Chapter 4

"Welcome back, Your Highness," greeted Samuel, the royal stable-master.

"It’s Captain, or better yet, just call me Nick, Samuel."

"Of course, Your Highness."

Nick just sighed. Samuel had been serving the royal family ever since Barrett was a boy and wouldn’t be caught dead addressing those of the royal line by anything less than their blood born rank.

AJ just smirked and then laughed outright when he caught the gawk on Cole’s face.

"What’s the matter, kid? Didn’t know you were riding with royalty?"

"AJ," warned Nick.

It unnerved him to be treated differently from others. Being half-Drake, and half-royal blood, the responses he received were to say the least, varied.

"Hungry, Cole?" Nick asked.

"Umm. Yeah…I mean yes, Your Hi…."

"Now don’t you start," Nick cut him off.

"Just call me Nick, alright?"

AJ put an arm around the boy’s shoulder leading him towards the dining hall.

"Come on, kid. Let AJ tell you some stories about our Nicky’s less than stellar misadventures. Don’t you worry, Nick. Howie and I will get rid of all this useless awe and wonder in no time flat."

"You guys go on ahead too," Nick said indicating Wesley, Allyne and Matt.

"Maybe try to salvage some of my pride while you’re there."

"Aren’t you joining us, Captain?"

"In a bit. Save me a seat."

After a moment, he amended.

"Make that three."

"The King looks tired," said Kevin.

"He’s taking this personally, just like he always does," answered Brian.

The both of them had headed for the royal gardens together once the meeting had ended. They shared a strong friendship in part due to their love and loyalty to the King, as well as to one other special person in their lives.

"Nick’s not going to like this one bit, you know," sighed Brian.

"What’s to like? We’re about to tell him he has the potential to bring about an age of darkness to the world."

"If not for being better able to protect us, he would purge the Drake part of himself if he could."

Brian eyed Kevin as the General stared out into the ocean. Brian had first met Kevin nearly nine years ago. Brian had been standing by his mother as he observed his father speaking to General Liam. The whole northern colony had been wiped out and now lay in ruins. There was but one survivor, a 21 year old young man who had been found unconscious from severe injuries in the Lord’s Manor.

Brian had eyed the dark-haired stranger. So serious looking, but as he made eye contact with Brian, he gave a little nod. Brian nodded in response while a small smile played on his lips. Queen Evangelyn, who had noticed this, exchanged a few words with the King and so it was that Kevin was taken in by the King’s Guard.

Now, as General, along with the love and respect of the royal family, Kevin had quite a bit of wealth afforded to him by the King and his status. He could settle down happily and live a long and prosperous life with whomever he wished.

‘And that was the problem.’

They had all spent the last decade together. Kevin, Brian, Howie, AJ and Nick. Howie, who came from one of the wealthiest families in the land and had taken up his father’s post as Lord of the Merchant’s Guild.

AJ had initially lived on the streets, honing his skills as thief extraordinaire by trade ‘till the day he got caught by none other than Howie. Actually, it was more appropriate to say that they had stumbled upon each other. Needless to say, AJ had been facing maximum sentence at the tender age of 13 until Howie’s father had decided to take the young scoundrel in.

Today, there was no one Howie trusted more and together they maintained the prosperity of Khiranirn. Due to their frequent visits to the palace with Howie’s father, they had developed a friendship with Brian, then Nick and finally Kevin, and the rest as they say was history.

The first time Brian saw Kevin and Nick together was after the attack. He didn’t want to admit it, but Brian had forced Nick to tell him what had happened. It hadn’t gone beyond him though, but even then Brian had noticed the closeness Kevin had shared with his brother.

Nick walked through the corridor that lead into the royal gardens, instinctively following his ‘sense’ of Kevin. He could ‘feel’ Brian close by as well.

‘They’re probably each depressing each other.’

As he stepped into the gardens, the first thing he caught sight of was the vast expanse of ocean displayed before him. The ocean had always intrigued him. So many mysteries, so many wonders to explore.

