Young Lord Bryan And Young Redpath (69)

      We had resorted using one of the portal gates room to reach the estate where the future Prince resided with his mother's family. He smiled brightly as he was told of my unexpected visit. I was in the archway watching his reaction as one of the servants told him of my presence. I slowly entered the internal courtyard where the boy spared against an articulated construction with miss Hope at my side.

      “I have hoped for chance to simply meet the noble and renowned Envoy of the Ones On High.” he stated. With his weapon cast aside he moved forward at me with outstretched arms.

      “I am here by Lady Hope's request to learn about your father.” I told him softly. He did not pause in his motion to embrace me as is common between the noble kin of Atlantis. “This is a matter to clear the doubts in my being caused by the rumours of that man.” I whispered to him. I felt him slump for but a moment before his body became ridged as he pulled back slowly from me.

       “Allowing that animal any power in Atlantis would be a disgrace to our people.” he retorted bluntly.

      “A civil war between the citizens and the Council would rip Atlantis apart if we attempt stopping this event.” I told him.

      “Then take the Throne with Her Holiness!” he spurted out. “Block this insult to the Throne and all of Atlantis!” he continued bluntly. “Atlantis would accept this with open arms.” he added merrily. I felt the tension melting away from him in his mind locked on a solution that would protect Atlantis fully.

      “I cannot without belittling my other duties to the humans and other races of the earth.” I explained. I did not show anger or frustration over this decision. “And those who sent me here might destroy me and Atlantis if I follow that easy but blissful path.”

      “If they allow my father the Throne, Atlantis will pay the price for this fallacy!” he retorted annoyed.

      “You lack faith in Annianka holding your father at bay?” I remarked with a small smirk. He looked up at me with an embarrassed blush.

      “She will stand for all as their Holy Highness above all others.” miss Hope growled at the boy. He blushed many deeper shades of crimson but I sensed doubt in the tigress at her own words. I knew why she felt this way from the discussions between her and the Guard Captains regarding the oddness surrounding their Holy Heart they protected.

      “The Holy Heart cannot stop his unfaithful insatiable sexual appetite.” the boy suddenly screamed back. “He will bring one or more of his concubines with him.” he explained. “Her Holiness will only receive the nuptial night to legitimize the wedding contract before being thrown aside.” he continued bluntly. “He will be a lazy, faithless King who will decide matters on the lines of ease and self gratification for himself alone ignoring the true needs of Atlantis.”

      “That is not the worse king I have dealt with.” I returned casually. “And I will be absent as he takes the Throne.” I continued. “I do not know how long it will be before I return.”

      “I promise to help my new mother reign father in until your return.” he snapped back. He flashed me a quick smile as he bowed to me instantly upon his oath to me.

      “Have our Prince transferred to a Royal Guard quadre as he completes tactical lessons.” I ordered to miss Hope. “He should receive proper mixed training to be a true Prince of Atlantis.”

      “As you see fit, sir.” miss Hope replied purring.

      “Prince?” he muttered dumbfounded.

      “You will be Prince of Atlantis.” I admitted easily. “As a child of Lord Munin, you will become a Prince when he becomes King.” I explained. Bryan's eyes widened at my words as he visibly trembled like a leaf before me.

      “Can I abdicate this title?” he nearly screamed at me. I sensed the overwhelming panic gripping him tightly. “I do not wish to ever be King!” he admitted. I place my hand on his shoulder reaching into his emotions to calm him enough to be rational to my thoughts.

      “An heir born of Munin and Her Holiness would take the Throne of Atlantis.” miss Hope informed him.

      “As Prince, you would be a military leader of the rank of war commander while your half brother or sister would be ruler.” I commented.

      “I can accept this.” he replied slowly. “But my tactical knowledge is non-existent.” he half complained. I chuckled softly at this minor problem.

      “Which is why I have recommended you transferred to the Royal Guards including tactical training.” I returned. “I believe him training with a Ferret Squad would accomplish both.” I told miss Hope. “Meanwhile, he is to be enrolled in the military college with other potential officers in training as a Prince should.”

