The color of Divinity I - The delusion of reality

The color of Divinity

By Ellnyon

Notes and warnings

First of all, sorry it took so long to update. My studies kind of overwhelm me, sometimes… I’ll try to write faster.

Second…well. To be quite honest, I wasn’t expecting so many reviews on the prologue, even less positive ones. I guess that kind of increases my responsibility now… All that I can do is thank everyone who’s reading this, especially the ones who took the time to review it, and hope the plot and my writing will, at the very least, correspond to your expectations. If they don’t, please remember I’m only a beginner. Anyway I’ll do my best! And keep reviewing, please.

To Laie, mystic87, Child of the Darkened Moon, Civako, miles, Ari90, memoreitrail and Scribbles my deepest thanks. I hope this new chapter pleases as much as the first.

This tale involves homosexual relationships between males and is rated M. If you are somehow offended by these themes or aren’t legally old enough to be reading about such in your region, I highly suggest you do not continue further.

Enjoy your reading.

Part I

Chapter 1

“Why are you so angry, anyway?” the taller of the two boys sitting on the couch asked.

“Yes, your mother’s been dead for twelve years, Edyane. It’s only natural. It was bound to happen sooner or later…” the other boy on the couch affirmed before he carefully sipped his perfumed cup of tea.

The third boy in the room, the one pacing in front of his two friends and definitely the most handsome and exuberant of the three, threw his hands up in the air, exasperated.

“That’s not the point, Quera.” the boy paused to point an accusing finger at the two in the couch “And you two know it!” He sited on a nearby stuffed chair only to get up a few seconds later and resume pacing. The other boys looked at each other and sighed.

Edyane, prince of N’Alaera and king Fenaleos’ only son was a sixteen year old boy. Cherished and deeply loved by his family and subjects, he was used to getting what he wanted when he wanted it. And he was the kind of man that when he couldn’t have what he wanted; he’d go and get it by force or any other means available. Determined, strong, clever and well aware of his abilities, the young prince was the perfect ruler to be. His crude and honest personality had allowed him the making of important friends among the other noble families, his expressive manners always intriguing.

Never one to impose unnecessary formalities between his peers and people in general, Edyane had achieved the kind of loyalty and respect few rulers hoped to. Even his father, who was loved by everyone, hadn’t yet accomplished the hard feat. The people and the nobles would follow their young prince to hell, without second thought, if need be.

That didn’t imply, of course, that his friends wouldn’t disagree with him sometimes and they made sure their opinions were known by their prince. Their prince would actually hear their advice from time to time. When he wanted to. Today was just not one of those days.

“My father is going to marry an Ethen, seventeen years younger than him and everyone thinks that’s natural and a splendid idea. Am I the only one SANE in this bloody country?!”

“Okay, so what exactly is bothering you: the fact he’s an Ethen or the fact he’s four years older than you?” Quera asked, patiently.

Being the heir of one of the richest households in the country, Quera, son of Count Behevoir, was one of Edyane’s oldest and closest friends. A calm presence in the storm, Quera was the voice of reason and the one who usually cooled his prince’s fiery conduct. His mature personality contrasted deeply with his seventeen years but abided strongly by his looks. Always impeccably dressed and proper on every occasion, Quera’s cold teal eyes and pale blond hair, completed by a pale complexion, gave him an impression of fragility that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Even though Quera was actually more a strategist than a warrior, he could easily hold his own on a fight.

Next to him on the couch, looking pretty much bored with the whole situation was Tenaii. The tall and handsome dark skinned young noble had absolutely no patience to what he liked to name as ‘maidens’ gossip’. He was a more practical man, a strong and proud warrior. Anyhow, he guessed the king’s marriage was an important matter of estate and as such, he was bearing the conversation.

To tell the whole truth, Tenaii preferred to focus his attention (as he always did when this kind of dialogues emerged) in the clashing between his prince’s blazing demeanour and appearance and Quera’s frosty ones.

