City of Sinister Angles

The War of Succession

There was a lush, colorful garden spread out across a number of rooftops and balconies of the tall towers in the Baal palace-estate, and connected by stairs and walkways. Here there were deep-rooted trees, exotic flowers, and everywhere berries and fruits.

Lit by the moon, in the crisp night air, high above the sounds and smells of the city below, the gardens took on an aura of peace and tranquility. It was here that Athlos and Favian Baal chose to conduct their duel.

Athlos, Favian, and their sister Morgana arrived at a lovely little clearing in the gardens near an artificial pond. Morgana made a "tsk" noise when she realized that this was where her brothers were going to duel. She worried they would get blood in the pond.

Morgana and her twin Viktor were not yet 20 when their mother died, the babies of the family. They were so young their mother hadn't even bothered to try to kill them. They seemed to think that the division of the house shares among the surviving siblings was an impetus to work together rather than eliminate one another, and this made them useful pawns at times. This was one of those times.

"I must ask," she said "Not just as both of your second but also as your sister: is there no other way to resolve this conflict without violence?"

"None," replied Athalos.

"Not a one," agreed Favian.

"Do either of you even remember what this disagreement, that is so intractable it must come to fratricide, even is?" asked Morgana.

"No," conceded Favian "But I thought it was worth killing for then and I trust my own judgement."

"Hear, hear," said Athalos "Now do you want to be our second or don't you?"

"I'm sorry, I'll be good," said Morgana, in a childish tone.

She opened the fancy pistol case she had been carrying and revealed two identical finely crafted but utilitarian flintlock pistols, each loaded and ready to fire. The dueling pistols had belonged to Morgana and Viktor's father.

"After conferring with... myself... we both agree that the weapons are identical. Do either of you remember who issued the challenge so we know who chooses first?" asked Morgana.

"I'll choose first," said Athalos, grabbing the nearest gun.

"Fine," said Favian, taking the other.

"Stand back to back," said Morgana "I'll count ten paces, on ten turn and fire."

"And no ground firing!" yelled Favian.

"No," said Morgana "As your second I say yes to ground firing, and as Athalos' second I agree to the terms."

"No ground firing," said Athalos "Agreed."

Morgana sighed.

The two took positions, holding their guns at the ready. Their sister counted out ten paces and they dutifully took ten steps before spinning around and firing almost in unison.

Both weapons, however, had been bewitched to misfire. They shot backwards into the brother's faces. Both Athalos and Favian died from the resulting wounds.

* * *

In accordance with her contract, Seraphina Baal never aged a day in her life past 24 and was dragged down to Hell on her 666th birthday. She had made a habit in the last few decades of her life of trying to kill as many of her children as possible, so only the most cunning and ruthless had survived to bury her. Her controlling shares in the Baal merchant house were divided among them, so that they would be forced into conflict with one another.