The Brother's Truth

Jari ran to Raollin as though charging a battlefield, but when he reached him his arms wrapped tight, desperate, grateful. He held his brother close, drinking in the warmth of him, the breath of him, the unbelievable fact that Raollin still lived.

“What have they done to you?” Jari demanded, pulling back, a hand cupping Raollin’s cheek as if he could smooth away whatever horror had marked him.

“Nothing,” Raollin said, eyes sliding toward the broken stones beneath their feet. “They didn’t need to. All the rebellion wanted was you and Father dead.”

Jari felt the words strike like arrows. “Thank the gods you’re alive. I came to rescue you—and Sapphire.”

“I don’t need rescuing,” Raollin said sharply. “Least of all from you.”

Jari flinched. “What do you mean?”

Raollin drove his boot into Jari’s chest. The blow knocked him back a step.

“You left us,” Raollin said, voice low and shaking with fury.

“No,” Jari said, breath catching. “I never meant—”

“Bullshit.” Raollin kicked him again, harder this time. “I saw you run. You didn’t even look for me. Why should I forgive you?”

“Don’t do this, Raollin,” Jari pleaded, hand extended like a man begging mercy from a friend he no longer recognized.

Raollin slapped the hand aside. His voice was flat. “I’ve been commanded to kill you anyway.”

Steel hissed. Raollin’s sword flashed in a sudden, vicious arc. Jari twisted aside, boots scraping stone.

“Who commanded you?” Jari demanded, breath ragged.

Raollin gave a bitter, almost mocking laugh. “You missed a great deal, big brother.”

He swung again. Jari ducked—and instinct took over. His fist snapped upward, cracking against Raollin’s cheekbone. Too hard.

Raollin toppled like a cut tree.

“I’m sorry,” Jari breathed, dropping to help him.

Raollin’s only answer was a slash, quick and venomous. His blade tore across Jari’s thigh and blood spilled warmly down his leg.

“Damn it, Raollin!” Jari snarled. “Get a hold of yourself!”

He struck again, a sharp, controlled punch that sent Raollin’s head snapping to the side.

“I must kill you,” Raollin said, but the words trembled with fear, not conviction.

Jari dodged another swing. “Did they threaten you?” he asked. “Did they say they’d kill you if you didn’t kill me?”

“No,” Raollin lied, and poorly. “He just wants you dead. And I serve him now.”

Jari parried two wild slashes, then caught Raollin by the collar and threw him hard onto the stones. “Tell me who the new king is!” Jari shouted, pinning him down. “I’ll protect you from him!”

“Get off me!” Raollin rasped, then carved a burning line across Jari’s cheek with his blade.

Jari reeled back, clutching his face.

Raollin lunged again, but Jari caught his wrist, twisted, and wrenched the sword free. A heartbeat later Raollin was slammed onto his back, the breath driven from him.

“Enough!” Jari roared.

Raollin lay still, chest heaving. “All right,” he whispered. “If you’re set on killing me, at least let me speak first.”

“Tell me,” Jari said.

“The new king is…” Raollin hesitated.

“Who!?” Jari bellowed, voice raw with pain and betrayal.

“It’s Eljas,” Raollin murmured.

Jari froze.

“What?" The word came out empty. Broken. “Eljas wouldn’t rebel. He grew up in this castle. He—he wouldn’t betray Father.”

“He did,” Raollin said. “And he killed Mother.”

The world seemed to tilt violently beneath Jari’s feet.

“What!?” Jari’s voice tore from his throat like a wounded animal’s cry.

“That’s not all,” Raollin said, voice shrinking to a whisper. “He’s married Sapphire now.”

Jari’s breath left him. Rage surged in its place—deep, black fury boiling through his veins. His fists clenched. His jaw locked.

“How dare he,” Jari breathed, barely recognizable.

A groaning rumble rolled from the castle doors. Stone scraped. Iron clanked. The great wooden gates opened.

And Eljas stepped out.

He wore the crown of Jari’s father—ill-fitting on his greasy black hair, but he wore it proudly, like a serpent preening. His grin was wide, triumphant, vile. A grin that stoked every ember of Jari’s fury until it blazed.

Jari’s vision reddened.

“You…” Jari growled.

Eljas raised a mocking hand in greeting.

Jari exploded.

“YOU BASTARD!” he screamed, voice cracking with grief and rage. “PREPARE TO DIE, ELJAS!”

And he charged.