Throne and Revenge

The betrayal

Aaron

That night, I did not get much sleep. My mind wouldn't stop racing even though my body was motionless. My father's words played in loops, his pain, his regrets and the betrayal that broke our family. 

I kept playing back everything he said, imagining it as if I had experienced it firsthand. My dreams were troubled when I eventually fell asleep. In slow motion, I witnessed my grandfather's fall with blood in his throat. Once strong and proud, I saw my father kneeling in shame and and Jason untouchable, crowned by betrayal, standing above it all and My jaw was clenched when I woke up. 

The sun had barely risen, but I got to work; cleaning the cabin, preparing food and boiling herbs for Dad's pain. Instinctively, my hands moved but my thoughts were elsewhere.

After finishing, I grabbed my bow and went into the forest. Hunting for food and possibly gathering herbs for Dad's medication was the original plan but I had a storm in my head. I wasn't paying attention and I had no idea where my feet were going.  

My mind was blazing to Jason and his household, the treachery and the throne that was rightfully ours. They stole everything and abandoned us like animals in the dirt. 

Perhaps I would overlook it if it were any other family.  However, they used to be near us and it was worse because of that.  It was a backhand stab that passes for an embrace.

I made an effort to recall what my father had said: "Don't be rash, son." He  had earlier informed me that today was the village's hunt and I ought to have paid attention. 

However, I had two voices in my head, one whispered reason and the other screamed for blood and the blood made more sense now. 

Vengeance is said to belong to the gods but, there are instances when the gods give us the blade while ignoring us.  That's how I explained it because I was going to make someone pay and not just go hunting. 

It was John, Jason's son, the boy with the golden hair and the one being taught to rule. 

He had a birthday which my father had told me days ago and It was the ideal day to pass away.

I changed my course, leaving the hunting trail behind and moving quickly and stealthily deeper into the forest.  I encountered a familiar man at the edge of the woods; he was always wearing a dark cloak with a hood pulled over his head. He frequently visited my father, but he never stayed for very long.  

I used to wonder how Dad found out about events in the village. He was the source, I realized now. He is a loyalist to the old bloodline and a traitor to the new rule.  

He gave me a friendly greeting and I gave him the gesture back and waited for him to go before moving on. I couldn't let him know what I was going to do. 

After regaining my solitude, I continued to walk deeper than before.  To my astonishment, the forest grew increasingly surreal as I went deeper.  The air had a sharper quality, the trees are taller and unnatural green glistened on the leaves.  

Above this area of the village, the sky seemed brighter, as if it had not been touched in a century.  It was lovely and I kind of wished I had arrived here with a lighter heart however, I hadn't.

I arrived with a mission and darkness in my head which was to kill the boy, delete his future and repay our suffering.

"No one saw me," I told myself at least not a single human. "Whatever you do in secret, you and God are watching," my mother used to say but I didn't think God would give a damn at the moment besides, He was silent if he saw me. 

 

"Did He not allow all of this to happen to us?"  My mind whirled loud and heavy.  

However, I continued until I heard children's voices laughing.  I hid behind a bush and watched and suddenly, I caught sight of John.

He was pursuing a huge warthog, an untamed animal with thick fur and twisted horns, while he was wearing exquisite royal attire.  

John, obviously trying to impress someone, ran after the creature as it charged through the underbrush. The warthog turned, his pals had vanished and the chase suddenly became real and John stopped.

I observed from afar a frail boy quivering before a beast. "Was this the alpha of the future? He is unworthy of the throne. He is unable to defend himself against a creature ten times smaller than my father's burdens." I whispered to the bush.

I initially thought to let the animal do it, probably allow the warthog to take care of what fate ought to have resolved years ago.  

However, I later had second thoughts and realized I had to do it myself so, I went around and waited. John ran blindly into my trap as the warthog charged once more.  

I drew my bow and aimed an arrow straight at his eyes as I moved into his path. He came to a complete halt looking at my face, my clothes and my expression.

He obviously didn't recognize me and he didn't even consider me a danger but I didn't give a damn because I had enough and I was prepared.

However, my hand shook as I was ready to shoot the arrow. I hesitated for some reason; the voice of my mother and my dad's cautions. That one frozen moment echoed my own conscience then I pointed the bow in his direction drew it back and released.  

The warthog's skull was cleanly struck by the arrow as it flew through the air and it fell apart in an instant.

John turned and gave me a wide-eyed stare. He grinned as if I had saved his life as if I were a hero.

I didn't return the smile, I remained silent and walked away after turning around. 

I had steady hands and I might have killed him because I had no doubt about it but I was stopped by something. 

I might not be my father or Noah, I can leave a different legacy.  An honorable one even though I harbor anger, I refuse to let it define who I was at the moment.