The Prince’s Consort – Chapter 1, Ethian

Ethian ducked behind the tree, his breath coming in gasps. His Uncle Reynard was stalking him through the forest, and he was not having much luck hiding from him. Today’s lesson was “hide and seek,” but it was nothing like the game ordinary children played. If Reynard caught him, he got a beating. He’d been struck twice already, and he was pretty sure he was about due for a third pummeling.

Ethian eyed the tree in front of him. The branches were low enough he could grab them and climb. Did he have the time though? Only one way to find out. Ethian scrambled up the tree and buried himself in the foliage, using it to camouflage his presence. He looked down and noticed the ground was hard enough his footprints didn’t show, so there was no easy way to track where he was.

Reynard appeared a few minutes later. He looked around for several minutes, even looking up into the trees. Ethian held perfectly still, barely breathing so as not to give away his presence. Reynard moved on. Ethian gave him several minutes to get out of range and then slithered out of the tree. He crept from one bit of cover to another, making his way back to their starting point and sat down.

It was nearly an hour later when Reynard rejoined him. “Well done, Ethian. Where were you hiding?”

“In a tree,” Ethian admitted. “You walked right under me.”

Reynard nodded. “Good utilization of the surrounding territory. You hid your footprints?”

“I used the hard ground beneath the trees.” Ethian was just glad it hadn’t rained recently, or he wouldn’t have been able to.

“That was well done. You’ve put what I’ve been teaching you to good use today. You started off poorly, but you figured it out in the end. We should get back to the house. Your mother is likely to have lunch ready for us.” Reynard glanced at something in the distance.

“Yes, Uncle Reynard.” Ethian stood up and followed his uncle back to the isolated house he shared with his mother and his uncle.

His mother Sayana was just setting the food on the table when they walked in. “Go wash up.” She smiled at the two of them. Ethian privately thought his mother was the most beautiful woman in the universe and when she smiled, she transcended ordinary beauty. He did as she said and sat down at the table.

“This looks good, Sayana. Is it a new recipe?” Reynard sat down in his usual spot.

“It is.” Sayana looked over at him. “I kept scrolling past it in the recipe book thinking it was too complicated, but I decided to try it today and it turns out it’s not as hard as I thought. I think it came out rather well.”

Reynard tasted the meat and vegetable dish she served him. “It tastes very good. You’ve become quite adept in the kitchen.”

“Haven’t you always been a good cook?” Ethian asked.

Sayana laughed. “I’m glad you only drank milk or ate pureed food for most of that first year we lived with your uncle. I was an awful cook. It’s taken me a while to get the hang of it.”

“You’re very good now.” Ethian took a huge bite of food to prove he enjoyed his mother’s cooking.

“Lots of practice.” Sayana gestured to the dishes on the table. “You can get good at most things if you practice enough.”

“Like I’m getting better at what Uncle Reynard is teaching me?” Ethian asked.

“Exactly like that.” Reynard nodded. “A lot of what we do just takes effort and repetition until it becomes second nature.”

“Do you think it will ever become second nature for me?” Ethian asked.

“A lot of it already is, Ethian.” Reynard hastened to reassure him that he wasn’t as bad as he thought. “You’re having problems with some of the more complex things, but that’s to be expected. It’ll all make sense eventually.”

“Mother, do you ever miss my father? And do you think I’ll ever meet him?” Ethian was thinking of something that had been plaguing him for a while. Most children his age seemed to have a father. He supposedly had one somewhere on the Throne World, but who he was and what he was doing he didn’t know.

“I miss your father every day, Ethian.” Sayana got very quiet when she spoke of his father. “And I fully intend for you to meet him. I’m just waiting for the message that it’s safe to return home. I haven’t gotten it yet, so we haven’t gone back.”

“Are father’s enemies really that bad?” Ethian asked.

“Do you remember the man who attacked us when you were five, Ethian?” Reynard asked. Ethian nodded. “He is just a sample of what your father’s enemies can do. Trust us, it’s safer here until your father sends word his enemies have been neutralized.”

“All right.” Ethian stared down at his plate.

“Why this sudden interest in your father?” Sayana asked.

“I’ve noticed that most children have two parents, and while I do love both you and Uncle Reynard, I’ve begun wondering about who my father is.” Ethian looked up at her.

“You’ll find out eventually, Ethian.” Sayana’s tone changed and she gave him a look.

“Yes, Mother.” Ethian knew that tone. He was pushing too hard on something she wasn’t willing to talk about. She never wanted to talk about her life before coming to Covus. He suspected she was hiding something from him, but neither she nor Reynard would tell him what it was.

They finished eating. Reynard and Ethian headed back outside. “Combat training this afternoon.” Reynard took Ethian to their practice area, and they set to work. Ethian soon forgot what he’d been thinking as he went through a brutal workout.

