Free Draconis' Bane by David Temrick

the form of Father Downing inside the nightmare
dream, as the young man had come to call it.
    “Everyone keeps
mentioning different things about me as though it surprises them, I
don’t understand.” He said one night after his family had left the
dinner table leaving the two of them in private conversation.
    “I’ve never lied to
you son, but I’ve not always told you everything either.” His
father replied.
    “I’m confused.”
Tristan admitted.
    “Before your attack,
you were quite a handful.” He began with a grin. “You really didn’t
listen to anyone except your mother and we’re convinced that’s only
because she could see your thoughts.” His father chuckled.
    The only life Tristan
could still remember was that of a wretch; the object of
humiliation and ill treatment by most everyone. In his real life he
had been the tormentor, a spoiled bully of a King who treated most
everyone with cruelty. Tristan felt incredible shame at the
thought.
    “Don’t feel bad son.”
His father interrupted Tristan’s dark self-deprecation. “You were
the middle child and we were often distracted with Kevin and then
with Eurydice once she was born. You were largely left to your Dana
to govern. You always were rather protective of your little sister
though.” He said with a wink.
    “The two of you used
to share your thoughts when you were young. Until, of course, she
discovered boys.” He continued. “More than one Keep lad ended up
getting a thrashing from you Saturdays.”
    “Wait…what happens
Saturdays?” Tristan asked in confusion.
    “All the apprentices
get the day off and most of them are on sponsored lacrosse teams.”
His father explained.
    “What’s lacrosse?”
Tristan asked.
    “It’s just a sport
you young men play.” His father replied dismissively.
    “…and people get
hurt?” He blurted.
    “Well, over the last
few years I agreed to let a committee of local business owners
create a league with some more defined rules and referees, but
yes…it’s a rather physical game.” He father replied. “Some are more
physical than others.” He concluded, shooting Tristan a mock
appraising look.
    The young man’s face
reddened in embarrassment, not only had he been mean spirited, but
he was also a bully. Correctly reading his sons’ mood again, his
father consoled him.
    “Don’t feel bad
Tristan. You really only got physical with the boys who toyed with
your sisters affections.” His father soothed.
    “Toyed…she’s eleven,
father.” He chuckled.
    “That’s almost
marrying age, son.” He reminded him. “Soon I’ll have to find a
husband for her and you’ll need to remember to keep your temper
with him.” His father replied with a smirk.
    “It’s a good thing
I’m leaving at the end of the week then.” Tristan observed with a
sarcastic grin.
    They both laughed as
Dion took another sip of wine. Over the past week Tristan had
become accustomed to the drink. The first night he’d had a few
glasses too many and had woken up the following morning with a
terrible headache. Carl was kind, though Kevin took great pleasure
in using Tristan’s current state as an excuse to refresh his riding
skills.
    Tristan discovered,
even when hung-over, that he was a natural on horseback. His
brother commented that he sat his mount better than he used to and
seemed more at ease in the saddle than ever, which left the Prince
contemplating just how different his experiences had made him in
such a short time. Kevin took his moment of introspection to give
him a brief history of the family line of horses.
    His great-grandfather
had arranged for the first horses to be brought into their kingdom
from The Eastern Expanse. The Rhenish horses had thick powerful
legs, a medium length strong neck and responded to knee pressure,
which made them excellent cavalry mounts. The previous horse
masters had bred in a few Palominos to give the breed longer legs
and more stamina for long campaigns. One of the major