《Crowe: Destiny》 Prologue (DRAFT) ¡°Rowan¡­ Rowan¡­ Rowan!¡± He quickly opened his eyes, blinking off the fatigue. Laurel stood above him, his brother''s hand was firmly placed on his shoulder. ¡°By the gods, Finally. I was beginning to think I¡¯d have to get Simon.¡± Laurel released his hand from his brother. The warmth from where it had gripped faded quickly. He placed a hand on his hip and rubbed his stubble with the other and looked as if he was deep in thought, pondering. Laurel smelt of sunberries, a nostalgic odor. It brought back memories of their childhood. ¡°Your nightmares are getting worse. These fits are only getting more abundant as time passes. I do not envy you brother. But I do wish that I could bear some of the weight.¡± Rowan pushed himself against the headstand of his bed. His clothes stuck to his skin and his hair, slick as a seal, covered his eyes. He swept the hair out of his eyes. Nightmares filled with flashes of future and past alike. Though some were clear as glass, most were shattered and stitched together at random trying to make sense of the nightmares was a fool¡¯s errand. It gave Rowan a sense of comfort though knowing it a normal thing for those of the Crowe lineage to have similar experiences. At least for the firstborns. ¡°I¡¯m certain you wouldn¡¯t say that so easily if you were to have some of these. Now, why¡¯re you here brother? Surely you didn¡¯t wake me just to talk about my nightmares?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve forgotten Rowan? It¡¯s two weeks today since you turned eighteen.¡± Laurel looked at his brother''s furrowed face failing to see the significance of what he had been told. He sighed and shook his head. ¡°You really can be so absent minded.¡± Turning around Laurel grabbed a water filled pitcher off its platter letting the cool water fill a wooden tankard handed it to his brother. ¡°Here, drink.¡± Rowan took the tankard and drank the water greedily. The water was a taste of heaven. Laurel spoke as Rowan hydrated. ¡°You leave to do your sacred duty, staving off old Ishtar and the demonic horde for a few years, decades if we are to be lucky, successfully saving the realm from certain war, death, and anguish. I have to say this is rather your forte isn¡¯t it brother? Rushing into the fray to save whomever need be saved, returning victorious to a thousand maidens that would love nothing more than to be yours.¡± He sighed. ¡°Nothing like me. My nose always stuffed in a book, researching things that needn¡¯t be researched. I will say I have more of a mind for tactics then you though brother. Forgive me I don¡¯t mean to suggest you haven¡¯t a tacticians mind brother but you have to agree that I¡¯m more fit for tactical warfare than you.¡± With a thud Rowan placed his tankard on the table next to his bed. ¡°I¡¯d be a fool to think myself better than you at tactics. You¡¯d win against me with a hundred men if I had ten times that. ¡°He threw off the satin sheets covering him and jumped off his bed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the thousand maiden competing for my love. There will be a hundred competing for yours.¡± He flashed a sly smile as his brother rolled his eyes. He moved to the foot off his bed. A Nuovian made chest sat waiting. The design was precise and intricate, detailed beyond any other country''s carpenters skill. It bore his family''s sigil engraved into the wood. A crow, wings outstretched beneath a bright orange sun casting its shadow on the earth beneath. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. He rummaged through it. Closed it shut and set his clothes atop it. ¡°I would ask you to come with me brother but as you said you¡¯re more suited to your books and tactics if we had more men I¡¯d beg you come.¡± He buttoned his shirt. ¡°Feed old Murph while I''m away, will you?¡± The doublet came next, fitted like a glove. An elaborate weaving of linen and silk. Its deep charcoal black accented with a cool white. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure the old cat eats his fill. I have to say brother, the family color suits you quite well.¡± He laughed. ¡°It¡¯s no wonder why the woman swoon when the prince Rowan passes.¡± Walking to the chair by the balcony he sat gazing at the cloudless sky. ¡°Do you know what the common folk say about you?¡± He looked at his brother. He continued dressing. ¡°They say Rowan Crowe is more handsome than all the other lordlings. Stronger and more brave than a thousand men. He will be a greater ruler and king than all those before him. And do you know what they say of me? Laurel Crowe. Prince Rowan¡¯s brother? Yes I¡¯m sure he''ll be a good counselor to his brother. Rowan¡¯s brother? The other Prince? Oh Prince Rowan¡¯s brother. They only know of me because of you brother. You proved yourself a hundred times over during the war your renown reached further heights than I will see. I have no achievements, accomplishments for people to recognize me for.¡± He scratched the arm of the chair. ¡°I won¡¯t lie. It does indeed make me quite jealous brother.