Chapter Fourteen: On Leadership
Tranith Argan: Book 1
Ravesfel has told the family about Felanar and Kara’s royal lineage. How would you feel if you were told — out of the blue — that you were a king or a queen? Would you jump for joy, or would you hide in the corner? Felanar now needs to grasp not only his new station, but how to lead.
The next morning Kara woke up to her brother’s voice. It was still early, and she was still tired from the excitement the previous night. She looked over groggily and saw that Felanar was in her room, already dressed, and sitting at the foot of her bed.
“What did you say?” she asked sleepily.
“I said, good morning, your Highness,” replied Felanar with a grin.
With that, Kara’s eyes opened wide, and she reached behind her for her pillow and threw it at her brother. Catching it, he laughed, apologized, but said he couldn’t resist.
“It’s too strange, Kara. I don’t know how to deal with this news. You and I are royalty? Do you feel like royalty?”
Kara shook her head. “No, I don’t feel any different.” She paused. “Yet it explains some things I’ve long wondered about. Remember how Llarand treated you when he first met you? He showed you such respect, more than he would toward just any boy. And didn’t you always wonder why you were selected for that training in the first place? When has a boy from Brindledown last been picked to serve the regent? So this news does make sense, Felanar, or at least it answers some mysteries in my life. But on another level it doesn’t make any sense.”
“I’ve been thinking about our parents,” Felanar said quietly. “Our true parents, I mean. I think about my father running from the enemy, trying to protect our mother and you unborn within her – “
“And you as an infant,” added Kara. “That made it even more difficult.”
“Yes, and he did this while wounded, and even worse he had no idea why this was happening to him. That is what I kept thinking last night as I lay in bed. They were hunted down and they had no understanding of why it was happening to them.”
“I wonder what they were like?” said Kara.
“So do I. When I look at your face am I seeing my mother’s? Kara, this news has shaken me.”
“Imagine how our adoptive parents must feel,” responded Kara. “This news has shaken them as well. They no more knew of our true identities than we did. Now a strange journey awaits them and their whole world has been changed in an instant.”
Felanar’s face turned serious. “There is something that worries me. You and I have been trained, and the journey ahead is nothing to us. Even if we encounter danger, between Bren and the elves and our combat training, we could meet it directly. But our parents, Kara, what will they do if danger strikes?”
Kara looked at her brother thoughtfully then turned her gaze away. “Mother will be sensible enough, but she won’t be used to the idea of danger. Who expects danger in Brindledown? Yet her common sense will serve her well, and she’ll listen to us.
Father will be the problem. He will not expect danger and will stubbornly deny it even when it rears up. He will try to lead out of habit, Felanar, for that is all he has ever known. I’ve seen how he tells you what to do. You’ve been so distracted by your future prospects, you’ve obeyed whenever he tells you to do something. He’s used to being in charge.
You must take the lead here, however. He will be on unfamiliar ground on this journey, especially if we run into danger. Your training will be needed now, and so will your leadership. I know you aren’t used to it, but you are in charge now. You’re not just my big brother anymore. You are the leader of our people, and that includes our father. He needs you to lead now, Felanar.”
“You have always been the sensible one in the family, Kara. You’re right, leadership is not some abstract idea for the future. I must take the lead now, mustn’t I? This has changed everything, and I must change with it. Ready or not.”
He looked thoughtfully at his sister as the full implications of this change sank in. Last night was talk of danger and royalty, but it was just a story told and not a reality. Now, in the fresh light of morning, the reality began to take hold. He was to be king – he was king already, in fact – and so he had to lead. This would begin with his own parents, as strange as that felt.
“You have my confidence,” assured Kara.
They heard their parents stirring, and Felanar went to the kitchen to make breakfast as Kara got dressed. Breakfast was somewhat awkward because Chafrar and Sera continued to focus on their children’s sudden royalty, and Felanar and Kara continued trying to put their adoptive parents at ease. By the time they had finished eating and were clearing the table, with Kara and Felanar doing the work, the parents had settled enough into these new ideas that the family was able to move on more or less as normal.
It was a beautiful sunny day, and that raised everyone’s spirits. Evil tidings didn’t seem as real in the bright sunshine. As everyone else began to pack for their journey, Sera went to Alak’s house to share the news and ask him to join them. It was more than an hour before she returned, and her face told the story.
