[SRP] Of Idiots and Kings

[Kaya Wolf Moon]

This is a private RP with an NPC brother for my Soquili, Polaris Frost. Please DO NOT post without permission!



Kaya Wolf Moon's Teepee

 

[Kaya Wolf Moon]

Deep in the mountains, amidst the swirling peaks of snow, lies a herd hidden from most. It is not a secret, per say. Travelers have stumbled upon it for years by chance, taking with them the stories of a mysterious herd. One bound by a duty as guardians of a mystical veil hidden away. Protectors of its secrets. As with most things about which little is known, tales of wonder and magic abound, with tales of warning sprouting quickly in their wake. For the Guardians of the Crystal Veil are stern, fierce and formidable. They do not take their beliefs and responsibilities lightly. To disparage or speak out against, to disregard or disobey is tantamount to treachery…a betrayal that can only be dealt with through combat and death. Deception brings the same. It is by an act of deceit that a tale currently unfolds. A tale of an infidelity so grievous it cannot be easily forgotten nor forgiven…a tale of family, of loyalty and ambition, a tale, ultimately, of brothers.

WC: 170  

[Kaya Wolf Moon]

The abode was ensconced in darkness. Not a single candle shown from within. To any passerby, it would seem as if the occupant was fast asleep, succumbing to the tantalizing call of slumber. This was merely a deception though. A portrayal done for the benefit of solitude. Where he could be alone with his thoughts. Obscured by the dark, his musings were less likely to be interrupted, as no light held no welcome. It was him and solely him within the inky blackness. Yet it felt like the space contained the world’s entire essence, condensed down and pressing upon his broad shoulders.

I should have finished it when I had the chance. The stallion sneered into the void. A look of disgust screwed up his features. Disgust with himself. Disgust with the constant failures. But, above all else, disgust for his brother. How could a stallion blessed with so much, as his brother had been, be so naive and idiotic? How could that mess of an heir not have seen the signs? Not paid attention to the rising tensions and shifting allegiances? His brother, so lost in his desire to be acknowledged and accepted by their father, failed to ever realize exactly how much of an impact his selfish ways had. If Polaris Frost had been more attuned, if he had been less impish, then perhaps things could have been different between them. It was a big “if,” however.

Sigma Rime had always resented being second born. The spare to Polaris Frost’s heir. The one who could only ascend should something happen to both their father and Polaris Frost. To be certain, his status was never explicitly stated in such terms. It was sweetened with words of encouragement and bolstered with praise. Nobody dared to contradict the sparkling, flower-coated version. It was insulting really. Sigma Rime knew his place and knew it well. He also knew there were ways to become more than simply the spare. Which was why he filled his days with more productive things than his brother. Where Polaris Frost was perceived as the carefree, loveable mischief-causing brother, Sigma Rime developed the persona of the quiet, studious, well-behaved one. A guise he carefully cultivated throughout his foalhood.

He was nothing if not patient. Even as his anger towards his brother grew, he understood that he could not act on impulse. A rash act could bring about the opposite of what he strove to achieve. Instead, he observed, waited, listened, and planned for the perfect opportunity.

WC: 418  

[Kaya Wolf Moon]

Sigma Rime could never have surmised when and how his luck might change. The gods could be fickle beings, who could decide at any given moment to alter his life’s course. No matter how well his planning, he believed and trusted they would place their own touches upon any notions and actions. It was for this reason he felt it best to never commit to a solitary course. Always have multiple options available. If he managed to do so, then the opportunity he sought would have a greater chance of presenting itself.

And present itself it did. In, of all things, the form of a poem. The words have long since passed from Sigma Rime’s memory, but he recalls well the meaning they held. Meant as a warning to those who might stray from their core beliefs, the poem sparked the beginnings of an idea. A trap- that was what he needed, but one disguised as something else. No one could know. No one could suspect. It must seem genuine in order to work as he wished. Yet…he had the skill and the knowledge, and his brother was naive enough. The more Sigma Rime pondered, the more sure of his fledgling plan he became. A maiden in distress would be the catalyst. His brother was too kind-hearted to allow anyone to be troubled. All that would be required is the maiden to play her part and the correct individuals to stumble upon the scene. The rest would take care of itself. Simplistic in design yet, hopefully, effective in practice.

