“Vangelis! Wait!”
Auralessa wasted no time chasing after her brother once the king and queen departed. Her voice echoed down the wide hallway. Its floor and walls were painted in a rainbow of colors from the sunlight that spilled through the high-set stained glass windows. Much of their kingdom’s history was depicted in the artwork of the stained glass, and it was due to this that the hallway had long been known by the name Time’s Passage.
Her twin stopped in the center of the hallway, but kept his back to her. His posture was stiff, and as she approached she could see him clench and unclench his hands. She stopped just a few feet behind him.
“Why did you make it a point for me to win?” Vangelis’ voice was strained, as if at any moment it might break. “Do you think so little of me?”
“I was trying to help.”
“You failed!” Auralessa flinched, resisting the urge to cover her ears as Vangelis’ wrath reverberated around her. “All you succeeded at doing was proving to Father that the only way I shall ever become a man is if others concede to me.”
Auralessa reached out to place a comforting hand on Vangelis’ shoulder.
“Don’t.”
The bitterness in his voice stopped her, and her hand hovered over his shoulder for a brief moment before she slowly pulled back and clutched it to her chest.
“Have you not been listening to me? I don’t need you constantly coddling me. When will you learn to let well enough alone?”
She bowed her head. Blond ringlets of hair still damp with sweat from their sparring session framed her heart-shaped face. A troubled frown creased her forehead. “You are my twin. What hurts you, hurts me. I want only to help show others the worth I see in you.”
“Innocent, sweet Auralessa.” Scorn laced his words. “Have you not heard the whisperings of the nobles? They do not support me as king. They say I am too weak. They would break away from ancient tradition to place you upon the throne as their queen.”
“I have heard the rumors.” She shifted uncomfortably. The many other reasons the nobles had to dislike her brother flitted through her mind. “It means little though. You are the only male heir, and by law you are to inherit the throne.”
“The people do not want me.” His head drooped, and his voice was soft and resigned.
“The people do not know what they want. You are a worthy king for our realm. With the Saulaeshins to the south, we need a ruler that is clever and knows when to take risks. You have these qualities, Vangelis.”
Vangelis’ shoulders sagged, and he let out a weary sigh as he ran a hand through his black hair. He at last turned to face her, and Auralessa resisted the need to pull her brother into a hug. There were lines at the edges of his eyes, and dark circles beneath them. His face was far more pallid than she could remember ever seeing it, and his cheeks had a sunken look about them. She could only guess at the many troubles that burdened his thoughts.
“Auralessa, I–”
Vangelis broke off midsentence at the sound of approaching footsteps. A soldier dressed in the plate mail and flowing blue cape of the royal guard turned the corner of the hall, and jogged up to them, his armor clanking loudly. He halted before them and stood stiff, much of his face obscured by the barbute that he wore. Auralessa had always thought it made their soldiers seem fiercer when only their eyes and mouth could be seen from within the Y-shaped opening of the war helmet.
“The king requests your presence in the throne room immediately.” The soldier made it a point to look at each of them in turn. “Both of you.”
