The Tale of Two Kings

Chapter 1

The stomping of the young prince's feet could be heard from a mile away. The staff of the castle quickly fled from his wake. All accept one unfortunate soul who hadn't yet mustered up the courage to move. The Prince descended upon her quickly.

"You there! SERVANT! Where is my brother he was supposed to be in the plaza for training fifteen minutes ago." The future king shouted. The young maid shivered at his cold tone.

"M-master Kie is outside in g-garden, Master Ike." The young maid stuttered under his gaze. The young prince, known as Ike, grunted in response. The maid supposed it was his form of a thank you. Master Ike quickly departed on his walk to the garden.

                                   . . .

Kie sat patiently in the garden, waiting for his brother to come barging in. The older boy knew his brother would eventually come and fetch him for some ludicrous training or sparring match. Kie took another sip of his tea, sighing in content. He loved the garden. It was the southernmost part of the castle. Away from his abounded room and the training plaza, away from the room that shows his father's constant absence. Far enough from the room the room where his mother took her final breath, and most importantly it far away from his father's study. Kie hated his study. It was a place of betrayal. It was the place where... Kie took another sip of his tea pushing away the thoughts budding in head.

Kie took in a deep breath taking in the scents of the different plants growing around him. That was another reason why he loved the garden so much. It was full of life unlike his home. He closed his eyes and listened to the birds chirping and the bees buzzing. The wind ruffling the tree leaves. The sound of feet stomping towards him.

 Kie opened his eyes meeting the intense and angry gaze of his younger brother. Kie stared at his brother and waited for scolding to commence.

"You were supposed to be at the training plaza twenty minutes ago!" Kie sighed as he watch his brother pace and flail his arms in an aggravated manner.

"Seriously Kie this is the fifth time this week! I understand you don't like fighting, but you do want to be king don't you. The tournament of the kings is only two years away, on your eighteenth birthday. Yet you still refuse to practice your sword fighting or bow work. NO! You would rather slack around the Garden playing with birdies!" Ike stopped abruptly and glared at the ground. Kie raised an eyebrow at his brother's sudden silence. A minute passed before Ike raised his head and met Kie's gaze. Ike opened his mouth to say something-

BANG

Ike immediately reached for his sword. Ki however calmly stood up from where he was sitting. A servant ran into the room face flushed and eyes wide with fear. He quickly bent over in a bow, nearly tripping over himself in his rush.

"Master Ike, Master Kie we need your assistance t-there is a t-thief in your fathers study."

That was all Ike needed to hear as he was off in a flash towards the study. Kie however moved in a much more tamed manner. He picked up his bow and his quiver of arrows and made his way after his brother.

"Ike calm down, you know it is probably a drill ordered by father." Kie called after his brother. Ike on his part ignored his brother as speedily made his way. He rounded the corner to the study only to be sharply pulled back by his brother. Ike turned around to yell at his brother but froze at the look in his eyes. It was a look he hadn't seen since they were children. Kie looked serious. Just as Ike thought that a red beam of light burst through the corridor he was just in. Ike felt the heat radiating of the light and he knew the spot he had just been standing was nothing but a crater.

"Stay here!" Kie said, no demanded.

For the first time in a long time Ike actually felt like a younger brother.