Succession

Winter 1336

Johnathan Williams had a list of people he rather not see in his life. All for different reasons, but life would be easier if he never set eyes on them again. Just like everything in life, he couldn’t avoid those people forever, even if they were family.

John’s older brother, Carver Williams, shivered as he tightly held onto a blanket in his arms. “Please John, you must help me.” His voice was rough and gravelly as if he was dealing with the flu.

They both grew up in an assassin family. John was the only one out of seven to not become like his father. Instead of being an assassin, he became a knight. Knights and assassins don’t get along.

“You shouldn’t be here,” John warned him.

“I wouldn’t have come if it wasn’t important. I wanted to let you know that I’m going away for a while. Something happened while I was doing a job for father. I have to disappear.”

Another excuse. All Carver has ever given John was excuses about his absence, his plans, pretty much everything. It was getting old.

Carver was family. Assassins valued family life, it was everything. In a way, Carver was supposed to be that person he put first before all things. Until this moment, he hasn’t seen his brother in months, maybe a year. Now all of a sudden, Carver was here in need of his help? Family doesn’t work that way—At least, John no longer wanted his family to be that way.

“What happened? Who did you kill?” John asked.

Carver swallowed hard as he held the blanket closer to his chest. How did Carver expect help when he had no idea what was going on? “I didn’t have a choice.”

“I’m flattered that you told me for once that you’re disappearing again, but we don’t give sanctuary to fugitives.”

“That’s not why I’m here.” Suddenly, a soft whimper escaped from his brother’s arms. “I need you to take care of Leon.”

What? No, there was no way he could take care of a baby. Carver stepped closer to John and handed him the baby. It was small, he couldn’t be any older than five or six months. Maybe. How would he be able to tell this infant’s age, he knew nothing of babies. In fact, he never held one before. How was he supposed to support a baby’s head or how to be gentle with it? Was a baby supposed to be this light? Leon was… no, it didn’t matter. Carver needed to take him back.

“I’m quite busy, Carver. I barely have time to take care of myself and I have never looked after anyone’s child before, you know that.”

“He’s your nephew, you can’t just deny him.”

This wasn’t about him trying to deny his nephew, but it was about Carver running from his problems as usual. “I don’t have time to take care of him, I have better things to do.”

“I need you to do one thing! One thing… After everything I have done for you, protecting you from father—”

“Don’t you dare bring father into this!” John needed to make that very clear because father was on his list too.

Father was the one who got Carver in this mess and now he wasn’t here to help him get out of it. Typical. Carver should had known that father never had his best interest in heart. Father only looked out for number one. That was exactly why he never wanted to see his father’s face again.

What was there left for Carver to say back to him? Nothing… But like it or not, there was an innocent child involved in their families’ mess. A child who hasn’t comprehended who he was. They needed to figure out a solution, one that didn’t involve anyone leaving. “There’s a shelter nearby that takes in broken families.”

“That’s not enough. They’ll find me easily and kill me. What of my son?”

“Are you asking for money?”

“No! I told you what you need to do. This place has walls, food, warmth. Aren’t knights given fancy titles or something?” asked Carver.

“No one will give a fancy title to an assassin’s spawn.”

“Either way, he needs to stay here. This is the only place that would keep him safe.”

Keep him safe from what? “Carver, who did you kill?” His brother remained silent again, but this was serious. He needed answers. “Who did you kill?”

“It doesn’t matter, Leon’s not safe with me.” Tears almost stream down Carver’s face.

Leon slept peacefully as he unveiled more of the blanket covering him.

“I’m sorry, brother.” Carver opened the stable’s door and went out into the blistering cold.

“Carver, stop!” The harsh wind blew against him, he shielded Leon away from the snow. Even as he squinted his eyes trying to look for his brother, it was all white. There was no shadow other than the night sky. Carver was gone, more than likely, he was never coming back. His heart beat faster when he realized the situation he was in now.

Suddenly, Leon started crying. It was too cold for a baby like him to be out here in a snowstorm. He rushed out of the stables and into the castle. Even though they were in the heat, Leon kept crying. John held Leon up towards his chest while placing a hand on the back of his head.

He rocked gently. “Shh... it’s okay, don’t worry. I got you.” A minute later, Leon stopped crying. Relieved, John slowly took Leon from his shoulder and cradled him in his arms.

He didn’t come from a home of love. How on earth would he know how to love someone else? Even if it was his nephew. Besides, he never wanted any children.

How could he send his nephew away? His own blood? If this was any other child, he would send them to an orphanage without hesitation, but this wasn’t some child, it was his nephew. A baby who would grow feeling the way John has his whole life.

Father was right about something… At the end of the day, family were the only people they could rely on. If he turned his back on Leon, who would dare take care of an assassin’s spawn?

AN: Hey guys, thanks so much for everyone added Succession to their list. It really helps. Please, please, don't be afraid to comment in the future. I'm very interactive