RECOVERY

BROTHERS OF DEATH

“What did I tell you?” “My goodness, it’s a massacre.” “It sure is and I don’t think it is over just yet, we have to be careful.” “Excuse me?” Rant looked at his brother in disbelief. “I am serious, the imperial court could have soldiers or whatever around and surely I believe you are well aware of what they do to people don’t you?” “Seriously Hunter you are beginning to sound like a co...” “Stop, coward is not a word I like to associate myself with.” “Don’t I know it? Look I don’t believe the imperial court exists and even if it did exist we have nothing to fear from them, we are not villains.”

“Well let me tell you, the imperial court exists and there is a rumor that the sorcerer Trask had been taken there not quite long.” “I think I’ve had enough of this imperial court, now can we please go?” Rant was already walking into the village where the m******e had occurred by the time he finished speaking and Hunter joined him cautiously looking behind to make sure they were alone.

The outlands were subject to brutalities of every sort including a rare weather condition referred to as the ‘killer tooth’ and terrifying monsters that could not be imagined. Some of these monsters operate at night while others hunt for pray during the day. The most recent nuisance was the red dragon.

It appeared out of where no one could say and started killing as it pleased. Whole villages, small settlements and peasant farmers. The creature was unrivalled and many hoped the imperial court would come to their aid but there was no indication that the creature could be stopped. Hunter and Rant have been tracking the creature since its emergence and Hunter suspected that it was the creature that attacked the village they were now walking into while Rant held that it was the king of Zorak who had for some time been obsessed with his search for the breath of kings. An artefact which is said to contain unimaginable power.

            The king has been attacking and destroying small villages in the outlands who were suspected to either possess the breath of kings or know of its where-about. It is arguable that very few people actually knew what the breath of kings looks like. Artefact which was ascribed to it was merely an ethos but its real physical composition was unknown to the greater majority.

            “Hey Hunter check this out” Hunter moved closer to where his brother was and saw an old man who was taking in his last breaths. He had been badly wounded.

“What happened here? Who attacked your village?” Hunter asked him. The man coughed out blood as he said “The king of the western kingdom Zorak. His soldiers came into our village asking about the breath of kings.” More coughing and more blood. “Take it easy” Rant tried to comfort him. “And then they started killing everyone both women and children as I believe you have seen.” “Are there any survivors?” Hunter asked him but before he could answer Rant asked another question. “Wait do you have the breath of kings?” “Yes we did but...” “I thought the imperial court condemned to death whoever was caught searching for the breath of kings.” Hunter looked at his brother scornfully before countering him, “there is no imperial court young man.”

“Yes we heard the decree as well but obviously the king does not care about any decree by an imperial court whose existence is doubted now does he?” The old man told them then asked. “Who are you?” “Doesn’t matter, you said you had the breath of kings what happened where is it?” “Everyone wants the breath of kings don’t they?” “No we don’t intend evil with it and besides we weren’t even in search of it but if the king is looking for it, then someone must get it out of his way for if the rumors are true then he would become unstoppable if he lays his hands on it – whatever it is.” Rant cleared the old man.

“The breath of kings is gone and if I tell you it’s where-about, I’ll just get you involved in a search and an adventure you’d rather not indulge in.” “Come on old man we...” “Manners” Rant looked at his brother who was berating the dying man but Hunter started to speak almost immediately again then he held his tongue when they heard neighing.

“That must be...” “Shh old man, you would give us away. We don’t know how many they are.” The brothers drew out their swords and cautiously stepped out of the hut they were in and walked through the back. “It’s them, the brothers of death.” The old man realised that he had been speaking with the brothers of death all this while. He earnestly tried to say something to them but they were already out of his hut and seconds before he closed his eyes in the deep sleep, he heard clanging of swords.

When they got out of the hut, the brothers watched the riders as they dismounted from their horses and started spreading out. “There is about fifteen of them.” Rant guessed. “I don’t think they are the king’s soldiers.” Hunter opined “Me neither but we shouldn’t stick around and find out, let’s go.” Rant told his brother.

“You are not going anywhere,” one of the soldiers had found them out and following his voice, the others rushed and joined him. “Did you do this?” One of the soldiers asked them. “No we did not and now if you would excuse us, we were just about to leave.” While they spoke, the brothers held their swords behind their backs as they spoke to the soldiers to conceal their identity.

“You are coming with us to the local magistrate.” “I don’t think so.” Rant answered him. “Really,” The soldier who first saw them said and drew his sword slowly. The others followed suit. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you” Hunter advised them but they were determined in their resolve. “You are coming with us one way or the other.” Another soldier told them. “Let’s get to it then Hunter looked at his brother who nodded in agreement then without warning, one of the soldiers threw a dagger he had discreetly drew out at the brothers but Rant caught it almost effortlessly with his right hand and the action revealed his hidden sword which until then was drawn but concealed behind him. He was left-handed.

“It’s them” the soldier that threw the dagger exclaimed when he saw the unusual white blade of the sword that Rant wielded. The brothers have been wanted for some time by the local magistrate but the search for them gradually died down since the advent of the red dragon which was a common enemy as well as numerous threats in the outlands. Rant hurled the dagger back at the soldier who had threw it but far from catching it, the soldier did not even see it coming and the short blade pierced the opening of his helmet which revealed and exposed his forehead. The precision was impeccable and the soldier dropped dead.

The rest charged at the brothers. They were all trained and experienced soldiers thus the battle was hard on both sides but in the end the brothers triumphed and the only blood that stained them was that of their enemies. The brothers had names that only they knew about and referred to themselves with them only when they were alone. Rant was Snow, after the colour of his blade while Hunter was Red.

They got the names from their mother who was killed in an attack on the village they lived. They only survived because strangely, their attackers did not kill or take children. They grew up, mastered the art of the sword and became the killing machines people who knew them referred to as the “brothers of death”. They decided to forge swords that rhymed with the names their mother gave to them when they were still young in her honour. The only thing they had failed to do so far is to find out who attacked their village but when they do...

 They had become private justice administrators and they stood in opposition to injustice where they could and were the bane of those who sought easy fortune with the green mushrooms.

When they returned back to the hut, the old man was dead. “We should go. I believe we’ve created too much noise to attract the attention of the red dragon.” Hunter said as he bent down and closed the man’s eyes. “I thought the local magistrate dropped the hunt.” Rant asked his brother “Yeah me too but I don’t think those soldiers were initially here looking for us, perhaps they also came to see what happened here anyways, it’s good to know we are still wanted.” “That dragon has to be killed.” “I totally agree but until we figure out a way to kill it, I am happy to lay low.” Hunter said as they grabbed the little provisions they could take and walked away from the village having multiplied the number of dead people.