Episode 6

Titen looked over the valley the other side of the monastery opened up to. The grass was healthy and tall, reaching up for the sun. The air was cleaner than that of the Imperial City, the smog from factories was blown away at that altitude. The wind whipped around, moving everything in it's path. A group of insects flew by somersaulting in the air, before continuing on their way. The dragon he sat on had been carved from stone hundreds of years ago.

Did you know Brother Iwen is thousands of years old? Tibeden's voice echoed in Titen's mind. It was an interesting bit of information, but he had suspected for years. Brother Iwen was free with his historical references - and if someone corrected him, the old monk would laugh as a parent would at a child.

The door behind Titen slid open and a hooded monk stepped through, sliding it shut behind him. The monk settled on the bear statue next to Titen. Pulling his hood back he revealed himself as Gun, the former pirate.

"How did you manage to leave Takturn?"

"Asola loves breaking rules." Gun chuckled, referring to their old friend and current groundskeeper of Takturn.

"Why did he throw Prince Kuvial off the building - Gun?" Titen thought back to the baby and how Evermore had doted on him. The Prince Heir had kept his brother with him as the baby became a toddler. Titen didn't imagine that had changed after he was banished. Titen couldn't begin to fathom the grief his old student was experiencing.

"Why? Little shit threatened his family. Everyone knows the only quiet royals are dead ones." Gun reached his long arm down and plucked a blade of grass from a boulder in front of them. He examined it in the sunlight before placing an end in his mouth to chew on. Gun's earrings glinted and his finger-length hair swayed.

"Violence cannot be the only answer." Tibora thrusting the porcelain shard into Galora's neck flashed before Titen's eyes. "It cannot be the only way."

"Oy, so says the Master of Combat." Gun stretched his arms. "If you woulda snapped Solotero's neck when he caught you dying that mop of yours - you would still have your life in the castle right now. Married to that full figured Olive. Maybe with lots of babies running around."

"I knew the consequences of my guise." Titen stood on the back of the dragon and stared at the drop off, the wind trying it's best to knock him off his perch. He wondered if the thrilling jump would be worth the final fall.

"Did you? Because from what I'm learning you were just a boy. Half your charge's age. Did you know then - that you would rise to the top in a world of failure and cruelty? Did you know you were living a lie?" Gun climbed off the bear statue and raised his hood to mask his face once again. "Because I don't think you did. I don't think you should accept that fall from grace." Gun paced back and forth. "I believe violence and vengeance are your answers - Titen."

"Is that all you wanted?" Titen stared at the drop off, hypnotized by its promises.

"Oh - right. You've got a guest and she looks mean as a snake, so I'll be sticking around." Gun grinned, the seriousness from moments before vanishing.

"I don't need your protection, Gun. Though I appreciate the sentiment." Titen stepped back so that his body dropped back onto the patio.

"My protection?" Gun guffawed as he slid the door back open. "I'm not offering you protection, friend. There's nothing I love more than a Commonwoman ready to beat my ass."

"Don't you have a lesson plan to set up for the upcoming semester?" Titen was careful to latch the patio door before following Gun to the dining hall. Several monks were eating from buffet plates set on several tables. A quick scan showed Felicias and Tibeden each holding one half of Alora's battle axe. She was instructing them on how to stand in order to swing and recover in an optimal amount of time.

"Woman of my dreams, honestly." Gun exhaled.

Alora straightened her posture as the men approached her. Each boy handed her back her weapon and she snapped the ends back together. The bands of muscle on her arms flexed, exposing how tense she felt.

"Good morning to you, keeper of my dreams." Gun settled on the top of the nearest table and winked.

"Are you speaking to me or one of these boys?" Alora tucked her chin in confusion causing several rolls to appear underneath it.

"Why you of course, you perfect creation." Gun, unphased by Alora's expression, rested his arms behind him and relaxed. "I bet you could take me in a fight. Bet you would wipe the floor with me."

Titen moved to block Gun's view of Alora. "Go eat." He instructed the boys, both who seemed more than glad to run off. "Alora," Titen felt Gun's breath on his cheek and the weight of his friend's head on his shoulder. "Is everything alright with Olive?"

"Depends on what you consider alright." The Commonwoman took a seat next to where Titen stood. Titen settled in next to her and tried to ignore Gun's antics. The former pirate had rolled so that he lay on his stomach. His face directly in front of Alora's.

"Do my advances bother you?" He pouted.

"No. They just seem ill timed." Alora patted the top of Gun's head as she turned to Titen. "I have a letter for you, from Miss Ollie - but, I feel you should know - Your master Rotan, he's at one of the hospitals. He was badly injured and his home was ransacked. They're blaming bandits."

"Bandits?" Titen snorted. It was an explanation citizens would readily accept. "Convenient. Will Captain Rotan live?"

"That has not been concluded. His estates have legally transferred to his registered son Felicias Rotan. Should he awaken from his coma, the estates will be transferred back."

"... what's going on with Olive?"

"I was instructed not to share that bit with you. I left all of Felicias's legal documents - acquired by Lord Godrun - with Brother Iwen at the entrance. This is for you."

Titen accepted the envelope. "Alora, how did you know where to find me?"

"I found your home ransacked and Lady Olive contacted your father. This be the place he adopted you from?"

"Ay."

"I must be going now. There are things that need to be done." Alora stood and swung her axe to rest on her broad shoulders.

"Be quick. Be safe." Titen bade her goodbye.

"Will you write me - or better yet come visit me, my fiery goddess of strength and virtue?" Gun leapt off the table and tried his best to gaze into Alora's eyes lovingly.

