he got—most times, by hurting his sister’s delicate feelings. The Prince began a campaign to distance himself from his father. Then when he was overshadowed by Raygan, it would not hurt as much.
When he finally grew so annoying that the King politely suggested he attend the school in Asqutania. Cain jumped at the chance. Asqutania was also the home of the Grand Cathedral of Tyro and home to the Holy Father of the Church, Pope Ammiel. He had learned a great deal about ruling a country there, more than he would have ever learned from his father. Cain felt his father had little to teach him about being a ruler, unless he wanted to learn to build gardens or throw parties. He had been happy to be away from his father and especially Raygan. In the great city of Asqutania, he would not have to feel inadequate and unwanted.
It had been different when Cain was younger; he had wanted nothing more than to win his father’s attention. He had excelled at everything, his studies, the hunt, and his skills on the tournament field were second only to his friend Talorn. It had all done him no good. Every time he tried he had failed to get King Aaron to see what a “good” son he was. At best he got a pat on the head and a “well done son,” never the pride and love he showed Raygan. When Cain was older, he thought that his father favored her because their mother, Queen Elisabeth, had died giving birth to his sister. Cain had only been five years old when his mother died, and he remembered little of her. All he did remember was that it took his father years to get over her death. Raygan greatly favored their mother in her looks; perhaps the reason for his father’s over inflated love for her was as simple as she reminded him of the woman he had loved. It didn’t matter what the reason was now. The Prince knew it would be his time soon enough.
King Aaron Albana was dying. He had received word from the royal healer, Finn Selmac, that his father had little time left, and he should return home immediately. Cain had seen his father twice since he had been back, and he believed Selmac’s judgment was sound. The visits had been brief, he did not like to be around the sick and dying; his father was both. He would wait for his father’s death and when the time came he would change Bandara and make it strong again. He would fill the royal treasury with the commoner’s undeserved wealth and show the peasantry that having noble blood was a thing that should be revered and respected. Show them gardens and balls were for fools, he would bring an end to the decadence infecting his country. The bards would sing again about the glory of the phoenix throne. Sing the song of King Cain. He might even have those damn gardens burned to the ground just for spite. The thought of it made him grin.
***
The day was warm for spring and the sun bright. It was a perfect day for a little exercise. It had been a while since Cain had held a sword or lance in his hand. He had gone to Asqutania to train his mind, not his sword arm, and he had found little time to spar with the many young knights that resided in the great city. It had caused him to become a bit rusty. It would be good to have a joust or two with Talorn. The young Sir Blackthorn was unmatched in martial skills, but Cain knew he was the smarter of the two—Talorn had never been one for studying.
At twenty, Cain felt like he was already more educated and worldly than most of the nobles of his father’s court. Most of royal council was made up of mindless idiots his father had appointed because they were friends of his or they agreed with the King’s absurd policies. He had been told when he returned that since the King had fallen ill it was Bishop Lyfair and Lord William Blackthorn, Talorn’s father, who were truly running the country. Cain thought of all the royal council those two would be the men he would have chosen to run the country while the King lay dying. Neither of the men were one of his father’s lackeys.
Bishop Lyfair had been in Bandara since the death