Edyane’s fiery looks were largely appreciated by everyone, and Tenaii could see why. The golden complexion acquired from too much time practicing in the open instead of studying (much to his fathers and tutors dismay) complemented rather well his auburn hair and expressive amber eyes. His body shaped from too much training was gradually losing his boyish features, being increasingly replaced by a much more manly appearance. However, to be completely honest with himself, Tenaii preferred Quera’s type of beauty. He hated to admit it but he was always attracted to the youngster’s scented presence whenever such boy entered in a room.

“Oh, come on, Quera! Think for a minute…” the seventeen year old arched a shaped eyebrow. He wasn’t the one almost having a fit. “Why would a twenty year old Ethen, claimed to be one of the most enchanting in all Meya’s country, accept the offer of marriage of a thirty seven year old human king? Doesn’t it sound a bit weird to you? Also, why would the Eths’ council even permit one of their higher nobles, a precious fertile Ethen no less, to marry outside of their country borders? It doesn’t make sense.” Quera sighed. Edyane had a few points. Sometimes he forgot that his brute of a prince did have brains after all. But still…

“I don’t know, Edyane. Perhaps the Eths are wary of the threat the Black Wizards’ army present at the moment and are trying to reinforce N’Alaera’s allegiance.” Tenaii perked up at this. The impending war. Now they were getting to discussing matters he approved. Edyane stopped pacing and turned to Quera, crossing his arms.

“The Eths: strong, fast and let’s not forget able to magic, the fucking greatest warrior force in the world, afraid?” he asked. Quera frowned.

“Mind your language, Edyane! You’re an educated prince.” He admonished. “Besides I said ‘wary’ not ‘afraid’.” He finished taking a sip of his tea. Edyane scoffed.

“Give me a FUCKING break, Quera!” he said and resumed pacing. Tenaii laughed. Quera glared at him.

“Even if you were right in your assumptions, my friend, that still doesn’t explain why Lessin Meanea would accept so easily my father’s proposal. They practically didn’t even negotiate…” The prince started to tick things off on his fingers. “My father goes to Meya due to some border problems. Meets Meanea. Asks the Ethen to marry him. Brings a fiancé home. I don’t buy it! These things are not this simple. Why did the Lessin accept it? What’s in for Meanea here? What makes him abandon everything he owns, everyone he knows, leave his kingdom and his society to come to an unknown country with different people, different culture and different traditions? Just give me a reason, Quera. For the life of me, I can’t find even one…”

Quera sighed.

“Perhaps because of exactly that, Edyane: different culture and traditions. You can’t possibly understand one’s motives unless you insert them on their environment.” He paused and sipped his tea, taking a few moments to rearrange his ideas. Seeking a way to better explain himself. “To us, Lessin Meanea’s behaviour may seem weird or even suspicious, but think from what you know of the Eth way of life. When the Ethen reach the age of fertility: twenty years old, they marry with their promised one and move to his household. Such Eth becomes then responsible for the Ethen and all his fortune and properties. Lessin Meanea’s parents died when he was still a child. And since then he has to take care of his much younger (and problematic, might I add) Eth brother as well as all the family’s wealth and estates. To make matters worse, Meanea’s promised one also died two years ago. And because Meanea is a orphan and the oldest in the family he had no one to negotiate another proper fiancé for his status. Also being descendant from the royal family, the proper available candidates are next to none. Don’t forget that high-class Eths have intendeds chosen when they are young children. And there are strict rules: the Eths need to be at least five years older than the Ethens and come from a renowned family don’t-know-how-much generations long.”

“Meanea was practically socially doomed. Reaching twenty, he sees himself with no prospect of marriage as he should, nor a good future for his estate until his brother reaches majority. Time when he’ll be too old to marry, no matter how beautiful he is.”

