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“Are you sure about this Tornado? I know that he’s your broth- I mean friend, but do you know if you can trust him?” Umbro asked following him on his way to their training grounds. “The Dark Lord doesn’t trust me, that’s a given, but you were still in the clear!”

“He won’t rat us out.” Tornado explained. “It’s been pretty hard on him. I understand what it’s like.”

Umbro sighed. “Just be careful okay. If the Dark Lord can get his hands on even the smallest sign of weakness he will exploit it thoroughly. You should be more careful. Consult with me before you do anything risky, got it?”

“What will happen?” Tornado asked. “You seem to know a lot about this kind of thing. Like you’ve experienced it before.”

“That’s because I have.” Umbro stopped. “If you do something he doesn’t like he will stop you. That’s why so many are obedient. Though the price is different for everyone they fear it.”

“What was your price?”

“Well to understand you’d have to know what I did.” Umbro started, “stay here I’ll set up the barrier.” When he came back he took a seat and motioned for Tornado to join him.

“I can’t tell you the full story but a long time ago I began to not trust the Dark Lord. Certain things seemed to not add up to me. They seemed suspicious even when I was a child. So when I entered the army and figured out how everything was organized I felt betrayed. It was as if they weren’t letting us show who we really were. I hated it! I had joined to prove my strength to others but instead I had to conceal it from everyone.” He continued with anger brimming in his voice, “there was a man from the higher ranks that noticed just how fed up I was with it. He approached me asking if I wanted to challenge him and show just how strong I was. I accepted right away and we went into the ring. The fight was short and I won. He had made it all the way to the Suul rank and felt he had no need for training. I had noticed that while observing the higher ups. That’s how I knew I could win. I practiced a hundred times harder than he ever could have. But the higher ups weren’t happy with me. They told the Dark Lord that I was out of hand and got his permission to give me a proper punishment. The next day when I was on my way to train they followed me and surrounded me when we were far enough away from the city that nothing would be heard, not that it mattered. After they told me the reason for following me they beat me until I couldn’t stand, but I didn’t give them the pleasure of hearing me scream. I wasn’t able to make it back home until the next day. I wasn’t fit to go back to the army for the next week.”

Tornado stared at him waiting for him to continue.

“That is the price that you pay. But it’s not always physical. You’ve seen Barren. Has he ever told you of his past, why he acts the way he does?”

“He’s only told me that he wasn’t always that way. That he used to be a very open person.”

Umbro nodded gravely. “I can’t tell you his past but . . . I’m sure you can imagine.”

Tornado nodded.

“I’m not trying to break your trust of Rook, but, if he were allied with the Dark Lord and he knew anything that could be used as a weakness against you . . .” Umbro’s voice trailed off.

“Even if he was allied with the Dark Lord he wouldn’t be able to reach me.” Tornado smiled suddenly. “The thing that is most precious to me, my weakness, is also precious to his weakness.”

Umbro stared at him confused for a moment then his eyes widened. “Those girls! The ones that were at the palace!”

Tornado nodded. “As long as she’s safe I could care less what happens to me. We should get going. The others will wonder where we’ve been.”

They stood and continued towards the grounds.

“Are you going to tell them about your decision?” Umbro asked. “Rook doesn’t know them yet, and though you may be safe from harm they aren’t.”

“I’ll tell them. But they’ll just have to trust my decision. None of them will be harmed.”

As they got close to the grounds Umbro turned to secure the boundaries. Tornado continued forward without reacting. He’d gotten used to how things had gotten over the months he’d lived in the Dark Realm. Everything had become rather routine, and as much as he hated thinking of it, comfortable. Umbro rejoined him from the opposite side as they entered the clearing.

“Ahhh.” They heard a voice sigh as Ember walked up them with her hands on her hips. She glared at them despite the smile on her face. “Look who finally decided to show up.”

“You’re here just in time for lunch.” Pye told them.

“Poor Pye here was worried there would be leftovers.” Ember nodded gravely patting him on the shoulder.

“I never said that.” He answered flatly.

“You know you were thinking it.”

“Hey!” Durza shouted from their lunch spot. “We decided the two who came last would set up the lunch space as punishment.”

“Fine.” Umbro agreed turning to Tornado, “let’s get this over with so we can get on topic.”

“You’re still unsure.” He commented softly as they walked over.
“I don’t want to see anything to happen.” He glanced around the group. “They’re my responsibility.”

“You’ll just have to trust my judgement on this one. I won’t let anything happen.”

Pye and Ember looked at each other puzzled as they followed.

Once the food was served Tornado spoke up. “I need to talk to you all about something serious. Yesterday I was summoned to meet with the Dark Lord. While I was there I ran into a friend of mine. It turns out that . . . “ he paused for a moment feeling the wave of sickness creeping up. He shook off the feeling. “Do you all know about the black wings?”

They shook their heads confused.

“It turns out that they only come from one family. That’s why they’re so rarely seen.”

“One family?” Durza asked noticing right away. “Then you’re related to-” she couldn’t make herself continue.

“Yes. Somehow the Dark Lord is my father. The friend I met was the prince of the Faery Realm, Rook. He also has black wings. He’s my half brother.”

There was a silence in the group as they let it all sink in.

“I understand if you don’t want to trust me anymore. Even if you feel betrayed I wouldn’t blame you for it.”

“I don’t blame you!” Ember told him. “No one can control their blood relations. Just because he’s your father doesn’t mean you’re going to be just like him! You are you. Knowing where you came from doesn’t change you from being our friend.”

“Ember’s right.” Pye added, “you’re given us no reason not to trust you.”

“I’m glad you both feel that way but I wasn’t finished.” Tornado told them, “I told Rook I was in a rebel army. I didn’t tell him any of your names.”

“I was with him at the time so I can confirm it.” Umbro explained. “He only told of the existence of our group. But the Dark Lord knows of us training together. If it gets leaked it could become dangerous for us.”

“That being said I can understand if you want me to leave this group-”

“Tornado! What good would that do?” Umbro asked angrily.

“If I sever my connection with you all you won’t have to worry about being exposed.” Tornado explained, “but I’m willing to trust Rook. If anything does happen though I’ll take full responsibility. I’ll even say that I arranged from this group to be made.”

Umbro sighed. “I understand. I’ll trust your judgement on this one. But from now on consult with the rest of us before you plan anything.”

He nodded. “I will.”