Page 11 of Dead Crown
“He’s dead. Everyone knows that. Poor thing. He didn’t deserve to die so young.”
“Aisi never knew the truth?”
“No. She passed out from blood loss and had no idea her first, real son was born dead.”
“So Reesing planned to take the secret to his grave?”
King Elswere’s eyes had grown heavier. “I’m not sure. After that long, I think he did. The more time passed, the harder it seemed for him to admit the truth. I tried to make him come clean, and that's why we fought.”
Lumi had wondered about that because at first, the war seemed to be to acquire more land even though it wasn’t truly needed. If he had simply put Tivar on the throne, the Kingdom would have noticed if the lands were dying, and there could only be one reason. The Queen would have then known the truth.
Reesing had caused no end of trouble, and it had only grown worse when he tried to “fix” it.
King Elswere rubbed his forehead. "He wanted Tivar to be truly his, but…Despite starting a war, he wasn’t a bad man. He tried to save his wife from hurt…He didn’t want to tell her their first child was dead. No man wants to do that to his wife. He was a good Father to his children.”
“And the middle child?”
“Edur’s dead.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes! East Forest soldiers found their house when they were in hiding and set it on fire. They didn’t receive word fast enough that the enemy was coming, so they were caught. Aisi’s body was beyond burned. It was a cat fairy skeleton so they knew who it was. They found…enough of Edur’s body to recognize him. Neither had a chance. Reesing was already dead at that point, and I’d say it was almost a blessing because he didn’t have to know. I never really got to know Edur…I didn’t talk to Reesing for years after we fought.”
“When’s the last time you spoke to Tivar?”
“A little before Edur’s death. I wrote to him.”
“What did you tell him?”
King Elswere sighed. “The truth. He never wrote back. Considering he's holding onto West Iceland and the Crown, he doesn't want to believe it.”
“How did you get out of prison?”
“A couple of the guards helped me along with a lord. They didn’t believe I committed treason like Reesing said, and they knew Iceland was going to lose. With Reesing dead, they thought the rest of the family might die. They thought I was a true Cleel…”
Lumi could have almost hated King Elswere, but not quite. Some things wouldn’t have changed. The sickness had already started before.
So far, everything Elswere said lined up with what Lumi knew or thought he knew, and the minor gaps were filled.
“What did you write to Tivar when you told him the truth?”
“I told him he needed to put Edur on the throne and how he wasn’t Reesing’s son.” King Elswere’s eyes closed, and he tipped his head back. “The Crown wasn’t his to have, and he’d know if he touched it since Reesing was dead.”
Lumi knew he should be grateful the King had managed to stay up that long after so much wine. “Why did Reesing accuse you of treason?”
“Because I told him to be a man, step up, admit the truth to his wife and family, and forget the war he was planning. He’d gone too far to keep his secrets for much longer. I said I would tell Aisi and his children the truth if he didn’t. That’s why he accused me of treason, sent me to prison, and then, he went to war…It would have hurt far more if I had told his wife.”
“What did Preti and Jaki do?” Lumi pretty much knew, but he merely wanted to check.
“They went into hiding because they weren’t sure if Reesing would imprison them too. I think Reesing had sympathy for his bastard child and wouldn’t have gone that far. Hiding was still safer. The stress…” King Elswere sighed and kept his eyes closed. “Jaki brought my wife back to life, but the war…not knowing if I’d live. It grew to be too much on her heart. Jaki’s all I have left now. I love him so dearly, and I don’t want him to die. I know if I pass, he’ll try to unite the country again…he won’t wait.”
“Does he know what you told me?”
“Yes. I never kept it from him. I…Give me a moment. My eyes-they need rest. I’ll fuck you in a minute.”
Lumi rolled his eyes, and the King started to snore after a few seconds. Lumi looked around the sitting room. If the speaker truly didn’t know something, they would say what they thought to be the truth while on the serum. Everyone said Edur was dead, and Elswere truly believed it.
Giving up the throne to Prince Jaki before would have revealed the lie he’d lived if the Elira Tree had come back to life. Everyone would know he wasn’t Reesing’s full brother with the proper blood in his veins. They’d know Reesing had cheated, and Jaki was a bastard, but at least he had proper ties to the line.
