Laucian woke up to find that he was not in his own bed. He seemed to be in a small room that was sparsely decorated. He turned over and saw someone else lying next to him. Laucian suddenly clicked on where he was; he was in Ulceaon’s room, and they had -- Laucian sat up straight – they had had sex; he knew things with Ulceaon were going well but didn’t think it was that serious. Then, all the memories of last night came flooding back to him and any regret he might have had disappeared.
Ulceaon awoke and turned to face Laucian; “Hey,” Ulceaon said. “Did you sleep well?”
Laucian couldn’t think of anything, so he just nodded. He was too busy thinking how risky last night was; as much as he loved Ulceaon, Laucian knew their relationship must be kept a secret. As Heir Apparent to the throne of Elysium, Laucian was expected to marry a princess of another kingdom to seal an alliance between countries. He wasn’t supposed to be with someone of, what his father called, a lower class.
Laucian climbed out the window – he was thinking to himself how lucky it was that Ulceaon had a room on the ground floor of the Temple. He walked along the training grounds until he came to the main road to the gate. He collected his horse from the stable adjoining the gate and set off for Elysium.
“Where have you been?” Lucian asked when Laucian strode into the council chambers. The meeting was already underway.
“Sorry father,” Laucian replied. “I was assisting the local Temple of Horus investigate reports of Bloodguard activity in the area.”
Lucian nodded and gestured for Laucian to sit down. The rest of the meeting was incredibly boring and Laucian found it impossible to concentrate; he was still remembering what happened with Ulceaon. He wanted to tell his father but knew that he wouldn’t approve. Laucian thought it was unfair that just because Ulceaon dedicated to himself to his Deity meant that he was somehow of a lower class than Laucian. Laucian felt that Ulceaon’s level of dedication put him at a much higher class. Laucian thought his father shouldn’t have a problem with it if Laucian was happy; at least Ulceaon is an elf.
Laucian was so deep into his own thoughts that he didn’t realize that the other council members were all getting up and leaving the room. Laucian got up to leave as well but his father said “Wait Laucian. I wish to speak to you.” Laucian wondered what this could be about. Lucian went to the doors to the council chamber and closed them. He then turned to his son and asked, “Why did you lie to me?”
Laucian paled; how did he know? “What do you mean father?”
Lucian replied, “A father and a king can always tell. Unfortunately for you, I am both.”
Laucian decided it would be best to tell the truth; maybe his father wouldn’t mind; maybe it would be like he hoped it would be. He gathered up his courage and said “I met someone: a while ago. We fell in love, and I was spending the night with him. And before you ask, yes, we did have sex.”
Lucian bowed and shook his head. “Please tell me he is at least a Prince.”
“Actually, he’s not. He’s a paladin at the Temple of Horus. Before you say anything, let me save you some time; I don’t care what you say. I am 109 years old, about to turn 110; I’m practically an adult. I’m in love and it’s my life.”
Lucian slapped Laucian hard across the face. Since he was wearing a ring, the action left a gash across Laucian’s cheek. “I don’t ever want to hear you take that tone with me again. I am your king and your father. Because I am king, that makes you a prince and as a prince you don’t get to do whatever you want. There are certain things that are expected of you and your marriage to a suitable partner is necessary.”
Laucian started to cry; the emotional and physical pain was just too much. “Ulceaon is suitable; he’s good for me. He loves me and I love him. That should be the reason people marry.”
Lucian got angrier at the sight of his son crying. “I’m not even going to talk to you when you’re like this. Get out of here and don’t come back until you’ve cleaned yourself up.” As Laucian was leaving his father called after him, “this behavior proves that you are not ready to be king.” Laucian thought, I’d be a better king than you because I’d break the illusion that some people are better than others; why do we even divide people into classes? He didn’t say these things of course; best not to rile his father more than necessary.
Laucian was sitting on his bed trying not to touch his face. He didn’t attempt to take care of the cut because his healing magic was still touch-and-go. He hadn’t quite figured out how to heal himself without it causing more pain than the injury. He was also thinking about what his father had said. He was also thinking about the class system of society. Class shouldn’t decide what people can and cannot do. Nobody has the power to control the feelings of others. Father was just being unreasonable.
His musings were interrupted by a knock on the door. He went to open it to find his sister, Aya, standing there. She was lucky: her fiancé was the man she loved who also happened to be a prince of one of the neighboring kingdoms. Of course, father had no trouble approving that marriage. Aya came into the room and wrinkled her nose; “Ugh, it stinks Lau. What have you been doing in here?”
Laucian said nothing but pointed to his training clothes which were in a heap on the floor. Aya nodded and sat down at the table. Laucian sat down as well. Of all his sisters, Laucian liked Aya the most. She started calling him Lau because he hated how close his name was to his father’s. Aya bent forward to examine Laucian’s cheek. The gash was becoming rather inflamed and was starting to swell. It wasn’t bleeding so much anymore, which was good. Aya placed her hand over the wound and muttered a spell; she was an incredibly gifted healer. Laucian felt the pain rapidly subside as the injury healed.
“I heard about what happened between you and father,” Aya said, tenderly.