Kevin had felt him drawing closer and closer, and as he turned to face the garden’s entrance, his breath caught at the sight of him. There, looking out into the ocean that had always fascinated him.

‘Nick.’

As if the very thought had in itself called out to him, Nick turned to look straight at Kevin. Even from where he stood, Kevin could see the sparkles in the blue eyes.

‘Or is that just a product of my imagination? Do you know what you do to me? I look at you and all the ugliness in my world fades away.’

Brian, who noticed Kevin move, turned to see his brother approaching. Curious, he positioned himself to study Kevin, inconspicuously of course, and what he saw confirmed what his head and his heart had already known.

‘Couldn’t help yourself, could you?’

He had made it a point to learn how to read the normally inscrutable Kevin over the years, and from what he could see now, Kevin had fallen and fallen hard.

‘Looks like he wasn’t the only one either.’

"Your Highness, General," Nick greeted as he reached them, a barely detectable smirk gracing his lips.

"Ow, hey," he stepped back as he was slapped on the head and shoulder by Brian and Kevin respectively.

"We thought we told you not to call us that when we’re all alone together," said Brian.

"I know, but the both of you looked so serious, I thought it only appropriate."

The other 2 sighed, not knowing how they were going to explain everything. Nick let them stew for a while longer before finally deciding to let them off the hook.

"If you’re trying to figure out how to tell me about Gaia’s little prediction of doom courtesy of yours truly, don’t bother cause I already know."

"What?!"

"Gaia made sure to inform me. Well, actually, she was just going to kill me and be done with it, but thank Khira, she decided against that."

"When was this?"

"About 7 years ago."

Now that Brian thought about it, he could remember seeing Nick, looking extremely pale, asking if he could sleep with Brian that night. At the time, he had thought that Nick had just had a nightmare, but Nick had said no. He replayed the conversation he had had that night.

-7 years ago-

"You sure you’re okay, Nicky?"

"Uh-huh." A pause, then.

"Brian?"

"Yes?"

"Am I a bad person?"

"No, of course not. Did someone say that to you?" Brian asked, beginning to get angry that someone was hurting his brother.

"No, just…… Can someone be born bad?"

"No. Nick, look at me." When Nick turned to look at him, Brian’s heart clenched as he saw the tears in the teenager’s eyes.

"You’re a wonderful person, Nick. Father and mother love you, the guys love you, I love you." Without really knowing why he had done it at the time, he had added "And Kevin loves you."

Nick’s features had brightened considerably on hearing that, Brian only now, 7 years later, fully understanding the implications.

"Do you think all of us could love a bad person?"

When Nick shook his head no, Brian kissed him on the forehead.

"Alright then. Go to sleep. Goodnight, Nick."

"Goodnight, Brian."

A long silence ensued as Brian waited for Nick to drift off.

"Brian?"

"Yes?"

"I love you too."

-Present-

Brian smiled as he felt Nick’s hand in his own. Nick was looking at him, a small smile telling him that Nick knew exactly what was going through Brian’s head.

"I guess we got all worked up over nothing, huh?"

"Wouldn’t be the first time?" Nick cheekily replied.

"Brat," both Brian and Kevin said simultaneously and they all broke into smiles.

As always, the sight of Kevin, a smile lighting up his dark features, made Nick’s heart beat just that much faster. Kevin turned, looking straight at him, both getting lost in emotions they had yet to acknowledge, at least out-loud anyway. Brian suddenly felt like the fifth wheel he knew he was at the moment.

"I think I’ll just go."

"No, wait. AJ and Howie are in the dining hall and they’re with someone I’d like you guys to meet. Come on."

But Kevin taking hold of his hand stopped him. Unconsciously he squeezed Kevin’s hand in return, even as he turned a questioning look towards the older man.

"Brian, why don’t you go on ahead. There’s something I want to show Nick first."

"Alright. See you guys soon."