      “Truly wise counsel that will be followed directly.” the tigress answered. “Within two days, A Ferret Guard will collect you and your gear to start your new training as future Prince of Atlantis.” she explained to him. I did not question why she jumped upon this idea of mine in front of Bryan. I felt like she showed who was seen as the true ruler of Atlantis before the future Prince which might cause issues in the future as he turned to me as leader instead of toward his father or Annianka.

      “My original purpose for this visit was to learn more about your father.” I explained softly. “Lady Hope suggested you would give me an unbiased and truthful view of Lord Munin.” I continued easily. I saw the blush form on Bryan's young face at the indirect praise. “No need to be flustered among like minded beings.” I cautioned him. “What can you reveal about that man who is your father?”

      “History or personality?” he returned. I saw in his mind the shift that showed he will be a good tactical leader for his half sister. “As a son of a spiritually driven noble house of Atlantis, our genealogy must be known to me as a perfect memory.” he explained with a grin.

      “Then speak to me of his history first before relating his personality traits.” I told him.

      “You will not find reasons in his past for his dishonourable behaviour.” Bryan warned me before starting. I nodded my acceptance to the restriction on his tale. “Born from Frigga in Valhalla from a mortal warlord of supposed reputation unfounded outside of my father's mind.” he reported. “He spent his soul's youth in Valhalla getting pranked by most of the other man-gods and a few true blooded deity of the Norse.” he continued easily. “He's still on his first life in the mortal coil using some foreign deity's trick to prolong his life.” he continued. I cringed at these words as multiple possibilities that are more harmful than beneficial floated through my mind. “He started these ludicrous ideas shortly after I was born and my mother died from child labour away from Atlantis.”

      “What are signs of those deistic tricks he was using?” I asked softly.

      “I would not know exactly what reaction it had on him.” he answered quickly. “I was sent back to Atlantis barely old enough to travel with a retainer or more precisely one of his whore he was bored with.” he explained. “The few letters I received mentioned he had bargained with different gods and goddesses to extend his life through tricks he purchased from them.” he informed us. “Other things mentioned is his letter was the latest potential mother I might be receiving until all the letters stopped for close to 70 years.” he stated. “Then I received word that he would be arriving to marry Her Holiness within the month.” he added. I saw his face shift into anger at this thought.

      “I understand your anger at this.” I answered. “Did he state who ordered this wedding?”

      “He spoke of Brigit's people through her wise counsel to Odin giving this recommendation.” he replied softly. “Would you know who these being would be?” he asked. I kept my face passive as I shrugged in false ignorance. “The few times he visited here, he was always accompanied by at least one concubine and acted like all Atlantians where mere uneducated children compared to him.” he concluded his tale.

      “I thank you for this chance to meet you and doubly so for your information.” I stated. I bowed deeply to him in typical Atlantian royal court fashion. He blushed embarrassed by my show of respect I gave him. He bowed in kind back to me. I snarled at him for a moment.

      “I would have no honour if I did not give you proper reverence for what you truly are for Atlantis.” he retorted. I stood at attention showing a regal countenance proving his right to be a Prince of Atlantis. I smiled feeling that I left Atlantis in the good hands of my daughter and Prince Bryan. We excused ourselves and left with no further words exchanged between us. I walked blindly down the streets with miss Hope still at my side. I did not even question why she remain away from Annianka this long just to guide me around Atlantis. It was late in the afternoon but I missed the warning that I would not be allowed to return home right away because of the blindness I suffered.

      I feared that the progenitors of the Ancient Ones and the Old Ones would order the complete destruction of Atlantis as this situation worsened. I doubted that those who saw themselves as the “Powers That Be” had ignored the older higher planed beings coming to reside upon the planet they claimed dominion over. Some of their offspring was the base for the pantheon of deities infecting this world stealing strength and free will of the people they trick into supporting them. Humanity suffered from all these beings playing godlets having their chosen sheeps slaughter each other for their own stupid form of glory.

