Othien chuckled heartily. “Yes well, he loved books and there were many the king had that no one else did. When I was coming on duty in the morning relieving the night shift I caught Jaden helping your father out of the library. He must have fallen and twisted his leg. Jaden could have just run and left Bastian to take the fall but he stayed. Being brought before the king he even took the blame even though most of us knew that it was Bastian. He was used to being in trouble of course that just made the king, who already didn’t like the idea of a Rizel in his city let alone his castle, even angrier. But Bastian’s father stood up for him and after that they were inseparable. Your father kept Jaden out of fights and he in turn kept Bastian from getting into trouble.”
“So they never went back to the library again?” Rak spoke up.
“I never said that. Though if they did go back they never got caught.” With that Othien stood up with a quiet grunt. “Well, I’ll go see if your grandmother needs help.” He bowed his head towards Lilly and left the room.
Rak sat where his grandfather was. “Wow.”
Lilly nodded in agreement. “I never knew any of that. I guess my father didn’t want me getting any bad ideas.” She laughed.
“Yeah, but now we know who you reminded my grandpa of….Jaden.” She shot him a look that made him laugh.
“At least I’m not alone today.” She sad finally.
Rak leaned forward. “Must be hard not being around your family today.”
Her sinking feeling returned. “Yeah.”
“I heard that the talks with the Rizel elders have been hard. So I gather you didn’t get to see him at all yet.” The soft sympathy in his voice made her want to cry again.
