Half brothers

Emperor Tyran sat in his chambers, looking over the window,he felt his head throb.A week after Fiona's funeral and the condolences he received seemed unending.The imperial palace had been flooding that day with different kings from the six kingdoms of the Realm,lords,noble men prime ministers and their female companions along with their knights,guards and servants.

Today they all seemed to have departed,only a few stayed behind.

The gifts he had received filled up the storerooms in his chambers that he even had some moved to other storerooms of the palace.

Tyran thought these condolences always reminded him he had lost something precious to him and it still instigated the pain.The pain weakened him making him unable to forge ahead unable to do anything,just wishing to be with her but she wouldn't want that now.

The Emperor stood up and went down the stairs having no destination in mind.

All his meetings had been suspended to moan the Empress's demise so today he was entirely free.Tyran found himself going towards Fiona's quaters.

Another day for more investigation but first he had to see Ramses his son.His son? he had another son,an illegitimate one whom he barely ever saw nor cared about.The last time he had seen him was at Fiona's funeral.No doubt he had little love for the boy.

Ruel,his older son was born of a slave woman two years ago.Before Tyran had met Fiona a gathering had been organized by his late father in honor of his getting a bride.Tyran had refused all the women he was offered for no one attracted him.He had gotten drunk that day and Aponia his mother's slave had taken advantage of that and made him sleep with her.

Even as a young imperial prince Aponia had always been infatuated with him.But she never made any move towards him knowing they were both on entirely different levels.

A slave could never be with a Prince even if he were attracted to her.Tyran however never knew she existed until that night.

Drunk as he was he had left the imperial palace Great hall where the event was held to take a walk at the courtyard garden alone and Aponia had approached him with more wine,he felt dizzy and could barely keep his senses.Tyran felt his stomach tearing apart,had thrown up several times at the garden so he declined her offer at first but Aponia had persisted he finally accepted it.Then she sat on his laps as he drank,the darkness,orchids and olive trees giving her some measure of comfort that she wouldn't be caught.

Tyran pushed her off his lap and stumbled to his feet staggering as he walked away but the lips that pressed against his brought him to a halt.

Aponia kissed him,then placed his hand on her already exposed breasts.Tyran squeezed both hard and brought his lips closer to suck on them but she stopped him and whispered into his ears while stroking his hair

"Not here your highness, somewhere more... private"

Her eyes scanned her surroundings one last time then She led him to a secluded area in the imperial garden and he had followed her like a slave being led in Chains by his master.

Overwhelmed by lust and aroused,the drink messing with his senses and already dizzy eyes Tyran could think of nothing more than else than getting inside her.

He badly wanted to tear off her clothes and have his way with her and he did.She let him,led him.

Tyran made his way through her body feeling nothing but soft skin and intense pleasure.Her gentle mourning inciting the celesity of his body movement on hers.Back then he had desired staying there with that strange woman forever and whenever he remembered it he grunted and spat in disgust.

He had awoken the next day in his bed at first unable to remember what happened that night but with time his memory returned in fragments with his brain doing it's best to put the puzzle pieces together.

Aponia had fled the imperial palace the next day,was caught and banished thanks to his father though he could have killed her himself with the child if he had the chance.

In the meeting with kings to decide her fate the former king of polymus,father of Zemah had suggested banishment after she nursed the child for a year and his father had agreed to it,Tyran knew why,he always wanted a grandson and although he was Emperor at that time he had to respect his father's wishes.

Emperor Tyran had always wondered at Aponia's connection to Zemah's Father, rumors have it he always held her back.What relationship hath a slave with a king were puzzle pieces Tyran had been unable to put together all these years.

The hand that gently pulled on Tyran's robe jolted him from his thoughts.He looked down to see Ruel.

"Speak of the devil!"He exclaimed.

Ruel wore a red stripped velvet with tiny trousers to fit his tiny legs.His hair was neatly combed and he was still wearing the necklace Fiona had given him when he turned two.Tyran remembered seeing the same on Ramses.

Tyran just stood there watching the child pull on his robe.When Tyran saw tears well up in Ruels eyes,his lips pouted as if wanting to cry,he lifted him in his arms.

The little Prince had grown thinking the Empress was his mother and Fiona had cared for him as her own.

Throughout the day of funeral Ruel had kept bugging him with these words

"Where's mother?I want mother play with me".

Tyran had gotten tired of hearing that and as he opened his mouth to speak Tyran stopped him.

"Mother went on a very very long trip to get you presents,she won't be back for a long time".

Little Ruel nodded but Tyran knew that wasn't the end of that question.Tyran looked around but couldn't find any of Ruel's nanny.Again they had let the child out of their sight he was getting tired of this.

Emperor Tyran opened the door and was met by Carolene.

She bowed curtly and they both walked down the hallway.

