A Blackbird In Silver (Book 1) by Freda Warrington Read Free Book Online Page B

clever we were, or how unthinkingly cruel? No, he thought. I can’t remember, except that sometimes it was about Meshurek. There’s no expression of emotion black enough for me to mourn him, to mourn all of them. Even weeping would seem like laughter.
    His twin brother Meshurek, heir to Ordek’s throne, was the only being that marred Ashurek’s childhood and adolescence. Some twist in Meshurek’s personality made him a jealous and insecure child. He lacked the confident, extrovert nature of Ashurek and Orkesh, and he suffered dark moods in which no one could reach him. He lacked Ashurek’s skill at sport, riding and weaponry, and he knew, although they tried not to show it, that his parents preferred Ashurek. Slowly his envy became obsessive. Frantic to prove to the Emperor and Empress that he was as good as Ashurek, he would challenge him to races or fights which he then tried to win by trickery. Ashurek took it all in good humour, often saw through the deception, and usually won anyway. Meshurek would be left feeling foolish and angry as his brother walked away with what appeared to be a mocking smile.
    Ashurek did not mean to mock his brother. In fact, he loved him, and found his envy incomprehensible. There was no point in letting Meshurek think he could win; better to make a joke of it, and perhaps one day Meshurek would laugh too.
    But to Meshurek it was no joke. He had no sense of humour; only paranoia, and a painful awareness of his own failings. He was a tongue-tied, physically awkward boy, and although the courtiers only said it in whispers behind the unfortunate Prince Meshurek’s back, it was no surprise to him when he eventually overheard that they, and the general populace, thought he was an unfit heir to the throne and a shame that Prince Ashurek had not been born first.
    Meshurek sank deeper into his fears. He became obsessed with the idea that his parents would oust him, even murder him, and make Ashurek heir. He convinced himself that Ashurek hated him. Paranoia ate at him like insatiable hunger.
    But he was wrong. None of his family hated him, although they hesitated to show him love because he often reacted with hostile resentment. The laws of succession were strict, and Ordek in fact believed Meshurek would make an adequate Emperor, being of above average intelligence and a well-read boy. He had plans for Ashurek other than having him take a throne to which he was not entitled.
    Even if the Emperor had explained this to Meshurek, he would not have believed it. His obsession had gone too far; his imagined fears had become real to him. By the time he was thirteen he was convinced there was a plot to remove him.
    But he was Gorethrian. Though lacking in some ways, he had all the royal Gorethrian traits of cleverness, determination and desire for power. As he matured he realised that fighting Ashurek openly was pointless. He had to seek his own way to victory, and this he did by immersing himself in the things at which he excelled: reading and learning. He spent all his spare hours in the palace library. His awkwardness was replaced by a kind of malicious charm, which, once perfected, he knew would make him far more acceptable in court and in public. And he sought for himself some sort of weapon, against the day when he would have to fight for the throne.
    Ashurek was relieved when Meshurek apparently found his feet at last. He was a changed youth; he had found his own interests, and showed all the brotherly affection Ashurek could hope for. Ashurek did not bother to look any deeper, because he had other, more exciting things to concern him. He was simply glad not to worry about his brother’s problems any longer.
    The Emperor Ordek had had Ashurek well trained in all the arts of soldiery, and the young Prince showed more skill, enthusiasm and inspiration than his father could have hoped for. His plan was for Ashurek to become, eventually, High Commander of the Gorethrian army. That way, true power