Declan sat down on a felled tree feeling helpless and useless. He could not believe that his father was murdered by his own brother. It was not that he felt anything significant for the father that tossed him aside and the brother that abused him every time he was at court. But still, they were his family and deep down he still longed for their affection. Declan was so lost in thought that he hardly noticed Morganse sit down by his side.
“Are you alright?” Morganse asked meekly.
Awaiting his response she grew impatient and pressed further “It cannot have been easy to hear of your father and brother.”
“No it is not.” Declan retorted. Upon hearing his own harshness towards Morganse he felt annoyance at himself. “I am sorry Morganse, it is not your fault, I just cannot do this.”
“In truth you do not have a choice, it is your duty.” Morganse said honestly.
“It was my brother’s duty, I am just the second son.” Declan scoffed.
Morganse wondered “Are you not curious why your brother would kill your father?”
“Neither of them have ever been decent. Initially hearing it, I was in shock, but I am not surprised. My brother could not wait to be king.” Declan mused.
“Now he will not be, you truly do not find it suspicious that he chanced losing the crown?” Morganse questioned.
Declan thought for a moment and then responded, “I do not like the court, I have never been good at playing their games. All the scheming and backstabbing is not something I wish to be involved in.”
Excitedly Morganse replied “Don’t you see!? We need a king like you, someone who only deals with the truth, someone with a pure heart.”
Declan looked down and muttered, “truth has never been beneficial. When I was forced to be at court, all I received was punishment and cruelty.”
“As a king, you could change that” Morganse noted hopefully.
“If I were capable but as I have said, I have no desire to be king.” Declan responded.
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Morganse feeling deflated asked “Will you not at least clear your brother’s name? Then he would be king and you would no longer inherit. Anyone would be better than Lady Revna.”
Declan confused “Why is she a worse choice?”
Flabbergasted Morganse asked “Do you really not know how bad she is? Have you even heard of the Roseglen Massacre?”
“I have not, what is that?” he asked curiously.
Morganse took a deep breath and shared the story with Declan “Roseglen was a sleepy little village on the edge of Moura Woods. The tree folk welcomed all that wanted to live in peace and harmony. Up in the trees they even had a family of the Caladrius kind. They are known for their ability to heal. Lady Revna fell incredibly ill and was not expected to last a fortnight. She inquired after the Caladrius family and sent an envoy to Roseglen to ask for their aid. They refused to heal her unless she freed those in her unnatural garden and repented of that wickedness. The envoy left with their response. A week went by with no more news from Lady Revna and life in Roseglen went back to normal. One sleepy night, a lone scream broke the peaceful ambience and chaos erupted. The shadows descended on all of the inhabitants that were human and slaughtered them. The tree folk were bound and forced into captivity. All that refused to comply or fought were also destroyed. As for the family of Caladrius, not much is known other than Lady Revna made a full recovery overnight. Those that managed to escape, never returned to Roseglen and say that the terror of that night still haunts them. Roseglen now lies desolate. An empty shell of the peace that once resided there. Some say, following that attack, marked the official war for non-humans. Some are still friendly hoping for peace again but the corruption in this kingdom has rotted the relationship between them and us.”
Declan had been on the edge of his seat for the whole tale and sought justice, “Was Lady Revna punished?”
Morganse shook her head “No. the king said nothing. Even after the non-human folk pleaded with him for justice, he refused. The non-human folk vowed that there would be a reckoning for this injustice.”
“I always wondered why many of my friends from the wood stopped visiting me. Perhaps they count me as the same as my father.” Declan reasoned.
“You must convince them to join you.” Morganse implored.
“How can I, as you can see I know nothing of what has been going on in the courts. I was all but forgotten in Windegarde. My mother did not want me to turn out like my father so she sent me away.” Declan confided.
Standing, Morganse began to walk and said “With the treachery of the court, your mother was right, you were far better off.”
Declan followed in step behind her and spoke ‘I think it has me at a disadvantage, now I have no idea who I can trust.”
Morganse turned to look at Declan, “A good place to start is to look at those who are surrounding you now. Not one of us was here for political gain and we agreed to help without an agenda. It seems to me that you are an excellent judge of character and you will see through the lies.”
Declan flushed slightly at the compliment. He pondered on what Morganse had shared and they walked quietly back towards the camp. Before they reached the others, Declan softly said, “thank you Morganse.” She smiled back at him winning another flush on Declan’s cheeks, this time slightly more red.