Ethian went inside and showered before dinner. He helped his mother set the table and put the food out. They ate and then after dinner, he settled in with his mother for lessons. She quizzed him about what he’d read the night before and taught him some new things. She gave him her pad and told him to read the next four chapters in the book they were working their way through.

This was how his life had been for as long as he could remember. He supposed as a baby it hadn’t been this way, but he was thirteen and had no friends. He was friendly with people in town but wasn’t close with anyone his own age. Reynard and his mother kept him busy and wouldn’t let him go into town except on festival days, and no one except a few adults from the town ever came out to the house. He wondered what it would be like to have friends, to just hang out with people his own age on a regular basis, and to play games that weren’t also training exercises.

“Ethian, you’re not focusing,” Sayana chided him gently.

“Sorry, Mother.” Ethian returned his attention to the book and read the four chapters. He headed to bed, still mulling over the issue. He wondered idly what it would be like to be a normal teenager. He decided he wouldn’t know how to behave or what to do. He’d never had an ordinary life, and it didn’t look like that was going to change any time soon.

A sullen anger filled him. Why did every waking moment have to be spent training or studying? Why couldn’t he just go out and have fun like an average child? His mind seethed with this as he drifted off to sleep.

The next morning Ethian woke up still very angry. He dressed and joined his family for breakfast. Something of his mood must have shown on his face. His mother and uncle shared a concerned look. They ate and Ethian followed Reynard out to start their usual training.

“All right, Ethian. Something is obviously bothering you. What’s wrong?” Reynard asked as they walked.

Ethian wanted to tell him nothing but years of being honest with his uncle – and the fact that he was ready to explode – forced him to speak. “I don’t see where any of this is fair, Uncle Reynard,” he protested. “All I do is train and study. I don’t have any friends. I don’t get to see anyone except you and mother except when we go into town for festivals. I don’t have any kind of life, really. I literally train, study, eat, sleep, and that’s it. Why can’t I have a more normal life?”

“First and foremost, you’re not a normal young man, Ethian.” Reynard stayed calm even in the face of Ethian’s obvious anger. “I know you don’t want to hear that. But it’s the truth. When your father calls for you, your life will get even less ordinary than it is now. This is to prepare you for that. Second, we are trying to keep you alive. The man who came when you were five will not be the only one to try to kill you in your lifetime. The training I’m putting you through will make it so you are less likely to die. As for the scholar lessons, your parents are both very well educated and value learning as much as they do physical training. You don’t want to disappoint your mother, do you?”

“What if I don’t want this life that you’re preparing me for?” Ethian demanded hotly. “What if all I want is to be an ordinary person?”

“You don’t have that option, Ethian.” Reynard was not relenting. “With who your father is, you will never be an ordinary person.”

“Who is my father? Why won’t you and mother tell me?” Ethian all but yelled.

“It’s not necessary for you to know who your father is.” Reynard regarded him coolly. “We know, and we’re doing what we have to in order to prepare you for meeting him. It could be this year, it could be next year, it could be five years from now. It depends on when the situation you and your mother fled from is resolved.”

“Why does it matter what’s going on somewhere so far away like the Throne World? I mean, I get that we get new laws from the emperor and his council from time to time.” Ethian scowled. “But nothing ever happens. The last trouble we had was when I was five. Doesn’t that mean they’ve stopped looking for us?”

“Not necessarily.” Reynard grew thoughtful. “It could be the person who found you died and now they have to look for you again. You and your mother are not easy to locate out here, Ethian. That was the whole point in coming to Covus in the first place. It doesn’t mean someone won’t find you and try to kill you again.”

“How could they die? The Throne World is literally the safest world in the galaxy,” Ethian protested.

Reynard stopped. “We’re going back to talk to your mother. I think you should hear about how dangerous the Throne World actually is from her.” He turned and led Ethian back to the house.

“Is something wrong?” Sayana asked as they came back into the house. “I thought you were going on one of your training rambles.”

“We’re having a bit of teenage rebellion today.” Reynard gave her a significant look.

“Oh dear.” Sayana sighed.

“Sayana, can you explain how dangerous the Throne World is to Ethian? Perhaps give him an idea of why you ran out here instead of staying there?” Reynard asked.

“I’ll start with why I ran and go from there.” Sayana sat down at the table. Ethian and Reynard sat down with her. “Ethian, you must understand your father is very important on the Throne World. He is a fixture at the Imperial court. There was a woman in court who came to me and told me that your father’s enemies had found a way to kill you and make it look like it was from natural causes.”

“How could they do that?” Ethian asked.

