Get angry
“Who am I to tell you what to do!” you yelled more loudly, ignoring Forban’s plea for you to calm yourself. “Mister Gannon, have you considered, perhaps, that I have reached my limit?”
“Are you threatening me?”
“I am Kyn. We are standing on our most sacred ground. When I ask you to leave, you leave.”
“Are you going to make me?” he asked laughing.
“Do you know who else I am?” you asked, through gritted teeth.
“No, but you’re going to tell me, aren’t you?”
“What are you doing?” Forban asked, sounding alarmed. “I thought…”
“I can’t handle it anymore,” you interrupted as your face contorted. “There is only so much indignity I can stomach.”
“Indignity? We pulled your people up from squaller. We united the tiny nation states that were killing each other over petty resources. We brought you roads and…”
“Uncle, you need to be quiet now,” Forban begged.
“What has she…he…it told you, nephew? What has this thing filled your head with? The central government saved these people from themselves, at great cost. We opened up trade routes and opportunities to better themselves. And how did they repay us? They killed my brother – your father! Have you forgotten that already? They burned the estate! Are you going to take their side now?”
“I…but…” Forban stuttered.
“Mister Gannon,” you continued. “Forban was never part of your family. He was never loved or taken care of by any of you. My child was. My child was loved!”
“What are you talking about? How dare you?”
“I didn’t finish introducing myself. I’m Lafe, Kyn Scholar. My wife was the second royal daughter. Her name was Mika and I miss her very much. We had a child together and the imperials executed our child for no other reason than because of who her mother was.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“Mister Gannon, don’t you understand? I’m the rightful leader of this nation. Me!” you said beating your chest with your fist. “I’m the one who chose peace. The people who attacked the estate were rebelling against me. Me!”
“What’s this nonsense?”
“Think about it, Mister Gannon. Take as much time as you need. I’m the one holding them back and you are testing my resolve. I considered just give you what you want, but that’s what I do. Isn’t it? I give and I give and I sacrifice…everything…for the greater good but you still want more!”
“My family’s estate is not yours to take.”
“How about this deal? You leave with your life or you die here.”
“Tutor?” Forban exclaimed. “Please.”
“What happens to the estate is Forban’s decision, but what happens to you is mine and I asked you to leave.”
“I should have you executed as an insurrectionist,” Mister Gannon said, letting his fear show around the edges of his voice.
“Do anything to harm me, and the whole nation will erupt in rebellion. Do anything to harm my son, and I will make you suffer.”
“I don’t believe your empty threats. I think you’re a liar and a thief. I’ve had enough of this. I’m turning you in to the central government authority,” he said as he lunged forward to grab your arm.
Forban took one step toward Mister Gannon, causing his uncle to recoil quickly and let go. Forban took another step, causing his uncle to run away and descend the stone steps.
Once you calmed down you looked over at Forban, who was still shaken. “I made a mistake,” you muttered quietly. “I shouldn’t have angered your uncle.”
“I don’t want to give him the estate. You are caring for me, so you should have it. All of it.”
“You were willing to give it up before. Why did you change your mind?”
“Because you refused to leave me. Because my uncle disrespected you. Because you’re the only one alive who considers me a person and not some evil thing.”
“I may have set some things in motion that will be difficult to control.”
“What things?”
“The price for peace is never fully paid. I may have started a war.”
“I’ll protect you.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of. You’re a child, not a weapon. You’re my son. I should be protecting you, not the other way around.”
“Do you really think of me that way? As your son?”
“Yes. I do.”
“Well, for imperials it’s customary for men, even young men, to protect…” he paused, likely stopping himself from saying what immediately came to mind, “…others.”
You smiled. “I appreciate that inclination. I was unable to protect my wife and my child,” you said, trying not to break down. “So, I understand. I kept that letter to help me continue to live, to tell myself every day that they wouldn’t want me to join them, but the guilt of living is almost unbearable.”
“I feel very little for my family. Even the people I…I killed…I feel next to nothing now. Am I evil?”
