Gildan and Arc as
well as the other cities inside the Realm. There were even a few families from
the eastern empires, most of whom had engaged in the trade of wood, skins, and
other products that were plentiful in the Realm. Explorers and others said the
eastern empires were barren lands of treeless deserts and salt-water lakes; not
many natural resources. But through it all, the field and the tree remained
untouched.
Almost twenty-four years ago Richard had left this field in
search of his young destiny. Through strange and unplanned events, while
traveling he had saved some of King Charles’ fields in Tean from thieves, and
had been rewarded a small sector of land in the city. He’d built homes out of
stone, not brick, and raised more money. Fifteen years ago he had been given a
position over trade in Anikari city government, and had earned his San title of nobility. Eight years ago he had been named as one of King Edwards’s
councilors, and now he was the senior councilor. He ranked the second most
important man in the kingdom in the directing of the affairs of the Realm. His
life was a far cry from the shabby way he had been raised.
Of course, he would never be king. One had to be of the
royal line for that. He would never realize the high noble title of Dar added to his name. That was only reserved for the royal family. However,
Richard had made something of himself on his own, and he was proud of what he
had done. It was enough to be a councilor in the great Realm, and more so to be
a senior councilor.
He knew Darius looked at things differently than he did. His
son did not hold a desire for nobility or riches or the finer things his life
could offer. That’s because he had grown up around the good life. Richard gave
his son everything that he hadn’t had growing up. Darius wasn’t familiar with
what being poor and disgraced was—how it made you feel inside. If he had grown
up the son of a poor bricklayer he may see things in a different view. Richard
found it so hard not to get angry with his son.
Richard kept hearing Darius’s sizzling comment as he had
left the archery contest. The words seemed to repeat themselves over and over
in his mind, like they held a life of their own, boring deep into his tired
muscles and bones. He breathed in the summer air to steady his heart. The
councilor recognized they had been moving away from each other the last few
years. They used to have good times together. What had happened?
“I have given him everything.” He stood up and began to talk
out loud to himself. “I give him a good home, food, schooling, money . . .
everything he could want to live in comfort. Nobody in the kingdom—even the
entire Realm—has the kind of training and education he has. He doesn't
understand how hard I work so he can enjoy what I didn't. He just doesn't
understand. And with all this he stills finds a way to embarrass himself and me,
by letting his anger get the best of him over some stupid outsider girl!”
Richard stomped a foot on the log. A decaying piece broke
off under his boot. He thought of all the things he had given Darius again and
wondered what else he had to offer. He didn't have time to give more. King
Edward kept him so busy, and it was his duty to serve the Realm.
What else does he want?
He slammed his foot down again in anger on the log, breaking
off a larger piece of the soft, decaying wood around the edges.
Then a voice came to him, almost bringing him to his knees.
“ Give him love and understanding! ”
Richard turned around, almost as if he expected someone to
be behind him. Of course there wasn't. The field was as empty and hollow as his
heart felt. Yet the voice continued speaking again. “ Give him real love. ”He realized that somehow through the years he had forgotten how to give
love.
The sun had become warm during the competition and now beat
down onto his uncovered head. He pushed some of his brown hair out of his eyes
and wiped the sweat off his
well as the other cities inside the Realm. There were even a few families from
the eastern empires, most of whom had engaged in the trade of wood, skins, and
other products that were plentiful in the Realm. Explorers and others said the
eastern empires were barren lands of treeless deserts and salt-water lakes; not
many natural resources. But through it all, the field and the tree remained
untouched.
Almost twenty-four years ago Richard had left this field in
search of his young destiny. Through strange and unplanned events, while
traveling he had saved some of King Charles’ fields in Tean from thieves, and
had been rewarded a small sector of land in the city. He’d built homes out of
stone, not brick, and raised more money. Fifteen years ago he had been given a
position over trade in Anikari city government, and had earned his San title of nobility. Eight years ago he had been named as one of King Edwards’s
councilors, and now he was the senior councilor. He ranked the second most
important man in the kingdom in the directing of the affairs of the Realm. His
life was a far cry from the shabby way he had been raised.
Of course, he would never be king. One had to be of the
royal line for that. He would never realize the high noble title of Dar added to his name. That was only reserved for the royal family. However,
Richard had made something of himself on his own, and he was proud of what he
had done. It was enough to be a councilor in the great Realm, and more so to be
a senior councilor.
He knew Darius looked at things differently than he did. His
son did not hold a desire for nobility or riches or the finer things his life
could offer. That’s because he had grown up around the good life. Richard gave
his son everything that he hadn’t had growing up. Darius wasn’t familiar with
what being poor and disgraced was—how it made you feel inside. If he had grown
up the son of a poor bricklayer he may see things in a different view. Richard
found it so hard not to get angry with his son.
Richard kept hearing Darius’s sizzling comment as he had
left the archery contest. The words seemed to repeat themselves over and over
in his mind, like they held a life of their own, boring deep into his tired
muscles and bones. He breathed in the summer air to steady his heart. The
councilor recognized they had been moving away from each other the last few
years. They used to have good times together. What had happened?
“I have given him everything.” He stood up and began to talk
out loud to himself. “I give him a good home, food, schooling, money . . .
everything he could want to live in comfort. Nobody in the kingdom—even the
entire Realm—has the kind of training and education he has. He doesn't
understand how hard I work so he can enjoy what I didn't. He just doesn't
understand. And with all this he stills finds a way to embarrass himself and me,
by letting his anger get the best of him over some stupid outsider girl!”
Richard stomped a foot on the log. A decaying piece broke
off under his boot. He thought of all the things he had given Darius again and
wondered what else he had to offer. He didn't have time to give more. King
Edward kept him so busy, and it was his duty to serve the Realm.
What else does he want?
He slammed his foot down again in anger on the log, breaking
off a larger piece of the soft, decaying wood around the edges.
Then a voice came to him, almost bringing him to his knees.
“ Give him love and understanding! ”
Richard turned around, almost as if he expected someone to
be behind him. Of course there wasn't. The field was as empty and hollow as his
heart felt. Yet the voice continued speaking again. “ Give him real love. ”He realized that somehow through the years he had forgotten how to give
love.
The sun had become warm during the competition and now beat
down onto his uncovered head. He pushed some of his brown hair out of his eyes
and wiped the sweat off his
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