      “He will be happy to meet you since the kitten knows he bares your noble Atlantian name.” the tigress commented. I shook my head as I slipped out of my dark reveries. Glancing around me, I realized we had walked into one of the Feral Guard Clan's compounds in Atlantis. “He is only a dozen years old but shows incredible prowess which many attest to sharing the name of Kestrel.” I stopped dead.

      “What?” I interjected confused.

      “The panther cub that was named in your honour.” she reminded me gently. I groaned at forgetting such a detail so quickly. I considered this absent memory linked to me forcing myself off this island before the chaos began.

      “My mind has much to deal with before departing.” I stated softly. “It would be an honour meeting my young namesake.” I continued with a smile and a nod.

      The area we stood in seemed lesser touched than the normal sections of Atlantis. Grass grew in the wider dirt lines between the cobbles like a wide garden pathways. Trees grew in a wild placement pattern while still being well manicured. The simple single story wood and stone homes sat in a sporadic cluster in small groups around the oldest and largest trees. I noted, as I examined the taller trees, the rare half hidden aerie homes of the less numerous avian types. We slowly started moving as my mind realized the simplicity that the Royal Guards lived in.

      “You seem troubled.” miss Hope said softly.

      “Have the Ferals agreed to live this way?” I returned.

      “We need little but the space to train in our zeal to protect all of Atlantis.” she returned. “And this gives our animal touched hearts peace.” she showed the entirety around her.

      “Odd for people that represent the pomp and grandeur of royalty live as simple as the peasants of the outside world.” I remarked. I continued following in silent contemplation of this simple naturalist lifestyle.

      “This cluster is the Redpath Clan where lives your namesake in panther kitten form.” she reported. She stood to one side of a pair of short posts that marked the edge of this panther clan's territory. She waved me forward while her nose and the edge of her lips twitched. I had ignored the fact that she had shifted into her fully human form after leaving Bryan's family estate. The mild whimsical mood slipped passed her animalistic mental shields. My physical senses sharpened as my feet crossed the invisible line formed by the posts.

      The first feline pounced at me from a patch of tall grass. With a side step while twisting my body, I allowed the kitten to slam into the second cat cub attempting to attack. Laughter escaped me as I continued this game of pounce and dodge with the dozen kitten that lined the short pathway to the house. Those that failed to catch me stood on the side of the path like living guide posts that miss Hope followed with growing mischievous grin. It was an enjoyable way to ease the tension but not vigorous enough to dispense all of it fully. It was the thirteenth kitten much smaller than the others that caught me off guard.

      I had used my normal speed to dodge the young cats playing so far. The last puff of black fur shoot from behind a tree onto the last few feet of the pathway between me and the house. It barely touched the stone before redirecting itself like a bolt-like projectile at me. I slipped to the left as I noted the kitten shifting his body to change the trajectory to match my side step. I slapped my hand out reflexively to bat the kitten aside while sliding back to the right. I did not see him twist a second time as I suddenly wore a painful black furred mitten.

      “Got'em!” the kitten growled. All four sets of small but sharp claws were firmly latched into my skin. “Nothing is as fast as little Kestrel.!” it purred merrily. I laughed at his proclamation while he still held firm to my hand. I heard miss Hope's soft purring laughter joining mine before glancing behind me at the defeated panther cubs.

      “Well done Young Redpath.” the tigress stated. She shifted into her humanoid feline form to the merriment of the other kittens. Kestrel Redpath still clung to my arm purring in merriment. “But it is not surprising for a Kestrel to snag a Kestrel.” she added purring louder. I watched as the dozen panther attackers gulp as they saluted me. I looked at the much younger ball of fur seeing wide yellow cat's-eyes staring at me blankly. I felt the his grip loosen to let himself slide from my hand to the foot stone before me.

      “Lord Kestrel?” he meowed in shock.

