Xzanifer stopped and raised a singular fine brow. “That is not something you can decide so easily. First, you have to get pass me. Are you suddenly so skilled? Or are you emboldened by the feel of our father’s sword in your hand?â€Â
“So I just have to get pass you?â€Â
“Correct.â€Â
“Then get out of my way!†Xzenivar lurched forward, in the corner of his mind knowing his brother was far more skilled, with more areas of expertise to pull from than the younger brother could consider, but this was something he could back down on.
And so, younger brother drew his sword…
The older brother smiled in satisfaction. “Willing to cut threw me to get at what you want most. Truly, that is the sort of ruthlessness I’ve longed to see.â€Â
The older brother held up his cane, a stiletto blade jutting from the tip with naught a sound above a whisper. He wasn’t as fast as the younger, but his movements were practiced, and Xzenivar’s swings and thrusts while powerful, were not so skilled. Metal clashed as the pair twisted and pivoted, Xzanifer deflecting blow after blow from his father’s weapon. A look of grim pleasure on his face when he looked into the passionate flame of his little brothers, a fire that could have lit up the pier in the darkest night.
“I’m proud of you Xzen.†He murmured, a rare look of honestly shone in Xzanifer’s eyes.
Xzenivar blinked and mistepped, the proud look in his older’s eyes was gone in a blink of an eye, as he took the opening, his cane spinning around the sword blade, slipping under Xzenivar’s guard, and slashed upwards, a deft flick of his wrist and the stiletto changed direction. One attack, two cuts.
Xzenivar cried out and a hand flew to his right eye, hot crimson blood flowing from the wounds on his face. He staggered backwards and glared at his older brother, his sword the only thing holding him up as he panted through the pain.
“Come, let us see the healer. You’ll scar if we don’t see to that…â€Â
It came from somewhere deep and primal buried in the heart of the young man, the low keening growl that fled his lips. His bloodied hand swept across his father’s blade.
“Xzen?†Xzanifer himself was taken aback.
Xzen launched forward, tip scrapping against the stone pavers sending up a shower of sparks in his wake, sparks that cast a fiery glow on the blood red metal, giving it the appearance of flame.
Almost too late for Xzanifer, did he realize that it was flame, and a searing arc as Xzenivar spun with a trail of fire behind his swing. The eyes of the leviathan cane shone with a sapphire blue light as older brother raised his hand in defense, a orb of water appearing between its fangs
Magic collided, and the brothers were flung apart with bone jarring force.
“What… well.. that was something.†Xzanifer coughed and shakily got to his knees.
“Brother! Take care of yourself! Seems I won this time.â€Â
Xzaniver frowned and looked up at his little brother. There, with hand covering his bloody wound, with a small but pain filled smile on his lips, sat Xzenivar.
On the gangplank of the ship.
“You got passed me,†Xzanifer stared in disbelief, then chuckled then let out a peel of laughter. “So you have. So you have. You realize its not over?â€Â
Xzenivar nodded, “Keep this, father would want it used for the good of his people, not a selfish son.†With a powerful throw, Xzen sent his father’s blade flying, the tip pushing through stone at Xzanifers feet.
“Goodbye.†And the young lord, turned and walked onto the deck. Moments later, the ship began its departure.
“Oh not quite little brother.†Xzanifer removed his glasses and a silk handkerchief to polish them. “But for now.†He picked up the sword when he was done and chuckled. “Who knows what that bastard would have wanted.â€Â
“You’re just going to let him go? My mistress would not be happy.â€Â
Xzanifer turned around to reguard the tall figure who had spoken. “I imagine she won’t be, nor that you skulked about instead of securing her prize.†This could be dangerous he thought. “But fret not, I won’t speak a word of it. My brother is not the type to lie low and hide. We can find him later.â€Â
“For your island’s sake, I should hope so.â€Â
Xzanifer chuckled a chilly little laugh. “We were not the only ones who had something to gain here, do not threaten me. Now if you’ll exscue me, I have an engagement banquet to eat. Can’t let our hard work go to waste now can we?â€Â
"Ahh what a night its been. That boy... no, that young man. His will moves to a song of storm and fire..."
