~Eight Years later~
Sitting at his desk, tea in hand. Dark eyes looking over a small stack of papers, his face smooth, Average. Aside from the smallest hint of wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, coupled with deep frown lines. Black hair slicked back and flecked with grey, bright against the early morning sunrise. His features only showing a bit of his forty-five years.
The black frock he wore, neatly pressed to near perfection, an intricate golden pattern embroidered carefully along the edges of the cuffs, matching the lapels. Elegantly complimenting the design of his frock. The gold was bright against the darker colors of the fabric. His fingers dressed with rings; gems of various colors set within them.
The early Spring morning light cast shadows along the walls in an eerie fashion. The walls are decorated with portraits of past Kings and dukes of the Royal Duchy. Each individual is adorned with jewelry of the finest gems and the best fabrics. Large wooden bookcases stocked with thick books on either side of the spacious room. The floor lay with a rug, stretched from the entry way to King Ekarts desk.
The door of the room slowly creaked open. A tall man, in a neatly pressed tailcoat stepped through. Placing his white-gloved hand to his chest, he bowed slightly. Dirty blond hair tussled over his face. He was a sizable man for his station, much taller than most of the servants and attendants in the Ekart Castle. His features were jagged and stiff, much like his personality. He was known to be strict and cold towards those he overseen, leaving no room for mishaps or unruly behavior.
"Your highness Ekart. Your servant Gideon, greets you this morning." Gideon's voice was formal, monotone as he greeted his Highness.
"Yes, what is it, Gideon?" Ekart's voice was blunt, a hint of impatience hung in his words.
"Her Highness has given birth," Gideon spoke as he straightened himself, his tone the same. "To a healthy male heir." Gideon's brown eyes looked straight, not daring to look at His Highness, hands at his sides as if at attention.
King Ekart's eyes flicked up from his papers to Gideon. "The woman, how does she fare?" He asked, more out of a pondering thought than concern for his wife.
"She is well." Was Gideon's simple answer.
Ekart made a sound of amusement. " It seems she was useful for something after all." He stated while standing. Running his hands over the legs of his trousers, to pet out the wrinkles. " Only took the wench nearly seven years to produce a legitimate heir. Anyway, I suppose it's time to deal with the little by-blow." Finishing his tea as he stood, he set the cup down on its coaster and straightened his coat.
"Call for the Bastard." He stated casually. "Ah, and before I forget." He continued speaking while walking to the mirror in the corner of the room. "Make sure his attendants are dealt with." Ekart's dark eyes flicked over to Gideon's for a moment.
"Understood, Your Highness, it shall be as you wish." With the final instruction, Gideon left the room quietly.
" Now, let's tend to the little shit..." Feeling satisfied with how he looked, he grinned arrogantly to himself, before leaving for the throne room.
-----------------------------
Sypher stood before the king, his gaze fixed on the extravagance of his surroundings. His small frame was dwarfed by the giant throne room, with its high arching ceilings, painted with the naked forms of men with wings, barely covered by a white cloth, all sitting atop clouds, leisurely drinking something red in fancy glasses.
The pillars on both sides were uniformed and painted brilliant ivory, only made brighter by the afternoon sun that showed through the large windows. The room was ornately decorated with gold, silver, and the color of crimson. It unsettled him.
He had never been allowed here before, and he had no idea why the king had called for him. He stood there nervously as he bit into his lip, not daring to make eye contact with king Ekart, who sat proudly on his gaudy throne.
There was no one but the two of them, giving an unsettling silence.
The throne room air tense, as Ekart stared down at Sypher. His white hair atop his head and those turquoise eyes made the king stiffen. Flashes of a Ghostly beauty, with hatred in her eyes, stared back at him as he looked over the little bastard. This filled him with rage. His jaw tightened as he stood abruptly and stepped down from his throne, towering over young Sypher. Seething hatred and contempt in his dark eyes.
Sypher shrank inward out of fear. Life in the castle had not been good to Sypher, even his attendants had treated him with disdain, but the look on King Ekart's face filled him with fear he had never felt before.
Sypher had not known that he was the bastard child of the man before him, he had been kept illiterate and in the dark for the past eight years, at the order of the king. Sypher was to be kept as an extra pawn in the King's plans. Even now, King Ekart intended to keep him within reach and under his thumb.