“He won’t come,” she explained to the family with a look of concern. “He doesn’t believe Ravesfel and thinks we are all fools to be going anywhere.”
Felanar stepped forward angrily. “What does he mean by that? Why would he think Ravesfel is lying?”
Sera responded, “I don’t know. I don’t think he thinks Ravesfel is lying so much as he is just playing a joke on us. Telling us stories to make us feel special. To be honest, Alak didn’t take the news of your royal nature well. He always was jealous of you, Felanar, and this just stirred up those feelings. He probably does believe what I said but he is showing his stubbornness again. At any rate, he is not coming, and I couldn’t convince him of the danger.”
“I’ll speak with him, mother,” said Kara. Before she could move toward the door, Felanar stepped forward and said, “No, Kara, it will do no good. He would not listen to you or to me. These feelings of his run deep and will not disappear overnight. This is just a foretaste of the reception awaiting me from many peoples. Who will believe I am king? Alak merely expresses openly what others will think secretly.”
“But we can’t just leave him here!” cried Kara.
“Perhaps he will be safe. You heard Ravesfel. The enemy doesn’t seem focused on him or even you. If we flee, we can draw any of the enemy after us. I do not think Brindledown will be in any danger as long as we are gone. Mother has made the invitation and that is all we can do. What Alak does now is up to him. In truth, having a wife and infant child would make such a journey hard, so perhaps it is best he remain quietly here.”
“You are letting your emotions overrule your judgment,” Kara responded angrily. “Alak is not the only one who felt competition between you; do not let those feelings lessen the danger he might face.”
“Kara, I am not letting those feelings interfere, I promise you. I love Alak, and would not want harm to come to him. If you wish to go speak with him, I will not stop you. I will go myself if you think it will do some good. But I know my older brother. He will stubbornly refuse if he thinks I have the advantage. You know what I am saying is true. So go ahead and try, but do not rest your hopes upon reasonableness from Alak.”
“I’m sorry,” said Kara. “I should not have questioned your motives. You are probably right about Alak. I’ve seen that stubbornness too many times to ignore your words. But I worry about him, and I would like to try. Would you please come with me?”
“I will.”
They walked to Alak’s house on the outskirts of Brindledown. Alak had married the blacksmith’s younger daughter and had moved to a house next to his. Although he still fished, he was also learning the blacksmith trade from his father-in-law. He was at home this day when Felanar and Kara knocked.
Opening the door and seeing his younger brother and sister standing there, Alak laughed. Then he waved them inside, still chuckling.
“This joke is an elaborate one, Felanar,” he said as he sat down in his chair by the fireplace. His wife, Feld, was in the chair next to his, holding their baby in her arms. Feld had black, curly hair that cascaded down her back, with black eyebrows framing a pale face. She smiled at Felanar and Kara.
“It is good to see you both,” she said, ignoring her husband’s laughter. “I often tell my husband I wish to spend more time with you. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Thank you, Feld,” said Kara with a smile. “How is the baby?”
“Oh, doing well and growing quickly. Look at his chubby little arms! Going to be like his father, he is.”
“Look,” said Alak impatiently, “what do you both want? To tell more tales like mother’s?”
“Alak!” cried his wife, “be polite.”
“It’s all right, Feld,” said Felanar, “Alak has good reason to be skeptical. I would be too. It’s a reasonable reaction, and very much like the one I felt last night when Ravesfel first told me. How can anyone be expected to accept such news?”
“Little brother,” said Alak, his tone turning angry, ”I don’t know what this is about, but I don’t like having my family frightened by outrageous tales of nonsense.”
Felanar stood there for a moment as Alak’s words echoed through everyone’s minds, and then he took a deep breath and walked over to where his brother was seated and knelt down to Alak’s height. This gesture surprised Alak and he leaned backwards slightly. Felanar grabbed his shoulders, pulled him back and held him in place.
“Look at me very carefully, Alak. Look at my eyes. You know me well. You know my sense of humor. You know if I lie. Look at me now. I tell you this is no joke, it is no lie, it is not a tale told at the inn, it is nothing but what I know to be the truth of the matter. I did not ask for this honor, I knew nothing of such a life, I do not seek it even now. But I have never known Ravesfel to lie to me, and I see no reason for him to do so now. If he tells me my life is in danger, why should I not believe him? Why should you not believe him?”
