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It was almost like he was there... he could see the many battles his father faught. He shared his pain, felt his strange hunger for the battles that drove the poor man insane with bloodlust. He saw his final battle, where him and his brother fought side-by-side, and where they both fell victim to the madness that overtook them. Why hadn't his mother told him about his uncle? What other family did he really have? He watched from his father's eyes as the sword fell, catching him by suprise. What was he doing? He was with his brother... but they were alone against an entire army. What really happened? The man awoke suddenly in a cold sweat, panting as though he had actually been in his father's battles. Why was it that these dreams stayed, refused to be forgotten like the rest? Something else happened that nobody told him. Now that his mother was gone he knew nobody who could answer his undying need... he was slipping slowly into madness every time he closed his eyes. What was it that was untold? Who knows? He stood and dressed himself in his usual sturdy black pants, faded blue shirt, and his father's large, red-lined black cape. He strung his swords to his waist, one of which he knows to have been made by his father, and headed outside, turning his sights towards the castle looming above him. Making his way to the gates, the guards permitted his entrance with a warm welcome. "Good morning, sir." He was only respected because of his father. And even then, he was still the younger and less respected when compared to His brother James. He headed up the familiar stone steps that led to the library, where he sought his brother's counsel. Pushing through the large wooden double doors, he scanned the library for James. As he suspected, he was sitting at the far table next to a window, studying intently. "Already to your work at this hour?" he said quietly, taking a seat across from him and looking at one of the books he had on the table. "this is father's works." He said. "I know you have read all of these many times again... why are you wasting your time with them again?" "My young brother," James looked over the top of the book at him. "You underestimate the power of memorizing these plans... like this phase here, from the battle at Golleda'an point, when he outflanked the swift Horus horsemen by--" He was inturrupted by his brother tossing the book back onto the table, making a swift slamming noise. "By slighting a fire in their path, frightening their horses, and attacking them from behind, the classic feinting meneuver?... A trick within a trick..." He stood. "I read these books once." He stated his point clearly as though he was wording it to him verbally. 'You do not deserve the power you have, I do.' He smiled, brushing aside a strand of his white hair from his face. "I came to tell you that I am signing up for the militia today--that is all." He turned and left the library swiftly, stepping lightly down the large stone steps. "Dante!" James hurried to his side, holding a large chest in his hands. "Take this... and good luck" He handed the chest to his brother, and walked briskly back to his studies. When Dante returned home, he opened the chest carefully, revealing a light but durable suit of armor inside. Once donning the armor, he realized that it fit him perfectly in every way. For some reason the designs on the breastplate were familiar, but he shook off the suspician almost instantly. He fitted his swordbelts and cape on this new armor, and they seemed to fit perfectly now also. He wondered what it was that was so comfortable about it, and also why the armor was so light, but felt no need to investigate. With a sigh of relief, he said "So my brother can do the right thing on occasion" and walked out the door, into the bustling streets of the capitol. He looked up at the silhoette of the castle against the rising sun, and set out down the dusty street to become one of it's many proud soldiers.
Jareth Black · Tue Dec 21, 2004 @ 09:29am · 2 Comments |
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