Dawn of the Last Dragon Rider - Chapter 025 - Letter from Dad (Patreon)

Kaen had stood there in silence for a few minutes while Hess had turned back to study the map.  He was still unable to fully grasp everything he had seen and heard today since they had entered the town.  It was as if a whole new world had been hidden from him this entire time.

“Hess, why won’t you tell me who this Sulenda woman is to you?”

Sighing, Hess turned and reached up and ruffled Kaen’s hair.

“You remember that adventurer I said your father and I had traveled with longer than anyone else?”

Kaen nodded.

“She is the one?”

Hess picked his teeth with his pinky while he nodded.

“She was the one.  She was the one in more ways than I would care to admit.”

Hess turned and moved to the chair he had been in and spun it around, sitting on it and leaning against the chair with his chest.

“There was a time I might have married that woman, but things happened, and it did not work out how I think both of us had expected it to.  Now I live with a hole in my heart, and I may have one in my back when she sees me.”

Kaen put his hand on Hess’s shoulder and squeezed.

“No one is putting a hole in your back until I get my token.  After that happens, then we can bet on when it might,” Kaen joked.

Hess chuckled and rubbed his face with his hand.

“You are your father's son, Kaen.  That is exactly what he would have said.”

Kaen sat down and leaned back in the chair.

“I guess until she gets here, we wait?”

Hess nodded as he rested his forehead on his hands that he placed on the top of the chair.

“Nothing to do but wait.”

Kaen had never seen a door explode before, but when Sulenda kicked the door to her office open, he had, for a moment, believed he had.  The only reason he did not scream like a child was because of the explosions he had witnessed over the years at the quarry.

“You are a foolish bastard to come here,” a woman who was as tall as Hess shouted as she tried to shut the door that had come off one of its hinges.

“Who the hell do you think you are coming in here and acting like you can buy your forgiveness with this adventurer you found and are telling stories about!”

Hess never lifted his head.

“Sulenda, it is good to see you too.  I see you haven’t changed.”

Kaen scooted his chair some as the woman stormed toward Hess.  He realized that she was the first woman Kaen had ever seen who looked like they could go toe to toe with Hess.  Kaen wondered who would win that fight based on how she was acting right now.

“You better look up at me, or I will kick that chair out from under you!”

Hess leaned back and slowly stood up.  Every move he made was slow and deliberate.  It looked like he was dealing with a timid animal, and made sure that he made no sudden movements.  He lifted the chair from between his legs and carefully set it down near Kaen.  He then turned and faced Sulenda, staring directly into her blue eyes.

“You look as beautiful as the last time I saw you.”

Sulenda opened her mouth and shut it in frustration.  Her jaw was working, but no words were coming out.  Kaen saw her hands trembling as she made two fists and unclenched them.

“You would dare say those words to me?” Sulenda growled as she took a step back.

Hess slowly took a step toward Sulenda and nodded.

“You know I have never lied to you.  Why would I start now?”

Color rose in Sulenda’s cheeks for a moment, and she grunted, turned, and rushed past Hess as she moved to the safety of her desk.

“Sit!  We need to talk!” she ordered.

Kaen sat there wide-eyed as he watched Hess slowly retrieve his chair, turn it around again, and straddle it.

“You still sit like a thief who has their horse unhitched for a quick getaway,” Sulenda groaned as she pulled out her chair and sat down in it.  “Now tell me what it is you need to speak about, and be quick.  I have a betting nightmare on my hand because of you!”

Hess nodded and motioned his head toward Kaen.

“Kaen meet Sulenda.  Sulenda meet Kaen.  Sulenda this is Hoste’s son.”

The color in Sulenda’s face drained like a bucket with no bottom.  All the color she had was gone, white like snow.

“Ho… Hoste’s son?” she asked with a tremor in her voice. “It can’t be.”

Hess nodded and gave a smirk.

“This is why.  For so many questions and reasons, this is why we are here today.”

“I’m sorry,” Kaen interrupted, “but why do you two keep talking about me and my dad like this?”

Selunda turned at Hess and gasped.

“You haven’t told him?!”

“Why would I tell him? Until this afternoon, it was none of his business.  Now that we are here, it is his business!”

Leaping to his feet, Kaen slammed his fist on the desk and glared at the both of them.

“One of you two better tell me what the hell you both are talking about before I get pissed!”

Selunda looked at Kaen and shook her head, and nodded at Hess.

“Tell him, he deserves to know.”

Hess nodded.

“Sit Kaen, it is a long story; it is time you knew.”

Kaen’s face was red and hot, but he sat down.  He knew he needed to know what these two were keeping from him.

“When your father took the job that killed him, Sulenda and I took a break from the adventurers guild.  She took over this inn and wanted me to join her.  To do this, she had to quit the adventurer’s guild,” Hess informed him as he nodded at Sulenda.  “Show him.”

