The Kingdom

The bars clanged shut behind me. Turning, I called out to the one guard that I recognized as one of those who had trained under my command, "Falarin, I need a favor."

"Sir I…… I.……"

I waved my hand dismissively and gestured him closer to the bars, "I'm not going to ask you to break me free of this place. All I want is for you to have my horse ready for me on the eastern side of the fortress's wall." I pointed off towards the solid stone wall to my right in indication of the East.

His eyes came back from where I had pointed and I could see I had completely befuddled him. "Just do as I say Falarin."

"Yes sir," he said dazedly.

As he had begun to turn away, I spoke idly, "Falarin, your name is a unique one, an old and seldom used one for sure. Have you ever wondered at its significance and why your mother chose it?"

Falarin's back had gone completely rigid and his tension was a palpable emotion clouding the air of the dungeon. He remained still, with his back to me.

"Yes, as I was saying, it's a very unique name. The meaning of which I believe has slipped from most people's consciousness. I believe it means, 'son of the king,' does it not?"

Falarin had turned fully to me now and with a tight expression he asked, "How did you find out?"

"I studied the old scroll archives quite a lot in my spare time while I was here, Falarin, and in the process I picked up a lot of knowledge. Besides knowing the meaning of your name, it wasn't hard at all to see the resemblances that exist. Falarin, now is a very dangerous time and the Princess, out of past upsets and perhaps simply a cold heart, is sentencing everyone within the kingdom to certain death. Your secret is even less of a secret than you think it is. Why do you think you were placed under my tutelage among the rank-and-file of the first sons of royal houses? The time has come for you to become a leader."

"I'm nothing but the bastard son of a king and a servant girl!" Falarin said with bitterness.

Gesturing wildly to myself I said, "Look at me Falarin. I can claim to even less birth status than you and yet El Elyon has favored me beyond measure. The same road lies before you now as it did for me. The only question is, do you have the nerve and greater sense of faithfulness to your God to take it?"