Chapter 1- The News

Prologue 

Chapter 2- The talk 

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

&lt;p&gt;Jasmine Geist, a once beautiful and elegant woman who stole the hearts of countless nobles with a mere glance; now a commoner who chose to pursue true love rather than a comfortable and wealthy life. A woman who was my mother.
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Collapsing to the floor my mother’s broken sobs reverberated around the living room. You could tell she was trying to push away her grief to save face in front of her children. Why? Didn’t she understand that we are sad too? Why did she have to be strong in front of us, it wasn’t her fault. No, it was his fault.
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;It is his fault mum is sad. It is his fault he chose to be a hero. It’s his fault he had to leave. Kiren’s trembling voice broke me from my internal monologue.
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“No you’re lying! Our dad is strong! Stronger than that dragon, he can’t be dead. He can’t be...” his voice cut out as tears and snot flowed down his face in a shape much like lightning.
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The tall, slender man turned to me and spoke in a firm voice, “Boy.”
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I shift my eyes away to break eye contact, only to be greeted by an image of a stout, muscle bound figure standing just outside the house. He carried a large fabric bag close to his chest with an item protruding from it, that I was all too familiar with.
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“Hey!” I yelled aggressively, shocking both my sobbing mom and brother with my seemingly violent outburst, “That’s my father’s sword!” My words cause my mom and baby sister to burst into tears. Kiren immediately spins around in order to comfort her.
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“There, there Kat,” he whispered. “Everything is alright.” He rocked her cot gently, causing her to once again fall into her previously peaceful state.
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“Boy,” the noble repeated firmly, “What is your name?”
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“Kaiden,” I spat back at him, failing to understand why I had to show him respect. What had he done for me?
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The tone of his voice immediately changed to one of a father lecturing his child, “Listen, Kaiden, your father was a brave hero. He has been ever since we were kids, and he died a hero trying to kill a dragon that was terrorising our region, our home; and know if it was not for him countless hundreds, no thousands of people would have died.”
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“But-,” I try to say.
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“Now listen, Your father did this for you too. To protect you,” he ushers, cutting me off. “His dying wish was for you, your siblings and your mother to live a happy life, a life free of the pain he had endured. In order to fulfil his wish, I request that you come live with me in Prima Manor.”
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I reply, taken aback, “Uh, what?”
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Prima Manor? Was he Reginald Prima, the beloved lord of the Roana region?
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“We thank you very much, Lord Reginald, but we cannot accept charity,” my mom’s voice awakened after being dormant since the start of the conversation.
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“Charity!” The lord replied immediately, followed by a slight chuckle, “No, please do not think of this as charity. Back when Kalderon and I were still youths, he saved not only me, but my sister on several occasions; maybe with this I will finally be able to properly thank him. If you still are unwilling to return to the Manor, then allow me to gift you 10 Gold Crowns for the sake of your children.”
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“10 Gold Crowns,” my mother ushered, the surprise was even more evident than the sorrow in her voice, “We cannot accept such an offer.”
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Lord stands in silence, entering a state of immense thought, “I apologise for my rudeness, but before I take my leave, may I offer one final solution. I have a daughter around the same age as your twins, she hasn’t made any friends due to some personal reasons. It would be a great help, if Kaiden and Kiren could befriend her to return her from her solitude.”
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“Oh, my lord,” my mother uttered.
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“This goes without saying, these boys cannot be separated from their family,” he interrupts before mom can speak. “For now I must take my leave.” He turns with his entourage close to his heels, and disappears into the darkness.
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kiren squints his eyes for a few seconds, as if he was lost in deep thought before saying, “Hey mom, I think I am going to go to bed,” He pulls at the hem of my shirt, beckoning me to follow him. His pace was unnaturally quick for a 7 year old. Once in the room, he closes the door gently so he doesn’t wake up Kat. Oh dear, was he going to tell me off for being so rude to the Lord.
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“Hey Kayden. We need to talk,” he whispered. Yup, he is definitely going to tell me off. “I think we should go with the Lord.”
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“What?” I retort a little too loudly.
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Hissing at me, “Shh, be quiet! I think Kat and mum are finally resting.”
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“Oh sorry,” I reply oafishly, “but why should we go with the Lord? We are fine here. We can work and get food and money. Mom can look after Kat at home, and we can sell some of dad’s leftover armour.”
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“Please stop,” Kiren interrupts me coldly, acting differently from his usual shy self. “I know you are the dumb one, but think about it for a second. We are both only 7.”
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“Almost 8,” I add. He punches me lightly, which prompts me to shut up.
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“What are we going to do? How are we going to earn money? Who is going to hire 2 skill-less 7 year olds. In the Lord’s manor, we can live comfortably, mom won’t have to worry about over-working and collapsing again and Kat can grow up living happy.”
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“Ok,” I cut him off seriously, “Let’s tell mom tomorrow. Maybe if both of us go together we can convince her to take the Lord’s deal.”
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We nod in agreement. Yawning, I get into bed while he blows out the candle.
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“Oi, Kiren,” I say wearily, “From now on, we take care of mom and Kat before everything else. Got it.”
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“Yeah, I understand,” he replies as he climbs into his bed. “Family first.”
&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Kaiden Geist, a child who lost his father to the beasts of this world, finds a new home in a place completely different to his earlier life. However his happiness is not long lived, as he deals with tragedy, love and betrayal on his journey through a world of magic and mystery.&lt;/p&gt;