dragon_twin | (no subject)

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The plans had been made, a time set, and finally, the day had arrived.

Melou spent the morning distracted from his lessons, which was nothing altogether new, but in the afternoon he was more focussed than ever on drills. Since they’d decided on the murder, he’d found himself enjoying them more and more.

The day dragged. Dinner was agonizing and he found himself getting irritated over his mother’s doting. They weren’t going to be boys anymore, not after tonight.

Finally, finally they were excused up to their rooms. Now, he was just waiting anxiously for Melehan, pacing the floor, his own practice sword sharpened and ready.

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"Good." He gives his brother a quick grin, showing how excited he really is about all this, and then checks outside his window.

"Might be easier to go out this way."

He grins back, and nods.

"I think so."

Melou swings one leg over the ledge with the practised ease of someone who's done this many times before.

"Follow me. Not so easy in the dark."

He says nothing, just nods and follows his brother.

Melou was always better at tracking and the like.

The way down to the ground is short and uneventful. Melou's done this so many times, he could do it with his eyes closed. He does glance up every now and then to make sure Melehan is following all right.

When they make it to the bottom, Melou dusts himself off and whispers to his brother, "We should be able to catch him just along the main path in a few minutes."

A quick nod.

"Okay. I'll go over to the other side?"

"Yes." Melou instructs. "Hurry, I think someone's coming."

Quietly, he crouches down and runs over to other side and slides down into the ditch.

"It's him, he's alone." He whispers to Melehan in their own langeuage. Pasgen might be close enough to hear them and he doesn't need to start worrying yet.

Melehan doesn't answer, just slowly lifts his head to watch.

Pasgen continues to approach, alone and unaware.

At just the right moment, Melou starts to make his way toward the man.

And Melehan slowly gets up and moves.

Moves?

To stand in front of him.

And Melou stands behind him. Pasgen is, in a word, surrounded.

"We have some business with you."

Pasgen turns his head, scowling.

"What kind?"

Melehan says nothing. That's just the way he is.

He steps closer.

"The kind where you learn to respect your superiors."

Pasgen snorts.

"You two?"

And Melehan draws his (father's) sword.

"Yes. Us."

"You really should come with us." Melou advises him, his sword also drawn now. "This isn't the kind of lesson to be learned in public."

The older boy looks as if he is going to argue, but Melehan rests the tip of his sword at the base of his neck.

"Over there." Melou points his sword to a patch of forest a ways off from the path.

"Better get moving or my brother might not be able to restrain himself."

Pasgen flicks his dark eyes from one to the other, and then just nods. His upper-lip is curled, though.

The three of them walk silently to the trees, the twins' swords trained on their hostage to ensure he doesn't escape. When they reach the spot Melou and Melehan had scouted out in advance was out of view from the path or surrounding area, they stop.

"I think you should get on your knees, practice bowing to us."

"Well, I think you two can get fu-" And Melehan drives the sword into Pasgen's back. Not a lot, just enough to make him arch.

Melou smiles, and kicks Pasgen's legs out from under him. He's enjoying this much more than he thought he would. "I said, on your knees."

He turns to Melehan. "Not too good with taking orders, is he?"

"Not really. We might even be doing uncle a favour."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Pasgen grunts, eyes narrowing on the boys.

Melou kicks him again. "Shut up."

"I don't think he's very bright, either," Melehan informs his brother.

Melou snorts. "Not surprising. He leans over Pasgen, tracing his sword across his throat but not breaking the skin.

"What do you think we mean?"

"I wouldn't have the faintest idea what you two boys are up to-"

"Wrong answer," Melehan says, quietly, and rests his weight against the sword which already has its tip resting against Pasgen's back.

With obvious results.

"No one's gonna miss you." Melou tells Pasgen and then drives his sword into the man's stomach.

Foot on Pasgen's back and he pulls the sword.

There is blood, of course.

Quite a lot of blood.

Blood. All he can see is blood. Just like his dreams, except Melou's not anxious this time.

He pulls his sword out as well, more blood pooling on the ground. "Think we should slit his throat?"

A quick nod, and Melehan's eyes are just bright and brighter.

"You or me?"

They both want to. Melou knows this.

"Both? Yours facing one way, mine below facing the other."

"Agreed."

Melou rolls Pasgen over onto his back with his foot and then places the edge of his sword against the man's throat.

"On three. One, two..."

"Three." And the boys move in unison.

Afterward, Melou sits beside the body, covered in blood and smiling.

"Nice work." He tells his brother.

Melehan nods and flashes a brief smile. He is thinking, he is, and his eyes are bright.

Bright with life.

As are his brother's. He's never felt more alive.

"Guess we should bury him."

"See, even now you are a bother," Melehan tells the corpse with a sigh.

Melou makes a face.

"We should have dug something in advance. Oh well." He looks around. "Gonna have to be shallow now."

With a long-suffering sigh, Melehan gets to his feet and wipes the blood of his sword.

"We'll remember for next time."

"Live and learn." Melou sighs as well and begins chipping away at the ground with his sword.

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