Page 13 of The Night Prince 2

“Even if that is true, this is their planet and I wish to first give the humans their choice of it and some to be set aside in perpetuity for them as they restore their numbers,” Aquilan said.

“I assume you mean for them to live upon, but they would have to follow our rules,” Vesslan said with a sniff.

“Well, they would–”

“Or would you have them poison things again? Like those Separatists do in–in Hope?” Vesslan’s lips flattened again. “You have no idea the noxious fumes that leave that relatively small settlement. The wind comes from their direction and you can smell them. Diesel and chemicals!”

“There would be rules, but they have their own culture and way of doing things.”

“Oh, yes! Culture!” Vesslan shook his head. “Made of plastic and fumes!”

“Vesslan, you sound like a snob at best and, at worst–”

“I’ll say nothing more against them, little brother.” Vesslan lifted a hand. “I can see that you are fond of them for some reason. I’ll leave you to see what the humans truly are, which they will reveal in time.”

“What they are?” Helgrom chuckled darkly. “They are good and bad in equal measure. Just like the rest of us. We forget that at our peril.”

Vesslan shrugged. “Some of them, I suppose, have a certain amount of merit.”

“My experiences have been very different from yours, Vesslan,” Aquilan said firmly. “I hope that you will open your heart more to humanity. If we cannot give them grace, how will the rest of our people treat them?”

“My brother! Always the goodhearted one!” Vesslan smiled, but thinly.

“That’s not a weakness,” Helgrom said. “To be goodhearted. It was said to be Ailduin’s greatest strength and he towered among the Sun Kings of old.”

“I was not suggesting it was! You speak too freely even for an unofficial counselor, Helgrom,” Vesslan said with a repressive look.

Helgrom shrugged. “I am a long time from any court, Emissary. I speak plainly.”

“And I appreciate that, Helgrom. It is what I come to you for,” Aquilan assured the dwarf. “Now, as I said, Vesslan, my plan is to work with humanity to assign territories to them and their descendants. After that is decided then I will reward the Houses for their efforts.”

Vesslan’s expression darkened. “Aquilan, I do not think that wise–”

“It is just,” Aquilan interrupted. “Vesslan, sit down. Your king commands you. And have some breakfast.”

Vesslan hesitated a moment, but then he swept over to the nearest chair and sat down. There was a plate in front of him. He looked hungrily at the eggs, bacon and toast. He loaded up his plate and took a tentative bite, but upon tasting Helgrom’s excellent cooking, he was shoveling food in his mouth as if he had not eaten in days. Aquilan frowned. Did his brother look thinner than he had? What if he had been worried instead of offended by Aquilan’s failure to come to the palace? He had likely been working himself to the bone as Elasha had indicated to make things right for him.

“You have not been taking care of yourself, elder brother,” Aquilan said softly, affection tinting his voice for the first time that morning. “You are working too hard.”

Vesslan paused, egg yolk dripping from his chin. “I…”

Aquilan used a napkin to mop it up and Vesslan actually blinked and then smiled shyly at the tender brotherly act.

“Elasha told me that you, Darcassan and her have been preparing for my return tirelessly,” Aquilan murmured.

“And yet you did not come to the palace last night to see what we have been working on!” Vesslan’s voice was tart, but there was hurt there rather than arrogance. “You did not come to see me. We have been apart for a full cycle and you… you did not come.”

Aquilan winced. He hadn’t gone to the Aryas Palace for good reason, but, if he were honest with himself, it was not altogether fair to his elder brother to have stayed away as he had. Vesslan had been doing what he thought was best. All their lives, his elder brother had looked out for him. Vesslan had always been the more dutiful between them. He had always taken every position seriously. If Vesslan was prejudiced against other races, he was also assiduous to protect all of them equally.

When their parents had died–the Sun Stone turning from a glowing gold to a cold blue, reflecting their loss–all had expected Vesslan to succeed them as Sun King just like he’d said to Helgrom. His brother had trained all his life to become their leader. Yet the Sun had chosen Aquilan instead. He could still remember the frozen look on Vesslan’s face when the golden light had poured down upon him instead. It was as if Vesslan had been cut off from the light of life altogether. Their eyes had met. And, for a moment, for a very long moment, he’d thought that Vesslan hated him. It had been madness.

But if Vesslan had believed that the choosing of the Sun King was rigged, then perhaps he had thought that Aquilan had bribed or gamed his way into it. Of course, Aquilan had done no such thing. He’d been in deep mourning after their parents’ deaths. The last thing he’d wanted was responsibility for others when he could hardly take care of himself.

But, finally, that wretched expression had disappeared, if it had ever been there. But Vesslan had left the chamber of the Sun Throne without a word to him or anyone. Aquilan had been forced to accept the Crown of Light. Alone. With tears running down his cheeks and his heart cold.

In truth, Aquilan had feared Vesslan was gone from his life for good. It wasn’t just the thought of losing his beloved brother that had nearly gutted him, but the loss of Vesslan’s guidance, too. For unlike Vesslan, Aquilan had never considered he would be chosen to lead and he had not prepared for it. He was a warrior, a hunter and, at times, a singer. But a king? It had never been part of his plans.

So when he was thrust into leadership, he had needed Vesslan’s help, especially in the beginning. He put himself back in that moment, the day after he’d been crowned, and his brother had come into his bedroom with a smile on his face and a set of plans as if this was what had always been expected.

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