“So, one day, a man comes, offers to be his husband; offers his family a home; offers him protection and a country’s devotion. A king, no one less. Eths’ council approves. He has the unique opportunity to become the second ruler of a great country. What is he waiting for? He accepts the offer, gladly. Also he probably suffered a lot of prejudice in Meya, being a beautiful and independent Ethen orphan. It’s kind of expected that he wants to get away and marry in style. And he’ll be near the higher temple of their God of the Gods, Maguenta, too. Edyane, Meanea probably considers this marriage a blessing.”

Edyane had actually stopped to hear Quera’s explanation and seemed to be contemplating his words, so the blond teenager gave him a few minutes of silence and finished his tea.

Tenaii looked at Quera. The bright young man was good at these things. Finally Edyane resumed pacing.

“You seem well informed of the Eths’ culture, Quera.” He said.” Remind me to make you my advisor on these affairs when I become king.” Quera smiled.

“I thought I was already going to be your strategist general…” He replied. Edyane laughed for the first time that morning.

“That too.”

Quera and Tenaii chuckled at their childish ritual.

“By the way, why did your father ask the Ethen to marry him in the first place? I didn’t know he was looking forward to marry again…” Tenaii asked, the second time he verbalized his thoughts that morning. The low baritone reverberated throughout the room and Quera shivered as he almost always did when the attractive eighteen year-old spoke. His voice reflected everything Tenaii was: mysterious, mischievous, confident, strong, imposing and impossible to ignore. Some of those were the kind of qualities Quera used to crave for himself but never accomplished. Sometimes he even hated the other two for having them. Compared to Tenaii and Edyane, Quera felt many times that he lacked something. Some skill he didn’t yet know of. Under his layer of finesse, pompous perfection and rational pride, he had always been very insecure. He often hated himself for that.

“HA!” Edyane cried. “The poor old fool fell in fucking LOVE with the bastard’s beauty!”

“Edyane, how rude.” Quera exclaimed. Edyane stopped.

“I don’t FUCKIN’ care, Quera…” and resumed pacing. Tenaii laughed again. Quera once more glared at him only to see his remaining grin and amused dark eyes. Quera scoffed, frustrated, rolled his eyes and bent to place his empty china on a small table near the couch. Those two were impossible!

“What makes you think Lessin Meanea didn’t fall in love with your father as well?” Quera asked casually, dismissing their vulgarity and getting comfortable on the couch again. Edyane stopped, first slightly taken aback adopting a brooding stance few seconds after.

"I don’t know…” He answered carefully. “But I don’t find it believable.” Quera arched one fine eyebrow.

“Why not? Your father is still a good-looking man. If you look closer he’s not that old either. He’s charming, intelligent, a loved king…and has something you both don’t: a proper conduct according to his position.” Edyane sighed, defeated.

“Okay Quera, you win. Man, are you impossible today.” Quera shrugged and Edyane finally stopped pacing and sat at the nearby chair for good.

“When is the Ethen arriving?” Tenaii asked.

“Tomorrow evening. He’s bringing his brother, two Ethen children he’s taking care of, five Eth guards who have been with his family for generations, their families and more than 30 servants along with him. A total of more or less 55 people.” Tenaii whistled.

“Hell! That’s a lot of people.”

“No shit!” was Edyane’s answer. Quera sighed.

“Edyane…” the prince raised his hands in the air mocking surrender.

“Sorry, sorry…” Tenaii smiled, Quera had managed to calm their prince yet again, with his wise words and tranquil conduct. He may not realize it yet, but the pale haired noble would be one, if not the most influent noble in the future. And his next words confirmed it.

“Anyway, they aren’t all going to be staying at the palace. When king Fenaleos arrived, Lessin Meanea’s personal valet came with him and bought Lord Zaiye’s mansion on the fourth level. Four of the guards as well as their families and servants are going to live there. The only ones staying at the Palace are Lessin Meanea, of course, his brother, the two little Ethen, one guard and their servants. By now, most of the accommodation is already ready.”