¡± Rowan listened to his brother. He understood in a sense how Laurel felt. The weight of becoming the future king and ruler sat heavy in his mind. He often compared himself to his father¡¯s legacy. He walked over to his brother and stood beside him. ¡°I can¡¯t say I fully understand how you feel. After all, I don''t have a older brother to compare myself to. I will become king one day though I¡¯ll have to measure up to fathers legacy and push myself higher than higher than him. A little part of me is always questioning myself. How would father do this? Can I rule better than father? There is always a part measuring myself to father, comparing myself to him.¡± He looked at his brother. ¡°There will be a times when only you and your vast knowledge and military tactics can save and help people. Times where I can¡¯t do anything. Don¡¯t listen to their drivel. I know you are far better than they know.¡± His brother nodded. He clapped his hands. ¡°Now enough moping brother. Lift up your chin. I leave today for quite a bit of time. I need my brother there to cheer for my success. And make sure those maidens don¡¯t try to keep me from leaving.¡± Laurel smirked and got up. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure they don¡¯t forget about you while you are away.¡± They both laughed. He hugged his brother. ¡°Don¡¯t die in some boring place brother. The people would weep for a year.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare think to die a boring death.¡± They released from each other. ¡°If I¡¯m going to die it¡¯d be one that all the bards make songs of. Now come, I''m sure father will want to speak in private before my sendoff.¡± They left his bedchamber making their way to the kitchens. Send off (DRAFT) The kitchen was a heap of cheer. All the cooks, servants, and serving wenches gave their goodbyes and prayers to the young prince who gave thanks in return to each. The servants were rather fond of the princes, just as Rowan and Laurel were always fond of them. They both had an inclination towards the kitchens growing up. ¡°You make sure you eat properly out there son.¡± A heavyset man with a spotty stubble clapped the back of Rowan¡¯s shoulder. A spot of grease left on the sleeve of black silk. He threw a thick cut of bacon into his pan. Its sizzle a thousand bees, the fat colored his faded apron with little gray dots. He wore the look a father gave to his son; it was the same one he had worn since they met. This time it was different; his eyes were glistening, mouth ends had a constant droop forced up into a smile, none except the brothers had noticed the cook''s sullen face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry Daren.¡± Rowan put his hand on the cook¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m hard to kill. Ask any of the men I faced¡­ well the ones that are alive. I wouldn¡¯t dare die without eating your Ox pie one last time. Are you sure I can¡¯t take Daren with me on my journey Laurel?¡± Rowan turned his head to his brother. ¡°I¡¯m sure a meal cooked with such flavors as Daren¡¯s will cut our journey in half.¡± The cook gave a smile at that suggestion. He hadn¡¯t ever gone on an adventure before. He barely went outside the city even then he usually kept his business on Farm Street, a more orderly, and healthy alternative to the lower city Street of Feed. ¡°Take our best cook? Are you trying to start a war Rowan? You¡¯ll manage without him.¡± Laurel felt around in his pocket feeling for the smooth metal of his pocket watch. With a flick it opened a soft ticking sound was barely heard throughout the kitchen, he snapped it closed and made his way out of the kitchen, stopping beside his brother he put a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Come now, you¡¯ve spent enough time saying goodbye.¡± His brother gave a nod, looked to Daren. ¡°Keep a slice of that Ox pie warm and ready for my return.¡± ¡°O¡¯course, I¡¯ll make it extra special. Add some of my secret stuff.¡± ¡°Take care Daren.¡± Rowan smiled and joined his brother. Daren stood looking at the kitchen door for a long bit, his head filled with prayers. He could scarcely smell the bacon in the pan burning. A hollow knock rang as Laurel rasped his knuckles on his fathers doors. He studied the door. A beautifully crafted thing the carving of their house sigil bore its eyes at him he always felt a twinge of discomfort at its staring. A voice called through the door the same stern one he¡¯d grown to know only one man to have. He opened the door, his father sat behind his desk dutifully writing away on parchment. He wore a face Laurel saw often, his brow furrowed, jaw tight, the vein on his forehead bulged. He glanced up from his work upon seeing his sons the expression he wore changed into the one reserved for those closest to him. To outsiders it¡¯d certainly wouldn¡¯t seem as though it changed at all but the hard look softened, the ends of his mouth turned upwards slightly, and he didn¡¯t clench his jaw so tight. The scrunch on his face as well as the popping vein still stood front and center; they seemed hardwired into their fathers face. ¡°Laurel, I was beginning to wonder if you¡¯d ever be able to wake your brother.