“So I just have to get pass you?â€Â
“Correct.â€Â
“Then get out of my way!†Xzenivar lurched forward, in the corner of his mind knowing his brother was far more skilled, with more areas of expertise to pull from than the younger brother could consider, but this was something he could back down on.
And so, younger brother drew his sword…
The older brother smiled in satisfaction. “Willing to cut threw me to get at what you want most. Truly, that is the sort of ruthlessness I’ve longed to see.â€Â
The older brother held up his cane, a stiletto blade jutting from the tip with naught a sound above a whisper. He wasn’t as fast as the younger, but his movements were practiced, and Xzenivar’s swings and thrusts while powerful, were not so skilled. Metal clashed as the pair twisted and pivoted, Xzanifer deflecting blow after blow from his father’s weapon. A look of grim pleasure on his face when he looked into the passionate flame of his little brothers, a fire that could have lit up the pier in the darkest night.
“I’m proud of you Xzen.†He murmured, a rare look of honestly shone in Xzanifer’s eyes.
Xzenivar blinked and mistepped, the proud look in his older’s eyes was gone in a blink of an eye, as he took the opening, his cane spinning around the sword blade, slipping under Xzenivar’s guard, and slashed upwards, a deft flick of his wrist and the stiletto changed direction. One attack, two cuts.
Xzenivar cried out and a hand flew to his right eye, hot crimson blood flowing from the wounds on his face. He staggered backwards and glared at his older brother, his sword the only thing holding him up as he panted through the pain.
“Come, let us see the healer. You’ll scar if we don’t see to that…â€Â
It came from somewhere deep and primal buried in the heart of the young man, the low keening growl that fled his lips. His bloodied hand swept across his father’s blade.
“Xzen?†Xzanifer himself was taken aback.
Xzen launched forward, tip scrapping against the stone pavers sending up a shower of sparks in his wake, sparks that cast a fiery glow on the blood red metal, giving it the appearance of flame.
Almost too late for Xzanifer, did he realize that it was flame, and a searing arc as Xzenivar spun with a trail of fire behind his swing. The eyes of the leviathan cane shone with a sapphire blue light as older brother raised his hand in defense, a orb of water appearing between its fangs
Magic collided, and the brothers were flung apart with bone jarring force.
“What… well.. that was something.†Xzanifer coughed and shakily got to his knees.
“Brother! Take care of yourself! Seems I won this time.â€Â
Xzaniver frowned and looked up at his little brother. There, with hand covering his bloody wound, with a small but pain filled smile on his lips, sat Xzenivar.
On the gangplank of the ship.
“You got passed me,†Xzanifer stared in disbelief, then chuckled then let out a peel of laughter. “So you have. So you have. You realize its not over?â€Â
Xzenivar nodded, “Keep this, father would want it used for the good of his people, not a selfish son.†With a powerful throw, Xzen sent his father’s blade flying, the tip pushing through stone at Xzanifers feet.
“Goodbye.†And the young lord, turned and walked onto the deck. Moments later, the ship began its departure.
“Oh not quite little brother.†Xzanifer removed his glasses and a silk handkerchief to polish them. “But for now.†He picked up the sword when he was done and chuckled. “Who knows what that bastard would have wanted.â€Â
“You’re just going to let him go? My mistress would not be happy.â€Â
Xzanifer turned around to reguard the tall figure who had spoken. “I imagine she won’t be, nor that you skulked about instead of securing her prize.†This could be dangerous he thought. “But fret not, I won’t speak a word of it. My brother is not the type to lie low and hide. We can find him later.â€Â
“For your island’s sake, I should hope so.â€Â
Xzanifer chuckled a chilly little laugh. “We were not the only ones who had something to gain here, do not threaten me. Now if you’ll exscue me, I have an engagement banquet to eat. Can’t let our hard work go to waste now can we?â€Â
"Ahh what a night its been. That boy... no, that young man. His will moves to a song of storm and fire..."