He worked on further developing his plan throughout the nights that followed, when he could be alone and away from prying eyes. To keep suspicions at bay, every detail needed to be exact, perfect. There could not be a single mistake at any point. He would not employ his scheme until he was positively certain of its invulnerability. There were many sleepless nights. Too many, in his opinion. His need for perfection coupled with his desire for that birthright had nearly driven him mad; at last, however, he was ready. He was confident his idea would work as intended. He just needed to set the stage. Then he would watch as the unwitting players took on their roles.

All went accordingly. Sigma Rime had dared not hope it would go as well as it did. Everyone enacted their parts beautifully. Polaris Frost- the caring idiot that he was- dazzled as the main event. It appeared Sigma Rime’s status would be changing soon.

WC: 421  

[Kaya Wolf Moon]

Yes, it should not have been long before his status as spare became heir. It should have been settled within the week. As with all matters where a slight had occurred, the Holmgang should have taken care of his problem. After all, Polaris Frost was, for lack of a better descriptive, a lover and not a fighter. He could defend himself if needed, but Sigma Rime had no doubt that the Raven Guard would prevail in the end. They would do what he could not. They would end his brother’s life and catapult him to a greater height. The beauty of it had been that none of them were aware of this fact.

But then…THEN, on the eve of the Holmgang, Polaris Frost had shown his cowardice. Instead of facing the challenge, he fled from their home and into the lower lands. Sigma Rime could remember well his rage upon hearing the news. It had taken every ounce of control he possessed not to lash out at the messenger, no matter how much he had wanted to snatch the other’s tongue from his mouth. He could still feel that immense rage bubbling beneath the surface of his skin. Just a hair’s breadth from boiling over and causing him to lose control. As he feared, the gods had shown their fickle nature. His golden opportunity, his careful planning, it had all gone to waste in the end.

By rights, he should have laid claim to the throne by this point in his life. Under normal circumstances, given his advanced age, the Alpha would have already abdicated, passing along the title to the next generation. To the shock of many, his father refused to do so. Boreal Dust declared his unwillingness to proclaim Sigma Rime as heir as the incident with Polaris Frost had remained unresolved. Should the elder brother return and partake in the honor fight, then and only then could he affirm the next Alpha. Sigma Rime had silently screamed at the injustice of it all. How could a carefully cultivated plan go so drastically wrong? Killing his father was out of the question. Dealing with his brother was one matter, but even he had certain morals and ethics to uphold. Yet with Polaris Frost gone from the herd, the likelihood of him becoming the heir had dwindled to nearly nothing. Or so he initially thought.

Once more, the gods toyed with him, blessing him with a most unusual encounter. He had been wandering the outskirts of the herd’s territory when he happened upon a traveler. This traveler was no ordinary sort. It took some doing but, through their discussion, he learned that the other’s trade was not what one would call…pleasant. An assassin for hire who had been seeking their latest quarry in the mountains. Sigma Rime recognized a gift when he received one. After pointing the direction where he knew the quarry to be, he offered the assassin the chance at another, well-compensated job. Thus, the hunt began.

Sigma Rime currently had four assassins after his brother. Four hunters whom he hoped were as proficient as they professed themselves to be. So far, none had delivered on their promises. Polaris Frost still roamed the lower lands of the Kawani. By now, he might have even fathered children, which would add another level to this game he played. He had been thorough, however, making certain the assassins kept an ear out for such news and acting accordingly. Sigma Rime furrowed his brows. He flexed the muscles in his pawed feet, scraping at the dirt with his claws. “You can run brother, but you cannot hide forever,” he whispered. “I will find you and any children you may have, and I will see to your end. The spare WILL BE the heir. This I promise.”

FIN

WC: 635