Felanar released Alak’s shoulders, but his older brother did not move back. They stared at each other’s eyes for a few moments more and then Alak said, “I believe you, little brother.”
Felanar stood up and sighed in relief.
“Alak? I’m scared.” Feld held the baby close to her as she said this, her eyes shifting from her husband to her brother-in-law.
“Don’t be scared,” reassured Alak, “for I only said I believe Felanar is telling what he believes to be the truth. He clearly believes what he has been told, but I do not.”
“Alak!” cried Kara indignantly.
“Oh, you always believed whatever Felanar said,” her brother snapped. “Whenever you had to choose between him and me you always picked him.”
“Don’t let those feelings sway you now, not when it is such an important moment,” implored Felanar. “Think of your wife and child. Do you not want them to be safe?”
“They are safe, right here with me, in our village. Do not scare my family with these tales! That old man told you something and you accept it. Fool of a brother! Can’t you see that he has been using you all these years? Do not expect me to chase after you yet again. Go on your fool’s errand, but leave me and my family alone.”
“Alak,” started Felanar, but he was interrupted immediately.
“No! Get out of my house!”
Kara and Felanar looked at each other sadly, and then bade goodbye to Feld and the baby. They walked out of the house and Alak slammed the door behind them, causing the baby to cry. His little voice carried as brother and sister walked away.
Back home they told their parents what had happened and Sera was disappointed.
“Will they be safe here?” she asked worriedly.
“He is not the target, I am,” reassured Felanar. “He doesn’t even live in the same house. No one will think to harm him, I’m sure of it.”
Felanar’s tone was so authoritative as he said this that Sera nodded and thanked them for trying. Chafrar grumbled about how Brindledown would be safe enough for him and his wife if it was safe enough for Alak, but the focus now turned to preparations for the journey.
As Felanar was putting some essential items into his pack, Kara walked into his bedroom.
“I’m proud of you, Felanar. You took the lead perfectly. Even your voice sounded like a king’s, and your face gave no hint of indecision.”
“Then I have fooled even you,” he sighed, “for I’m full of indecision. On the one hand, I believe what I said about Alak being safe. If we are gone, what is Brindledown to the enemy? On the other hand, what if we are out of reach in Elaria, and the enemy decides to strike at us through him? He could be in serious danger. Who am I to say if there are spies even in our village? I said what I said to give courage to mother.” He looked at Kara with none of the authority he held just a few minutes previously. “I know so very little about our new enemy.”
Kara studied his face. It was clear that her brother was hoping for confirmation. In fact, such had been the case for years now, as she had excelled at the training alongside Felanar. She had surpassed him at elven knowledge and skills, and he clearly viewed her advice as weighty. For many years they had been in the habit of conferring with each other on matters of deep concern. Now he was looking at her again for confirmation. Her heart went out to her older brother on whom the weight of the world had just landed. At the same time she was scared too, and realized that the stakes were now very high.
“I believe you made the right decision. I reacted with emotion earlier, out of concern for a brother. Yet your words proved true. He will not listen to anyone if he does not listen to his own mother. He is closer to father, of course, but sending father to convince him would be futile. Alak would wind up convincing father to stay behind! So for good or for ill, Alak will stay behind.”
Felanar stood a little taller as some of the weight of authority began to feel lighter. “Thank you, Kara. I value your thoughts, as always. I feel very alone in this new situation.”
“Trust your judgment, it is a good one. You’ll be a wonderful ruler. I have great confidence in you,” she smiled. “And you are not alone.”
Felanar’s face brightened. “I just had an idea about Alak. We are going to be in contact with the Findára, either on the journey or once we get to Elaria. I will ask them to watch over Alak. They are in the vicinity, and they know what to watch for.”
“What a wonderful idea!” With that she went off to pack her own things.
The sun was beginning to set when the family heard a horse approaching. They rushed to see who it was, half-expecting Ravesfel’s return, but it was Bren. The High Man embraced Felanar and Kara, and his arrival raised everyone’s spirits. Seated by the fireplace, Bren described an uneventful journey down from Tranith Argan and asked about the family. After telling him news from the previous few years, Felanar said he would explain the reason for Ravesfel’s summons.
“I was wondering,” Bren said. “I got word to rush down here as fast as I could and to be ready for a journey, but I know not where or why. And where is Ravesfel? I expected to find him here.”
