546 The Secret of Kan Part 3

She stared at him for a long moment and Kan looked at her, but only slightly. He didn't turn to face Kyera, as he normally would. Instead he titled his chin down and slightly toward her, barely catching her eyes. Those deep brown pools hidden by the shadows caused by the angle of his head.

"I only had one crown at the time. I was the Princess of the forest, nothing more." Kyera replied a bit puzzled and he chuckled, laying back in the grass. His eyes were closed to hide his emotions and thoughts behind thin lids, like shields. This was his best kept secret. How was he supposed to explain this to her.

"Kyera, have I ever told you my family story? I don't think I ever have. Afterall, no one really asked where my father came from." Kan replied with a deep sigh. With that he began:

"My Grandfather was a craftsman. He made weapons, and taught us to use them. His swords were used in The War. A master Blade Smith and a Weaponsmaster That taught anyone who wished to learn regardless of sex or age. He was respected, but lived outside the Bazaar. He enjoyed the quiet life, but wanted a wife and family. It just didn't seem to be in the cards for the warrior as he reached the end of his prime years.

One day he met a woman, a beauty who had just returned from a far off land. No one knew why she was returning, only that they  were glad she came home. They met in the market one day, the Serpent food stall that's been in Cora's family for generations. He fell for her over a bowl of soup and mushrooms, and apparently so did she. They were married within the year." He opened his eyes to stare at the night sky.

"Soon after they were married he found she was carrying a baby. Grandfather was ecstatic to have a child running around. They say he didn't even care if it was a boy or a girl. He just wanted a healthy child. He was a good man, married to a good woman… or so we thought." He added the last bit and Kyera felt uneasy though she couldn't quite place why.

"You see, my Grandfather took care of her all through the pregnancy. She gave birth early by almost three months. Even then, after she had the baby he took care of them both. He was proud of his baby girl, even though he had his suspicions at the time. You see, Grandfather knew this child was too perfect and healthy to be born so early. There was no way the child was his, but he didn't care. He loved them both. Then my Grandmother became pregnant again. She bore him another daughter and Grandfather rejoiced. He raised both children equally because he didn't care who my aunt's father was. They grew up, My mother married off young and in love with my father, and her elder sister stayed with the family training to be a leader." Those words made Kyera's heart thump hard against her chest. Half this story sounded like a bit of a broken puzzle piece she had been studying for a while now.