      “It is an honour to meet one that bears my given name so appropriately.” I replied calmly. I smiled as I bowed to him. I barely heard a sound but found the kitten had bolted. I raised my mildly injured arm noting the four set of close packed puncture wounds because of the drops of blood. With a quick flash of my healing nebula, the marks vanished. “He still needs to be less shy.” I remarked to the white tigress. She pointed to a tree a dozen paces away.

      “He is behind the tree.” she mouthed to me. I moved using my stardust wings to increase my stealth to the designated tree. I slowly peered around the tree to spot him curled up with his knees against his forehead.

      “I should have known it was Lord Kestrel!” he reprimanded himself. “Stupid unobservant kitten I am.” he meowed miserably. I moved around to kneel in front trapping him in place.

      “Showing skills lacking from your elder siblings proves you neither stupid nor unobservant.” I told him. The kitten slowly raised his face to show tears free flowing from his golden eyes. “And kestrel's are renowned for attacking much larger targets successfully.” I informed him gently. He rubbed the tears from his eyes with the side of his pawed hand. “You bear the name rightfully, Young Kestrel Redpath.” He was on his padded feet quickly bowing to me.

      “Thank you for such kind words to a silly kitten, Sir.” he purred. “I can lead you to our elders which you must have urgent business with.” he stated politely. He half moved toward the ring of houses before I could place my hand on his shoulder to stop him.

      “My business here is to meet you who shares my name.” I proclaimed. “My joining this training exercise comes from miss Hope's whimsical cattish nature.” I admitted with a grin. “And the most appropriate fashion to meet you.”

      “You are here for me?” Redpath whispered. His golden-yellow eyes bulged. His jaw hung loose. He trembled visibly as he stood staring at me. “Really?” he sputtered at my nod.

      “Yes Young Redpath.” I replied loudly. From around the tree, I spotted the dozen panthers that I avoided staring in awe at the kitten before me that was barely the height of my mid thigh. “Show me your clans territory while we speak.” I ordered calmly. “I would like to knows your views on honour, Atlantis, and the world beyond.” I added softer. He flashed me a toothy grin before bowing to me then signalled the path to my left.

      I spent most of the evening speaking with this sharp minded kitten of barely a dozen years old. My visions showed him twenty years older sharing food with Meli in my garden on Atlantis. I smiled at the thought of someone else helping them while I watched over them from far away. During this time, I did not need to look to know miss Hope followed in silence. I bid him goodnight as Redpath started yawning as we spoke.

      “They are raising him with stories of your exploits.” miss Hope informed me. She waited until we left the Redpath's area before speaking. “Does he appear deserving of sharing your name?” she asked softly.

      “He truly lives like the kestrel being small and fearless.” I returned quickly. I heard a purring chuckle escape her. “His views of honour mirror my own in near perfection.” he admitted softly. “But some views of Atlantis and the world beyond seem naive.”

      “He is still very young.” she replied softly.

      “But out performing students twice his age and older.” I countered.

      “And a tactical nightmare as his teachers state.” she remarked.

      “I am presuming he attempts victory alone disregarding team mates?” I stated. She nodded causing memories from my true childhood to breach my self imposed mental blocks. “I was just like him as a true child long ago.” I whispered back. I remember arguing with the column of light that I did not require assistance. They still asked me to select one being born of the first race existing to become my Brother in their light. “He will learn eventually to gather trusted beings closely around him.” I said. The vision of older Redpath breaking bread with Mekiliean in the estate's garden replaced my secret memories. “Extremely good and trustworthy sibling like allies.” I half whispered to myself. I saw the faces of my Brothers and Sisters in their Light followed by the scornful sneering visage of my true sister, Genia.

      “You seem to keep slipping deep into thoughts.” miss Hope commented. “I can understand anger or regret caused by your noble actions today.” she continued. The tigress could not hid the growl of her resistance to my actions she called noble. “But this peacefulness is disconcerting to say the least.” she whispered.

      “Preparing for my last night with my companions.” I answered falsely. “Best you return to Annianka's side.” I recommended softly. I bowed to her and portalled my way home without further pause.