“How the hell do you know all this shit, Quera? You don’t even live in the palace.” Tenaii asked surprised. Quera rolled his eyes.

“I make it my business to know what happens in this city. Unlike you two, I don’t spend all my free time in useless fights or drinking myself sick on the fifth level taverns…” Edyane and Tenaii exchanged mischievous looks.

“That’s not all we do on those taverns…” the prince said grinning. Quera shrugged.

“Please, spare me the sordid details.” he replied. As if not hearing him, Tenaii smirked and said.

“By the way, Edyane, I don’t think I told you about the blond I had the other day at the ‘Fox’…” the prince leaned in the chair he was occupying, his elbows on his knees and a smirk on his lips, all ears to Tenaii’s ever interesting love affairs. Quera just shook his head and sighed.

“He was really beautiful. Looked a lot like Quera here…” Quera arched an eyebrow, baffled. For being compared with a probably regular of ‘The Fox’ or being regarded as someone beautiful by Tenaii, he didn’t quite know. Probably both.

“You had to be really drunk to compare one of your conquests at the ‘Fox’ with me.” He said. Edyane laughed extremely amused. Tenaii shrugged and looked at the blond with an admiring eye.

“Yes, well, not that you mention it, but you actually are a lot prettier than him.” Quera sighed exasperated.

“That was not what I meant.” he argued. Once again dismissing his words, Tenaii inclined himself into Quera’s space and sniffled very close to the younger boy’s neck.

“You smell better, too.” Quera glared at the handsome boy.

“Of course I smell better. I’m clean. Not reeking of alcohol…among other things.” Edyane chuckled, a knowing light in his strange eyes. Tenaii frowned, returning to his previous place. He studied the angry blonde’s lean profile and smirked, to Quera’s further annoyance.

Two knocks on the door interrupted their banter. At Edyane’s call of enter, an old valet opened the door and bowed.

“Your Highness, Lord Tenaii, master Quera.” The first two acknowledged the old man’s presence with a slight nod. Quera smiled at his valet.

“Is it time, already, Diena?” he asked.

“I’m afraid so, milord.”

“Well then…“Quera said and stood. The other two did as well. “I must be going now. My father requests my presence.” He continued, fetching his blue cape and putting it on, helped by his servant. After that he bowed slightly.

“Be sure to give my compliments to your fathers. See you two tomorrow.” He said, turning to leave.

“Of course. Be safe, Quera.” Tenaii waved his hand.

“See you tomorrow evening. Oh…and Quera...” The blond boy stopped and turned.

“Yes?” Edyane scratched his head.

“Thanks for, you know, everything…hum…listening, advising, being always available when I get myself in trouble or when I simply need to talk, for helping me understand… You’re a great friend, Quera.” The teenager blinked, surprised. Then he smiled.

“Yes, well, don’t mention it. Just remember it when you become a mighty king.”

“I will! I have great plans for you…” Edyane answered with a charming smile and conspirator look. Tenaii laughed. Quera scoffed and then left, shaking his head.

“Bye. Behave yourselves!” The blond boy’s valet bowed and silently closed the door, following his master along the corridor. Inside the room, the two other boys kept on laughing.

“Quera’s an impeccable guy, isn’t he?” Edyane asked sitting down again. Tenaii smiled and nodded. “Comes from a great family, has an interesting personality, a brilliant mind, a strong resolve, not to mention very enjoyable features and a nice body. He’d be a very good catch, wouldn’t he?” Edyane continued following attentively his dark skinned friend’s movements and facial expressions as the boy got closer to the warmth of the fireplace. Tenaii sighed and replied in a low tone.

“Damn right. And he smells incredibly good too, the bastard!” the prince smirked. He knew Tenaii so well.

“Thought so…” was all he said. Tenaii looked sharply at him.

“What do you mean by that?” the other boy feigned surprise.

“Who? Me? Nothing at all.” Tenaii glared at him a little more but let the subject drop. He didn’t feel comfortable with it anyway.