“He is off to find the local Findára to help us on our journey to Elaria. We expect him back at any time.”
“The Findára?” Bren interrupted. “Why would we need their help to travel to Elaria? We’ve made the journey many times.”
Felanar looked at him seriously. “Not under these circumstances, my friend. Has Ravesfel not told you anything about me recently?”
“Not a thing, Felanar. We’ve not spoken of you for some time.”
“And so you know nothing of my identity?”
“Your identity? Is this about your serving the regent? I don’t know why he’s been so long in summoning you for duty, but it is not due to lack of diligence on your part. You were always a wonderful student. You, too, Kara,” he said as an afterthought.
She smiled at this word of encouragement from the tutor they had grown to know so well over the years. Then she smiled even more in anticipation of what he was about to learn.
Felanar continued, “No, it has nothing to do with my serving the Regent.” He chuckled and said, “Or perhaps it does at that. The last day has been eventful to say the least. Bren, Ravesfel was here last night, and he explained to me things I never dreamed of about my true lineage.”
Bren’s face was a fountain of emotion over the next few minutes as Felanar outlined Ravesfel’s revelation. Curiosity gave way to confusion, to intrigue, then astonishment and finally stunned silence. Suddenly he realized the implications and jumped to his feet and bowed low before Felanar.
The family felt a bit odd at this reversal from the High Man, but they laughed despite themselves, for they had grown to love Bren over the years. Despite his high station, he had never made the family feel low, but treated them as equals. Now they could return the favor. Kara spoke first.
“Your allegiance is duly noted, Bren. Now please stand up before we begin laughing again.”
Bren stood up, looking at Kara with respect, and said, “At your command.” He thought about all those times he had told her that the training was for Felanar alone, and he regretted treating her that way, now that she turned out to be a princess. At least he had treated her kindly, he thought to himself as he sat back down. He apologized to Kara at that moment for what he now saw was his impertinence, even if it was inadvertent.
Kara rolled her eyes and slumped in her chair. “Felanar, are we going to have to experience this every time we make this revelation?”
“It would appear so, Kara,” said Felanar. “I would certainly have done so if the roles were reversed, so I understand the impulse. People have longed for a king all their lives.”
“Yes, my lord, we have,” Bren continued, ignoring the look from Kara at the use of the term. Chafrar and Sera, on the other hand, were visibly proud at the way Bren was treating their children. “It is truly an honor to be in the presence of royalty,” Bren continued. “I have served the regent all my life and never thought I would experience this moment. I am not the only one who feels this way, I assure you. When news of this breaks, people throughout the realm will rise up in joy.”
“That will have to wait,” said Felanar as he continued relating to Bren all of Ravesfel’s words. He explained the recent events of the assassins and Ravesfel’s concerns and the reason for their journey to Elaria. When he was finished, Bren stared down at the floor and whistled softly.
“No wonder we want the Findára! Truly, time is critical then, and we must do everything in our power to protect you. I agree with Ravesfel. We must leave first thing in the morning whether or not he is back in time.”
Sera now spoke up for the first time. “Bren, why does he take so long? Could something have gone wrong?”
Bren turned to her. “Do not fear for his safety, if that is what you are thinking. Do you not know that guardians cannot be overcome by force?”
“What do you mean?” asked Chafrar. “He’s just an old man.”
“Nay, he’s far more than that, though his appearance may indicate otherwise. He’s not even a man, let alone an old man. Age means nothing to a guardian, and appearances can be deceiving. Believe me when I tell you that you need not fear for his safety no matter the circumstance. He may be surrounded by a host of enemies, but he will come through in the end.”
Felanar looked at Kara with surprise.
“So why is he delayed?” repeated Sera.
“He probably has much to arrange among the Findára, and it takes him longer than he thought. Do not worry. He will join us on our journey. In the meantime, we should do as he says and be off with first light. That is, if this is your wish, my lord.” Bren looked at Felanar as he said this.
“It is my wish, Bren, for I trust Ravesfel. We will do as he directed.”
They had supper and continued their preparations for the next day. Kara walked over to the nearest neighbor’s house and explained to the family there that they were going to visit distant relatives the next day and would be away for a while. She hoped this would keep the villagers from becoming suspicious about their absence. Kara asked the neighbors to look after their house and land and then returned home. They all went to bed soon for an early start. Felanar drifted off to sleep for a second night as king.