The Black Raider: Ch Six

Zacarias looked away from his father.  He knew he only meant good; yet everything his father had and had not done in the past was always a shadow in his mind.  He could never forget how his father never seemed to concern himself with his son, until the day he almost died in a freak accident.  Then his father had been there every second of every day, like a sore that would never go away.   

            When Zacarias had been young, his father had left his mother to see to all of his needs. She had been the one to show him love and kindness. His father hadn’t even uttered a single word of console when his mother passed of fever.  Cyrus left him cold and alone.   

            Around the age of seven, his father threw him into the Prent military where he could ‘Start making himself useful,’ as his father had put it.  When he had questioned his father’s decision, his father’s cold reply had been that he had become a nuisance.  Zacarias had been depressed and degraded by his father’s words and had fallen into a deep darkness. 

            Zacarias never found out how his father received word that his son was trying to commit suicide but his father sent out a plea to Alaric, asking him for advice.  Alaric, in response, sent his nine year old son, Nicholas, to train in the military with Zacarias. 

            From the first day they met, to the day Nicholas died, they had been inseparable.  Nicholas had pulled him out of his severe depression and became like an older brother he could look up to.  Nicholas had always been strong and courageous and watched over Zacarias.  He always listened patiently when he threw temper-tantrums and comforted him.  Through it all, Nicholas had never complained or made fun of him.  He had never once made him feel less of a man for his sometimes unmanly outbursts. Nicholas had been his saving grace. 

            And then, four years later, Nicholas had drowned in the Apex River on a visit back home.  Zacarias lapped back into his depression and, yet again his father reached out to Alaric. 

            Zacarias was transferred into Chaton’s army and was stationed at the castle where he was assigned a special assignment:  to look over and protect Alaric’s young daughter: Aidan.  He knew now it had been a perfect scheme to get them together. 

            Zacarias learned shortly after arriving that Alaric had just started recovering from his own depression at losing his son and was taking over the country his daughter had been running since her brother’s death.  For a ten year old girl, Aidan had done her damndest to take care of her country for the time her father had been grieving. 

            He smiled as memories from when they were first introduced replayed in his mind’s eye.  Her father had towed her into the hall and led her over to meet him.  She had hid bashfully behind her father until Alaric had introduced him.  She recognized my name, possibly from stories her brother had told her.

           Shyness gone, she stepped out from behind the king and looked him over.  For a ten year old girl, she had been tall, almost as tall as he was at the age of fourteen and that alone had intimidated him.  At least until her thoughtful frown turned into a bright smile and she flung herself at him, embracing him in a warm hug.  When she pulled away she explained that her brother had always talked of him and she was very happy to finally meet him.   

            Zacarias had been so baffled by her actions he could not speak.   

            He remembered vaguely Nicholas describing her as a feisty little foal who would never be broken in.  She had too much free spirit and was as stubborn as a mule.   

            After their first meeting, Aidan never left his side.  She taught him how to read and write, she was his partner in crime while training in the military, and most importantly, she became his friend.  She was his way to vent out his frustration, sadness, and anger towards his father.  She was his light.  She was his laughter.  She was everything to him.  Without her, there was only darkness and despair.  Without her smile there could never be anything wonderful in his life.  She had been his whole world. 

            She had saved him from his grief and his suicidal thoughts.  She had stayed with him through many long and cold winter nights just holding him close to her, comforting him as he slept.  There had been many a night they sat under the stars during the warm summer and talked about everything and nothing. 

            He spent four years training in Alaric’s military until he was commanded on his eighteenth birthday to return to Prent where he was placed in charge of Prent’s military.  Zacarias had not wanted to go, but he could not ignore his father’s direct command.  So, with a heavy heart he departed from Aidan and returned back home. 

           Only a week after his return he received an unexpected surprise.  Aidan rode up to the front gates of the castle with a few of her most trusted guards.  She told him she hated the way they departed and confessed her love for him.  She stayed with him for several months before returning home to Chaton. 

            From that point on, they continued to visit each other as often as they could, only staying apart from each other for a month at most. 

            Taking his father’s concerns into account, Zacarias said, “I do not believe King Alaric to be so rash.” Aidan’s father had been far more kind and present than his own had ever been.

            “So be it.” Cyrus said softly. “While you are out, I will send word ahead for a harvest festival to be held. Do try to find yourself a suitable noblewoman to marry.”