"Where would I write to?" She quirked her lips.

"The name is Gun and send the postage to Takturn."

"Just Gun?"

"Gun of the five pirate lords."

"There are only four pirate lords now." Titen corrected absentmindedly as he opened the letter from Olive.

"Very well, Gun." Alora nodded her head thoughtfully and departed.

"She loves me. Well then! What have we here?" Gun draped his body over Titen's. "My Love," Gun read aloud. "I must warn you that Solotero's plot against you has thickened. Somehow the royal family has come to know of your existence within the city. Take care to be safe. With all of my heart, Olive Andersy."

"Do you enjoy annoying everyone around you?" Titen reread the letter several times, trying to imprint Olive's words in his mind.

"Yes." Gun rested his head against Titen's. "Oh look there's more, 'P.S. Lulu informs me that there is also a hunt for a Commonboy and another named Felicias. Neither sound like the one I outfitted in my shop." Gun removed himself from Titen's person and sat next to him. "Well... Best you teach those boys how to outdo the Imperial Army."

"Are you returning to Takturn?" Titen was surprised by Gun deciding not to insert himself further into the situation.

"Not quite yet. Sounds like I need to go and handle some bandits."

"Of course." Titen huffed in good humor. "Don't get caught." He slapped Gun's back.

"One last thing, before I follow the alluring Alora back into that hell hole." Gun adjusted his monk's robes again, being careful to conceal his face. "Do the descendants pose, Titen. You're disconnected from your line and it's led you down an apathetic path."

"And here I thought you had some heavy handed advice waiting for me." Titen listened to Gun's last chortle fade out. His friend was gone from the monastery by the time Titen moved from the dining room. The butler wandered around several hallways, careful not to interrupt anyone in their learning. He found Felicias and Tibeden studying arithmetic alongside some older monks - though none as old as Brother Iwen it would seem.

Somehow, he ended up back on the patio with his favorite dragon statue. Standing on top of the statue, Titen bent forward and placed both of his hands palm down on the aged stone. Once he found his center, Titen lifted his legs straight into the air until they pulled back. He stared at the valley below and the jagged rocks that led to it. Inhaling deeply, Titen shut his eyes and meditated.

He opened his eyes again, unable to find comfort and saw that darkness surrounded him. In all his seventy years, Titen had never once tried the descendant pose. He never wanted to connect to the Moore line. All Titen ever wished for was to be the true son of Godrick Godrun.

"Then tell it to me, boy." A red haired man sat cross legged on the floor, his hair braided like a warrior. "Why was I wait'nen this long for ye?"

"If this pose speaks true to legend, then you are aware that I do not know you." Titen shuffled around, unsure of what to do.

"And ye cannit guess who I might be? Have a seat. You're makenen me nervous. I ain't been dead all this time to deal with nervousness in The After."

Anxiety washed over Titen as he crossed his legs to match his ancestor's. He left enough room between them to defend himself if need be. The man didn't speak again. Instead he sat still, his red beard concealing most of his face. Dark green eyes narrowed at Titen. Eyes that Titen had seen a thousand times gazed at him with disappointment.

"You're my father." Titen's fingertips felt cold and he regretted following Gun's advice. "But I do not know you."

"Yer right. Ye donnot. Yer mother hid you, right before the purge. God that woman..." Titen's Father's face crinkled with emotion and he became silent again. After some time, his expression smoothed out and he cleared his throat. "E'binar Moore."

Titen jumped to his feet. "You are the Rebel General? My father is The Rebel General?!" Hyperventilating, Titen felt out of control and that in itself caused him to panic. "Impossible. All of your sons were killed."

"And yet we have Felicias Moore, born of his mother Galora Moore, born of her mother Retribution Moore, born of my first wife. You, born of my second wife, your mother, Hortencia Verit Moore, born of-"

"Yes, I get it."

E'binar's bushy eyebrows lifted into his hairline. He stood slowly, taking the time to adjust his leather armour. With a shrug of his shoulders, E'binar Moore turned heel and began walking away from Titen.

"Wait!" Titen ran to catch up to his father. "Why are you leaving me?" E'binar turned on his son, advancing on him as he would an enemy.

"Tell me, Titen, why are ye here? Why did ye come'n?" E'binar shoved Titen at the end of each question. "What questions did ye need answers ta?"

"I do not know." Dropping to his knees in defeat, Titen punched the black floor.

"Well - why not, Boy!?"

"Because I do not know who I am."

"You are the last Moore heir." E'binar harrumphed, grabbing Titen by his arms and hoisting him up.

"Is that not Felicias?" Titen straightened his legs as his father released him.

"You let Felicias do what he knows he needs to do. He and I already went through that."

"You couldn't have mentioned that you were my father to him?"

"Ye're spoilT. Everyone has their ownen path - ock!" E'binar shoved Titen with all of his might.

Titen's eye flew open as he lost his balance, tipping forward and away from the patio. He tried to twist so that his hands could grip the railing, but a large gust of wind slowed his turn.

"No!" Flailing, Titen fell down the edge that had tempted him hours before. He hit a narrow boulder. A loud crack gave way as several of Titen's ribs broke. He tried to right himself, but the pain blinded him as he rolled backwards and towards the cliff. His fingers hooked on the edge and Titen tried to swing himself up. The wind blew with so much force, one of his hands lost it's grip, leaving him hanging from the side of his broken ribs. "help..." Titen's breath hitched, unable to inhale properly. He looked up desperately hoping he'd find salvation. Several monks were leaning over the edge of the rail and shouting at him.

He lost his grip.