Sulenda grunted and pulled on a chain that went down between her massive chest.  Kaen had not really noticed them yet, but now he realized why all the serving women looked familiar.  They all matched the owner and her physique.

At the end of the chain was a gold adventurer's token that had been cut in half.  A hole was punched in it, also near the top.

“In order to no longer be bound to the guild, I had to quit.  There was no way around it.  I was willing to quit the guild because I thought he was going to join me.”

Kaen saw the hurt in Sulenda’s eyes when she said those words and tucked the piece of her token back between her breasts.

“I was going to.  I had one job left, and then I had planned on leaving the guild and starting a life with just the two of us.”

Kaen saw Hess smiling and realized that Hess could have been happy here.

“Why didn’t you?” Kaen asked.  “Why didn’t you stay here?”

A few tears formed in Hess’s eyes, and Kaen saw there were some also in Sulenda’s.

“It was because…” Hess choked and struggled to speak.  “It was because your father did not come back from his mission.”

“What does that have to do with you not quitting the guild?” Kaen implored, lost on what they still had not told him.

Taking a deep breath, Hess held it for a moment before letting it out.

“I returned from my quest to find out what happened, and there was a letter for me from your father.  He knew the risk of the mission, but he also knew the need for it.  He knew that he might not return, yet he accepted it for the kingdom's safety.”

Hess pulled a letter from inside his tunic.  It was faded and worn.  He handed it to Kaen with trembling hands.

“Read it.”

***

My brother,

If you are reading this, it means I failed and died.  Do not cry for me.  We have spent most of our lives side by side, and we both know the risks of what we do.  I knew the risk of what I was doing, and you know why I did it.

I need you to keep the promise you made.  Raise Kaen for me.  Raise my son as if he is your own.  Help him to be a man that I know he can be.  Teach him to be honorable and to work hard.  I know he will emulate you and the great heart you have.  When the time comes, give him the gifts that I had made for him.  You and I both know he will one day be an adventurer like us.

Find somewhere away from Ebonmount and raise him to see the common man.  I have left a fortune to draw from for his future.  I cannot give you any gift greater than my son.  You know he is more important than life itself.  You know this is why I took this risk.

Hoste

Someday when the time comes, give Kaen this letter.

Kaen,

Son, if you are reading this, then Hess has done what I asked.  I know that you are an amazing man!  I know you will be an adventurer they will tell stories of.  Never forget that family and friends are more important than anything else.

Surround yourself with them and remember why you do what you do.  It is so that they can live.  It is so that they can love.  I will watch from the heavens as you make a mark on this world because I know it will be great!

Be a man worthy of others to emulate!

I love you, son.

Dad

***

Tears ran down Kaen’s face like a downpour during the springtime.  He tried to hold the paper out from him to prevent the tears from smudging the words.  At some point, Hess had put his hand on Kaen’s shoulder and gotten down on a knee near him.

Are you ok?  Why are you so sad?

Kaen tried to smile but could not.  He was overwhelmed by the joy of reading words from his dad.  He was hurt because of what he knew this letter had cost Hess.  He was so grateful he had Pammon.

I am fine.  My heart is just confused.  I got a letter from my dad, and he told me he loved me.  It hurts but also makes me happy.

Pammon’s emotions ran weird for a moment before he spoke.

I remember when my mom told me goodbye. I knew she would never return.  I knew she did what she did so that I could live and find you.  I know how you feel.

Kaen sat up in shock.

Your mom said goodbye as she left you at the quarry?

Her last words were; Someone will find you and help you.  Grow strong!  I have done that with you.  Maybe our parents both knew we would meet.  Maybe fate did this.  All I know is I am happier than I could ever imagine.

As am I.  I am happier than I can imagine because of you.  Thank you, Pammon.

“Is this why you took care of me?” Kaen whispered.  “You gave up a life with Sulenda for me?”

Hess nodded.  Words were stuck in his chest, and he could not even begin to think of what to say.

“You don’t have to say anything,” Kaen said as he wiped the tears from his eyes and handed the letter back to Hess.  “I am the one that should say thank you.  Thank you for loving me and my father and doing what you did.  You sacrificed everything for me.  You sacrificed love.”

Kaen turned and saw Sulenda staring at him.

“I am sorry you lost Hess all those years ago because of me.  Perhaps I can help him regain your trust, and you will find that he still cares about you.”

Sulenda closed her eyes and chuckled quietly.  A single tear rolled down her cheek from each eye.

“You are just like him,” Sulenda muttered in disbelief.  “I owe him, and that debt is extended to you.”

Kaen lifted Hess’s hand from his shoulder and stood up.

“After I pass the test, you two are free from your obligation to my dad and me.  You two will be free to see if there is still love between the both of you.”

Walking over toward the door that was barely hanging on by the hinges, Kaen pointed to his name on the board.

“Now, let’s stop crying.  I need to get out there and help you earn money so I can prove to these people and myself what I can do.”