“A rare poison, fed to me, would just make me feel nauseous and dizzy but would pass through my breastmilk to you and kill you. It breaks down within an hour into calcium and magnesium so unless an autopsy is done immediately after you died, they’d never know what killed you.” Sayana had a somber look on her face. “We couldn’t take the chance on the story being true, so I fled the Throne World with you and came out here to stay with your uncle.”

“I see why you left, but is it really that bad?” Ethian asked.

“In my position in court, I watched men and women die almost daily from assassination attempts. Court is a cesspool at best and a pool of man-eating razor mouths at worst.” Sayana shivered. “Friends I made were just as frightened for the lives of their children because of that poison, and many fled to avoid the death of their only child because of the same men and women who are enemies to your father.”

“Why doesn’t someone do something about them then?” Ethian demanded.

“Your father is trying to do something about them.” Sayana sighed. “But they kill those they see as a threat to their power, so it’s hard for him to do anything. It’s why we’re out here instead of back there with him.”

“Why does that mean I can’t have an ordinary life?” Ethian asked. “Why can’t I make friends?”

“Because when we go back to the Throne World, you won’t be allowed to stay in contact with them.” Sayana looked at him. “Your life will be very different there than it is here, and we don’t want you forming attachments you will grieve losing when I take you home.”

“Why wouldn’t I be allowed to stay in contact with my friends?” Ethian demanded.

“Your father is a very important man on the Throne World. Your status as his son would make it impossible for you to maintain those friendships,” Sayana explained.

“Great. A man I’ve never met, someone I don’t know anything about, gets to dictate how I live my life,” Ethian muttered.

“He still controls how I live my life, and we’ve been separated for nearly thirteen years.” His mother didn’t seem to mind this at all.

“How does that work?” Ethian asked.

“Have you never noticed that when I’m around anyone other than you or your uncle I wear a veil?” Sayana gestured to where one of the ubiquitous items sat on the shelf, easily accessible if someone came to the house. “I so rarely cut my hair, and even then, I only cut it back to my waist. I read in what little free time I do have, and I don’t just settle on one topic, but I read widely. If it were practical, I would wear dresses instead of pants. It’s not so I dress for my duties, but I have kept all my dresses even though I could just as easily have gotten rid of all of them. I do all of these things because of your father.”

“Haven’t you ever considered just stopping doing all those things?” Ethian asked.

“No, I haven’t.” Sayana shook her head. “Because I still love and honor your father even though we’re apart. I will continue to do what I must to honor him even if it marks me as odd because I value that connection with your father.”

“But he’s not here to see you,” Ethian protested. “How is he going to know?”

“I would know, and how could I face him knowing I had broken my promises to him?” Sayana asked.

“I don’t get it.” Ethian was very confused by his mother’s attitude.

“You’ve never given your word of honor to someone who you value highly.” Reynard regarded him solemnly. “Your mother did. When you’re older it’ll make more sense.”

Ethian scowled and glowered at the table. “Ethian, what we’re doing is what’s best for you in the long run.” Sayana sounded like she was sure of what she was saying. “It might not feel that way right now. I understand that. However, we do know what we’re doing, and we are preparing you in the best way for your future.”

“I don’t see why I have to have lessons all the time,” Ethian grumbled. “Why can’t I have a holiday?”

“What would you do?” Sayana asked. “You can’t go into town. You wouldn’t be allowed to invite anyone to the house. All you would have to do is read or practice what Reynard has taught you.”

Ethian’s scowl deepened at the reminder his life was not his own to do with as he pleased. Reynard stood up. “Come along, Ethian. We’ve spent enough time sitting around. Time to do something physical.”

“What if I don’t want to?” Ethian glared at him defiantly.

Reynard hit him hard enough to knock him out of his chair. Ethian sprawled on the floor. “I don’t care what you want.” Reynard looked down at him calmly. “You’re going to get up off the floor and go outside. We will start with some hand-to-hand combat training and then go from there.”

Ethian scrambled to his feet and slunk out the door. He made his way to the practice area. As soon as Reynard joined him, he launched an attack at his uncle. Reynard dodged it. Ethian swung again. Reynard dodged again. Ethian wore himself out swinging wildly at Reynard. Finally, Reynard dropped him with a single blow.

Ethian lay on the ground, gasping for breath. Sayana came over and looked at Reynard. “Is he all right?”

“I think he wore himself out with his antics.” Reynard watched him as he struggled to catch his breath. “I’ll give him a moment to recover and then take him for a walk to identify hiding places.”

“All right. I’m going into town to get some groceries. I noticed we were low on a few things. If you need the first aid kit, it’s in its usual place.” Ethian could hear the concern in his mother’s voice.

“I think he’s fine, but if we need it, I’ll be sure to grab it,” Reynard assured her. Sayana turned and left. Ethian noticed his mother was wearing her veil.

