Grief

Chapter 1

"Sozec, be careful, the tides are strong here," a voice calls out from a small hill in the distance. Sozec squints his eyes in an attempt to make out the small figure of his older brother.

Eden runs down the hill stopping just in front of his brother as he bathes in the small river. "We're at war and you still treat me like a child, brother." Sozec responds pushing his long hair over his shoulders. 

"Hurry, you're not supposed to be here. You know they're just dying for one of us to slip up, and still, you disobey" Eden says scanning the area. His tone is curt, contrasting Sozec's own mellifluous voice. Any other would believe Eden to be mad but Sozec could read him well. He knew he was worried.

"No one is looking to crucify the sons of Mondel. You think too much brother, swim with me," Sozec offers. Eden watches as his brother swims to the edge of the river. 

"You've had your fun but it's time to go now. If you don't, I'll take your clothes." Eden says gazing at the clothing and armor Sozec has laid neatly beside the river. 

"What is the point of a bath if it must be cut short? I'm only having fun," Sozec complains as he hoists himself up from the river.

Eden averts his eyes to the clear blue sky as he speaks. "We're not here for fun, we're here to win the war. If you don't see that then maybe you should go back to Jeuntal," he exclaims referring to their home. 

Sozec can't help but chuckle, it looks like he's yelling at the sky. He puts his clothes back on and ties the metal plate on his torso along with the rest of the heavy armor. Walking to Eden he adjusts the plate; the tight fit is not something he is yet used to.

"I have no intention of going home. I belong here just as much as you and I do not care to be followed by the likes of you. You're like a tick that refuses to leave, must I use fire to rid myself of you, brother?" Eden's face falls with sorrow as he faces his brother. His words would be taken as a joke by any other, but Eden knew that he spoke this way to avoid confrontation. "I promised mother that you'd come back alive. She worries about you deeply, please write her back, Sozec," Eden says in a quieted tone.

"I don't wish to speak nor write to her." Sozec says turning away from his brother's pitiful gaze. "You should, tomorrow is not promised, especially in war." Eden responds. 

"I'll take my leave now" Sozec states walking towards camp before Eden can come back with a proper response. Eden follows behind in silence both drained and defeated by Sozec's relentlessness to contact their mother.

Once back at the campsite Eden is relieved to see that many of the other soldiers are still enjoying their meals. Lined up on each side of the dirt road sit large green tents. Several of them are open. One in particular catches Eden's eye. 

A tall, heavy-built man sits hunched over in a chair examining the people that pass by. As he sits back in his chair, he crosses his arms looking back out in the direction of the brothers. "There you are princess, where did you run off to?" He shouts mockingly, riling up the other four men seated with him.

"Princess? Is my sisters here?" Eden questions confused. Sozec watches dumbfounded as Eden spins in circles looking for who the soldiers could be addressing. "He speaks of me, ignore him I am used to it," Sozec says brushing the matter aside. 

Eden frowns, failing to keep his neutral expression. Sozec has always been frail for as long as he can remember but it wasn't often that people pointed it out. A luxury of sheltered life inside the castle walls.

The thought of his brother dealing with so many others like the soldier was unsettling to Eden. Upon enlistment, they had been put in different squads. Eden was very skilled in hand-to-hand combat as well as swordsmanship and had been placed in squad A upon evaluation.