"Wh... what?" Aeron said as his voice was breaking. "What are you saying right now?"
Nyella’s eyes were filled with sorrow. "Yes, Aeron," she said softly. "I found out only recently. Your father... he was the former Lord Arbiter of the Crown. He was killed because of a prophecy. And your mother... she escaped when she was already carrying you."
Aeron’s eyes filled with tears again. "So it’s true... all of it is true," he whispered. "My father was a Lord, a good man, and they killed him. Your father, the king, sentenced him himself." His voice shook with pain. "And all this time... everyone knew. Everyone knew the truth while I was left in the dark. Deceived. Lied to. And even you." His eyes locked on Nyella. "Even you, the one I trusted most. You told me to trust you, didn’t you?"
Nyella’s hands trembled. "It’s not like that, Aeron. I told you, I only found out recently, just as I’m telling you now."
"You should have told me immediately!" Aeron snapped.
"I..." Nyella’s lips quivered. She tried to speak, but Aeron cut her off.
"No wonder. No wonder my mother pleaded with me not to come to the capital. No wonder she begged me, warned me again and again. She told me I’d be deceived. She told me I’d be used. But I didn’t listen. I came anyway. And now..." His voice cracked.
"You’re not being deceived, Aeron!" Nyella cried out. "I promise you, that’s not what this is. I wanted to tell you when the time was right. I swear to you, I only wanted to protect you."
"When would ever be the right time?" Aeron shouted. "Tell me, Nyella! When? Or were you waiting until you had used me long enough? Until your games here in the palace were finished?"
He turned away and backed her. "So from the start it was all a game, wasn’t it? You’ve been using me."
"No, Aeron!" Nyella pleaded, shaking her head. "Don’t say that. Please!"
But Aeron’s anger increased. "You used me to win your war with the Sandborns. You used me to fight the Ashantis. You used me to back your strength here in the palace. Tell me..." His voice broke with bitterness as he faced her fully. "Tell me, Nyella. What else have you been using me for?"
Nyella could not bear his words. Her knees gave way and she squatted down and covered her face with her hands. "Never, Aeron. I never thought of such a thing. I would never use you. I cared for you... I only ever tried to help you."
"And that help of yours only brought me more pain. More bad luck." Aeron’s voice became cold. "The king, your father, killed my father. He died a horrible death because of a false prophecy. And that... That makes the king my enemy."
Aeron’s fists clenched at his sides. "And if the king is my enemy... then I am an enemy of the Crown. Your enemy."
Aeron left Nyella behind and stepped into the royal infirmary. They were still treating Varek. Trying to give him all kinds of herbs, covering his wounds, and trying to sustain his life.
He stepped forward. "How... How is he doing?"
They avoided his eyes at first, and Aeron’s hands shook. "Please," he asked again, Someone... someone tell me something. How is he?"
At last, one of the older physicians looked up. "He has suffered many wounds. Too many. But the one in his stomach..." The man lowered his head. "It is too deep. We cannot heal it. I’m sorry. He has only a few hours left. We have done everything we can to sustain him till then."
Aeron couldn’t believe those striking words. His knees weakened, and he held the wall to steady himself. The physicians quietly left the room one by one until Aeron was alone with Varek.
He walked to the bedside and looked down at him. His face was pale.
"No... no, no, no..." He sobbed. "This cannot be happening. Not you. Not like this."
For a while, he wept. The room was quiet except for his crying. Then, to his shock, a weak voice spoke. "Have you not cried enough?"
Aeron immediately raised his head. Varek’s eyes were open now. Aeron rushed to his side with tears running down his face.
"You wouldn’t understand," Aeron whispered as he gripped his hands.
Varek gave a faint smile. "I heard them. I heard what they said. Is that why you’re crying like this?"
Aeron lowered his head. "I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Varek. This is all my fault."
Varek shook his head slowly. "No, Aeron. This is not your fault. None of it. You have to stop blaming yourself for everything that life brings."
"But it is my fault!" Aeron cried. "My mother warned me. She begged me not to come here, and I disobeyed her. I disobeyed, and I brought you with me, into the hands of those who betrayed and murdered my family."
Varek’s breath rattled. "Tell me, Aeron... how did you find out?"
Aeron looked at him, confused. "Wait... you mean, you knew?"
Varek closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them weakly. "You think your mother would have let me come with you without telling me the truth? She told me everything."
"And still... still you came with me? You insisted we come here, knowing how evil they were?" Aeron said in a low voice.
Varek’s voice became softer. "It was better here than there. Back home, every person close to you was in danger. At least here, we stood a chance. And now... those enemies, they’ve been dealt with. Most of them are gone, and the few that remain..." he looked Aeron in the eye. "They will never come for you again. Not after what they’ve seen you can do. They will fear you now. They will keep away."
Aeron’s lip trembled. "So... so that means... we can leave? We can go now?"
Varek closed his eyes for a moment, and a faint smile formed on his lips. "Yes... let us go home."