment in a book was as a child when one of his tutors had forced him to read The Mighty and Majestic Morissa. It was a comical fable about a young Mizish woman who had escaped her Tytan masters and embarked on a perilous journey to some far-off land. In this foreign place, she had learned how to use magic with a degree of power and control that was completely unheard of among the Tytans. Without fail, the woman’s newfound power had proved to be more trouble than it was worth as it repeatedly led her into one hilariously awkward scenario after another.
It truly was a funny story, and Ahkdo had found himself laughing so hard while reading it that he had drawn his father’s attention. When he had told him what he was reading, his father had grabbed the book from him and thrown it into the fire. Ahkdo still remembered the look of angry disappointment on his father’s face when he had turned back from the flames and told him that those types of stories were Mizish fantasies that held no worth for the future King of the Kinmarks. Ahkdo had never seen that specific tutor again.
Ahkdo’s memories were forced from him as he and his father reached Kiv. His brother had already risen from the uncomfortable-looking stone bench and was giving their father a deep bow. This, of course, made Guoryden look irritated which was almost enough to keep Ahkdo from laughing at his brother’s gesture.
“How many times must I tell you not to do that, Kiv?” The boys’ father asked this while looking sideways at Ahkdo with a mildly disapproving expression that left him completely unsure as to who his father’s displeasure was actually intended for.
“You’re my king as well as my father. It’s only what’s proper.”
“As your king and your father, I’m telling you not to do that anymore.”
“As a loyal subject and a loving son, I must do what’s best for you whether it be in accordance with your commands or against them. What would people think if your own sons didn’t show you the respect you deserve? Others might start to wonder what they could get away with around you as well.”
Ahkdo saw a familiar argument forming and jumped in before it could gain any more momentum. “As your son and heir.” He turned to Kiv before continuing. “And as your brother and future king, I’m begging both of you to stop this boring dialogue so we can turn to a more natural subject for three men to talk about without a woman in sight.”
“And what subject would that be, Brother?”
Ahkdo felt a grin quickly spread across his face. “Why, women of course.”
Kiv grinned back at his brother. Their father rolled his eyes as a short laugh escaped him.
Chapter Four of The Last Kinmark is available here!
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