It was quiet her and since Fiona died no one had been in here except Carolene who nursed the child,he had left her with a palm spell so she could pass through the barrier anytime once she touched it.

The area was restricted.No one could meet or see the child.At the funeral,a few lord's and kings had requested to see him but he had refused.

Now approaching the room Ramses was kept Tyran felt his aura getting stronger.He opened the room and entered.

The child lay in Fiona's bed,eyes wide open as he stared at the ceiling as though there was someone there communicating with him.

Tyran drew close to the bed and let Ruel down it.Ramses's eye darted all over the place till they met his father's then he started to giggle as he sucked on his fingers.Ramses had always been this way anytime he saw him.

Ruel reached out his hand to touch Ramses and the Emperor carried him immediately.Tyran kissed his cheek and watch Ramses fiddle with his hair, pulling on it.Ramses was reaching for his crown,a normal habit of his anytime Tyran carried him.

The Emperor grinned,took off his crown and handed it to him.

The child squealed and gripped the crown tightly as he raised it to his mouth and sucked on it.

Ramses struggled with it, bitting on the crown,as he tried raising the crown to put on his head it slipped off his hand and fell off.

Carolene quickly bent over,picked up the crown and handed it back to him.

Tyran watched Ramses resume bitting the crown again.This time he kissed his forehead and placed him on the bed supporting him from falling with one hand.

On seeing the crown,Ruel crawled Ramses and pulled on it.

Tyran watched as Ruel pulled on it unable to release it from his brother's grip yet Ruel wasn't giving up.The child's strength seemed incredible like nothing he had ever seen before.He had always wondered how a week year old child could lift his 20 shekel tons weighted crown.

The way they both refused to let go of the crown made Tyran envision how they would probably fight for the crown in the future.He raised his head to see Carolene,her face ever expressionless yet uncomfortable about the way the babies pulled on the crown.

He turned his attention back to the babies who still gripped the crown,Ruel trying he possible best to pull it his way.The throne was indeed Ramses but he was sure Ruel wouldn't let him off easily.

Ruels pull on the crown persisted until Ramses started to cry. The Emperor readhed for Ruel and pushed him away from his younger son.

The infant fell backwards and almost rolled off the bed when Carolene caught him in time.

"Your imperial majesty,he his but a child"Carolene reminded helping him to sit back upright.

Emperor Tyran glared at her angrily.

"Forgive me...your majesty"Carolene aid lowering her head,her hands clasped in front of her.

Ramses went silent as Ruel's little face turned red as he scowled and pouted,his tiny hands clenched into a fist then he let out a loud cry.

Ramses watched his brother cry for a while then he generously held out the crown towards him.Without wasting a moment,Ruel quickly collected the crown and grinned at him.He fiddled with it for a while,the younger baby smiling back as he sucked on his hand.

Tyran pleased with Ramses carried him and kissed him again.His soft skin reminding him of Fiona.

"Your majesty does Ramses get to begin preschool with the other children?"

Carolene asked the emperor who was busy playing with Ramses's hand.

"He's not two yet but then he won't"Tyran responded not looking her way.

"Great Emperor,i think at some point people might grow suspicious.The imperial prince was born yet never dedicated nor seen before, surely people will start talking".

Tyran thought through her words.She was right, soon the whole Realm would be curious to see the imperial prince.

Questions would arise, suspicions, doubts and how about those damn sorcerors, could they really keep their mouth shut.

Ramses had to attend the imperial academy,every demon in the realm attended school to develop their abilities but letting Ramses out to the world this way could lead to his untimely demise.

Once again he had to find a way.He turned to Carolene.

"He will begin school when the time comes...he will grow up like a normal child and live a normal life"Tyran said, having no idea how that would happen.

Emperor Tyran sat rocking Ramses on Fiona's bed in attempt to put him to sleep but Ramses's eyes remained wide open as ever staring straight into his father's andnot taking them off for a moment.

Tyran admired the baby.

He had his eyes,his mother's nicely curved face and from the kindness he had seen him shown,his mother's golden heart.He would in no doubt make a perfect ruler one day.

Carolene left the room and returned later with a small bowl

Tyran craned his neck to see it's contents.It smelt of herbs which turned his stomach sour.She noticed and smiled.

"These is a decoction for lactating your majesty.The child won't sleep now he's obviously hungry but I don't understand why he isn't crying.Could it be because you hold him in your arms your majesty"

The Emperor didn't respond,just watched her drink it then she reached out her hands to carry Ramses.

Tyran let her have him and watched as she fiddled with the seam collar of the gown she wore,then she brought out her breast and stuffed it in Ramses's mouth.

God they are huge!

The Emperor's eyes widened on sight of it and he immediately turned the other way,cleared his throat and lept to his feet.

"Next time ex_excuse yourself"he said and went towards the door without turning to look her way