Ethian picked himself up off the ground. Reynard motioned for Ethian to follow him. Ethian trudged along behind his uncle and halfheartedly pointed out hiding places. Reynard smacked him several times for missing obvious locations, but Ethian’s heart wasn’t in the lesson. It just wasn’t fair. He had to live a life he didn’t want all because of a man he didn’t know and might never know.

Reynard sent him sprawling again. “What?” Ethian rubbed his head.

“You’re not even trying.” Reynard glared at him sternly. “I expect better from you.”

“It’s pointless, Uncle Reynard.” Ethian just sighed and stared morosely at his uncle. “I’m probably never going to meet my father. We’ve lived with you since I was a baby. Don’t you think he would have come looking for us by now?”

“It’s possible he can’t.” Reynard didn’t seem the least bit surprised that Ethian’s father hadn’t come for them. “Your father isn’t a free agent, Ethian. He has rules he has to follow the same as you and your mother do. It’ll happen when it’s time. Now get up and pay attention.”

“Yes, Uncle Reynard,” Ethian grumbled. He got up and followed behind his uncle. He paid more attention to his surroundings and avoided more blows.

They got back to the house before Sayana did and decided to take their showers. Reynard sent Ethian to read while Reynard worked on cleaning his plasma pistol. Sayana returned to the house. “I was spotted in town,” she said without preamble.

“By who?” Reynard asked sharply.

“I don’t know, but he wasn’t subtle about noticing me.” Sayana was extremely worried. “He wasn’t from Covus either. No one knew who he was. He came in on yesterday’s shuttle. He was asking vague questions all day and was nearly locked up for being too nosy. Today he was mostly watching people as they came and went on the main street.”

“You’re sure he noticed you?” Reynard obviously wanted to be sure.

“He stared at me for a good ten minutes while I talked to Jhoel. I’m sure.” Sayana nodded

Reynard got up and went outside. “What’s wrong?” Ethian asked.

“I’m a very distinctive person, Ethian. Even you have to realize that.” Sayana took off her veil.

“Well, with that veil and your long hair, you do stand out.” Ethian pointed out his mother’s two most distinguishing features.

“If he’s looking for us, it could mean your father’s agents are searching for us.” Sayana started putting the groceries away. Ethian noticed her hands were shaking. He got up and went to help her. “Or it means his enemies have found us again.”

A faint shiver went up his spine. He occasionally had nightmares about what happened when he was five. “What’s Uncle Reynard doing?”

“I don’t know. He’s the tactician. He’s either going into town to assess the situation or he’s setting up some extra defenses.” Sayana took a deep breath. “Either way, he’s taking care of his part of the deal.”

“The deal?” Ethian asked.

“He protects us, I cook and clean for him.” Ethian looked at his mother strangely. “I mean, he’s my brother so he would have taken me in anyway. But this way we both get something out of the arrangement.”

Reynard returned a couple hours later. “He’s at the hotel in town. He asked when the next shuttle off world is and was not happy to hear it wasn’t until tomorrow. He’s avoiding answering questions, but people did notice his obsession with you and they’re suspicious of him. They can’t lock him up because he hasn’t broken any laws, but they don’t want to let him leave for fear he’s going to bring trouble down on us.”

“They can’t do anything without drawing attention to Covus.” Sayana looked very uneasy.

“I told Jhoel and the others that and said it was better to let him go unmolested. It’s possible his report will be ignored because he didn’t see Ethian.” Reynard glanced over to where Ethian was sitting.

“We can hope.” Sayana also looked at Ethian.

“Why does it matter if they see me?” Ethian asked.

“I can be dismissed as a lookalike.” Sayana touched her hair. “Even with this. You are the spitting image of your father. You can’t be ignored. This is the other reason we don’t take you into town all that often.”

“Oh.” Ethian hadn’t counted on that being part of the problem.

“What do you want to do, Sayana?” Reynard looked at her.

“Are the defenses still up?” Sayana asked.

“I never took them down. You should have heard the comm chime when I approached.” Reynard seemed surprised at her question.

“It didn’t go off.” Ethian didn’t know they had defenses up around the house.

Reynard frowned. “Let me go check that then. You get started with dinner.” He headed back outside. Sayana started dinner. Ethian, for lack of anything better to do, returned to his book. Reynard returned a short while later. “Stars-cursed rodents chewed through one of the wires. I’ve replaced it and now we should have our warning system back operational again.”

“That’s good to know.” Sayana stirred something on the stove. “Dinner will be ready soon. Ethian, please set the table.”

“Yes, Mother.” Ethian set the pad down. Perhaps being isolated wasn’t such a bad thing after all. Especially if it meant that men like the assassin who came when he was five couldn’t find them again.