Chapter 1

Alexic's tale begins

                        Chapter 1

(King Ralis of Amerikul lies upon his deathbed while his son Prince Inar has himself declared king. The Realm is filled with a sense of unease as all factions jockey for power.)

Alexic scrutinized with an almost obvious dislike, the lord's and ladies, who flowed by him one after another in their eagerness to pay their regards to his father and mother. He could barely keep his lips from curling at each little gesture, each display of exaggerated excited ness. Every time they did something, he had the funniest thoughts flash into his head, making him want to snicker. So many people dressed in costly clothes and jewelry; jewelry and finery that indeed could feed entire towns and villages, while many of the common people were taxed half to death. He grimaced wryly and shook his head; it was only at times like this that he had such charitable thoughts. It irked him even more to his chagrin to be a part of the "problem"; at least the Sisters kept telling him that each time one of his schemes went wrong. Admittedly he'd rather be in bed or reading something, but protocol or some such word demanded that he be around as his parents met such people. His thoughts turned to Robar, and he wondered what the old historian was doing at the moment. Whatever it is, it isn't this. He nudged his older brother Kehdric, and Kehdric glanced at him and gave a wink.

Kehdric was doing his best to stifle a yawn. He found these things boring. Of all the things he would chose to do, rest assured this wouldn't be one of them. It would be a lot more fun if these lords had brought their daughters with them, but alas the ladies were being saved for the Showing Ball later tonight. What a pity. It seemed that half the High Lords in the realm had shown up this year, with eligible sons and daughters in tow. He wasn't adverse to meeting and getting very close to these young ladies, and he didn't mean after marriage.

Alexic sighed and eyed the sky clock overhead hoping that the hour would toll its end soon. He'd give anything to be Jazril or Marek. They were overseeing the Ball. No doubt they would be mucking up the entire process, but it was better than being like a statue. Going over arithmetic's would be preferable to this. For that matter he'd rather be with Zakin down at the docks overseeing the unloading of the cargos.

He looked up in time to see the first of the lord's and ladies making there way over to him and Kehdric. Seeing the insincere looks of delight on their faces, made him roll his eyes. He straightened up and tried not to show his dislike of the pomp and fanfare.

Around the eighth lord, or was it eighth lady, his mind kind of went blank; it often did when he did things he had no love of. It was nod slightly, smile, nice comment, maybe hand touch, and repeat. When it ended, a sigh of relief escaped from him. He withdrew a hand towel and wiped his brow.

"No love of this, Al?" Kehdric said with a half-smile. "Even I admit it's beyond boring."

"It's ridiculous," Alexic said. "I'd rather listen to Maester Rathborn drone on with his mathematics than have these people fawn over me." Kehdric snorted. "You just don't like being around people. Books and more books are your friends." He dodged a playful punch from Alexic. "Come on. Bazil's over there waving like crazy for us."

Alexic looked across the room towards his father and shook his head slightly. Sir Bazil Camiston had been with the family for almost forty years and was as much an uncle as any of their real uncles. Plus he told some of the most outrageous and hilarious stories in the Kingdom. Alexic straightened his clothing and followed his brother across the room.

Lorkyn Tantril looked at his sons approaching and shook his head. Alexic had his usual twist to his mouth in these kinds of formals, and Kehdric had paused to exchange some quips with several of the pages. He glanced over at his wife, and Edith arched one eyebrow.

".... And I said "Why milord Tagil, that wasn't my horse," Bazil was finishing in his conversation with Sir Porvian when Alexic came up.

Alexic bowed low to his father and mother and kissed Edith's hand, while flashing a slight grin his mother's way. "A pleasant time father, mother." He inclined his head at Bazil and Porvian. Leaning closer to Lorkyn he asked under his breathe, "How much more of this do I have to take before I can be excused?"

"If I have to do it, what makes you think I'd let you slip away?" Lorkyn said giving Alexic an acerbic smile. Edith pinched his arm, making him glare at her for a second. "You do your duty Alexic. The monks will most assuredly survive without you to translate the old words for them. Besides," he added with a conspiratorial look with Bazil, "a young man your age needs to get out and let the young ladies see you"

"What's this about women?" Kehdric said coming up to the group. "Can always use..." his eyes darted to his mother, "...get to know more of these lovely ladies of the land." Bazil chuckled and Porvian gave out his own soft laugh. "I, for one, can not wait for tonight to get here."

"I'm sure a number of the other lords would prefer you catch cold," Alexic added with a sly look. His brother had a notorious reputation as a chaser of women. More than one lord of the land had been caught by surprise when a lady he was interested in was romantically involved with Kehdric.

