CHAPTER 3.

The demeanor of the sun seemed fragile as it gave the young men more zeal to till the soil without much murmurings and complaints. It seems the battle between the sun and the cloud would last till night and that made a lot of farmers tarry longer on their farmlands without any bite of the sun on their skin.

Lucas's joy knew no bounds as the cloud seemed to be on the winning side. He worked tirelessly while his brother, Ramsey sat nonchalantly under a Peachtree watching him till the soil. Blessed by the temperament of selflessness, He continued in his work as the other lad played.

"I know how hypocritical you are, Lucas. You do the farm works alone with so much vigor so father's love will be showered on you alone. I know your type." Ramsey lamented, staring at him insidiously.

"I know how difficult it has been for you to work for too long so I won't bother you if that is the main idea of uttering those hurtful words at me" He replied calmly, sparking up the rage in Ramsey who stood abruptly to release more.

"My father's properties and fortune will never be for an unwanted soul like you. I and my brothers will continue to hate you till you leave our home alone. Depart from our lives, Lucas. You go about proving to others what you are not. We loathe you to the core so make sure you leave our lives for good. Return to the home that forsook you from the onset" He released, walking away with much rage.

Unfazed by his brother's outburst, he smiled and then resumed his work.

"Good morning, father" Gem greeted her father who sat on the floor with his eyes closed, his palms joined and his legs crossed.

"Good morning my morning glory, my sunshine, the only light that persists in the dark, my fountain of hope and peace. How was your night my daughter?" He asked, rising from his previous position to sit down on his bed as Gem followed suit.

"My night's rest was good, Father" She replied.

"I smell the sting of your dried tears my Gem. You cried last night?" He asked, staring intently at her as she became suddenly uneasy on the bed.

Ortom waited in anticipation for her response but only noticed how uneasy she became. Seeing how pale she looked suddenly, he knew instantly that his assumptions were right.

Gem had been his treasure right from the womb. When she was born, he became solely attached to her and never wanted her out of his sight. He watched his little treasure grow into a woman and even at that, he still struggled to make time for her as she would not go to bed without sitting for a while with him in his hut and wake up the next morning without disturbing his morning meditation. He knew her to the core. They shared a strong relationship that she and her mother never had.

"Father, it is nothing to be worried about. Your daughter just finds it difficult to handle her emotions for some days now but soon father, I know I will be alright." She affirmed, still avoiding her father's piercing gaze.

"He is your brother, Gem. You can't have him that way. Your lust will only amount to you being lost for good." He released suddenly, holding her hands in his.

Gem burst into fresh tears the moment her father exposed her though she knew he would as the seer that he is, she never expected him to catch up on her this fast.

"Father, I want him for myself. He is not my blood." She wailed on.

"Lucas is my son and your brother too. Decrease from your lust my treasure before you become lost for good. I love you so much and as your father, I will always tell you the truth my treasure." He released, wiping her tears away.

"What must I do father? I can't help my desires" She lamented.

"You are the next seer. I know you know what to do first. Apologize to your brother then ask the gods for wisdom. I know they will direct you well" He responded, gaining a genuine smile from her.

"Your food is ready my lord." Mrs. Ortom announced, interrupting the father-daughter session.

"Thanks, my love."He answered, adjusting to settle well before the wooden table where she had placed the food.

"Gem, you don't expect your mother to watch you eat with your father today. Go get your food from the kitchen" She announced, gaining a displeased look from her husband due to Gem's hesitation.

"Let her join us today also. You know she hardly eats without her father" He intervened in her stead.

Mrs. Ortom became annoyed instantly. She watched as her daughter sat down at a meal with her husband before grumbling her way out.

"I think Mother isn't happy at all" Gem spewed sadly.

"She will come around, my treasure" He beamed, grazing on the food.

" I hate him to the core. Imagine my woman to be desiring Lucas over me. His presence spites me. I even regret father's action" Markus relayed to his brother as they made their way back home late in the evening.

"Even Mother can't stand the sight of one strand of hair that grows on that lowly head of his. Brother, I want us to go see someone who would give us a clearer vision of Lucas and how to sweep him away from our lives so that our father's wealth, wives to be even our mother can live in peace." Kim advised, staring desperately at his brother who nodded his head in agreement with his idea.

"Good evening Father" Lucas greeted, entering Ortom's hut after returning from the farm.

"Welcome my strength" He replied, offering him a space on his bed to sit.

He stared at the young lad who looked famished and unkempt due to how diligent he must have worked on the farm.

"You weren't given food at the farm today?" He asked.

"I saw no one come looking for me regarding that. You know you've always been the one who brought my meals to me every afternoon. I assumed you were tired" He answered.

Ortom gnashed his teeth in anger, disappointed at the rebelliousness of his last son.

"I guess age is telling on me now, Lucas. I couldn't leave my hut today due to the pain I felt in my back so I sent Ramsey to bring you food since he returned quicker than you did. " Ortom revealed.

Lucas released a smile. He saw Ramsey bring him a basket of food but was shocked to find a live copra inside the basket instead of food.

"Father, I wish you a quick recovery. I don't know what would become of me if anything should happen to you" He lamented, clutching onto his arms tightly.

Ortom tried hard to fight the tears that threatened to fall as the lad who always acted strong became suddenly vulnerable.

"I want you to worry less, son. I am not going now" He chimed, coaxing the lad.