Kinslayer : Medea's Creed ( Chapter 4 )

 Bret...

...manages to dodge Biron's lighting first strike. He regains his balance, the grin never leaving his face. "What about last night?". 

Biron chuckles under his breath " You're really going to pretend you didn't try to turn the castle into an iceberg last night? Or almost freeze Sabel to death?" Magic like that takes a heavy toll in your energy levels. Your Grace ."

a scowl briefly replaces the grin on his face and then he grins again. "No one is supposed to know about that. But don't think that changes anything simply because you know." Biron breaks into a laugh as he walks away from the obviously fuming Bret. Your guile doesn't fool me Bret. Break. 

"Of course it doesn't mean anything. Although it does mean that today's match will be quick" he swings around on his heels and lunges toward Bret. 

"That you are right about" Bret mutters as he darts forward to meet his twin's attack. As Biron makes to feint the attack his muscles immediately seize and he keels over. Recovering quickly from the momentary seizure he plants his feet firmly in a battle stance. One he has long since perfected. Months of training quickly surge back to him and he picks the rythm back up. 

The duo exchange a flurry of parries and blows. Bret strikes Biron below the belt, he parries and snaps the spear in half. By now their eyes no longer belonged to the atmosphere of training. The platform of netting on which they both balanced was beginning to fray from such unprecedented activity. Biron's frustration begins to seep through his demeanor as he begin to throw his calm to the wind.

"Halt"

The quartermaster's commands are lost to the music of clashing weapons. Bret holds his own against Biron. Two makeshift batons against the sabre. His upbeat spirit and luck were beginning to wane against Biron's sheer skill and hard work. His stamina and balance were beginning to lag. Biron seizes the opportunity and slams Bret to the ground, he leaps into the air to finish the attack and pin his twin to the platform. Its over Bret. I win this time. The match was as good as won and the victory gleamed so brightly in Biron's eyes that brets only option was desperation. He raises his hand in surrender and mutters the only words of magic he knew. He didn't even know he knew them. Immediately Biron's descent was halted to a third of its original velocity. He dropped less like a conquering warrior and much more like a snowflake. So much so that Bret could sidestep the attack and watch his brother land helplessly. He stands over biron with a speartip to his throat.

"I suppose you are done now young masters"

The brothers glare at each other, breathing heavily.

"You may return your weapons. Today's training is concluded, I'll see you at the bottom" the instructor turns around and vanishes into the woods. Bret drops his batons and grins at his twin, obviously elated at the recent workout. He offers a hand to help Biron up which he smacks away and stalks down the hill.

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Fugard sits in court. Medea and several other councilors sit in deliberation with him. They appear to be discussing pressing issues and the atmosphere is heavy. Biron stalks in from training into court. Everyone pretends not to notice but keep the corner of their eye fixed on him.

"Father, if I may. I seek your audience."

Silence.

"Father?!" 

Everyone resumes their discussion with the king. 

"Father, I d-"

"And are you now so uncultured or much rather impaired of vision that you're unable to see that I am in court at something and so whatever it is you wish to discuss can wait? Tell me Biron, what is so important that you must barge into my court and disrupt the process." The whole court stands still for a moment and the air seems to hold on for the seconds to pass as Biron glowered at his father. 

"Leave us". Biron turns to leave. " Not you". The entire court is shocked. Medea stands mouth ajar and everyone leaves the father son Duo. Biron paces back and forth as the court empties itself.

"Now tell me, Biron. What was so important that you had to break court?". He continues to pace, the anger from the morning's training still boiling in him. 

" Biron! Speak or leave my presence. What is the meaning of this insolence?"

He stops pacing. "Bret...he just...he's "

"And what about Bret?"

"He just makes me so angry. The nonchalance. The apparent dissociation from the consequences of his actions. It just ticks me off. Imagine cheating at training and laughing about it?"

"And your brother cheating at your training is enough reason to break my court. Biron?"

"No father, you don't understand..." By now Biron had resumed his pacing and didn't notice his father disappear from the room. "He's the problem...". His words echo back to him in the courtroom once again. He's the problem