“Oh yeah,” Laucian replied. “I bet the whole court knows. Laucian, the homosexual prince who’s bringing shame to his family and country.”
“After a remark like that,” Aya said sternly, “I want to slap you, too. You mustn’t say things like that about yourself. Lau, there is nothing wrong with you. You have nothing to be ashamed of. I am proud that you are following your heart.”
“Unfortunately, my heart could cost me the throne. Father all but threatened to revoke my birthright over this.”
“Would that be so bad? At least then you’d be free to be with whomever you want.”
“But then father would have no male heir. Elisha is already a queen of a different country and now your betrothed to a prince elsewhere; father’s running out of children.”
“Since when have you cared about father?”
“I care about Elysium. If I can’t become king, I can’t change any of these ridiculous customs.”
“That’s it then. You continue to see your partner and when you’re king, you can get married.”
“I don’t want to wait that long. I don’t want to wait at all. What I want is for father to stop acting like I’ve committed some terrible crime.”
“Nobody thinks you’re committing a crime. Homosexuality is not a crime in anyone’s book.”
“I’m not talking about my homosexuality; I’m talking about father’s notion that my marrying outside the class is a horrendous act.”
“Lau, if you would just…”
“Look sis, I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
“Okay, I’ll drop it for now, but I will be bringing it up again later.” There was a brief silence while they both tried to think of a new topic; then Aya continued, “The Feast of Maekrix is coming up. Since it coincides with your 110th birthday, this is when you would choose your quest, right?”
“Sort of,” Laucian replied. “I don’t really choose my quest. I council in prayer with the local Priest of Horus. It is Horus who tells me what quest I am to undertake.”
“There’s a lot of pressure to succeed, right?”
“There’s just my entitlement to the throne. I can’t become Crown Prince until I succeed. I can’t even talk about this. Ulceaon is going to be one of the Priest’s bodyguards on the trip to Elysium.”
There was a knock at the servant’s entrance and the door opened slowly. One of the servant’s came in to turn down Laucian’s bed. Aya and Laucian waited until he had gone, Laucian asking for dinner in his room; Aya asked if he wanted her to eat with him. Laucian nodded and the two enjoyed a good meal of roast chicken and strawberries (strawberries were something of a delicacy in Elysium because they had to be imported from the Supreme Republic of Talle, the halfling country). When Laucian was ready for bed, he asked Aya, “Will you sing to me?” Laucian loved Aya’s voice because it remined him of his mother’s; his mother had died during a long trip at sea, returning from the Island of the Gods after seeking council from the High Priest of Thoth. The ship that had attacked was identified by a passing dragon as being that of the Bloodguard, the most feared army to roam Draconia; they were the Army of Apothis. Unfortunately, the dragon in question was Frednacht, an entirely selfish and wicked red dragon who didn’t care about the lives of what he called “lesser beings.” It was only after the Supreme Dragon threatened to have Frednacht’s wings cut off that Frednacht revealed the information. Laucian’s mother used to sing to Laucian every night when he was a child.
Aya sang to Laucian until he was asleep, then she got up and left the room quietly. She had made up her mind; she was going to talk to her father. He might not like what she had to say but she didn’t care. She knew her father liked to stay up late working in the council chambers. The door was closed when she got there, and two guards stood to either side. She ordered them to open the door and she entered. Her father said angrily “I told the guards I was not to be interrupted.” Then he looked up and saw who it was. “Oh, Aya my child. What is it?”
“Father,” Aya said, resolutely. “I wish to speak to you, but you may not like what I have to say. So, I ask that you don’t interrupt me, and you let me say what I have to say.”
“What is it?” Lucian asked, concerned.
“Today, what you said to Laucian, you were completely out of line. Laucian is becoming a great man and deserves your respect; he deserves the throne. But, most of all, he deserves to be happy. And if he follows your rules, he will never be. He’s found someone who makes him truly happy. You should be overjoyed that your son found love. Don’t push him away right now. Not when he’s about to undertake a potentially dangerous quest. Because right now, in the mood he’s in, and with how he feels about you, he probably wouldn’t take any advice you give.”
Lucian was struggling to find the right words; “I don’t know what to say to you. How can I expect you to understand a matter of state? You are a woman. On the other hand…”
“Excuse me?!” Aya exclaimed, more than a bit angry now. “What does my being a woman have to do with anything. Women can be great leaders.”
“No,” Lucian corrected. “Women can be good leaders, but the mantle of leadership is better born by males.”
“I don’t even want to talk to you anymore,” Aya replied, thoroughly disgusted. “No wonder mom always spent her time abroad.”
At this, Lucian became angry; he shouted for the guards and had them take Aya to the dungeon to spend some time “cooling off.”
As she was being dragged out of the council chambers she shouted to her father, “I hate you! I count the days until Laucian becomes king. He’s ten times better than you’ll ever be!”
Lucian ignored that last comment; he couldn’t believe his children were acting out this much: and against him. Lucian thought, if Laucian continued to have these crazy ideas, and continued to do these crazy things, Lucian feared that his dynasty would come to an end.
