Free Heritage: Book One of the Gairden Chronicles by David L. Craddock

man faint. He nodded once before rising, bowed, and glided out of the room, offering a bow and the flicker of a smile to Aidan. The doors closed behind him.
    Edmund sat with an arm propped on his armrest and his chin in his palm. Annalyn tapped a nail against her crossed legs, her lips pursed.
    “I want to apologize,” Aidan said. “I have replayed the events of my birthday over and over in my mind. You both know I didn’t want any part of what the Rite of Heritage entailed, but you also know—you should know—that I was ready to take the sword and do what needed to be done. But it rejected me.
    “I failed you, and I failed our people as well. I don’t know how to fix that, but I will do whatever I must to try. I want to continue my training under Tyrnen. He graduated me to Cinder, but I know he has more to teach. I want to continue learning everything I can from you, Father, and from you as well, Mother, so that when all this is finally settled and I take the sword, I will be the best ruler I can be.”
    Falling to one knee, Aidan continued. “Tell me what I must do, and I will do it.”
    Then he waited. The silence seemed crushing, but he had said all he could say.
    He heard his mother’s riding dress rustle and his father’s armor clank. To his surprise and immense relief, his mother extended a small hand. He took it.
    “We’re so proud of you, Aidan,” Annalyn said, holding him by the arms. She was smiling. They both were. But their smiles did not touch their cold eyes. “I am sorry to have been so harsh. I’ve been scared, too.”
    “Did you discover anything?” he asked tentatively. “About my Rite of Heritage, I mean?”
    She shook her head, frustration bordering on anger twisting her beautiful features. “But we will solve this. I promise.”
    Edmund put a hand on his shoulder. “It’s good to have you back, son.”
    “Thank you, Father,” Aidan said. “I only want to live up to what you said to me on my birthday, before...” Before I let you both down.
    Edmund frowned, obviously confused. Aidan felt a pang of hurt. Obviously Edmund’s words about his son growing into a young man he could be proud of meant more to Aidan than they had to his father. Edmund nodded slowly. “Oh. Yes. I remember now. My apologies, Aidan. It was a long journey.”
    “Of course,” Aidan said in a chipper voice.
    Edmund put a hand on his shoulder. “What happened that day is in the past, son. We’re moving forward. Speaking of which, I’ve got a very important meeting with Brendon at the Lady’s first light. Care to join me?”
    “I do,” Aidan said, and he meant it.
    Edmund watched him, and suddenly his eyes did not seem tired at all. “You meant what you said, of course. That you would do anything to fix this... situation.”
    A twinge of shame wormed back in. “I meant it,” Aidan said.
    “Then that’s all we need to say on the subject.” He paused.
    “We love you, son.”
    Annalyn stretched to the tune of a deep yawn. “My, it was a long journey, wasn’t it. Shall we turn in, dear?”
    Edmund yawned even wider. “That sounds wonderful. Not many hours left before...” He glanced at Aidan. “Well. We’ll discuss it in the morning. Goodnight, son.”
    Curious but plenty tired himself, Aidan bowed and made his way out of the throne room. His hands clenched and unclenched as he practically skipped to his chambers. They were just tired. Of course they were.
    Everything is going to be fine. I knew it would be. I may not want the sword, but if it means proving myself to them, I’ll do it.
    He slowed when he neared the sword chamber. Something tickled the back of his mind. The sword had spoken to him in the dream, and that wasn’t so odd. He’d sprouted wings and flown to Darinia and back in dreams. In the world of dreams, swords could talk and men could fly. No, it wasn’t that the sword had spoken, precisely. It was...
    His eyes grew round as the answer came charging up on him. He remembered