Canellian Eye by Caroline Noe

Author:Caroline Noe
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Spiritual sci fi, religious sci fi, biblical sci fi, Chosen One, generational saga, destiny fate prophet, betrayal injustice treachery, planetary war, twist ending, freedom fighter, prejudice diversity racism
Publisher: Caroline Noe
Published: 2023-07-05T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Prince Gwel found his brother staring into space, as was his want.

“You’ll hurt your eyes, if you keep doing that. It’s daylight, you idiot.”

“Wouldn’t you like to be up there?” Veltoc asked, following the question with a deep sigh.

“You can’t see the space station from here,” Gwel pointed out. “Besides, they’re probably just as bored, staring down at us. Stop moping and come with me.”

“Now what are you up to?”

Veltoc’s question came loaded with suspicion. His ears were still smarting from his father’s wrath over their last adventure. King Brewan had rightly accused his eldest son of being easily led into mischief, which was not a good characteristic for the heir to the Elyacian throne.

“Nothing. Why do I need to be ‘up to’ anything?” Gwel replied, pretending to be insulted.

“’Cause you always are.”

Despite many reservations, Veltoc followed his wayward brother into the city, harassed guards in tow. No sooner had he escaped the confines of the Palace and sight of their mother, than Gwel began his usual entertainment of copious flirtation with the local women. Young, and not so young, were all targets of the amorous young man’s considerable attributes.

At sixteen, the brothers could not have looked, nor been, more different. Gwel was tall, wiry and strong, as though teen growth had stretched him on a rack, with an innate ability to entirely dismiss the consequences of his actions. Veltoc, being shorter, stockier, yet gently poetic, thought of nothing but those consequences and, thereby, paralysed himself. If it wasn’t for the influence of Gwel, Veltoc would probably have remained hidden in the Palace, spending his life yearning to be free of impending duty.

“You know what Mother said.” Veltoc tugged at Gwel, prising him away from his latest conquest.

“You should try it sometime,” Gwel told his brother, breaking into peals of laughter.

“Don’t you want to be loved?” Veltoc asked, gazing at the squirming young woman with resigned detachment.

“Depends what you mean,” Gwel replied, and set off on another adventure, without so much as a backward glance at the abandoned girl.

“Now what?” Veltoc looked to the heavens, but followed anyway.

As the two princes passed the University building, Veltoc slowed his pace, surreptitiously scanning the students for one particular face. Gwel watched, smiling at his brother’s ridiculous attempt at nonchalance.

“He’s over there,” Gwel said, pointing in the direction of a ground floor classroom. Veltoc grabbed his arm, pushing it down.

“Don’t do that,” Veltoc pleaded. “People are looking.”

“Why don’t you just talk to him? You’re the Crown Prince. It’s not like he’d refuse.”

Veltoc shuffled on the spot, dying with embarrassment, yet continuing to stare through the glass window with a longing he couldn’t suppress. There he was, sitting at his desk, rounded chin resting on his palm, waves of coffee coloured hair caressing his broad shoulders.

“You know why,” Veltoc murmured.

“Veltoc, do what Father wants,” Gwel told him, slapping his palm on his leg in exasperation. He hated hearing the sadness in his brother’s voice, when it was so unnecessary. “Marry some girl. Give him his heir and be happy with.

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