Kehdric grinned. "As I recall, I remember a certain someone sweeping a certain lady off her feet then getting cold feet."

Alexic flushed and coughed. He caught the speculative look upon his mothers face and thought it wise to change the subject. "Umm...father have you heard anything else from the capitol? Rumors are flying now that the king is close to death."

Lorkyn eyed Alexic. He kept forgetting that the boy had a sponge for a brain when it came to the politics of the realm. "King Ralis is as well as can be expected for a man his age who entered a tourney with men young enough to be his grandsons." He crossed his arms and looked down the hall at the builders preparing the hall for the grand feast. "His life is in the hands of God."

Alexic didn't know how he kept the odd look off his face. His father rarely mentioned God, let alone attended church. He wondered briefly if something was in the air. "How do you think Jaz and Marek are doing?" Kehdric asked Alexic. "I'd bet anything that Dalin is doing all the work and those two are in a corner arguing with each other."

"They had better not be," Edith said. "I sat them both down and told them that I would tolerate none of their nonsense today."

Alexic shared a look with Kehdric. When it came to Jaz and Marek getting along, he didn't think a hundred thousand talks would work. "So mom, what will be the surprise this year?" Last year it had been doves coming out of what looked like the worlds largest pie ever made.

Edith looked her second eldest son over. "That's for me to know and you to find out. You just show up on time this time." Kehdric snickered.

Alexic flushed again. It wasn't his fault that he was rarely ever on time for anything. Should count themselves lucky I show up at all, he thought. "I will be there mom," he promised putting on his most sincere look. The look she gave him made him avert his eyes hastily. She knew him too well for his comfort.

"In coming trouble," Kehdric said, catching sight of Lord and Lady Munifret making their way towards them.

Alexic looked over his shoulder and twisted his mouth. "With your leave father, mother." Alexic moved away from the group as soon as he received their blessings. He had no stomach for the chatter of the Munifret's. It surprised him that Kehdric stayed, until he saw his mother's hand gripping Kehdric's right shoulder. Alexic suppressed a grin. There were advantages to not being the eldest child.

He hurried across the hall less someone tries to approach him. No matter how little he showed to wanting power, people still approached him to try and get things. He found politics fascinating-from a distance-but he had no wish to be in it. A hand landed on his shoulder from behind causing him to jump.

"Didn't mean to startle you," Sister Emera Mortray said dropping her hand from his shoulder.

Alexic turned around and looked at the Sister. She had one of those admonishing, lecture-like looks on her face. It was no secret that he was not the biggest fan when it came to religion, so why she seemed determined to teach him about it was beyond him. He suspected that his mother had something to do with it. She was not keen about his thoughts on religion whatsoever.

"A pleasant day to you Sister," he said. "How may I be of service?"

Sister Emera gave Alexic an exasperated look. Whenever he became ingratiating she just new that it would be next to impossible to reach him. She took a deep breath. Never the less, she would do her duty.

"This concerns your lesson," she began. "You've missed the last week of them and-"

"Did I?" Alexic said summoning surprise on his face. He held in the grin he wanted to show the good sister when her mouth dropped slightly. "I've been so busy with helping with the planning and all. I hope we can reschedule. I so look forward to your teachings from the good book." Alexic grinned at the Sister. "I just can't wait." He turned abruptly leaving the Sister staring after him. "Useless drivel," he muttered under his breath. He stepped outside into the bright sunshine and stopped to let his eyes adjust. He couldn't wait to get away by himself. This many people always made him nervous and edgy. Drawing in a few deep breaths he headed across the court. Maybe he'd check in on Jazril and Marek. Mediating between those two was always fun. It usually ended in all of them being lectured by their mother. He winced slightly and muttered under his breath. She wasn't very tolerant of his abilities to egg his brothers on.

"Alexic! Alexic over here!"

Alexic looked around for the source of the voice and his eyes found those of Lady Aderala Morpisord. He looked around for a quick get away, but she was on him before he could take his first step.

"What took you so long to get out of there?" Aderala asked him wagging a finger in his face. "You really should be more considerate. Just look at my hair. It's awful!"

Alexic stared at Aderala. What is she going on about? He closed his mouth. To say she had set her sights on him was an understatement, and he was becoming suspicious that his mother had a hand in it. What a disaster things would be, if that were true. She was pretty enough, but he had long ago decided that a vapid woman would make a terrible wife.