“No. I refuse to believe that anyone is born evil. You aren’t responsible for what happened. There is no need to feel guilt.”
“But you feel guilty, shouldn’t I?”
“My guilt is worthless. It will never bring them back. Neither would yours.”
He nodded.
The legal battle lasted months and was made more challenging by the young master not being present. The magistrate was frustrated and confused that you and Mister Gannon refused to allow anyone to speak with him directly or even independently assess that he was alive.
Forban continued to slowly change. He became larger and his hands less able to write properly. Despite it all, he continued to be steadfast in his legal fight against his uncle.
At some point, representatives from the central government were called in and continued to clash with the insurance company. It was all very tense, and you were losing your taste for it.
Mister Gannon continued to insist that you were a thief in league with insurrectionists, but the central government representatives explained to him that there was no insurrection and that he should stop spreading dangerous rumors.
However, you were well aware that they likely believed every word he said. You added bells to the doors and windows of the chapel and both you and Forban slept there, for safety’s sake.
It would only be a matter of time, you thought, before they would attempt to fix the problem for good.
So, when the sound of a bell woke you early one morning, you were ready for a fight. You were wearing pants and a thick baggy shirt. You had a knife under your pillow, which you grabbed as you yelled for Forban to wake up.
“Forban! Someone’s here!” you shouted. “Show yourself! Explain yourself!”
“Oh gods! It’s true! The demon lives,” you heard a voice exclaim. Whoever it was, they sounded terrified.
You ran toward the door, holding your knife with the blade outward, “Who are you? Tell me now or I’ll…”
“Don’t hurt me,” the young woman pleaded as she walked into the chapel with her palms forward. “I’m Mister Gannon’s daughter.”
“Why are you here?”
“Is that…is that really my cousin?”
“You shouldn’t be here,” the young master said, uncurling himself from his nest on the stone stage.
“You speak?”
“Are you alone?” you asked.
“Yes,” she answered. “I was curious. The bodyguard told me about the demon…I didn’t believe…I thought he’d gone mad.”
“It’s true. I’ve changed,” Forban explained, trying to speak as quietly as he could. “But I’m…I’m still me. I can still think and talk and…”
“He’s not evil. He’s not dangerous,” you interject. “He’s different, but he’s still your cousin.”
“I’m seeing him with my own eyes, and I still can barely believe it. All the stories I’ve heard, they are truly horrifying. Murderous rampages. Whole cities in flames or flooded, shards of iron flying through the air, tearing through everything in their way, earth engulfing entire armies. Demons are the things of nightmares.”
“Just don’t…just don’t touch me. People who have touched me have…have died,” Forban explained. “I don’t want you to be hurt. Why did you come to the city at all?”
“My father didn’t want me to come, but I insisted because I wanted to save some of the trees and other plants that survived the fire. What really happened? What happened to my uncle’s family?”
“There was an insurgency,” you explained dispassionately. “They set fire to the estate buildings and murdered the family and staff. Forban only…”
“Who’s Forban?”
“Me,” Forban answered. “That’s my name.”
“You created a cursed name? This is…” she said, starting to become distraught. “This is wrong.”
“Forban began to change because of the fire,” you continued. “He was scared and angry, and he killed the insurrectionists. The central government is covering it up and I am inclined to allow them to.”
“You want them to cover it up? Then why are you fighting my father? He’s becoming very frustrated, calling in favors, making complaints…rumors are started to circulate widely. The whole Gannon family is in an uproar. You thought I was an assassin, didn’t you? This needs to end. Please, for everyone’s sake.”
“Tell your father that,” you said flatly.
“Even if he gives in, the rest of the family won’t. This is a matter of pride.”
“Pride,” you scoff. “Domination. Control.”
“It is what it is,” she said.
“What compromise will make this end?” Forban asked.
“I think, that the estate lands and holdings will satisfy my father, even if substantial liquid assets are sacrificed, because then, at least on paper, he would have won.”
“You mean, if we give all the land and other things to him, he would be willing to give us money? Money enough to live here?” Forban asked.
“I believe so.”
