Vessiye Palace,
Jeruvael,
Illearia.

The Prime Minister of Illearia; Rt Honourable Sharwan Malij, dismissed his personal guards as he entered into his mansion.

It was a massive cream and gold coloured one storey building, it had ten bedrooms en suite with an extra bath and toilet for his guests.

He walked past the first sitting room and into the private living area. Finally, settling down on a sofa made of soft, ox-blood coloured leather.

The room was tastefully furnished in subtle shades of gold, cream and ox-blood. Three elk heads hung just above the marble fireplace.

"Marwa!"
He called out the Illearian name for 'Mother of the home'.

"My Lord."

A beautiful but middle aged woman with olive skin and thick, rich, black hair which was bonded up and adorned with gold jewellery, came into the room accompanied by her maids.

"Off with the lot of you!" Malij dismissed the maids impatiently.

The beautiful woman; Iconia, came to kneel at his feet, her eyes imploring and meek.

"Did anyone see the boy?"

Her facial expression suddenly became cold, almost hostile.

"No my lord."

"The burial is tomorrow."

"But Teph is alive..."

"The people do not know that, thank God."

"But he is our son, your blood."

"He is a coward!"

Iconia rose to her feet. "My child..."

"Enough! Do not question my decision Marwa. I am lord and master, my decision is final!"

~
Ascar knocked three times, one after the other, the small cellar door was pulled open.

Heavy lashed hazel eyes stared at him, eyes so like her brother's.

Ascar smiled fondly.

"Peace unto your soul." He greeted his best friend's sister.

Then without waiting for an answer, he walked into the room and the girl left, closing the door behind her.

She had not given a reply to his greeting, she couldn't. She hadn't spoken a word since she was old enough to, she was now thirteen years old, the doctors still had no explanation.

"Teph... surely my eyes do not lie..."

Teph smiled weakly and got off the bed he was lying on to give Ascar a hug.

"God be praised!" Ascar exclaimed, sitting on the only chair in the room. Teph sat on his bed.

"So, the old man has decided to hide you off in here."

"He sent me off to Aphighia to die."

"When we heard that your training camp was bombed by those rebels, we thought..."

"Lija has always hated me, Aphighia is the sworn enemy of Illearia. He organized that grand training, wishing in his heart that somehow I'd get killed. Unfortunately, I'm one of the few who survived."

"He is your Lija, he can't hate you."

Teph got up and went to stand in front of the cube-like window, backing Ascar.

"My funeral holds tomorrow." He gave a short, bitter laugh, absently toying with the pendants on his neck. His mid-region was covered in bandage, a smaller bandage was wound around his forehead.

"I'm not surprised, when Tora died, I always knew he wished it was me. Now, whenever he sees my face it tortures him. He sees Tora's face, but I'm not him, just his cowardly twin." He added.

"Enough! That's enough!" Ascar spat, standing.

"The prime minister is an old fool! And you're a fool too if you continue to indulge in such false ramblings!"

"I'm sorry my friend." Teph came to stand in front of Ascar.

"I try to think of what plans Lija has for me. But I can't wrap my mind around it. If I'm dead to the world, then what is to become of me?"

Ascar put his hand on his friend's shoulder and was about to say something when the door was pushed open, Malij and Iconia walked in.

"Long may you rule us Vessiye."

Ascar bowed to Malij.

"My son, Ascar, how is your father, and our little illustrious city; Jehumem?"

"We're all fruitful by God's grace."

"Excuse me." He added and made to leave.

"Ascar, wait for me outside." Iconia said as he bent to kiss her cheek.

"Teph, it appears you have nine lives." Malij laughed as the door closed behind Ascar.

"Am I invited to my own funeral?" Teph taunted.

"You would be, but unfortunately, you're not in the casket."

Teph's face turned pale for an instant, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Why do you insist on hurting him so?" Iconia scolded, close to tears and went to cup her son's face in her hands.

Teph took both of her hands in his and kissed them.

"Say your piece old man." He finally said to his father.

"I have made arrangements with my old friend; Honourable Benjan. He would put you on a plane to the Unified Homelands, you will train with our special commandos in Welford for five years, until you turn twenty-one. Then, you will lead the troops to defeat Aphighia. No one would know you're my son, except Honourable Benjan. The commandos will enslave Aphighia and I would reign over two mighty countries. Of course, I do not expect you to survive, but I promise you, the truth will come out; that you were actually alive, and you lead that mission, alas, sacrificing your life for the good of Illearia."

Iconia made a hysterical noise and slapped her husband.

Malij grabbed her hand and raised his free hand to hit her, Teph grabbed him by the wrist.

Malij in turn sized him up, freeing Iconia. Malij was well built, standing tall at six feet, but at six feet and five inches, Teph towered over him, although he was not as well built, but Malij did not want to fight, not today.

Teph dropped his hand.

"Only cowards hit women, remember that Sharwan."
Teph said coldly and Malij winced at the use of his first name.

No one had had the guts to address him by it in a long time.

Malij walked out of the room rubbing his cheek and Iconia sat on the bed and started to wail.

Teph sank to his knees in front of her.
"Mother..."

"I am a cursed woman... "

"Don't say that, you still have Timore and Sisona."
Teph tried to console her, referring to his older brother and younger sister.

"And what about you?" Iconia sobbed.

"I am a man now."

"You're only sixteen."

"Still a man mama."

"I can't let him do this to you..."

"He won't. I have a plan."

"Tell me."

Teph got up to sit beside his mother, all her wailing was making him emotional.

Fighting the urge to cry with her, he said.

"During my funeral tomorrow, I shall leave this house forever."

"Tephinor! You want to leave your mama?"

"I don't have a choice mother. I have to go. Lija doesn't want me here, but I can't die just because he wants me to."

"I'll send you to my sister in Arivya, she'll take care of you for me."

"No mama. That would not be honourable and you know it. Arivya is very close to Illearia, Lija would search for me, and when I'm found, Aunt Salia and her family would suffer for it."

"But Tephinor, I already lost Tora, not you too, I beg you."

Tears sprang to Teph's eyes and he wiped them away. "Please Mama..."

"Mama..." Ascar called from the doorway.

Teph hadn't seen him come in, three maids were standing with him.

"Take care of Mama Iconia." He told them.

At once, they went to take the weeping mother and ushered her out, closing the door behind them.

"Ascar I..." Teph stood, but Ascar put out a hand, stopping him.

"Don't...I understand. I'm proud of you Tephinor." He said simply, his light brown eyes sad.

Teph sat and took off the first necklace on his neck, it belonged to Tora, then tears started to come down his face and he was crying silently as he took off the second, it was his.

Ascar came to sit beside him, also fighting back tears. Teph placed the necklaces in his hands.

"Please, give them to mother. Take care of her for me, and Sisona."

"I promise you my dear friend. But this is not the end. You shall come back to us, and you shall be Illearia's saviour, then you'll show Malij what a weak, old man he really is."
Ascar finished, then he hugged his best friend because he was crying too.

       
                    ~