Small Stories

(#4) Dialogue Practice: Zayn and Zach

Background: Hello! This is some dialogue practice between two characters of mine. Hope you enjoy!

In a far off land there are two kingdoms, both right beside the other. One called Lux (Latin for "light"), and Tenebrae (Latin for "darkness"). Ruling them are twin brothers Zayn and Zachary Rogers. Their separate dimensions used to be one singular kingdom called "Unitatus" (Latin for "unity"). Their father, Thomas Jacob Rogers, ruled over Unitatus like so many Rogers' before him. However, some years after he was crowned king, things started to get bad. A man by the name of Talon Lark, posing to be Thomas's friend for many years, finally betrayed him for power over the kingdom. Thomas knew he had to go to war in order to protect his kingdom and place on the throne, no matter how much it hurt to do so. This war lasted up to two years before Thomas had to surrender due to lack of supplies and men. After Talon made himself ruler he split the dimension in two, which is how Lux and Tenebrae came to be. Talon himself chose to reside in Lux, and set a powerful magic barrier between the two dimensions. This barrier can only be passed through an act called "dimension jumping" and not many possessed this trait except for those in the royal family. Long story short Thomas took his wife Cassidy and Zayn and Zach into hiding, where they peacefully resided for four years before they were eventually discovered. Thomas stood his ground, distracting the guards as Cassidy and the boys ran away. Unfortunately Thomas was said to have lost his life that day, while the rest of his family got away safely. When Zayn and Zach turned fifteen, they rallied up an army and defeated Talon once and for all. Talon after surrendering fled with his fallen army and was predicted to have died of disease, though no one knows for sure. Now, back to present time, the brothers are going to be discussing the fate of Phoenix Lark, Talon's great-great-nephew...

It was a dark and dreary day in the kingdom of Lux, though it always was. On this particular day, everyone seemed to be locked in their homes. There was hardly any bustle in the streets either. This, Zach thought, was one of the most peculiar attributes of his brother's kingdom. As he strolled the streets with two of his guards Xavier and Chase behind him, he couldn't help but to sigh.

"Blimey.." Xavier muttered, "It looks worse than before!"

"Well, would you expect anything less from that barbaric lunatic?" Chase replied. Then realizing his mistake said, "Sorry sir, wasn't thinkin'."

Zach smiled graciously at the man. "That's quite alright, Chase. Though I wouldn't use 'barbaric' or 'lunatic'..more like misguided."

"Of course, sir..."

Upon strolling up to the castle, two guards came to up to greet them.
Zach smiled. "Hello there! Permission to see the king please!"

"Who are you and what's your business?" One of them asked sharply, looking over the three of them with a suspicious look.

Zach only laughed. "Oh goodness, where are my manners? I'm Zachary Rogers, King of Tenebrae and twin brother of Zayn Rogers. I've come to speak to him about Phoenix Lark. Accompanying me are two of my own men, Xavier Holt and Chase Lawson."

The guard still looked a bit suspicious, but relented anyway. "Very well. Follow me to the study."

All four men were soon walking down the hall toward Zayn's study. Zach looked around the hallways as they walked, a bit disappointed to see that the place hadn't really changed since Talon's rule. It was still gloomy and a sense of despair seemed to hang over the room like a thick fog. Zach watched as servants walked hurriedly in and out of hallways. Some looked distraught, others just plain fearful. He frowned at all of this as he pictured how wonderful this castle could be compared to what it was at present. He got so caught up in these thoughts that he jumped a little upon hearing their guard escort speak.