“So, I take it your father is preparing a grand celebration for the arrival tomorrow?” Edyane scoffed.

“You have no idea. I don’t even want to think about it!”

“Okay, so, what do you say we go out tonight, start an early celebration of our own?” the prince laughed.

“You’re a bad influence…I’m in! Where to?” The older boy looked pensive for a moment.

“Well, today’s Friday. The ‘Harunt’s’ must be crowded.” Edyane nodded, smirking.

“I trust you. The ‘Harunt’s’ it is. Let the hunt begin!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Perched at the stem of the ship, Iadden looked at his approaching new home apprehensively. Being an Eth, even if a nine year old one, he was never allowed to show his emotions. But that was an almost impossible task for the young boy. He was extremely expressive, always feeling an enormous urge to share his opinions. Adding to that, he had the famous Guinare’s aquamarine eyes. Eyes that told everything and hid nothing. That was actually the only lovely thing about him, everyone said. Contrary to his brother, Meanea, one of the most beautiful and kind Ethens in all the world, Iadden did not have long, silken blond hair flowing in the wind or soft alabaster skin or even a crystalline voice. The two brothers shared only the large aquamarine eyes. Eyes that were passed throughout his family, the Guinares, from generation to generation.

Not that he was really interested in that. He was not an Ethen, so he wasn’t supposed to be beautiful. He was an Eth, he was meant to be strong. And strong he was. A prodigy child. But a troublesome one. He guessed that was one of the reasons Meanea had brought him. To take him away from the magnificent but cruel Eth society.

He had always tried so hard to be worthy of his family’s name, to make his parents and grandparents, who he did not even remember, proud of him. He came from a lineage of kings, of bright minds, strong wills and powerful magic. And it wasn’t as if he didn’t have those qualities. He did. His problem was his looks and manners.

Iadden was not a common Eth, even if he did try hard to behave properly so as not to shame, at least, his perfect brother who had raised him. But, even if he was rich and powerful, Iadden always seemed to get himself in trouble with the other noble children. If not by his softer features and beautiful eyes (which he had started to hide behind a magical mask since he was five, due to his peers’ mocking words) then by his spoken opinions and generous behaviour. His elders and his tutors blamed his character on the fact that he had been raised by an Ethen with very few Eth influences. But Meanea had lost his parents and intended. It would be excessively cruel if they took his baby brother from him as well. And Meanea loved him too much to leave him alone in Meya even if Iadden tended to embarrass the Ethen on the worse occasions.

The young boy was weary of this change even if it was a welcomed one. He didn’t know much of his new home or this new Court, although he suspected it shouldn’t be much different from what he was used to. Even so, there, no one knew him or his family’s great accomplishments in the past. He could start from anew. He would make of this chance, a change for the better.

He was tired of being told that he was not worthy of his family’s name or that he was a burden to his brother. Even the fact his beautiful and proper brother didn’t have prospects of marriage despite his many qualities, had been his fault, everyone said. ‘Who wanted such a shameful child as a brother in law?’ That’s what they said. Well, one king didn’t mind. Perhaps in this country there would be more people like the good king. Iadden didn’t know. What he did know was that he loved king Fenaleos dearly, as much as his brother did (well, it was a different type of love, he supposed) and Iadden would do anything to please. He would be a perfect Eth and he would embarrass his brother and his new family no more. Or he’d die trying.

TBC…

Ending Notes: So, now you met Edyane, the hero and his two best friends: Quera and Tenaii. You also got a glimpse at Meanea’s brother: Iadden. Iadden is going to be one of the main villains in this story. I’d like to pose a challenge about him. Not to answer right now, of course, but as the plot unfolds. Can anyone figure out the true reason why he’ll be so against Edyane and Meanea being together, before I reveal it?

Also, Lessin is an honorific like Lord or Lady but which refers only to Ethens.

Next chapter, Meanea arrives to N’Alaera…