Are we still brothers then?

Chapter I

Standing by the wall of the tall building, Wilbur tugs at the rope hanging from the window one more time, making sure it's not going to fall with him when he's ten meters above the ground.

It takes his weight without a problem.

A small smile appears on his lips, but he suppresses it. He has to focus now, he can't afford any mistakes.

Stretching his arms, he puts his hands on the rope and begins climbing.

~•~•~•~

Getting here was quite easy, even though this tower was in the middle of the castle, surrounded by high walls.

The moon was bright in the sky, lighting his way. But the shadows were still dark enough, allowing him to hide from the sight of the guards patrolling the walls.

He snuck up through the small door covered in ivy, with a lock, that only endured a few seconds under the piece of wire in his experienced fingers.

Then, he continued, hidden in the shadow of the walls, before he got to the wall where was the window he was going to use.

And there he finds himself, clinging to the rope that's dangling dangerously high above the ground, his feet pushing into the wall as he doesn't dare to look down.

~•~•~•~

By the time he reaches the small, unglassed window, his arms are aching and his fingers stiff.

He scrambles through the window and for a while, he's just lying on the ground, gasping for breath, heart racing in his chest.

An especially sharp stone in the floor is digging into his back, but he couldn't care less.

He's never, ever again going to climb anywhere.

His palms are burnt from the rope, from when he lost his footing, which was at least three times, and he thought he was going to fall to his death, sliding a few feet down the rope.

But he's here now, safe, or at least not in the danger of falling and dying immediately.

After he gives himself some time to calm down, he slowly stands up, repeating the plan one more time in his head and after he doesn't find any glaring holes in it, he decides it's time to go.

He opens the door quietly, but quickly, and sees the guard immediately. He's leaning against the wall, not even ten yards away, half sleeping, with the helmet falling over his eyes. Wilbur runs to him.

When the guard finally notices him, and moves his hand to reach for the sword on his belt, Wilbur hits him in the temple with the edge of his palm, and the guard slumps to the ground, his armor clattering.

Wilbur then drags him into the storage room.

He thinks that the emperor should really get better guards. Especially if this one was one of the few chosen to guard the chambres of the royal family.

But he isn't going to complain.

He takes the armor off the guard's unconscious body, and after a second of consideration, he also takes the dark blue coat, the same color that's on the Empire's flag.

Leaving the guard laying on the ground in just a shirt and pants, he puts the coat on. It's slightly too big, the sleeves just an inch too long.

He buttons it, and puts on the chestplate. He struggles a bit with the leather bands behind his back, but eventually, he manages to attach it properly, and takes the helmet.