Fox
FOX
AGE 11
Over six hundred cycles after the first king was born, the Dragonborn had their last uprising. It was the final choked attempt of a dying race to push back the king’s progress. But within two decades the uprising was defeated and what remained of the resistance scuttled back into their holes. It was only after this time that the laws governing Dragonborn behaviors were put into place; the hand of the king forced.
-The Legacy of the Kings: A History of Wueco’s Creation by Francis Knoll
T he sword was pressed into ’s neck, wood against skin.
“Take the kill,” his father said, voice hard and cruel.
“I defeated him,” Leon said, stepping back from where was lying on the ground, shaking and sweating.
Between one blink and the next, their father moved, snatching the practice sword from Leon and cracking it across ’s face.
“Never hesitate!” he screamed, throwing the weapon at Leon’s feet.
’s teeth shuddered and he tasted blood in his mouth.
“Father, he doesn’t need to train.”
“You need someone to fight against. You’re clearly not learning otherwise.”
“Ian and I train plenty together,” Leon said, trying again.
“I didn’t ask your opinion, Leon. Now, again!”
stood on shaky legs, knowing it would only be worse if he refused. Their father had never been interested in Leon’s training before, but today, he’d dragged from his chair in the library and sent Arik away with a barked order.
He and his brother had been sparring for two hours already and their father had no plans of them stopping.
“You fight him, or I do,” his father said when Leon still hesitated.
His brother picked up the practice blade again and they returned to their positions, ’s arms shaking. Leon swung and parried, but even he could tell his brother’s swings were slower than normal. He was pulling his swings.
“Perhaps you both need some better motivation.”
Their father strode across the yard to the rack of weapons along the wall. A minute later, two long swords landed between him and Leon.
“Pick them up,” he said, voice cold.
“Father.”
Leon’s protests had turned weak and knew he wouldn’t win. Neither of them could win against their father, even the golden child.
struck first. Leon wouldn’t and knew their father would only punish Leon for his trying to protect him.
“Scared, Brother?” asked, smirk hiding any shake or hesitancy in his voice.
His brother’s bright eyes narrowed, but he bent and picked up the blade. The silver of its steel caught the light, a stark contrast to his brother’s golden locks. had always been wan compared to Leon, his skin sallow, hair and eyes drained of the color that made Leon glow. It was as if their parents had put all they had into their firstborn and had been left with only the remnants of beauty and power.
His father treated him as such.
moved first, ignoring the scream of his muscles and the ache in his forearms. He’d thought the wooden training sword was heavy, but the steel blade made his muscles protest every move. It was long and unwieldy, meant for an adult already trained in the basics. Even at sixteen, Leon strained under the weight of it; could see it in the crease of his eyebrows and the pinch of his lips.
His brother parried his swing easily, the hit reverberating through ’s arms. But he didn’t drop the blade; a scream built in his throat, coming out in only a broken groan. His father was silent as he watched, not content yet with the show. knew what he wanted. His brother did, too, but he wouldn’t give it to their father, not until he had no other choice.
didn’t have the energy to wait. The next time he stepped forward to swing, he purposefully went wide, body tilting forward as Leon’s blade came down to block it. The blades brushed against each other, not quite hitting. Leon’s steel sliced forward and into ’s arm with a sickening twist.
He didn’t bother to bite back the scream of pain, the blade dropping from his hand as his muscles went slack against his will.
“!” his brother stepped forward, face pale at the sight of blood running down ’s arm.
“Get away from me,” he snarled. “Don’t you dare touch me.”
He saw Leon’s lips go tight as he looked between and the blade, knowing then what he had done. didn’t regret it. His father wasn’t going to let them stop until Leon drew blood. At least this way, it was on ’s terms.
Leon didn’t move to comfort where he kneeled. He tilted his chin to meet their father’s gaze.
“I win,” he said and then he dropped the blade and walked away, leaving still bleeding in the dirt. His father followed, no longer entertained by his youngest son’s pain.
* * *
“You’re an idiot,” Leon said, pushing into the chair in front of the desk. He glanced away from his brother only to meet his eyes in the small mirror on the wall. They were heated and angry as they glared down at him. His brother had already been in his room by the time had managed to push himself up from the training field and go inside.
“I was ending the torment,” he said. “Do you know what set him off, anyway?”
“There was another resistance attack in the royal quarter. Three wagons of supplies were destroyed with black powder.”
clenched his jaw. He didn’t understand what the Dragonborn were after. They claimed to want peace, but their attacks only angered the crown and the military. They were mosquitos biting at the ankles of jaguars, and somehow was the one paying the price.
Leon read his thoughts plainly on his face. He hadn’t quite learned to hide his emotions the way Leon had, another reason for his father to always come after him. “I’m sure the instigators will be caught soon and his mood will switch right back to his normal grumpiness. Now, take off your shirt.”
rolled his eyes as he did as his brother commanded. He groaned at the movement, but managed to get it over his head without help. When his chest and wound were bared, he met his brother’s eyes in challenge.
Leon’s lips pulled down in a frown, but he went to work, fingers poking at the cut.
“I should stitch it. The edge is a bit deep.”
“Just do it,” said, teeth already clenched and ready. Leon shook his head before he stood. “I said do it!”
“I’m going down to Ms. Bela. You should have some opium milk before I begin. It’s going to take a handful of stitches.”
“I am fine. I’ll be fine.”
“I already hurt you enough today,” Leon said, eyes earnest in a way that had shutting his mouth, unable to argue. He went quickly and was left, slumped at his desk, hand wrapped back over the cut as blood continued to seep from it.
He knew Leon would try to get back as fast as possible, but he’d also have to be careful. His father would never forgive him if he found Leon caring for . He’d spent the last few cycles trying his best to tear them apart.
But no matter how many times he tried to show Leon how far he stood above and his weaknesses, Leon refused to take the lesson.
wasn’t sure what would happen after his brother joined the military next cycle. When Leon was no longer there to act as the executioner of his father’s lessons, would he take over or would finally be able to disappear into the stonework of the manor, forgotten by the man he disappointed with his every breath?
Either way, he’d be alone and that thought made his eyes swim. He ducked his head, too afraid to be caught crying, and waited for his brother to return.