A Tale of Two Brothers

Ceyx was the second born son of King X and Queen Y.  He grew up in the protective shadow of his elder brother Daedalion, following his footsteps often literally, adoring and aspiring.  D graciously accepted his brother’s homage, as befits the king to be.  As they grew towards manhood, C quietly learned to excel in the arts of war that were D’s pride and joy, and would often hide his skills lest they disrupt the established order and harmony that he and his brother enjoyed.  But one day, swept away by the delight in his eye and fingers, he beat his brother into second place in the annual royal archery contest.  D hid his fury, but it festered in him and the following month he led C to a small, barren, deserted island on the promise of brotherly adventure, and challenged him to repeat the contest.  C, understanding D’s mood and intent, lost on purpose, but this only Infuriated D the more – adding as he saw it moral pride to the original insult.  He abandoned C on the island, intending to leave him there a day in fear to teach him a lesson. 

But a leader must be strong and cannot admit defeat nor deceit.   The longer he delayed the rescue, the more it seemed like yet another defeat, and the time came and went past the point where C could be imagined to have died of hunger, thirst or mischance.  D understood what that would cost him and could not bring himself to take the risk.  So, he abandoned C, who was presumed lost in a misadventure of his own.

C survived for 6 weeks on his wits and his skill with sea, water, sun and air, before being rescued by a passing fishing boat.  He was brought to the palace, where the King and Queen were mourning the loss of their youngest son.  D, taken unawares by astonishment and a vestige of remorse, revealed his crime by asking C incredulously how he could possibly have survived.  The King’s grief turned to wrath.  D was dis-inherited, and only at the pleading of C was he spared banishment or death.