The twins had finished bathing and were putting on their clothes.
"It seems father bought new clothes for us as well." Raten said, pulling up his trousers. He looked at his brother and his expression changed. "Must you always do this?"
"Do what?"
"Must you always wear the same colours as me?!" He yelled.
"If you don't like it, you can change your clothes." Kiyan responded.
"Why do I have to change? I wore this first!"
"Deal with it then. I'm not taking this off." Kiyan replied, walking towards the door.
Raten followed with a huff. They went downstairs and met their cousin.
"You boys are done." Demas stated.
"So, you're our cousin? How well did you know our late mother?" Kiyan asked, taking a seat beside Demas.
"What can I say about that woman?" Demas stared into the distance.
"I didn't meet her until three years before your birth. At that time, I knew her to be a kind, loving, courageous, feisty, and strong woman. She was very protective over the ones she loved. She was smart too."
"Really?" Sitting on Demas' other side, Raten asked. "Father said we survived only because of her. Other than that, he avoids conversations about her as if it plagues him."
"Your father always reacted to tragedy in that manner. He refuses to speak of it or the person until it breaks him. He is still grieving the loss. If he doesn't want to talk about it, push him. That man's shell is harder than a coconut, I tell you."
Demas looked at the staircase and back at the twins. He then whispered,
"Say, did your father ever have those episodes?"
"What episodes?" Kiyan asked.
"Did he ever…"
"Shut your mouth or I'll rip your tongue out." Agnar cut him off walking down the stairs. "You love talking about me. I can't blame you, I'm that great. But do not cross the line."
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he walked down to the living room.
"I see you took your time, Agnar." Demas smiled at him. Agnar took a seat opposite him.
His presence was mighty. He looked like a king seated on his throne. This king did not look happy.
"I just wanted to know if you've gotten better, if there's any help I can offer?" Demas said, defending his unasked question.
"If my knowledge serves me correctly, no one has been able to help. You failed countlessly. So unless you want to get me irritated, do not ever bring it up again." Agnar said calmly, but the atmosphere was nothing of the sort.
No matter how much they've felt it, the twins were still not used to their father's frightening and intimidating presence.
"I overstepped. Please accept my apologies, Agnar." Demas said humbly.
Agnar took in a deep breath trying to calm his rising rage.
"Food is served." Marie walked in and announced with a slight bow.
"Alright then, let's go eat!" Kiyan leapt with joy. The thought of food drowned out the tension that rose in the room. Raten ran with him to the dining area.
The dining room had a somewhat large, circular table at its centre with five seats around it. They each took one.
"Why do you have this many seats if you live alone?" Kiyan asked with his mouth full of food.
"You do not talk with that much food in your mouth. How many times must I say it?" Agnar spoke calmly but gave a cold stare.
Kiyan resumed chewing slowly.
"I didn't always live alone, I have a family. My wife and our three children." Demas answered the question.
"Really? Where are they?" Raten asked.
"Different parts of the kingdom." Demas replied. "First son is a knight. Second child is still in Knight's academy, while my daughter is in Darkmoon academy."
"They really are in different places." Kiyan said.
"What about Mirabelle?" Agnar asked.
"She went to see her father, he's ill." He replied.
"Is Mirabelle your wife?" Kiyan asked.
"She is." He answered and they resumed eating.
"Don't you get lonely? You're here all by yourself. No wait, the fine lady keeps you company. Is she your maid? Your children, will we get to meet them? Have you been to the academies? If you have, how big are they?..." Kiyan kept asking question after question.
"Can you just keep quiet?" Raten spoke. "You talk too much. You didn't even give him the chance to answer one question. Blabbermouth."
"I don't see why you're the one complaining." Kiyan rolled his eyes.
Kiyan resumed stuffing his face with food. "Oh, and one more thing, your home is beautiful." He said to Demas, not looking up from his plate.
"Why, thank you." Demas smiled.
After the meal, the men returned to the living room to discuss, while the twins insisted they would help Marie with the dishes. She would wash them, Kiyan would rinse them, while Raten would keep them in the cupboard.
"How long have you worked here?" Kiyan asked Marie.
"Just a few years." She answered in her ever soothing voice.
"Do you like it here?" He asked again.
"You ask too many questions, you know that?" Raten said before Marie could give an answer.
"Marie doesn't seem to have a problem with it, or do you?" He glanced at her. She gave a smile and said nothing.
"Kiyan? Raten?" Agnar called out to them from the living room.
"Yes, father!" They answered in unison.
"We have to go now." Kiyan said and they ran off.
Almost bolting into the living room, they found both men standing close to the door. Agnar had put on a cloak, they noticed.
"I hear from your father you both didn't really leave home, except when dragged into the woods or on errands." Demas spoke.
Hearing the words "errands" the boys turned to their father. Did he tell Demas about their involvement with Maxwell? They wondered.
"How would you like to explore the city?" He asked.
"Really? We're going out?" Kiyan asked, excited. Both men nodded. "We would love a tour." Kiyan grinned.
"I thought we were going to be trapped inside." Raten said, moving closer. Kiyan hurriedly ran forward and opened the door. The others walked out with him.
Putting the hood of the cloak over his head Agnar said,
"Listen up boys, while we're here, do not say you are from the Teferi family. Do not ever utter that name. Rather use Silverstone. That was your mother's maiden name."
His sons didn't understand why they were now being prohibited from using their name. But they had learnt to respect and obey their
father's orders. It always was to protect them, so they would unquestionably oblige.
"Understood." They nodded in response.