Alien Soulmate(2)

As the eldest of the three, by all rights, leadership of the Sitheri should have passed to Carver, but there was no way of knowing what Angen was going to decide until they went in and spoke to him.

Until he officially passed on and went to join the stars, he was still the leader, and his word was law.

When the doctor spoke, Ithril and Carver looked up at him. Carver got to his feet and went to stand next to his brother, who seemed paler than usual. Carver put a hand on his shoulder but didn't say anything. He nodded to the doctor, and the two brothers stepped into the room as one.

Usually, their father's room was filled with old books and tablets. He had been tracking the invasion of the Des'kos every minute, making notes of what land they had gained, where the boundaries were and where new guards needed to be placed. It had been actively the room of a leader, but now it was definitely a sick room.

The tablets and shelves had been covered or even moved out to make room for the machines that were monitoring Angen's condition. It was clear from the dull drone of the machines that there wasn't much life left in their father, and seeing him confirmed it.

No one had been allowed to see Angen directly for weeks while the doctors tried to see if they could slow whatever it was that was eating away at their leader's health. Once it had been confirmed that it wasn't contagious, Angen was too sick and too tired to receive visitors. He'd spoken with his family over the com screens, and after that only E'lira had been allowed in while Carver and Ithril took over some of the leadership duties that Angen couldn't direct from his room.

So this was the first time they were seeing him in person since the worst of the illness had taken him. Where their father had once been a muscular, robust man, now he was thin and frail, his skin somewhat ashen. His fair hair looked brittle and dry where it was spread across the pillow, and it hurt Carver's heart to see it. He was hooked up to the many machines in the room, and he almost seemed to disappear under the various wires and tubes.

Over the drone of the machines they could hear Angen's labored breathing, and he inhaled on a rasp when he opened his eyes, finding a weary smile for his sons.

"My boys," he said. Gone was the deep boom of his voice that could silence the rowdiest crowd in an instant.

"Father," they said in unison, bowing their heads and tapping their fingers to their foreheads in a gesture of respect.

Angen nodded and waved them into the chairs by his bedside. There was one on either side of the bed, and each brother took a chair, though only Carver took Angen's hand. His heart clenched at how waxy the skin felt, but he kept his anguish hidden.

"I don't have much time left," Angen said. "The doctors tell me the passing will be easy, but I tell them that they don't know. They have never passed. Ah, there is still so much left to do. So much I have not prepared you for."

"It's not fair, Father," Ithril said, shaking his head. "You shouldn't…" his voice cracked, and he looked away, and Carver was reminded of how long it had taken him to get over the death of their mother. How Ithril had secluded himself in his rooms for weeks, refusing to see or speak to anyone other than E'lira, and Carver had his suspicions that it was because she looked so much like their mother to begin with.

"Hush, Ithril," Angen said, but his voice was gentle and sad. "Nothing is fair. There aren't any guarantees in life. Not in this galaxy or the next. People die, empires crumble, families are torn apart. There were things I meant to teach you, but you are both strong and capable and you will learn even if I am not here. But enough of the pity. There are things I have to say."

"Of course, Father," Carver said.

"You are both everything I could ask for in sons. You are clever and quick. Strong and responsible. I know you will lead the Sitheri well."

Both brothers looked up at that, meeting each other's eyes and then looked back down to their father. "Both of us?" Carver asked.

"Yes," Angen said firmly. "Together you will be stronger than you would be separately. You are both so different, but together you have all you need to make our people great. You have all you need to make sure that we do not fall."

It was unheard of for there to be two leaders of a clan.

A leader's word had to be law. It had to be unquestioned. People had to know who to turn to for answers and guidance, and there had to be no doubt of who was in charge. Having two leaders made it easier for things to get done, perhaps, but if the two couldn't get along and have one solid ruling on what needed to happen, then a clan could fall into chaos. Especially in times like this.

But as the leader's word was law, there wasn't much either brother could do to refute Angen's decision.