(Fol)

Kisee dragged a doctor by the hand, his lips flapping a mile a minute. The doctor with his head full of white hairs and his face full of annoyance and exasperation was naturally quite slow. Until he saw Wefyu kneeling in the grass, the drape of his black hair only slightly obscuring the bloody figure in his arms. Seeing that the foolish little child Kisee had not been making up stories, the doctor rushed forward.

After confirming that the Yelii had stabilized the boy’s condition, the doctor ordered that he be brought inside but when he went to take him from Wefyu, Wefyu held on tighter, “I’ll carry him.” Wefyu whispered, standing up.

The doctor was old and frail and therefore delighted that the notoriously lazy, clean-freak eldest prince was taking the initiative to help and didn’t pause to think about whether it was strange. And he didn’t even notice that the eldest prince who hated to be touched was somehow tacitly allowing his wild, dirty little half-brother to cling to his sleeve as he walked.

When they had made it inside and Wefyu was standing before the bed he was still reluctant to let go of this boy chosen by the Yelii. With a sigh, he laid him down on the bed. As he pulled away he could feel the threads of the Yelii clinging to him snap and he felt a profound sense of loss well up inside him.

Wefyu backed into a corner of the room but didn’t leave.

The stupid, wild child called Kisee was actually quite observant. He knew that all the smiles and care and affection this older brother of his aimed at him was fake. And he could also clearly see that towards this complete stranger that came from who knows where, Wefyu felt genuine concern. Concern to the point of distraction. To the point that Kisee was actually able to cling to the long, draping sleeve of the brother whose affection he so desperately craved, the brother who rejected everyone’s touch. This boy is a good sign, a blessing from the Yelii, Kisee couldn’t help but think as he stared up at Wefyu his storm gray eyes wide and unblinking.

***

When the Fol King Rakii and his daughter the Princess Anrhea returned from their diplomatic mission they were told that the princes were both in the infirmary watching over a strange child that had somehow broken into the courtyard.

When his father and twin sister stepped through the door, Kisee happily let go of Wefyu’s sleeve to fling himself at the King. “Dad!” he cried out, burying his face in his chest. The Fol King was a large man; tall with broad shoulders and strong muscles. In his arms Kisee looked even smaller and younger than he was.

Rakii lifted Kisee up higher to rub his scratchy beard on Kisee’s soft cheek and the room was filled with the pure sound of a young boy giggling. “It’s been two months! How come you aren’t any bigger? Anrhea grew!”

Kisee scrambled out of his dad’s arms in order to measure himself against his twin and cried out in despair when he found she really had gotten taller than him, “You’re such a heartless sister, leaving me behind!”

Anrhea smiled indulgently, suddenly seeming as if she should be Wefyu’s twin rather than Kisee’s. “You should hurry up if you want to be as tall as Dad one day.”

Wefyu ignored the touching family reunion happening to the side and watched the rise and fall of the boy’s chest with single-minded devotion. The old doctor had long since declared, “I’ve done all I can” and left, leaving only Wefyu and his hanger-on to wait for the boy to wake up.

As if finally remembering that he had another son, Rakii went up to Wefyu, put his arm around his shoulders, and pulled him in for a hug. Wefyu stiffly went where he was pulled and, after a delay, put his arms around his father. “You’re so skinny!” Rakii lamented, “You need to put some meat on your bones! No son of mine should be such a waif!”

Wefyu’s eye twitched, “Yes, Father.”

Finally, Rakii let go and Wefyu stepped back, absentmindedly looking down and meeting Kisee’s eyes. Kisee frowned at him, brow furrowed, and Wefyu finally realized he wasn’t acting. Wefyu hurriedly plastered on a smile, “Father and Anrhea just returned from a long and arduous journey, perhaps you should go rest?”

“How can I rest when someone my sons are very concerned for is lying unconscious in the infirmary?” Rakii turned suddenly to the bed and strode forward with large steps. Wefyu felt his heartbeat grow faster with each step and it was a struggle to keep the panic off his face. “Who is the boy?” Rakii asked, staring down at him.

“I found him in the grass! I thought he was dead!” Kisee announced.

“He is blessed and favored by the Yelii.” Wefyu said, frank and deadpan.

“I’m Deo.” A weak voice spoke up. The boy on the bed stirred, opening his eyes.