Brothers.

8

In Tutum was in mourning. Their greatest king ever to live was dead and they felt the loss and the vacancy of his absence. It was not a joyful feeling and the whole world took it hard, especially Gabe.

He was grieving the death of his father yet he had to step in Father's shoes and stay strong. He was hurting from his brother's betrayal, but could not show how he felt. He wanted his best friends with him to help hm through his sorrow, but he was now their king, or will be in a matter of days, and couldn't confide in them.

"A leader never shows weakness no matter what happens or who dies,"
Father looked to his right and sighed. His gazed returned to Gabe, "He must stand strong."
Gabe looked over at his brother who was silently crying. He too had tears in his eyes for the death of Mother, but he won't cry, he wouldn't disappoint Father, never! Father squeezed his hand as Mother's pire was set alight. The flames reached into the sky like dancing women and the heat engulfed his body. He looked up at Father, his jaw was clenced tightly and his stare hard on the fire. On the other side, quite a distance from Gabe and Father, Josh sobbed softly and a thought raced through Gabe's mind. He was the future leader of the people, he had to be strong, not as weak as Josh, he would never show weakness.

"Lord?" Gabe's eyes shot open and he jumped out of throne with surprise. Had he fallen asleep on the throne? How long had he been sleeping?

Gabe looked at the soldier in front of him. As customary when one of the generals or the king died, all of the soldiers wore their special black armour. It was entirely black with only the angel wings emblem sliver on the brest. The soldier's white hair stood out against the black and his light skin as well. Black was not his colour.

"Yes, Isac?"
The soldier came to attention as he started speaking. The people's sudden newfound respect for him amazed Gabe everytime. How quickly people changed?! When he was still heir to the throne, people always called him on his name and stood in a relaxed, normal posture. Now it was all serious and solemn, even Bill and Christina acted in that way.

"We have returned from Obscurum, but without news that shall please you, lord Gabriel."
"It's Ga-"
He stopped himself midsentence, it was still strange to him that everyone called him lord now.

Gabe gestured with his hand for the soldier to continue and then he sat back in his throne, stroking his newly-stubbled chin. The soldier cleared his throat and looked up at Gabe with his mudbrown eyes which already told the tale to him.
"We found no trace of Joshua or any information related. I am sorry that yet another mission was for naught..."
He lowered his eyes and switched the helmet to his left arm. Gabe stood up and walked down the seven steps, he placed his hand on the young man's shoulder.

He was not an angel, Gabe could feel no power emitting from him.
"I didn't expect that this would be easy,"
he looked down into those lively brown eyes,
"Now, you may go."

The soldier purged his lips as if he still hand something to say, but decided not to. He bowed his head and was about to go, when Gabe stopped him,
"Is there anything else you want to tell me?"

The soldier turned around and opened his mouth, but closed it again. He clearly wanted to say something that was of great importance yet Gabe feared that the reluctance to speak ment only misfortune.
"Tell me, I can see it is something of importance to me."
"Uhm-" he coughed,
"Lord Gabriel, when you and the other soldiers went to Obscurum the last time. Did you encounter any maligan besides that hag at the end?"

Gabe frowned, this was a perculiar question to ask him since almost everyone knew about what had happened.
"Just the one. Why do you ask?"

"Well, while we were there we were almost constantly surrounded by dozens of them, no, we were flocked by them," he walked back to the throne and lowered himself into the seat. Yet another problem to add to his list of problems.

"Did they do you any harm?"
"No, but isn't it just strange?"
The soldier's eyes shone brightly.
He placed his helmet on his head which only made his brown eyes stand out even more from that T-shaped slit. Gabe waited for him to continue,

"Do you not find it strange, lord, that the maligan suddenly show themselves now that our former king Micheal has passed on to the Otherworld?" He swallowed, "And your brother killed him who is said to be a maligan. Do you not think that maybe this had been a planned assassination?"

Gabe could feel the colour racing to his cheeks as his temper rose. How can this soldier know about Josh? Everyone who saw him swore not to say a word yet here he was hearing the words coming from someone who was nowhere near his brother. Gabe was going to have a nice conversation with the witnesses and then no one shall utter another word again, but firstly...

"Where did you hear about Joshua?"
The soldier rubbed his neck and his eyes darted to the open doors, begging to be pardoned so he could leave, but not now.

"Uhm, there are stories travelling about that some had seen his black wings, but no one knows if it is true,"
he looked shyly at Gabe,
"Is i-"
"No, it is not true. Joshua is merely a poor soul who chose the wrong path. Now, you will go get all of the soldiers who talked about this and bring them here then you may leave."
The soldier bowed and left quickly.

Gabe slid down on his throne, he was exhausted. The last few days had been a riot.

Councilmeetings, audiences with people and other generals, signing papers, getting measures for his new crown and crowning garmets and on top of everything, looking for Josh. Gabe had barely slept more than fourteen hours in the last seven days, but his main cause of sleeplessness was Josh. Even now that he was gone, Josh still managed to be Gabe's biggest worry and concern and now the maligan was regrouping as well!

Where did they all come from? Father had said that most had died a long time ago, but to him it sounded like they was just as many as the angels or Gabe dare not think it, even more. As soon as it would be possible, they would have to take action against the maligan or face what might be another Old War. He would call a meeting in two days time to give himself and his councillors time to conjure plans of action.

"Lord Gabriel, you called?"
Gabe's head wipped up and he saw that the callen had arrived. He put on a serious expression and stood up from his throne, "We have something to talk about."