¡± He put his pen down and looked past Laurel. ¡°Rowan, how did you sleep?¡± Rowan stepped past his brother and walked to the front of his fathers desk. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡°Apart from the nightmares I slept fine, father. Indeed I am quite rested. I¡¯m ready for the long journey ahead of me. I won''t disappoint you.¡± Laurel studied his brother. He stood at attention with his arms behind his back and stood straight; he talked formally. He¡¯d been like this whenever father was in sight for years now. Even after such a long time it was still quite a sight to see his usually laid back brother be straight as an arrow, unbending and precise. ¡°I know you won¡¯t. It¡¯s time for you to prove yourself.¡± Laurel could see his brother¡¯s chest puff out slightly with the slightest hint of a smile. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve read the letter I had the servants give you, The one detailing the members of your party and the route you¡¯ll be taking?¡± Father tapped his index finger on the table waiting for his son¡¯s confirmation. The tapping went for more than a few moments before he let out a small sigh. He opened one of the drawers in his desk and laid a thin stack of papers in front of his son, spreading them out in order of importance. He tapped the largest of them signaling for him to pick it up. ¡°Now Rowan listen closely. This here is the route you¡¯ll be taking, study it well.¡± He unfolded the paper and a rather detailed map spread across it. ¡°As you can see you¡¯ll go south along the river as you leave the city you¡¯ll go along it until it breaks into the lake at which point you and your party will go east through the plains until you reach the Dela Mountains it¡¯ll be hard, this time of year is when it¡¯s monstrous inhabits breed. Once you¡¯ve forged on out of the mountains north is where you will all have to go to avoid any confrontations with the Ralk I know it¡¯s quite the detour nothing we can do, I¡¯d have thought the tensions between our kingdom would have lessened by now though it seems they still hold a grudge against us from the war. Now then after you¡¯ve put a good amount of land between any Ralk cities you will continue east it¡¯s practically a straight shot to the shadowland from there. I haven¡¯t much information on anything beyond that point so you¡¯ll just have to use the map and your senses to guide you the rest of the way. Now¡­¡± He tapped the second paper Rowan quickly folded the map back to its original shape and grabbed the paper. ¡°That one there will tell you all you need to know about who will be accompanying you.¡± Rowan studied the people who he¡¯d soon be meeting, a look of surprise flashed across his face as he saw people he recognized. ¡°You¡¯re quite familiar with a few of the people that are to follow you. Before you say anything I handpicked all of them.¡± He put his hand on his chin and rubbed the stubble. ¡°Gallo and Litner, both exceptional soldiers, made quite a name for themselves during the war under your leadership with that bond you three have shared since you were little. I can expect them to take good care of you. Ulyis your cousin may not be quite as helpful in a fight but her intellect will be of great use no doubt treat her right Rowan I told your uncle she¡¯d come back in better shape than when she left. Hal your instructor will be coming along with you to make sure you actually make it there without an early death. Lastly, to keep you all from the brink I¡¯ll be having Chara come along as your medic, I hear she¡¯s gotten better than any healer in our kingdom Tanis said she was no doubt the most exceptional student he¡¯s ever had.¡± ¡°Father¡­¡± Rowan finally broke his silence. ¡°I can see why you picked Gallo and Litner; they''re both great soldiers but¡­ why must Chara come along?¡± Rowan''s face was a twist. ¡° Father, can I not bring someone else along? Perhaps Yvan or Jan? They¡¯re quite adept at mixing together medicines and patching wounds. They¡¯d do just as we-¡± Father¡¯s eyes were sharp daggers, his nose flared. ¡°Rowan¡­¡± His voice was a rock, an immovable obstacle laced with authority. ¡°This is not up for discussion. If you wanted to complain about the roster of your party the time to do so has long since passed. Honestly, if you¡¯d just read the damn papers beforehand you could¡¯ve changed anything you wanted. I am sick of indulging your behavior. Now shut up and listen.¡± Fathers snaps weren¡¯t a common thing but they certainly weren¡¯t uncommon especially for Rowan. Laurel looked at his brother. His face was stiff he could tell he was holding in whatever it was he wanted to do or say. ¡°You and your party depart in an hour. I expect you to have everything you need packed onto your mule and yourself in tip shape for the departure ceremony.¡± He let out a sigh and waved to the door. ¡°I¡¯ve preparations to make, leave me.¡± Laurel went to the door his brother followed his heel. The door make a nice thunk as it closed behind them.