The Novel

The sun snuck over the horizon, like an assassin staking its prey.  It robbed the world of privacy, shedding light on the hidden corners of the earth.  Like a relentless invader, it left not a single drop of darkness left, vanquishing them all.  As if the sun were the emperor of the world, all life turned and reveled in the power.  Shadows fled and begged for mercy, but none was shown.  Eventually, the beams shot through a window, and struck Kale.

Kale woke with a start.  He was frustrated with the sun, and rightfully so.  Perhaps if the sun knew of him, the life that he lived, the daily challenges that he had, it would have spared him a few more minutes.  Dispute the fact that kale was awake, he did not move.  Instead, kale preferred to simply keep his eyes closed and lay there.  Although he knew that sleep would not again overtake him, the attempt was made regardless.  He was not successful.      

Just then a young man with smooth dark hair crept into the room, carrying a pile of clothing.  He carefully placed them near the corner of the room and ambled over to Kale's listless body.  He placed a hand gently on Kale's bare shoulder.

"What Jason? I'm trying to sleep."  Said Kale in a slightly irritable tone. 

"Well its just I know you father expects you to be at breakfast, and a know it takes you a little while to get ready, so I brought your clothes and I though I would wake you up do you could have enough time to get ready."

"What? You don't think I am capable of waking myself up, or getting my clothes? What is next, spoon feeding me? Stupid servant!"

Jason back up a little, but didn't seem terribly surprised at Kale's speech.  He was a short lad, still a look of youth in his face.  He wore simple, single colored clothing, and a single design embroidered piece of wood around his neck.  His jet black hair was cut extremely short, giving his head a slightly rounded look.  Unlike Kale and his kind, Jason had little tack.  For one who was 15 triads, he seemed to have little direction in life.  When Kale was 15, he had ambitions and goals, while Jason did not appear to have any.  Kale was under the impression that Jason certainly didn't work to his full potential. This was why Kale was like the mighty lion, who triumphs over his enemies and rules the animals of the jungle, and Jason a sheep, who must be lead lest he wander astray. 

Jason exited through the door, hollering back, "If you need anything, just call"

"fool..." Kale muttered. Yet Jason was lucky in all sincerity.  He lived a simple life, free of worry, unlike Kale.  Kale got out of his bed, and walked over to the pile of clothing.  He slipped them on, careful not to rip or damage them.  The shirt was pure white, and had pulchritude embroidery along the neck. It extended down just past his waist.  In contrast, the pants were dark black and unadorned, though still made of fine material.  Once his clothes were on and he had slipped a gold rimmed belt around his waist above his shirt, he glanced around his room.  It was spacious, and a white as the shirt he had on at the moment.   The stone walls were adored with various items such as weapons, banners, and a few other miscellany objects.  On the opposite side of the room from where Kale was standing was his bed, clearly as elaborate as the clothes he had on now.  Despite the size of the room, it felt confining, as if the clutter of the room decreased the space and trapped one in a prison.  He exited the room and walked down a long corridor until he came to a flight of stairs.   As he descended it, he began to wander what events lay before him this day.  Eventually, he reached the end, and entered yet another hallway, this one just as pale white as every other room here.  A slim figure infiltrated the room from a door on the right. 

“Good morning Kale” she said pleasantly. 

“Ha! What’s so good about it Keira?”

“I woke up early and watched the sun rise.  It was beautiful this morning, wasn’t it?”

"Ha! Sure...I just wish it could have waited a few more minutes to burn in my face!"

Keira signed, and then started to walk down the hallway.  "Come on Kale.  Dad will be made if we are not at breakfast on time."  Kale followed her, and as he was walking he notice that she was wearing a white dress, with similar designs and color to his own shirt. It flowed all the way to the floor, hovering just above it as if it were a floating phantasm. The thought that they were matching was unbearable   Kale hated matching clothing with anyone, even his sister.  He wasn't truly sure of the reasons behind this, but he was sure that he strongly disliked it.  They reached another staircase, much like the first.  At the bottom was yet another corridor.   However, this one differed from the other, in the fact that two large wooden doors lay at the far side.  It also had many other doors lining it, all of which branched off in different directions.  The large wooden ones at the end though, clearly stole all attention. They stretched all the way to the ceiling, and seemed to loom above the two people.  Keira reached for the handle on the leftmost door and pulled hard.  It swung open and relieved an enormous room.

            It stretched on for what seemed like eternity.  The length was so massive that the far end of the room was blurry to the naked eye.  Its height rivaled the length.  From the ceiling hung glorious decorations of bright color, all catching the eye and holding it for a few moments.  Many windows streaked across the wall, letting the sunlight in.  The walls themselves were made of white stone. Despite the brightness that one would expect from the room, it actually had an eerie effect, and a quite whisper that lingered in the ear.  In the very center of the room was a black table, rectangular in shape, which could have easily seated hundreds of people.  Sitting at the table was one single solitary man. 

            Atticus stood up when they entered.  He was tall, light skinned, and incredibly imposing in person.   “You are late” he said in a flat, monotone voice. 

“We are sorry father, its just we…” Kale began

“I don’t care! Excuses are for the weak! How many times have I said this? You will not be weak.  Do you understand?” Atticus billowed

“I’m sorry father.  It will not happen again.” Kale said in a meek voice that simply did not suit him.”

“No apologies! Never admit you are wrong! Simply be right always. Always. Now, eat.  The day is ripe, and the time comes soon when you must take it.”

Kale and Keira sat down at the table adjacent to each other.  A man, Jason, and a young lady all walked into the room, carrying trays of food, goblets, and assorted eating utensils   The man when and put the his entire collection down silently in front of Atticus.  Jason placed his tray next to Kale, and the young lady positioned hers for Keira.  Keira started to thank the young lady, but an acute glare from Atticus silenced her. Everyone left the room except for Atticus and his children     Atticus immediately began eating the food before him.  The other two paused for a second, then slowly began to consume their own cuisine.
Kale picked up one of the utensil, which looked like a pair of tongs, and clamped down on several pieces of lamb.  He then seized another piece of his dinning set.  This one resembled a ladle that would belong to a small pot of soup that was being cooked by men much smaller than Kale.  The miniature ladle dove down and retrieved a bread-like food that had been ground into a minute size, and was topped with a thick liquid that tasted like a mixture of honey, cinnamon, and lemon.  He proceeded to devour the rest of the food on his plate, with the exception of a few pieces of meat.  These he impaled with a small, barbed, cylinder blade, which had been resting next to his square plate.  Kale the leaned back in his chair, recovering from the battle he had just fought.  It was only the that he noticed Atticus staring at him.  

            “Well I have to study with Sebastian,  and I was going to do some weapons training in the afternoon.  I was also hoping that maybe tonight I could…”

            “No!” Atticus said vehemently.  “You will stay here.  There are more important things in life than going out at night to do…whatever you do! Someday you will be the Throne, as I am.  Only, only if pay attention to what is important.  And nothing else is, but your studies, training, and exercises.” 

            “Yes father.” Kale said, in a humble voice that did not suit him well. 

NOTE: THIS CHAPTER IS NOT COMPLETE! I AM STILL FINISHING IT