half an hour, Clayre, drying her hands on a clean towel, exited the hut and approached him.
“We have removed the dagger from his chest and for the moment he is resting, but even I can’t predict the outcome.” she said, with fatigue and worry radiating from her body. “The dagger did not pierce his heart nor does it appear to have been dipped in poison, but it did penetrate his left lung, leaving his recovery extremely hard to predict,” she added heavily. “I fear the journey back to health will be long and hard for Rhys, especially if infection sets in. Even if it doesn’t, he may always be left with some weakness in that lung. He will definitely need a lot of nursing and support from Elwyn and me if he is to have a chance to survive.”
Ayron cut in, not intending to be rude but feeling the urgency to keep his promise to Elwyn to return to her as quickly as possible. He addressed Clayre with all the dignity that his royal line and position in the ruling family would allow, while still trying to maintain some rapport. “I am Ayron, brother to Azavon, the ruler of Silvendil; a land to the north. My responsibilities are to keep my land, its many races, and the ruling family safe from harm.”
Ayron could see that he had her attention, and continued. “I met Rhys and his sister Rhianna when they were about Elwyn’s age. My brother and I helped them escape the assassination squads sent after them by King Stefan when he usurped the throne of Avrelan.”
“But that’s impos…” Clayre started to say.
“Please listen Clayre, I have a lot to say to you and very little time to do it,” said Ayron interrupting her. “Rhianna was born about two minutes prior to Rhys, making her heir to the throne of Avrelan. King Stefan plotted to murder the entire royal family in an attempt to take over as ruler. With the help of an aunt, Rhianna and Rhys escaped into Everin Forest. Azavon and I were hunting in the area with some of our men, when we stumbled across the two of them; cold, exhausted, and terrified. They’d been able to avoid two of Stefan’s assassination squads, but it was only a matter of time until they would have been caught, tortured, and murdered. We offered them sanctuary and took them back with us to our capital city of Findara.”
Ayron took a deep breath and continued, “Eventually Azavon, my brother, and Rhianna fell in love, and married. Rhys left shortly after the wedding to seek his fortune in Unity. I think he felt he would be safe here in Tarlon even if Stefan did discover his whereabouts, given the treaty of non-violence and the fact that he was not heir to the throne. But when Rhianna died, in Stefan’s eyes, Rhys became heir to the throne. I’m pretty sure that Stefan was unaware of Rhys location or Elwyn’s existence until very recently. And, I think the knowledge of her existence prompted today’s attack. The men that arrived in the village today just ahead of us were sent by King Stefan to kill them both.
“But Elwyn would be no threat to a king. She has nothing. She is just a young girl, and has never been away from the village,” said Clayre giving him a puzzled look. “I can guarantee you that she has no idea that she is heir to anything more than a small dwelling and a blacksmith shop.”
“Clayre, I heard Crawley order his men to find “the girl” after he believed that Rhys was dead or dying. King Stefan has to make sure that both of them are dead in order to eliminate any threat to his throne. If Elwyn is Rhianna’s daughter, she is the rightful ruler of Avrelan. If she were to die, Rhys, Rhianna’s brother would be the next in line to rule. Rhys knows this and has obviously worked very hard to keep her well hidden all these seasons, not knowing who he could trust.”
“Ayron, this is all so difficult to believe. I have known Rhys for many seasons. Never once has he ever hinted to having a secret like this.”
“What do you know of his background before he came
“We have removed the dagger from his chest and for the moment he is resting, but even I can’t predict the outcome.” she said, with fatigue and worry radiating from her body. “The dagger did not pierce his heart nor does it appear to have been dipped in poison, but it did penetrate his left lung, leaving his recovery extremely hard to predict,” she added heavily. “I fear the journey back to health will be long and hard for Rhys, especially if infection sets in. Even if it doesn’t, he may always be left with some weakness in that lung. He will definitely need a lot of nursing and support from Elwyn and me if he is to have a chance to survive.”
Ayron cut in, not intending to be rude but feeling the urgency to keep his promise to Elwyn to return to her as quickly as possible. He addressed Clayre with all the dignity that his royal line and position in the ruling family would allow, while still trying to maintain some rapport. “I am Ayron, brother to Azavon, the ruler of Silvendil; a land to the north. My responsibilities are to keep my land, its many races, and the ruling family safe from harm.”
Ayron could see that he had her attention, and continued. “I met Rhys and his sister Rhianna when they were about Elwyn’s age. My brother and I helped them escape the assassination squads sent after them by King Stefan when he usurped the throne of Avrelan.”
“But that’s impos…” Clayre started to say.
“Please listen Clayre, I have a lot to say to you and very little time to do it,” said Ayron interrupting her. “Rhianna was born about two minutes prior to Rhys, making her heir to the throne of Avrelan. King Stefan plotted to murder the entire royal family in an attempt to take over as ruler. With the help of an aunt, Rhianna and Rhys escaped into Everin Forest. Azavon and I were hunting in the area with some of our men, when we stumbled across the two of them; cold, exhausted, and terrified. They’d been able to avoid two of Stefan’s assassination squads, but it was only a matter of time until they would have been caught, tortured, and murdered. We offered them sanctuary and took them back with us to our capital city of Findara.”
Ayron took a deep breath and continued, “Eventually Azavon, my brother, and Rhianna fell in love, and married. Rhys left shortly after the wedding to seek his fortune in Unity. I think he felt he would be safe here in Tarlon even if Stefan did discover his whereabouts, given the treaty of non-violence and the fact that he was not heir to the throne. But when Rhianna died, in Stefan’s eyes, Rhys became heir to the throne. I’m pretty sure that Stefan was unaware of Rhys location or Elwyn’s existence until very recently. And, I think the knowledge of her existence prompted today’s attack. The men that arrived in the village today just ahead of us were sent by King Stefan to kill them both.
“But Elwyn would be no threat to a king. She has nothing. She is just a young girl, and has never been away from the village,” said Clayre giving him a puzzled look. “I can guarantee you that she has no idea that she is heir to anything more than a small dwelling and a blacksmith shop.”
“Clayre, I heard Crawley order his men to find “the girl” after he believed that Rhys was dead or dying. King Stefan has to make sure that both of them are dead in order to eliminate any threat to his throne. If Elwyn is Rhianna’s daughter, she is the rightful ruler of Avrelan. If she were to die, Rhys, Rhianna’s brother would be the next in line to rule. Rhys knows this and has obviously worked very hard to keep her well hidden all these seasons, not knowing who he could trust.”
“Ayron, this is all so difficult to believe. I have known Rhys for many seasons. Never once has he ever hinted to having a secret like this.”
“What do you know of his background before he came
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