"I've been busy as you know Dera," he said, wincing at the need to defend. He did get the satisfaction of seeing her eyes flash at his use of 'Dera'. "This is a big deal, and everyone is watching to see how we do. I would have told you not to wait for me, if I knew you'd be out here waiting for me."

Aderala gave him a cool look that made him shrug his shoulders uncomfortably. He glanced over her shoulder, and noticed several of her usual core group of cronies gazing at him. He hitched his shoulders again. They always made him want to cringe when they did those kinds of stares.

Aderala played with a strand of hair and gazed at Alexic. The speculative way she was staring at him, made him even more uncomfortable than he already was. He just wasn't much good when it came to women. So far as he was concerned, he was getting by on pure luck. What was she doing waiting for him anyways? People waited on her, not the opposite.

"Uh..." he began breaking into the silence, "I...um.. really need to get down to the docks. Big things, you see...." He searched his mind for a few more excuses to use.

"Are you showing up tonight?" Aderala asked.

Alexic drew himself up. Man, everyone thinks they know me, he thought. "I would not dream of missing a single moment." He hurried his speech when she arched one delicate eyebrow. "Now let's not bring up the past. These last few months I've done some growing."

Aderala beamed at him and favored him with what he supposed she thought was a dazzling smile. "Good. I want you to meet my lord father and mother in a proper setting. None of those informal ragamuffin meetings." She sniffed, as if to show what she thought of those.

Alexic swallowed roughly. Formal? Oh, hell no! He wasn't the smartest Ranga- Maorik, but he could infer what that meant. He put a smile on his face. He was willing to let her believe whatever she wanted to believe. So long as it doesn't turn out as she thinks.

"But of course," he said. "I really must be off. Was great seeing you. Looking forward to tonight. Oh, yes very much so." As he spoke he backed away from her, then whirled and vanished behind a cart filled to the top with hay. From there a quick dash took him out of her sight.

The ball was looking less and less appealing. He stepped into a side hallway with an audible sigh that sent curious looks his way. He hurried along, oblivious to the bowing and curtseying people gave him, devising at least a score of excuses as to why he would miss the ball. Each time he thought he had a good one, an image of his mother would show up. He paused in the middle of the hall to think it over, ignoring the people hastily going by and the few who sent curious stares his way.

Alexic stroked his chin thoughtfully. Maybe he could show up just long enough to let his mother see him, then pull the old slip and vanish. That had always worked in the past. Of course he had the feeling that now he would need to devise more elaborate excuses. Really he couldn't see why everyone was so intent on making him grow up. Kehdric was first after all, and besides Jaz was the fool wanting to grow up.

Alexic chewed on his lower lip thoughtfully as he began walking again. Maybe it was time he was off again. He was chafing being in such a crowded place. His mother always said he had been born with ''traveler's blood''. Whatever that meant. He turned down a corridor, trying to make it look like he was considering an important decision. It amazed him how many people played the game of politics sometimes.

He put those thoughts aside. Perhaps a quick trip to the city library was in order. Come to think of it he had chanced upon a book not to long ago on the history--- He stopped in mid thought, when upon looking up he chanced upon the gaze of a rather good looking lady. He tripped over his feet and clawed for the wall to stop from falling on his face.

Several people caught him before he could really embarrass himself. When he was able to straighten himself out, and disentangle himself from the truly concerned, he found the lady nowhere in site. He exhaled irritably. Story of my life, he thought

Author's Note

Constructive criticism is always helpful.

Reviews

[Boonrassi]

this work is the definition of tell v show im afraid.. makes it really hard to read.
nothing is happening. i know, it is in your head, but not here on paper.
writing is mostly subject verb construction expressing action in real time.
it is. go look.
this story is a monolog. its someone talking to us.
you just havent learned the difference between show v tell. its basic, fundamental writing tek
taught in every book, in every university.

Alexic scrutinized with an (almost obvious) dislike,

//something cant be almost obvious my friend. cant.
avoid weakening modifiers anyway.

Kehdric (was doing) his best to stifle a yawn.

//avoid 'was...............verb' constructions.
kehdric did his best to stifle a yawn.
kehdric stilfled a yawn.
the last one is really best.


Alexic didn't know how he kept the odd look off his face.

//awkward.. weak, telling.

his mind (kind of) went blank

you do this over and over and over again..
you avoid concreteness with weakening modifiers. just...............try to stop it.
can your mind 'kinda go blank'.
no, it cant.
k... thats it for me.
you want action expressed with subjects and verbs. its just called writing.

wind boosted the sound of rustling leaves.

everything is action.
thanks
T

[Alex]

Wow! That was really good!