"You disgust me." came the king's sharp voice, causing Sypher to tremble. "Your hair, and those repulsive eyes!" King Ekart suddenly grabbed Syphers face tightly, causing him to whimper in pain. Sypher unintentionally tried to pull the king's hand away, only further angering The king. "You vile little bastard! You dare to touch me!" King Ekart raised his hand and struck the young boy full force across the face, his rings catching the side of Syphers face, cutting it deep across his cheek and down his jawline.
Sypher fell to the floor with a loud thump. Blood dripped over his small fingers as he clutched his wound, tears falling from his eyes as he looked up, eyes wide with horror and confusion.
"You are no longer welcome in this castle." Ekart spat with pure hatred as he wiped his rings off with a handkerchief, tossing it to the floor when he was finished.
"Gideon!" King Ekart bellowed for his servant, moments later as he adjusted the lapels of his frock, Gideon appeared from the heavy wooden doors of the throne room.
"You have called for me Your Highness?" Gideon greeted the king with a bow.
"Remove this, "thing" from me. He is to be given to Marquis Griffiths; I hear he needs a new page. This, should be a suitable replacement." He stated coldly as he motioned towards Sypher.
"Yes, Your Highness, it shall be as you wish. " With another bow Gideon accepted his king's demands.
That night Gideon had given the kings orders to Duke Julius Clayland. The new Duke of the Royal Duchy. He had recently gained the kings favor over the past eight years. He was a brutal and ruthless man, but he had gotten the King results, and had kept the darker schemes and actions out of site of the rest of the nobility, thus keeping the king in good favor with the noble socialites, further securing his support from them.
"Does the king have no one else to do his dirty work for him, Gideon?" Duke Clayland spat. Cleary irritated at being used for such work.
They both stood in the Duke's office, Clayland obviously disgruntled.
"Forgive me my lord, but it is the order of His Highness." Gideon bowed lightly, his voice disinterested, holding little respect for the Duke's behavior. Clayland Growled in frustration but soon calmed himself letting out a "tsk" as he waved Gideon away. "Fine, I will do as His Highness demands and remove the thorns from his sides." Duke Clayland Grabbed his black cloak and wrapped it around his broad shoulders, covering his short brown hair and half his face with the hood. He was a towering man, is face weathered and scarred. Hardly a candidate for a proper duke. His attitude and way of speaking often caused several social issues, though none dared to press, due to the favor of the king. Stepping over to his desk he pulled the drawer open aggressively, yanking out a silver chain. At the end of it dangled a slender silver whistle, only slightly tarnished with age. "Prepare to open the gates" he barked, placing the whistle around his neck.
"At once my Lord." stated Gideon with a slight nod and heading out of the room.
The next morning Sypher stood in the entryway of Ekart castle awaiting the carriage that would take him to Marquis Griffiths Estate on the boarder. Sypher's face was bandaged poorly and it was sure to scar.
It was odd, there were none of his attendants, usually they were all pushing and hurrying him along, but this morning it was just Gideon to rouse him from sleep, tend to his wound and dress him properly. Gideon was never cruel to him in actions, but Sypher could feel the cold looks from the kings most trusted servant.
Gideon stood beside Sypher silently, never once bothering to strike conversation or look in his direction. They stood in silence, as Sypher fidgeted nervously. He resisted the urge to touch the wound on his face to ease the throbbing.
Moments later, that felt like ages to Sypher, a carriage driven by two black shires pulled up onto the roundabout of the castle. The coachman clicking his tongue to steady the two large beasts, reins now lax in his hands as he waited for Sypher to get into the carriage. "Go.." Came the sudden sharp voice of Gideon.
Gideon's normal formal tone was gone and replaced with a harsh one. He gave Sypher a firm shove towards the carriage. The king's servant didn't even wait for the boy to get into the carriage, he turned on his heel and walked back into the castle without even a word to Sypher.
Sypher walked to the carriage, only to stop to give the castle entrance one last look before he stepped up into the cab. " Misery, suffering and hate." Were the feelings the site of this castle stirred within him. If Sypher was honest with himself, he was a little happy to be leaving this place. Though not knowing what lay ahead of him, with Marquis Griffith. For all this boy knew, he could be going to a place even worse than this one, and in a way, he was right. What lay before Sypher would make this young boy wish he was at Ekart castle again. As he grew into a man, he would long for Ekart Castle to be his only problem.